IN AND AROUND SAN FRANCISCO. 



255 



the same time a political conflict was going on between the 

 home government and the provincial, in which latter were 

 living many rebellious Americans. The result was a demorali- 

 zation which made California an easy conquest by the United 

 States. In fact, as before stated. Colonel Fremont declared the 

 province independent before war between Mexico and this 

 country was known to him. 



How THEY Built the Ships in. 



The war over and gold discovered, the Mission Dolores 

 ceased to be the business centre of the region around the bay ; 

 for the harbor, where the incoming vessels bringing passengers 

 and supplies must land, was two miles north. This was Yerba 

 Buena Cove, and the deep water opposite was soon alive with 



