302 CAPTAIN SUITER'S PLACE, OR NEW HELVATIA. 



ance I was much disappointed, in consequence of the filthiness 

 of their looks ; they are amply provided with the necessaries 

 of life by Captain Sutter, but their natural inclination and 

 habits are such as to prevent their advancement in civilized 

 life. 



Besides farming, Captain Sutter is engaged in trapping, 

 and distilling a kind of liquor resembling Pisco, from the wild 

 grape of the country. 



On the 19th of October we arrived at San Francisco Bay, 

 where we found the " Vincennes." The overland detachment 

 arrived in the afternoon of the 24th. 



The Valley of Sacramento is one hundred and seventy miles 

 long and from twenty to sixty miles wide. Having heard much 

 of its fruitfulness, we expected, on entering it, to see a perfect 

 garden ; but such was not the case. On the contrary, we saw 

 but little good land ; and as for the landscape, it was extremely 

 uninteresting, being utterly devoid of either beauty or variety. 

 The river is navigable for vessels of sixty tons burthen, as far 

 as New Helvatia, and for boats and canoes, seventy miles 

 farther. The banks are nowhere over twenty feet in height, 

 and are lined with sycamore and cotton-wood trees ; some of 

 which are of large dimensions. 



San Francisco Bay is an extensive body of water, studded 

 with many islands, which look as fresh and verdant as nature 

 can make them. It communicates with the ocean by a nar- 

 row passage, bounded on either side by rocky cliffs. The name 

 of the principal town is Yerba-buena ; it is located near the 

 entrance, and contains about thirty buildings of one story high, 

 constructed of adobes. The trade is limited to eight or ten 

 vessels ; these lay at their anchors until they retail out their 

 cargoes, by which means part of the duties, which are very 

 onerous on all landed articles, ar* saved. 



