96 RETURN FROM SAN FRANCISCO 
navigating; but when once the entrance is passed, 
there is an abundance of water. I saw large ships 
some six miles within this harbor, and was informed 
that the Pacific mail steamers, and one of our frigates, 
had also been there. An accurate survey has lately 
been made by the United States “Coast Survey” and 
elaborate maps published with the soundings and all 
the bearings laid down, to enable navigators to enter it. 
About half a mile from Point Loma, is the Playa, 
or beach, where the mail steamers, and other vessels, 
stop for coal and supplies. It is convenient of access 
with any wind, and affords a safe anchorage. Here is 
a small village, and the ‘hide houses” which have be- 
come somewhat celebrated from the graphic account 
of life in California, and the process of curing hides, 
given by Mr. Dana, in his “‘Two Years before the 
Mast.” They still stand precisely as he describes them, 
and are now only used as barns or store-houses. A 
fine road along the beach leads to the old town of San 
Diego, standing on a flat at the base of a high hill 
which extends about two miles to the south: this flat 
reaches more than a mile into the bay, preventing the 
nearer approach of vessels or boats. It also extends 
northwardly to a shallow opening on the north side of 
the promontory before described, called ‘‘ False Bay.” 
At San Diego, a small stream runs into the bay; 
but during the summer, it becomes dry. At its floods, 
it brings down great quantities of sand, which are de- 
posited in the channel; whence fears of serious injury 
to the harbor have been entertained. To obviate this, 
it has been proposed to change the course of the river 
to False Bay, into which it formerly run. It would 00 
