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Show 40 A TRIP ACROSS THE PLA.INS, the ro is generally no rain-the sun. being u.nobscured .by clouds for months at a time. OwJng to th1s, vegetatton begins to suffer about the middle of June. During the months of July and ~ugust the temperature· - is frequently as high as 14.0 deg. In the sun, and 110 or 112o in the shade. But owing to the· drynesso~ the atmos-h rc th is exalted temperatu1·e is not more 1nsufferable-pth aen t'h at of 75 deg. in the "State~S"-thi·s con d1' t1·o n o f th e air promoting a rapid evaporation. , . An individual perspiring freely, feels coanfortablc aunng the hottest months. 'fhel'e is scarcely ever any dew, especially in the vall eys~ ' 'rhe climate 0f this country is certainly as pleasant as n~ nv in the world. . "'Occasionally there is but very little rain during ~he wet season,-and if this be the case, vege tation th~ ensuing season is apt to suffet· very much. The last Winter has bee!1 one of this description. Fifteen years ag? there w~s a Sl "" mila1· one. Great numbe rs of cattle penshed dul'lng the next summer fot· want of grass. The soil of this country varies according to circumstan .. cos. The valleys ar~ generally fertile, producing large· crops of wheat, barley, oats, corn, &c. Forty .eushe!s of' wheat to the acn'), is but an ordin&ry crop. Vanous kinds of grains grow sponta.neously. . South of the bay of San Francisco, in the vicinity of .san Jose, oats grow six or seven feet jn height, f'.nd half an· Inch. i·n diameter. Last year's oats stalks made good UJalking stZ.cks ! Go'Od. crops of potatoes, tur11ips, radishes, melons, squashes, cucumbers and tomatoes, are raised without much labor. The .mountains are thickly covea·ed with pine and ceda~,. ( p1:nas colorado, and pi11as monophyllus) but the country 1s· too rough and cold for agricultural pu1:poses. The principal animals are black tailed · deer, nntelope, elk, coati~ generally called u}{ayotes,,, nnd last. thou~h not least the Grizzly Bear. The principal domeslto anJmaJ~ •. are Spanish cattle and horses, "ith a few· hog~ ~nd~ sheep. There nt·e plenty of deer, antelope and elk,. 1n _all. parts r- · the co\jntt·y-the indolence of the natives pa·evenbng them, : !*om hunting them, and tbe rich pastu-res affor:din~ fo_od tQ liWlltitudes of them.. · I AND LIFE lN CALIFORNIA. 'I' he coati, an · an imal belonging to the wolf family, is found in great numbers. 1''he grizzly bear is found in or near the moun tainous· districts. 'fhis animal, in color, sotncwhat resembles the buffa lo, the ext remities are short, bu t supplied wi th muscles of immense power. T he fe(\t a re su pp lied with tnassive claws, designed fo r tearing up roots rather than for scratching. The average weight may be put down as eight hunddrcd pounds, though sorne have been killed weighing over twu thousand ! They are very tenacious of life, and cannot be entirely disabled at once, unless the ball penetrates the brain. A dozen bn lis may be driven through the rno~t important organs of the body, and they are still able to figh t three or fou r men. '!''hey are not disposed to begin an attack ; but when aroused , or wounded, nrc rather ugly game. 'I'he huntet·, when on foot, should not a ttack them, unle~s there be a. tree near, on which he may take refuge. The flesh of this bear is superior to beef or buffalo. 'f ~1 o horses, gene ra lly, arc descendants of those brought to Mexico by the Spaniards. They are of the ordina1·y size, active, and capable of enduring a gt·eat deal of fatigue. Immense numbers were a t the diffe rent " ranchos," or fa rn1s, prior to the discovery of the gold mines, and were then worth almost nothing. Some proprietors owned from fifteen ~o twenty-five thousand. If a ho rse was hired, they were gene1·ally satisfied, if the 5addlc and bridle were re:u rned. · The S panish cattle make much better beef than OUJ's, though Ji ving on nothing but grass. They are, generally , pre tty wild, and req uia·e the lasso. to capture them. Some are very docile, and may be taught to be ofessential service in dri ving cattle. Neal has an ox which wiH lead a beef to any bu tcher's. establishn1ent, however distant; keeping it in the road, and standing apparently unconcerned, while it is knocked dowtl and bled. I-Ie is then sent home alone. When his services are gain required, he must be lassoed- to avoid which he makes every effort to secrete himself among the bushes. There are plenty of wild fowl, such as wild geese and ducks, quails, sandhill cranes, &c. a* |