116 SAN DIEGO TO 
name, the terror of all travellers when accompanied 
by wagons. We had heard much of this hill, and 
were fully prepared to undertake the labor of passing 
it. To keep our seats in the wagon was out of the 
question; so we all got out, and literally put our 
shoulders to the wheels. The driver, while he held 
the reins, braced up the wagon to prevent its upset 
ting, and Dr. Webb and myself alternately pushed 
behind or chocked the wheels. The mules tugged 
_ with all their strength, and we moved steadily though 
slowly on, stopping every forty or fifty feet to let the 
animals rest. The road pursued a zig-zag course, 
winding along the side and around the hill, ,which 
somewhat lessened the difficulty of the ascent. But 
the steepness was not the greatest difficulty to en 
counter. This consisted in the “ sidling” places, where 
the wagon could not stand upright, and required to be 
held up with ropes while ascending or descending. 
Then, again, portions of the road were very rocky, 
and much gullied by running water. Occasionally 
there was a cessation of hills, and a short piece of good 
road ; but then soon came descents, which were at 
tended with more trouble than the ascents; for the 
wheels had to be locked, and the wagon held up with 
ropes. 
In this way we journeyed the whole day with little 
variation. San Pasqual forms part of a high mountain 
ridge running north and south. From its summit we 
had a fine view of the surrounding country, though 
lesser hills extended far along its base. I have 2° 
doubt that a closer reconnoissance of the country would 
make known a more practicable route than this, by 
