ere
is a deficiency of rain, the general outlook is far from pleasant. Up
north of San Francisco it is, I believe, better, for there is much
more rain, but I did not go there.

One of my objects in going to America was to start my sons on land of
their own, and though much disappointed with what I had seen of
California, I inquired there about land. I found it could be had from
the Government on very easy terms, but that all worth anything had
been taken up long ago. There were enormous tracts, millions of
acres, free, but it was either forest, necessitating a large outlay
to clear it, or some equally valid reason why it had not been
hitherto appropriated. It was, of course, possible that, travelling
about and spending months in searching, some land well worth having
might be found, but after much inquiry I had come to the conclusion
that cattle-raising was the best thing to go in for, and I need
hardly say that California, with its small rainfall and consequent
want of grass is _not_ a good cattle-raising state. Still I continued
my inquiries. I found there was any amount of land held by private
owners for sale, but that very high prices in every case were asked.
The idea of all landowners there seemed to be that it was only a
question of time before numberless emigrants of all classes would
pour into California, and that when that day came even much higher
prices than now asked would be realized.

_I_ came to quite an opposite conclusion, and have not wavered from
it since. I do not think there will ever be a large tide of
immigration into California; and I think, moreover, that, ten years
hence, the present owners of land there will be glad to take far less
than they ask for it now. Great efforts are being made at San
Francisco, by a large and well-organized staff, and in a most
efficient way, sparing neither time, money, nor labour, to attract
immigrants into California from all parts of the world. Numberless
pamphlets and maps, describing the country, where and how land can be
had, what it will grow, the enormous crops produced, its wonders as a
fruit region, &c., &c., are being published, and sent to many
countries, as well as all over the States. In all these there is much
truth, and I need scarcely add, the source being American, much
exaggeration, and, worse still, important omissions. _The_ great
feature of the country, want of rain, though allowed in a passing
way, is made light of, and the facilities of i