218 MR. HAKTWEG'S JOURNAL OF A MISSION TO CALIFORNIA. 



hood of London, since it is known from experience, that, Ceano- 

 thus thyrsiflorus, with which it grows, is of that degree of 

 hardiness. 



In February, Dodecatheon, No. 170, appeared everywhere 

 common, as also Fragaria vesca, Cardamine, No. 174, No. 175, 

 Viola, 176, Saxifraga, 178, Trillium, 182, T. 183; of shrubs, 

 two species of Ceanothus, the one producing numerous bundles 

 of blue flowers from the axils of its small evergreen leaves, the 

 other, C. thyrsiflorus, often attaining the size of a small tree, 

 sending forth its numerous heads of azure flowers from last year's 

 wood. In the sandy plains towards the river Salinas, the large, 

 golden -flowered Viola chr5^santha,Nemophila insignis, Eschscholt- 

 zia crocea, and E. californica were common. 



My sojourn in California being restricted according to my in- 

 structions to one year, whilst a similar period is to be devoted to 

 visiting the northern provinces of Mexico, or in case I find this 

 country a favourable field for my exertions, permission having 

 been granted, until I receive orders to the contrary, that I may 

 stay the whole term of two years in California : I resolved, in the 

 absence of new instructions from the Council of the Society, not 

 to proceed to northern INIexico, where, during the war with the 

 United States, my peaceful occupation might be disturbed, and 

 my personal safety endangered, but to remain another season in 

 California ; more especially as, from my late arrival in this coun- 

 try, and subsequent circumstances, I could not extend my ex- 

 cursions as I intended to have done. The next step to be con- 

 sidered is, whither can I proceed to follow my occupation with 

 satisfaction to my employers and myself? This country has 

 been taken possession of last year by an American force, much 

 against the good will of the Californians. Now, although the 

 country is apparently quiet, it is difficult to foretell how long it 

 may last, and if these disturbances should break out again during 

 my busy season, it might seriously affect my plans, I therefore 

 came to the conclusion of visiting the Sacramento Valley, where 

 the settlers are all foreigners, and where I need not be under any 

 apprehensions of disturbances in the lower countiy. 



Accordingly I embarked on the 8th of March on board the 

 American bark Tasso, and arrived at Yerba Buena after a pas- 

 sage of five days. A few days' detention enabled me to examine 

 the neighbourhood, and added to my collection, amon^ other less 

 interesting plants, a white Myosotis, No. 190, Liliacea, No. 192, 

 CEnothera, No. 194, a scarlet Aquilegia, No. 198, Iris, No. 204, 

 and Ribes echinatum, the latter common on the sandhills that 

 surround the town. 



On March the 23rd I embarked in a small launch with Mr. 

 Cordua, who was proceeding to his farm in the Sacramento 



