VIEW OF UPPER CALIFORNIA. 



233 



They are friendly to the whites, and less disposed to appropriate to their 

 own use everything they can lay hands on, than some other tribes. The) 

 seldom go to war, though by no means deficient in bravery, — frequently re- 

 sisting with signal success the hostile encroachments of the Sioux and 

 Chyennes. Rich in horses and game, they likewise include within their 

 territory many interesting and beautiful localities, as well as some extraor- 

 dinary natural curiosities. 



One division of this tribe is identified with the Diggers in habits and 

 mode of living, — the same causes operating in each case to produce the 

 same results. Another division is identified with the Crows, and yet a 

 third one with the Utahs, — numbering in all not far from twelve thousand. 



Being less migratory in their habits, and more tractable in their di.-^position 

 than those of their eastern brethren demontes, they are far more susceptible 

 of civilization and improvement ; though, as yet, nothing has been done for 

 their benefit. The missionary might here find an encouraging field for his 

 philanthropic exertions. 



With the passage of the mountain chain, noticed in the preceding chap- 

 ter, the reader is inducted to the northeastern extremity of California. 

 My intention of visiting the interior of this interesting province of the 

 Mexican Republic was frustrated through the lack of a convenient oppor- 

 tunity for its prosecution ; but, as the public mind, during the past few 

 years, has been so much occupied with subjects connected with tliis coun- 

 try, I am unwilling to pass on without presenting a brief description of 

 it, obtained from sources upon which full reliance may be placed. 



The following sketch, coupled with my own observations, is carefully 

 arranged from information derived from indviduals encountered during my 

 stay in this country, some of whom had travelled over most of it, and 

 others had resided for years within its confines. 



On referring to the map, a large extent of country will be noticed, 

 bounded upon the north by Oregon, east by the Rocky Mountains, south 

 by the Lower Province and Gulf of California, together v/ith the Rio Gila 

 which separates it from Sonora, and west by the Pacific, situated between 

 parallels 32'^ and 42*^ north latitude, which is now known as Upper Cah- 

 fornia. 



This embraces an extent of nearly 450,000 square miles, and is walled 

 in for the most part upon the north and east by lofty mountains, impassable 

 except at certain points ; while upon the west and south its vast stretch of 

 sea-coast, navigable rivers, and commodious harbors open it to the commer- 

 cial intercourse of all nations. 



The entire country is more or less broken by hills and mountains, many 

 of them towering to a height of several thousand feet above the level of 

 the sea, whose summits, clothed with eternal snow, overlook the valleys of 

 perennial verdure that so frequently lie around them. The most noted of 

 these is the California, or Cascade range, which, by intersecting the prov- 

 ince from north to south, separates it into two grand natural divisions, pro- 

 perly denominated Eastern and Western California. 



The above range, though higher than the principal chain of the Rocky 

 Mountains, is passable at various points. It is situated inland from the 

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