CHAPTER I. 
MOUTH OF THE COLORADO. 
Armee TO MOUTH OF SREP Os pee ROCK. Weiser ay BEEF, —Buack CAPE.—ENTRANCE TO cabbage: sa! CHANNEL.—Mon- 
GUE AND GOREE ISLANDS OwL SCENERY AT MOUTH OF RIV RETURN TO SCHOON 
Phy: F- TIDE.—THE BORE —DIFFICULTY OF LANDING STEAMBOAT,—NOVEL MOORING PLACE Ov OF COUNTRY. +taaveth 
OF STORES.—BOaT FROM FORT YUMA.—ARRANGEMENT OF CAMP.—ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA.—ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. — 
PREPARATION FOR segues WAYS FOR wrnANEO A, PERE EXCURSION. “Seemann OF WAYS. err IN BUILD OF BOAT.— 
ProposED REMEDY.—A NORTHWESTER Bump F HULL—NEW-MOON TIDES. 
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS.—EXTRICATION OF THE MONTEREY. iad YUMA STEAMBOATS.—EARLY NAVIGATION OF COLORADO.— 
Cocopas.—SuspPicioN ABOUT EXPEDITION.— ENGAGEMENT OF PILOT.— VIOLENT GALE.—OVERTHROW OF OBSERVATORY.—DEPARTURE 
OF CAPTAIN WALSH.—PROGRESS OF STEAMBOAT TOWARDS COMPLETION.—APPROACH OF FULL-MOON TIDES.—ARRIVAL OF PARTY FROM 
FORT YUMA.—ILLNESS OF DR. NEWBERRY.—LAUNCHING OF BOAT. ~ PREPARATION TO COMMENCE ASCENT OF RIVER, 
November 28, 1857.—Our near approach to the mouth of the Colorado river was announced, 
shortly after sunrise this morning, by the appearance of Ship Rock, bearing northwest on the 
starboard bow. All crowded on deck to see the landmark that indicated the termination 
of the tedious voyage; but there was no need of haste, for the wind still remained light and 
uncertain, and dead ahead, affording us an opportunity of inspecting Ship Rock, from different 
points of view, for nearly fourteen hours. This rather remarkable peak can be distinctly seen 
twenty or twenty-five miles from the deck of a low vessel, and at that distance bears a great 
resemblance to a sloop before the wind. It is about two hundred feet high, and covered with 
guano. It bears nearly south from the mouth of the river, being distant from it twenty-five 
miles. A reef of low rocks runs from its base in a southwesterly direction for two or three 
miles. This reef is not noticed upon the charts, and might hazard the safety of a vessel 
approaching the head of the Gulf by night. 
At 4 p. m. we were abreast of a low black-leoking cape, beyond which lies the Mission of 
San Felipe. On the opposite side of the Gulf could be seen the dim outline of a high point, 
the only land visible in that direction. All of the region in the vicinity is low and flat. On 
the California side a range of mountains borders the Gulf as far north as Black cape, and then 
trends towards the northwest. The most elevated peaks appeared from the sea to be from 
fifteen hundred to two thousand feet in height. The country north of the cape, between the 
mountains and the water, is so low as to be invisible from the deck of the vessel. 
After passing the cape the water began rapidly to shoal, soundings taken during the evening 
giving a depth of eighteen fathoms. The bottom is a soft ooze, of a grayish-blue color, and 
feeling like grease to the fingers. 
At sunset the tide, which begins now to be strongly felt, became favorable; and though the 
wind has.been light, we have made good progress since nightfall towards the river. 
November 29.—The schooner was borne along by the tide last night to the mouth of the 
Colorado, and, as the ebb set in, came to anchor in five fathoms water, to wait for morning © 
and the returning flood. 
The day dawned clear and brilliant, and as the sun rose the temperature became soft and 
springlike. The transparent purity of the atmosphere, and the light glancing from the unrufiled 
surface of the Gulf, imparted to the scene a dazzling lustre. Ship Rock had entirely disappeared 
from view. The peaks on the Sonora side were distinctly visible, rising like islands from the 
surrounding desert. Black cape, low down upon the horizon, and the ragged summits of the 
California range, limited the view towards the west. Low red hills lay north of this range, 
4 I 
