DEATH OF BURROWS.

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mounted on fine horses and being the best riders in the world, carried off their killed and wounded, and we know not the number of them, though it must have been considerable.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

To Brigadier General R. JONES,

S. W. KEARNEY, Brigadier General U. S. A.

Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL FREMONT was, in the meantime, advancing from the north with a body of five hundred men, provided with artillery, and on his way, fell in with the scattered forces of the Californians, and concluded with them a treaty of peace. He then proceeded on his march, and joined the commodore at Los Angeles.

All parties now seemed to have ceased hostilities, and perfect tranquillity ensued on the re-capture of Los Angeles, The Californians, tired of war's alarms, had quietly dispersed and gone back to their ranchos; the Mexican leaders and other vagabonds, "sloped" in the direction of Sonora ; the American settlers returned to their farms; the sailors marched in triumph to their ships; and what finally became of the detachment of regular troops who entered California, via New Mexico, under the efficient command of Colonel Cooke, of the United States Army, I do not at this moment remember.

The only other action of any moment-besides those of the eighth and ninth of January, and the affair at San Pasqual-which occurred during the conquest of California, was a skirmish between the party of rifles, led by Mr. Burrows, and a superior force of Californians, who were, however, routed, with a loss of several killed and wounded. Poor Burrows, while gallantly charging, far in advance of his men, having discharged his pistols and rifle, and while continuing the unequal conflict with the latter weapon clubbed,

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MEXICAN OFFICERS.

was shot dead by a pistol fired by a Californian. He was a gallant young man, and greatly esteemed by all who knew him. Peace to his ashes.

Of the unhappy differences which existed between Commodore Stockton and General Kearney, it hardly becomes me to speak; much less is it within my province to comment upon the more serious disagreements which sprung up between the General and Colonel Fremont. The whole controversy is familiar to the people of the United States, and to their deliberate and impartial judgment, it may safely be submitted. My own opinion is, of course, made up, and it is not difficult to determine the side to which I lean; but I am restrained from dwelling on these little troubles-which will happen in the best regulated service—not only from respect for the memory of the dead, but also, from an earnest hope, that those unpleasant passages may be forgotten, and justice be done to the gallantry, good conduct, and honest motives of all who were engaged in the conquest of California. Although no engagement took place which could be dignified by the name of a battle, still there are laurels enough to be divided among all who planned the operations, and who led the troops and tars of our country to victory.

The people of California make admirable partisan soldiers, and if led and disciplined by competent officers, would probably make as good cavalry as any in the world. It was generally admitted by the officers who saw them under probation, that they were remarkably steady under the galling fire of the squares at San Gabriel and the Meza, but not understanding how to charge "en escadron," they could not penetrate the squares.

Their officers, instead of encouraging their men, by leading them on in person to the conflict, were generally the most arrant cowards, as the Californians themselves admitted. Their chief anxiety seemed to be to keep out of harm's way, and they much preferred backing their friends

A TALE OF THE IMAUM.

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to fronting their foes. Just imagine a set of fellows in epaulettes, keeping hehind their men, and urging them for ward with cries of "Anda! vete muchachos!"-" go ahead, boys!" From this valorous practice they acquired the name of "animadores," or animators a title bestowed in derision. I have met with instances of similar officers, in other parts of the world, and the most notable case was the following:

On the east coast of Africa, there is a place called Mombus. It is a good harbor, with an island lying at the mouth of it, on which stands a castle commanding both the entrances from the sea. The possession of this place being coveted by Syeed Bin Sultaun, Imaum of Muscat although owned by the Portugese who maintained there a strong garrisonhe blockaded it with his ships, and took along with him a large land force. The Imaum's troops are his own slaves, but the Mussulmen are excellent masters, and liberate their bondsmen on the easy condition of their embracing the religion of Islam. The blacks of that part of Africa lying in the dominions of the Imaum of Muscat, south of Cape Guardafui, are hardy and valiant troops. Their sole arms, however, consist of a light javelin and a long, straight broadsword. The latter is their favorite weapon, and is invariably accompanied with a small conical target or shield, of rhinoceros' hide, about fourteen inches in diameter, which will resist a musket-ball. The Imaum's people in Zanzibar and other places, strut about with their long swords hanging from the shoulder to the heel; the shield being tied by a thong to the scabbard, and balanced on the wearer's breast. I have been struck with the martial appearance of these colored gentlemen when thus arrayed, looking like living statues cut from ebony, their bodies being wholly unclothed and well greased with palm oil.

Well, to return from this digression within a digression.—the Imaum finding the Portugese obstinate in holding out their town and fort, in spite of his blockade, hit

upon an ingenious plan to possess himself of both. Standing in with his ships at night, just out of gun-shot, he manned all the boats of the squadron, and ordering into them five hundred of these "sword and buckler" men, he shoved off with muffled oars. Pulling close under the walls, he disembarked these men silently, and immediately pulled off a short distance from the beach. The Imaum now assuming the character of an "animator," addressed the men in person from his gig, in a tone too low to be heard by the enemy's garrison, amidst the plashing of the waves. In a few words, he appealed feelingly to their courage and fidelity, and throwing to the intrepid eunuch who led the party his blood-red flag, concluded his remarks to his astounded auditors in these words: "I am resolved to possess that fort by morning, and I command you to hoist that flag on the castle before to-morrow's light. If you remain on the beach, the enemy will probably exterminate you at the dawn of day; but if he foolishly spares you, and that flag is not floating from the castle by day-light, I will open my fire, not on the walls of the fort, but on you." He then coolly left the bewildered negroes to their fate, and regained his ship. How many of this devoted forlorn hope were slain I know not; but when the first gray streaks of day visited the castle of Mombus, that blood-red flag was streaming from its battlements, the garrison had passed beneath the edge of the sword, and the Imaum's ships soon standing in with the morning sea-breeze, the town and its dependencies capitulated. How men so slightly armed succeeded in this wonderful exploit is one of those military mysteries which I shall not try to unravel, but it is certain that, like the Californians, they had the advantage of a capital" animator."

CHAPTER XVII.

Remarks on the Native White Population of California; concluding with a true story.

HAVING had opportunities to become acquainted with the characteristics, manners, and customs of the native Californians, both of the Upper and Lower Provinces, I will attempt to give some account of these people at large. Hitherto, I have spoken of the rancheros or landed proprietors, but they are far from including the entire white population of Spanish descent.

The people of the southern portion of Upper California, and those of the Lower Province, resemble the inhabitants of Mexico, with whom the reader has been made pretty well acquainted by means of the late war. But, although the resemblance is strong, it is not to be denied that even the more southerly Californians are physically far superior to the Mexicans. They are a larger, more robust, more manly looking race, and this superiority is probably owing partly to the salubrity of their climate, and partly to their food, which consists principally of beef. The diet of the Californians, indeed, is so nearly confined to animal food, that the church grants them a dispensation on her meagre or banyan days. A dispensation to the Mexicans would be little better than a farce, as they are in a state of comparative starvation all the year round, and do not probably fast much more during Lent than at Christmas.

In energy of character, and in point of courage, the Californians far surpass their southern neighbors. That the