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Show 276 PERSONAL ADVENTURES effect· on our spirits, and I could see by 1-Ialliday's lengthened visage that, only for the shame which he felt at changing his rnind 80 often, he would have again suggested the prudence of retracing our steps. Towards evening, we came in sight of the Inission of San Jose, which is situated upon some hills overlooking an im1nense plain, dotted here and there with cattle. Viewed at a distance from the road, it appeared in excellent repair, and the large out-offices, with their tile roofs, contrasted prettily with the high tl'ees that rose above the long adobe wall that seemed to form the enclosure of the establishn1ent. Turning, however, to our right, 've found that we had only seen one end of the mission, and that this 'vall did not stretch across the front. To our surprise, everything connected with the establishment seemed to be in a state of the most deplorable decay. The corps de logis contained a suite of spacious and lofty rooms, with a large piazza in front. The fayade itself had once been whitewashed, but the dark tint of the adobe had • IN CALIFORNIA. 277 gradually pierced through the lime, giving the walls a sober hue, which added greatly to the ancient aud venerable appearance of the build~ ing. Alittlefurtheron,on the road, and adjoining this part of the 1nission, stood the remains of an immense number of small rooms, very regularly laid out, which were formerly occupied by the Indians connected with it. Very few of these apartments have any covering, the materials of which the roof was composed having been long since torn away for other ,purposes. On the opposite side of the road are several comfortable adobe houses, and adjoining them we discovered a basin about ten feet square, and plastered with cement on the inside, 'vhich had been supplied by artificial means 'vith water from a hot spring in the neighbourhood, and must have formed a most luxurious bath for the use of the priests. On entering the interior of the mission, we found an immense courtyard, surrounded with sufficient stabling for the accommodation of several hundred horses. The church is about forty feet long by thirty wide, and of |