MISSION OF ST. GABRIEL. Ill 



scarcity of corn, would derive new life from a 

 close connection with California. 



The sun rose in full magnificence from behind 

 the mountain, at the moment when, emerging 

 from between the islands which divide the north- 

 ern from the southern half of the bay, an ex- 

 tensive mirror of water opened upon our view. 

 The mission of St. Gabriel, the first stage of our 

 journey, formed a distinguished object in the 

 background of the prospect, sloping up the 

 sides of the hills, the intervening flat land lying 

 so low that it was not yet within our horizon. 

 We had also a distant view towards the north- 

 west of another newly founded mission, that of 

 St. Francisco Salona, the only one situated on 

 the northern shore of the bay except St. Gabriel. 



The country at this side of the bay, chiefly 

 characterised by gently swelling hills, the park- 

 like grouping of the trees, and the lively ver- 

 dure of the meadows, is as agreeable to the eye 

 as that of the southern coast. The water is 

 pure and wholesome, which that at the Presidio 

 is not ; we therefore laid in our ship's store here. 



The whole Bay of St. Francisco, in which 

 thousands of ships might lie at anchor, is formed 



