PREFACE. vii 
been in the extreme north, and the extreme south; I have 
gone to both extremities by land and sea; I have travelled 
through the centre of her great basin; I am intimately ac- 
quainted with her richest agricultural districts; I know 
something of her mining and agriculture by experience and 
practice ; and, finally, I have endeavored to compress into 
this book all the important attainable facts. Amidst so 
much information, there are undoubtedly some little errors ; 
but the fair critic, before condemning and expatiating upon 
minor faults, will pass judgment upon the'question whether 
the book is or is not more comprehensive and instructive 
than any other, or than all others relating to the same 
subject. 
Of course, when I quote from the writings of others, I 
use quotation marks, and give credit according to the rules 
of honorable authors; but I have adopted, without quota- 
tion marks, various passages from articles written by my- 
self, and published in different newspapers.and magazines. 
Since the work is intended for popular use, and should be 
free from every thing not intelligible and interesting to the 
general reader, I have made no references to authorities ; 
and, indeed, I have drawn my information from so great a 
variety of sources (in many instances newspapers), that it 
would have been very inconvenient for me, and cumber- 
some to the book, to cite the authority for every statement. 
In case, however, that the accuracy of any statement in the 
work should be called in question, I think that I can pro- 
duce in every case credible evidence, and in most cases the 
conclusive proof. While I have drawn my material from 
many different sources, I claim as much originality as is 
possible for so comprehensive a collection of facts, in so 
many and so distinct branches of knowledge. 
JS op 
San Francisco, March, 1862. 
