at-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 civilisation: 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