San Diego to San Francisco i8i 



morning Rhoades killed the first black-tailed deer 

 that any of the party has secured. We found it 

 very good meat, and quite enjoyed it, after the 

 v^ontinuance of beef we have had since our arrival 

 on this side of the great divide, as at the rancho we 

 can usually buy fine, young cattle for from eight to 

 tv/elve dollars. 



[No date.'] We now commenced the regular 

 ascent of the Coast Range, the mountains at first 

 were sandy loam and sandstone; we had no grand 

 views, even of distance, and we lost two of our 

 mules from fatigue. Our descent was rapid for 

 some miles, and brought us to the gorge leading to 

 the dividing ridge, where was a rapid torrent, 

 about up to our knees, and as we followed it scenes 

 of the wildest description presented themselves. 

 Sometimes it looked as if our further progress was 

 completely at an end, and again a turn at right 

 angles showed us half a mile more of our road. 

 The rocks here are shelly sandstone, looking at 

 first sight, at a distance, like slate. The tops of all 

 the mountains are covered with snow, and the wind 

 from the northwest was blowing so hard as to bring 

 our tired mules to a standstill, as the puffs struck 

 them. 



As we came out into the plain or valley a few 

 squalls of hail and rain came on, and we were glad 

 to camp near some cottonwoods, not deeming it 

 prudent to be under them, as their limbs had 



