The land of gold; or, Three years in CaliforniaColton, Walter
History
The land of gold; or, Three years in California
Colton, Walter
California -- Gold discoveries; California -- History -- 1846-1850
The Levant takes home in her my friend, Lieut. T——: he has resigned his
commission in the navy, and takes orders in the church. He is a pretty
good classical scholar, and has made himself familiar with the
principles of biblical exegesis. All this has been accomplished during
those few leisure hours which the duties of a watch-officer leave one at
sea. It is seemingly reversing the order of things for the navy to
supply the church with spiritual teachers. But few, however, have left
the deck for the pulpit; a much larger number have reached it from the
diagrams and drills of West Point. Among them are some of our most
eloquent and impressive preachers. Of this class is the present Bishop
of Ohio.
We have all been busy in writing letters home, and shall make up a
pretty large mail, filled with tender recollections, and overflowing
with the California news. How the intelligence of our proceedings here
will strike our friends and the country at large, is mere matter of
conjecture. We are acting, however, not only in view of the alleged
collision between the American and Mexican forces on the Rio Grande, but
in reference to the anarchy and confusion into which this country has
been thrown by a revolution which did not originate with us.
THURSDAY, JULY 30. To-day I entered on the duties of my office as
alcalde of Monterey: my jurisdiction extends over an immense extent of
territory, and over a most heterogeneous population. Almost every nation
has, in some emigrant, a representative here—a representative of its
peculiar habits, virtues, and vices. Here is the reckless Californian,
the half-wild Indian, the roving trapper of the West, the lawless
Mexican, the licentious Spaniard, the scolding Englishman, the
absconding Frenchman, the luckless Irishman, the plodding German, the
adventurous Russian, and the discontented Mormon. All have come here
with the expectation of finding but little work and less law. Through
this discordant mass I am to maintain order, punish crime, and redress
injuries.
FRIDAY, JULY 31. Nearly all the houses in Monterey are of one story,
with a corridor. The walls are built of adobes, or sun-baked brick, with
tiled roofs. The centre is occupied by a large hall, to which the
dining-room and sleeping apartments seem mere appurtenances. Every thing
is in subordination to the hall, and this is designed and used for
dancing. It has a wood floor, and springs nightly to the step of those
who are often greeted in the whirl of their amusements, by the risen
sun. The dance and a dashing horse are the two objects which overpower
all others in interest with the Californians. The fiddle has been silent
since our flag went up, from the fact that many of the gentlemen have
left to join Gen. Castro. But if they return, though covered with
disaster, the fiddle will be called upon to resume its fantastic
functions. You might as well attempt to extinguish a love of air in a
life-preserver as the dancing propensity in this people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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