SOUNDINGS. 147 



The majestic chain of mountains of the Sierra 

 Nevada looked most beautiful from this spot. 

 The whole eastern horizon was bounded by 

 these masses of ice, and before them the low land 

 lay spread out like a verdant sea. From the 

 Bay of St. Francisco, the Sierra Nevada are no- 

 where visible; but they first come in sight after 

 having passed the point where the Pescadores 

 and the Sacramento vmite. 



The day was again passed in sport, and we 

 shot many stags, the meat of which proved ex- 

 tremely good. During the night we were again 

 disturbed by the little wolves so common here : 

 they stole some pieces of our venison. Early 

 the next morning we prepared for our return, 

 and soon quitted these lovely and fertile plains, 

 where many thousand families might live in 

 plenty and comfort, but which now, from their 

 utter loneliness, leave a mournful impression on 

 the mind, increased by the reflection that the 

 native Indians have been nearly exterminated. 

 During our return voyage, we were very dili- 

 o-ent in taking soundini^s, and found the water 

 in the middle of the river always as much as from 

 H 2 



