VOYAGE TO THE 



the harbour, and form our judgment of the country in 

 which we were about to pass the next few weeks. As 

 we advanced, the beams of the rising sun gradually 

 descended the hills, until the mist, dispeUed from the 

 land, rolled on before the refreshing sea wind, disco- 

 vering cape after cape, and exhibiting a luxuriant 

 country apparently abounding in wood and rivers. At 

 length two low promontories, the southern one dis- 

 tinguished by a fort and a Mexican flag, marked the 

 narrow entrance of the port. 



We spread our sails with all the anxiety of persons 

 who had long been secluded from civilized society, and 

 deprived of wholesome aliment ; but after the first 

 effort of the breeze, it died away and left us becalmed 

 in a heavy N. W. swell. 



Off the harbour of San Francisco there is a bar 

 which extends from the northern shore, gradually 

 deepening its water until it approaches the peninsula 

 on the opposite side *, where nine fathoms may be 

 carried over it. Of this bar, however, we were igno- 

 rant, and naturally steered directly for the harbour, in 

 doing which the depth of water gradually diminished 

 to five fathoms. This would have been of no conse- 

 quence, had it not been for a swell which rolled so 

 heavily over the bank that it continually broke ; and 

 though our depth of water was never less than 4| 

 fathoms, the ship on two or three occasions disturbed 

 the sand with her keel. The tide was unfortunately 

 against us, and the swell propelled the ship just suf- 

 ficiently fast for her to steer without gaining any 

 ground, so that we remained in this unpleasant situa- 

 tion several hours. 



* The best part for crossing is with the island of Alcatrasses in 

 one with the fort. 



