NAPA VALLEY. 13 
Straits of Carquinez, about thirty miles from San Fran- 
cisco, on a gentle slope, which becomes almost a plain 
as it approaches the water’s edge. It contained at the 
time of my visit about 1500 inhabitants, including the 
soldiers now stationed here. Its buildings are mostly 
of wood, and among these are several hotels. The best 
of them is the ‘‘ American,” a neat and well-kept house, 
where we stopped. It was then the Head-quarters of 
the Pacific division of the U. 8. Army. The large 
deposit of Quarter-master’s and Commissary’s stones had 
been recently removed hither, and efforts were making 
to have the Navy yard here also. The Pacific Mail 
Steam Ship Company had its depot here, and next to 
the Navy yard was the most valuable accession it could 
possibly enjoy. The steamers all lie here untilafew . 
days before sailing, when they move down to San 
_ Francisco. This company furnished much business to 
the place with its large coal depot, ship yard, and 
various workshops, where several hundred men were 
constantly employed. The military post is about a 
mile from the town, and consists of a few wooden build- 
ings. 
I called on General Hitchcock, commanding the 
Pacific division of the U. S. Army, for the purpose of 
obtaining an escort for the Commission from San Diego 
to the Pimo villages on the Gila. This seemed neces- 
sary, as the command of Colonel Craig amounting to 
twenty-five men, which accompanied the surveying 
parties down the Gila, had all deserted but five, on 
their arrival at San Diego; and of these, three were 
non-commissioned officers. General Hitchcock, with 
the promptness and liberality which have ever distin- 
