126 



DR. parry's report. 



main 



horses. From this pointy continuing a northeast course, the 

 river is crossed ; thence you pass up a more northerly branch. On this route ^ye soon approach 

 an immense mountain wall, lying on our right, and hloclving up our way eastward. The ascent 

 of this was accomplished at a depressed point in the general range, leading hy a rude, unbroken 

 track along the edges of a ravine. The general height of the ridge, some eight hundred feet 

 above the valley, was at last attained by doubling teams, and frequent manual assistance. 



Our route thence led along^ and beyond, the line of broken valleys and irregular ridges, 

 showing frequently depressed basins, over upland plains, to the Eancho Santa Maria. The 

 rock exposure was quite uniform, being composed of crystalline feldspathic granite, coarsely 

 grained, or showing occasionally a close sienitic texture. The computed height of the Rancho 

 Santa Maria, above the sea, is 1,353 feet. It occupies the western edge of an extensive upland 



miles 



the broken line of the dividing ridge of this mountain ranp:e. 



D 



On the northern border of this plain lies the lower course of the Eio Santa Isabel, flowing 

 hence in an irregular western course, and finally forming the San Diegito river, which empties 

 into the ocean some twenty miles above San Diego. The open plain is destitute of timber. 



being covered mainly with pasture growth. 



(Q 



on all the adjoining mountain slopes. Continuing along the line of the main road to Santa 

 Isabel, being the same followed by General Kearny in 1846, the day before the battle of San 



gs us in the midst 



scenery of this portion of California, We here pass amid groves of live-oak, verdant shrubbery, 

 and rich pasturage, set off in the back-ground by high rocky cliffs, or disclosing, in the 

 distance, pine-fringed heights, distinctly marked against the clear sky. At Santa Isabel we 

 encounter a clear running stream, coursing through an open valley, surrounded by lofty mount- 

 ains ; those directly to the east form the dividing crest of the range. 



From this point there is a ^^ cut-off" leading by a direct east course, over the mountain ridge, 

 which rejoins the wagon road at San Felipe. To this route, being least known, we shall confine 

 our remarks. Passing then directly up the main course of the Eio Santa Isabel, we follow a 

 plain bridle-path, which, passing by frequent ascents, at first steep and broken, amid rocky ex- 

 posures of granite, soon expands into quite an open valley. This valley is bounded on either 

 side by steep mountains, along the sides of which, as we proceed upwards, pines make their 

 appearance. Our trail, crossing from one side to another of the lively brook dignified with 

 the title of the Rio Santa Isabel, brings us into the main road, about six miles above the settle- 

 ments, and near the dividing crest of the main ridge. Just below this is situated the rancho 



of a Mr. "Williams. The country here has a fresh mountain look ; the air is cool and bracing. 

 The rock exposures at this point show a form of quartz granite, frequently imbedding crys- 

 tals of tourmaline. 



om 



more 



W 



ain ranges stretching in a dim line seaward ; to the east the descent is more abrupt, and the 

 view shows the bare outline of the desert mountains, projecting in irregular spurs into the desert 

 plain, or standing as isolated ridges in the dull brown expanse below. • 



The descent from the ridge to the east is by abrupt pitches along the sides of a steep ravine, 

 opening out below into a dry waterless valley ; this valley, thence expanding, forms the open 

 plain of San Felipe, surrounded by dull ashy-colored mountains. 



