200 HISTORY or CALIFORNIA, 



the steamsliip moves out of the bay, rounding Point 

 ^lala. The voyage upon the Pacific, with all its 

 variety of incident and scenery, then commences. 

 The principal annoyance of travellers is the almost 

 intolerable heat of the sun and furnaces of the steam- 

 ship united. Water-spouts and different species of 

 whale are frequent sights. Korth of the Gulf of Te- 

 huantepec, the steamer nears the land, and the bold 

 mountain coast of Mexico breaks upon the view, and, 

 at night, the passengers enjoy a view of the glaring 

 light produced by the burning volcano of Colima ; 

 though the volcano itself is but imperfectly seen, 

 being at the distance of ninety miles from the vessel. 

 Soon after this fades from the view, the islands off the 

 town of San Bias appear, and an immense white rock, 

 isolated from the sea, serving as a lighthouse to ships 

 steering for the port. At San Bias, the steamships 

 remain some time, to obtain supplies of coal, fresh 

 fruits, and provisions. These indispensables having 

 been procured, the vessel proceeds upon her voyage. 

 Cape Corientes next appears, and, soon afterwards, 

 the entrance to the Gulf of California is approached ; 

 and then, Cape San Lucas, the extreme southern 

 point of California, with its mountains and rocky 

 shores, is hailed by the traveller as the first portion of 

 the "promised land" that greets his sight. Passing 

 along the western coast of the peninsula, the island 

 and bay of Magdalena appear, with shores three or 

 four thousand feet above the sea. 'Next, the towering 

 ridges of Cerros Isles are passed, and the bold, rocky 

 shores of the peninsula are in continual view. The- 

 change of the temperature of the air is generally 

 keenly felt by those who do not take care to provide 

 against it. Within a few days after leaving Panama, 



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