IN THE PACIFIC. 271 



The river between the town and the sea is 

 so shallow that only boats of light draught can 

 ascend it, and then at high water ; there is but 

 one tide each way in the twenty-four hours ; 

 the mouth of the river is well adapted for 

 hauling the seine, and our people got in a few 

 hauls enough fish to supply the ship and half 

 the town as well. 



It has been proposed to form a settlement at 

 a place some few miles to the northward of 

 Mulege*, and T was given to understand that a 

 company had been formed to colonize it. This 

 spot has been christened by the high-sounding 

 title of El Paradiso, and described as a land 

 flowing with milk and honey ; but in the opinion 

 of men living on the spot, well qualified to 

 judge of the merits of this " Paradise," it is a 

 wretched country, without any recommenda- 

 tion, and any unfortunate emigrants would 

 starve there, as they did at Magdalena 

 Bay. 



Not far from Mulege is the island of San 

 Marcos, from whence large quantities of gyp- 



