CALIFORNIA. 193 



highly ; they are excellent swimmers, and in consequence of it do 

 not need them in their narrow streams ; they, however, make use of 

 simple rafts, composed of one or two logs, generally split. 



The venereal disease is said to prevail to a great extent among 

 them ; and whole tribes have been swept off by the small-pox. The 

 former is said to have been communicated by the Indians who have 

 been discharged from the mission. All agree that the Indians have 

 been very unjustly treated by the governor. Cattle that had been 

 given to them by the padres of the mission when they left it, have 

 been taken away from them by this functionary, and added to his 

 own stock — whence a saying has been derived, that the governor's 

 cows produce three times a year. The Spanish laws do not recog- 

 nise the Indian title to lands, but consider them and the Indians also 

 in the light of public property. 



Although the country around was parched up with the severe 

 drought that had prevailed, yet the short grasses were abundant, 

 and it was more completely covered with vegetation than that below. 

 Scattered oaks are seen in all directions, some of which are of large 

 dimensions, — five or six feet in diameter, and sixty or seventy feet 

 high. 



The scenery was very much admired, and Mount Diavolo, near 

 the mouth of the San Joachim, adds to its beauty. The mountains 

 to the east are visible from Captain Suter's settlement, and it is said 

 that during some portions of the year they are covered with snow. 

 A route across them was followed, directly east of this place, by a 

 party, but they were twenty days in getting over, and found the 

 country so thickly wooded that they were obliged to cut their way. 

 The pass which is recommended as better, is two hundred miles to 

 the north of this place, through the gap made by the head waters 

 of the Sacramento. This has led to the belief that Pitt's river ex- 

 tends in this direction through and beyond them. 



The best route to the United States is to follow the San Joachim 

 for sixty miles, thence easterly, through a gap in the Snowy Moun- 

 tains, by a good beaten road ; thence the course is northeasterly to 

 Mary's river, which flows southeast and has no outlet, but loses 

 itself in a lake ; thence continuing in the same direction, the Port- 

 neuf river, in the Upper Shoshone, is reached ; and thence to Fort 

 Hall. According to Dr. Marsh, (an American of much intelligence, 

 resident at the mouth of the San Joachim, to whom we are indebted 



vol. v. 49 



