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