The Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet in California, Sonora, and Western Texas | Page 3

time, and the voyage might have been styled a prosperous
one.

After five months we arrived off the coast, and with some difficulty we
gained the entrance of a river falling into Trinity Bay, in lat. 41° north
and long. 124° 28' west.
We anchored about four miles above the entrance, which was on the
coast abreast of the Shoshones' territory, and resorted to by them on
their annual fishing excursions. In memory of the event, the river was
named by the Indians--"Nu elejé sha wako;" or, the Guide of the
Strangers.
For many weeks it was a strange and busy scene. The Prince Seravalle
had, during his former residence with the Shoshones, been admitted
into their tribe as a warrior and a chief, and now the Indians flocked
from the interior to welcome their pale-faced chief, who had not
forgotten his red children. They helped our party to unload the vessel,
provided us with game of all kinds, and under the directions of the
carpenter, they soon built a large warehouse to protect our goods and
implements from the effect of the weather.
As soon as our cargo was housed, the Prince and my father,
accompanied by the chiefs and elders of the tribe, set off on an
exploring party, to select a spot fit for the settlement. During their
absence, I was entrusted to the care of one of the chief's squaws, and
had three beautiful children for my play-mates. In three weeks the party
returned; they had selected a spot upon the western banks of the Buona
Ventura River, at the foot of a high circular mountain, where rocks
covered with indurated lava and calcined sulphur, proved the existence
of former volcanic eruptions. The river was lined with lofty timber;
immense quarries of limestone were close at hand, and the minor
streams gave us clay which produced bricks of an excellent quality.
The Spaniards had before visited this spot, and had given the mountain
the name of St. Salvador; but our settlement took the Indian appellation
of the Prince, which was--"Nanawa ashta jueri ê;" or, the Dwelling of
the Great Warrior. As the place of our landing was a great resort of the
Indians during the fishing season, it was also resolved that a square fort
and store, with a boat-house, should be erected there; and for six or
seven months all was bustle and activity, when an accident occurred
which threw a damp upon our exertions.
Although the whole country abounds in cattle, and some other tribes, of
which I shall hereafter make mention, do possess them in large herds,

the Shoshones did not possess any. Indeed, so abundant was the game
in this extensive territory, that they could well dispense with them; but
as the Prince's ambition was to introduce agriculture and more domestic
habits among the tribe, he considered it right that they should be
introduced. He therefore despatched the Esmeralda to obtain them
either at Monterey or Santa Barbara. But the vessel was never more
heard of; the Mexicans stated that they had perceived the wreck of a
vessel off Cape Mendocino, and it was but natural to suppose that these
were the remains of our unfortunate brig.
All hands on board perished, and the loss was very heavy to us. The
crew consisted of the captain, his son, and twelve men; and there were
also on board five of our household, who had been despatched upon
various commissions, Giuseppe Polidori, the youngest of our
missionaries, one of our gunsmiths, one of our masons, and two Italian
farmers. Melancholy as was this loss, it did not abate the exertions of
those who were left. Fields were immediately cleared--gardens
prepared; and by degrees the memory of this sad beginning faded away
before the prospect of future happiness and comfort.
As soon as we were completely established, my education commenced.
It was novel, yet still had much affinity to the plan pursued with the
students of the Military Colleges in France, inasmuch as all my
play-hours were employed in the hardier exercises. To the two
excellent missionaries I owe much, and with them I passed many happy
hours.
We had brought a very extensive and very well selected library with us,
and under their care I soon became acquainted with the arts and
sciences of civilization; I studied history generally, and they also taught
me Latin and Greek, and I was soon master of many of the modern
languages. And as my studies were particularly devoted to the history
of the ancient people of Asia, to enable me to understand their theories
and follow up their favourite researches upon the origin of the great
ruins in Western and Central America, the slight knowledge which I
had gained at the Propaganda of Arabic and Sanscrit was now daily