306 



Return of the party. 

 Feather river. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Country round the bay of San Pablo. 

 City of Zonoma. General Vallejo. 



Destruction river or creek, is in latitude 40 47' N., 

 longitude 122 34' W. 



At the place where the survey ended, the river 

 was two hundred feet wide, its banks being twenty 

 feet above the river ; but it was evident that its 

 perpendicular rise exceeded this, as there was 

 every appearance of its overflowing them ; and, 

 according to the testimony of the Indians, the 

 whole country was annually inundated. 



On the afternoon of the 31st of August, the 

 party turned to go down the stream, and with the 

 aid of the current made rapid progress. Towards 

 sunset they entered the small stream called Bute, 

 on whose banks they encamped. Here they were 

 much disturbed, both with bears and musquitoes. 



On the 1st of September, they made an early 

 start, and about noon reached the village where the 

 theft of Dr. Pickering's pistol had been committed. 



It was with some difficulty that the Indians were 

 persuaded to approach ; but a fine-looking savage, 

 more bold than the rest, at last ventured to do so, 

 and gave the information that the Indian who had 

 committed the theft resided at the village up 

 stream. 



The weapon therefore not being forthcoming, 

 Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold determined to 

 seize this man as a hostage for the return of the 

 article. He was accordingly secured, his arms 

 pinioned behind him, and led down to the boat, 

 when two men were ordered to tie his legs ; while 

 they were in the act of doing this, he extricated 

 himself, and jumped overboard. The guns were 

 at once levelled, and half-a-dozen triggers ready to 

 be pulled ; but Lieutenant- Commandant Ringgold 

 very properly stopped them from firing, 'and en- 

 deavours were made to recapture him, but without 

 effect. These efforts having failed, they took to their 

 boats, and pulled down the stream. The Indians 

 who were on the banks, to the number of two hun- 

 dred and fifty, made no demonstrations of hostility. 



On the 3rd, they continued the survey, until 

 they were below Feather river, when the provi- 

 sions were so nearly exhausted that Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold found that it would be im- 

 possible for him to examine that stream. The 

 residents and trappers informed me that they 

 had followed it to its source. From them I learned 

 that it takes its rise in the Californian Range, 

 from which it pursues a south-west course, until 

 it falls into the Sacramento river. It is about 

 forty miles in length. It is believed that the 

 Spaniards, when they first explored this country, 

 designated the Feather river as the Sacramento, 

 and gave to the true Sacramento the name of the 

 Jesu Maria. In no other way, at least, can the 

 error which has occurred, in relation to the Jesu 

 Maria, be explained; and on this supposition, the 

 accounts of it become intelligible. 



In the neighbourhood of the Sacramento, there 

 are sometimes to be found small lakes or bayous, 

 which seem to be filled at high water, but become 

 stagnant dui-ing the dry season. These the elk 

 and deer frequent in large numbers. Their cry or 

 whistle is at times very shrill, and may be heard 

 for a great distance. 



At the junction of the Feather river with the 

 Sacramento, the latter increases in width to nearly 

 double. It was found just below the junction to be 

 from twelve to fifteen hundred feet broad, forming 

 a sort of bay, but it soon again contracts. They 



encamped about ten miles below the confluence of 

 these streams. 



On the 4th, they had returned to Captain Suter's 

 quarters, where they stayed till the 6th, when 

 the survey being finished down to this point, 

 they descended the river, on their return to the 

 ship. On the 8th, they had arrived at the mouth 

 of the river, and the Straits of Kaquines. On the 

 9th, at midnight, they reached the Vincennes, after 

 an absence of twenty days. 



On the opposite side of the bay of San Pablo, or 

 to the west, are some of the finest tracts of country 

 in California. One of these is called the Valley of 

 Nappa, another that of Zonoma, and a third, San 

 Rafael. In Zonoma is situated the town of the 

 same name, the residence of General Vallejo, and 

 the mission of San Rafael. The fertile country ex- 

 tends across to Ross and Bodega, the two Russian 

 settlements before spoken of. Zonoma is the seat 

 of government, and is situated in an extensive 

 plain, with some high hills for its southern boun- 

 dary. The plain is covered with fine oaks, and 

 there is a never-failing stream of water passing 

 through it. There is besides an inlet from the bay, 

 which allows a boat navigation to it of about twelve 

 miles. 



Upon paper, Zonoma is a large city, and laid out 

 according to the most approved plan. In reality, 

 however, it consists of only the following build- 

 ings : General Vallejo's house, built of adobes, of 

 two stories, which fronts on the public square, 

 and is said to be one of the best houses in Califor- 

 nia. On the right of this is the residence of 

 the general's brother, Salvadore, and to the left, 

 the barracks for the accommodation of the guard 

 for the general, consisting of about twenty fusileers. 

 Not far removed is the old dilapidated mission- 

 house of San Francisco Solano, scarcely tenantable, 

 though a small part of it is inhabited still by the 

 Padre Kihas, who continues, notwithstanding the 

 poverty of his mission, to entertain the stranger, 

 and show him all the hospitality he can. 



Besides the buildings just enumerated, there 

 were in the course of construction, in 1841, a neat 

 little chapel, and a small building for a billiard- 

 room. There ai-e also three or four more houses 

 and huts which are tenanted ; and at some future 

 day it may boast of some farther additions. 



General Vallejo was one of those who figured in 

 the revolution of 1836, and was then appointed 

 Commandant-General of Alta-California. He is 

 now the owner of large estates; and having chosen 

 this part of the country for his residence, he is 

 free from the opposition and broils that are con- 

 tinually growing out of the petty concerns of the 

 custom-house and its duties. He is not over- 

 scrupulous in demanding duties of the vessels 

 entering the port of San Francisco ; and until he 

 has been seen and consulted, a vessel trading here 

 is liable to an indefinite amount of duties. A por- 

 tion of the payment adds to his wealth, and how 

 much goes to the government is not known ; 

 enough, I was told, in some cases, to save appear- 

 ances, and no more. The foreigners who trade 

 here are very attentive to him ; and it might be 

 supposed, before making inquiry into the cause, 

 that he is a great favourite with them. The 

 highest official protection is necessary for all those 

 who wish to prosper in their trade to this port, 

 and to prevent exactions from subordinates. 



