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Show 192 PERSONAL ADVENTURES alrnost fell desperately iu love; indeed, considering ho\v shattered tny nervous system had become frorn illness, and how romantically kind Cacusa showed herself in her simple attentions, my \vonderment is that I did not becon1e inextricably involved in a downright sentimental dilem1na. She was very beautiful, and that is the plain, honest truth; so beautiful, I should fear to describe her, lest my portraiture might be thought to be merely drawn frorn imagination. I will, therefore, disn1iss the subject, n1erely observing that I \Vas somewhat surprised at finding that the Christian name of my rustic beauty was synonytnous with " Jesus ; " it being the custom of the country to christen persons by all sorts of Scriptural names, without reference to their appropriateness to sex or to circumstance; and that, although I did not fall in love with Cacusa-at least not too deeply-her image will at titnes steal across my me.rnory. The population of San Jose may average .three thousand persons, the n1ajority being semi-Indians, or the pure descendants of the IN CALIFORNIA. 193 Mexicans. Our volunteers 'vere well received amongst them, and experienced numerous acts of kindness at their hands. They are greatly addicted to gambling, their favourite game being monte, which is in universal esteem throughout the Californias. They are also a musical people ; and although I always considered their mirthful songs to savour more of the dirge than of the ditty, I observed that they kept good time, and accompanied themselves well on the guitar. I may add that the ladies of San Jose, as of the whole of Lower California, are extravagantly fond of smoking; their cigaritos being composed of tobacco, rolled up to a con- • • • vement size In the leaf of the Indian maize· ' some did ample justice to a few choice Ha-vannahs I presented to them, though I could never reconcile myself altogether to the habit as being one suited to the sex. But tastes differ. The usual beverages, besides water, are wine, mascal, and aguardiente. The two latter are manufactured in large quantities in the valley VOL. I. K |