WESTERN CALIFORNU. 239 



the emigrant can direct his course to any part of the country, as interest or 

 inclination may su^^gest. 



Another pass is airorded by way of the Santa Fe trail near iaU 37* 

 north ; tiiis, however, is a very difficult one for waggons, and should only 

 be travelled on horseback. 



Tliere are said to be one or two other passes further south, in reference 

 to which I cannot speak with certainty, but am incUned to accredit their 

 reported existence. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



MmenJs,— Western CaJifomia.— Tlie Sacramento and contigaouB regions. — Principal 

 rivers. — Fish. — Comnrsercial advantages — Bay of San Fmnciaco. — Other Baya and 

 Harbors.— Description of the country ; territory northwest of the Sacramento ; 

 Tlamath mountains ; California range and its vicinity ; Southern parts ; timber ; 

 river-bottoms ; Valleys of Sacramento, del Plumas, and Tulare ; their extent, fertiUty, 

 timber and fruit ; wild grain and clover, spontaneous ; wonderiul fecundity of soil, 

 and its products ; the productions, climate, rains and dews ; geological and mineralogi- 

 cal character; face of the country; its water; its heaUhiness ; game ; superabun- 

 dan(^e of cattle, horses, and sheep, their prices, &c. ; beasts of prey ; the inhabi- 

 tants, who ; Indians, their character and condition ; Capital of tlie Province, with 

 other towTTis ; advantages of San Francisco ; inland settlements ; foreigners and 

 Mexicans; Government; its full raiMtaryetrerigth.— Remarks. 



In the preceding chapter the reader must have acquired some tangible 

 idea of the true condition of Eastern California, with all its varied beauties 

 and deformities ; its Edens and wastes of desolation ; its enchantments, and 

 scenes of awe and terrific grandeur. 



To have treated the subject more in extenso, would have trespassed upon 

 prescribed brevity; yet, doubtless, many will regret my having said so httle 

 relative to the mineralogical character and resources of that country. The 

 truth is, comparatively little is known upon this important matter. Were 

 ^I to give ear to common report, I would say there are both gold and silver, 

 with copper, lead, and iron. But such stories are not always to be credited 

 unless they como in a credible shape. 



However, it is very probable tliese metals do exist in various parts ; and 

 certain it is that immense berls of coal and rock-salt are afforded, with 

 large quan' ities of gypsum, the truth of which is placed beyond doubt by an 

 accumulation of teritimony. With these few remarks I turn from the subject, 

 and bring before the reader another and more interesting topic. 



Following the only practicable waggon route froni tlie U. S. to Western 

 California, via Soutli Pass, — tiiencer after bearing northwest some forty 

 miles, by a long swoep southward around the Sierra Nevada to the Rio 

 Sacrimento, — the emigrant is taken through a succession of mountains, 

 hills, plains, and vaDeys, furrowed by frequent aflhient.s from the north;— 

 JR9W, sterile wastes of intervenlDg sand ; now^ pleasant iproadj* of anble 



