the work and life of the Jewish patriarchs were here being reënacted.

"A shepherd on the mighty plain he watched his roving store."

To the half-starved followers of Mr. Young, this Mission appeared to
be a "Paradise of Earth." They remained here, however, but one day.
Having nothing else to trade, they parted with their butcher knives,
receiving for four of them one fat ox. It would all appear a fabulous
tale, were we to incorporate into this narrative a history, or even a
slight description of the immensity of the herds of horses and cattle
which once roamed over the plains and valleys of California and New
Mexico. It is but a few years since, that some wealthy Mexicans
owned herds in these parts of America which they numbered by tens of
thousands. They were, however, almost valueless for want of a market;
and, until the tide of emigration poured in, developing the resources
of the country by its demand for provisions and labor, horses and
cattle were sold for a mere trifle. In one day's march from San
Gabriel, Young and his party arrived at another Roman Catholic
Mission, called San Fernando. This establishment was on a much smaller
scale than the first. Young and his hardy followers, however, stopping
only for a few hours, pushed on for the Sacramento River, which proved
to be distant only a few days' march. Their course from San Fernando
was northeast. The last part of their journey led through a delightful
tract of country, where water, grass and game existed in abundance,
seemingly a foretaste of the success which awaited their further
advance. Selecting an eligible camping site, Young here rested his
party for some time. When they were fully recruited, the party started
for the San Joaquin, and commenced trapping down the river. What gave
the men great surprise, they discovered unmistakable signs of another
trapping party. In a short time it appeared that they were close to a