158 CALIFORNIA. 



and the Feather rivers, as there is not in its bed sufficient room to 

 discharge so large a quantity of water. This valley will be presently 

 spoken of in connexion with its survey. 



The San Joachim does not pass through the Tula Lake as laid 

 down by Coulter ; its sources are in the Californian Range. The 

 Tula Lake is called by the Indians, Chintache Lake, it is for the most 

 part separated from the channel of the river, but when full join it. 



There are many small streams that flow through the different 

 valleys, and afford partial opportunities for irrigating the land ; but 

 there are none of them navigable, except the Sacramento. 



Upper California may boast of one of the finest, if not the very best 

 harbour in the world, that of San Francisco, as before described. 

 Few are more extensive or could be as readily defended as it ; while 

 the combined fleets of all the naval powers of Europe might moor in 

 it. This is, however, the only really good harbour which this country 

 possesses ; for the others so called may be frequented only during the 

 fine season, being nothing more than roadsteads, affording little safety 

 and but few supplies to vessels. 



Among these bays are that of Monterey, the capital of Upper Cali- 

 fornia, and that of Santa Barbara and San Pedro. The two last are 

 partly protected from the swell of the Pacific Ocean by the islands 

 that cover them. They are, however, but seldom used, there being 

 comparatively little trade upon all this coast; for the hides and tallow 

 which formerly abounded and made the business profitable for vessels, 

 are no longer to be procured. The destruction of the missions, and 

 the onerous laws, duties, and prohibitions, have nearly destroyed the 

 little traffic that once existed, and it is now all transferred to the bay 

 of San Francisco. There a few hulks may be seen lying, furnished 

 with every needful article : these keep up an illicit intercourse by 

 the connivance of the officers of the customs, by whose cupidity the 

 revenue laws are openly infringed, and what of right belongs to the 

 government, goes to enrich the governor and his officers. 



The principal articles imported, are cotton cloths, velvet, silks, 

 brandies, wines, teas, &c. ; in return for which they receive hides and 

 tallow, skins, wheat, and salmon. The attention of the inhabitants has 

 been principally directed to the raising of cattle, and the greater part of 

 the wealth of California may be considered as consisting in live-stock. 

 The exportations, on the average of years, is about one hundred and 

 fifty thousand hides and two hundred thousand arrobas of tallow. The 



