The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933 Page: 59

A Log of the Texas-California Cattle Trail, 1854 59
the List. It is a difficult trip, and is a good conclusion to the
over land rout to California.
About forty head of Ryan's cattle died of poison at the Big
Lagoona.
Having the care of a broken down Horse up to the [ ]
Cane Creek, it made the trip much harder than it would have
been otherwise; by walking occasionally I got along so-so. Since I
left him have been riding on foot; I can say it is rather working
one's passage to California.
The Mountain scenery around the valley in which we are en-
camped has no points of beauty, they are almost destitute of trees,
immediately on the top are some few, which can only be seen at
full size through the Telescope. Report says that there are plenty
of Deer and very fat.
11th Saturday.
Encamped within sight of Warner's Rancho a fine spring; two
or three straw houses situated in a beautiful little valley compose
the celebrated place of Warner's Rancho.
The valley through which we have been passing for two days
past is very narrow, no grass, p [r]etty place for summer residences;
an occasional Indian village picturesqly situated in the caniions.
Live Oak in abundance.
17 Friday.
Owing to natural causes I have been living in Ryan's Camp - in
Warner's Valley two miles South of the Rancho - until to-day.
During my stay with Ryan I concluded to lend a hand and see
if it were possible to live decently in the pariries, so I took a fancy
to improve the breads not knowing at the time whether my
knowledge would go so far as to know how to mix the dough; into
it I went, up to the elbows, found it difficult to get the buiscuit into
any shape except all sorts of shape put them into the oven watched
closely the process of baking untill done, when lo and behold I
very nearly equalled the buiscuits made at home, and would have
done so only for the want of a little Butter; at all events I p[r]oved
such a good Baker, that it fell to my lot to exercise my talents at
every meal.
This morning one of James Mexicans - Gomez - arrived with
two pack mules for the baggage. You may guess I was glad; for
this place; is notorious all over California for being the coldest in