Having at length gone through our turns and acquitted ourselves of
all obligations, we slipped out, and went about among the houses,
endeavoring to get horses for the day, so that we might ride round and
see the country. At first we had but little success, all that we could
get out of the lazy fellows, in reply to our questions, being the
eternal drawling "Quien sabe?" ("who knows?") which is an answer to
all questions. After several efforts, we at length fell in with a
little Sandwich Island boy, who belonged to Captain Wilson of the
Ayacucho, and was well acquainted in the place; and he, knowing
where to go, soon procured us two horses, ready saddled and bridled,
each with a lasso coiled over the pommel. These we were to have all
day, with the privilege of riding them down to the beach at night, for
a dollar, which we had to pay in advance. Horses are the cheapest
thing in California; the very best not being worth more than ten
dollars apiece, and very good ones being often sold for three, and
four. In taking a day's ride, you pay for the use of the saddle, and
for the labor and trouble of catching the horses.
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