318 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CALIFORNIA. 



good pasturage for the cattle which are found there in large 

 numbers. There are but two tracts of country capable of sup- 

 porting a large population — one west of Mount San Barnardino, 

 and the other surrounding the Bay of San Francisco and the 

 lower part of the Sacramento. To the east of the California 

 Mountains are the vast sandy plains, of which but little is 

 known ; nor have any attempts been made to explore the more 

 northern portion of this section. 



The valleys of San Juan and that of Sacramento, are 

 capable of producing great crops of wheat, rye, oats, Indian 

 corn, potatoes, &c, with all the fruits and vegetables of the 

 temperate, and many of the tropical climates. The cultiva- 

 tion of the grape increases yearly, and the vineyards about the 

 Missions yield most abundantly as finely-flavored fruit as 

 there is to be found in any part of the world. 



All this portion of California is well adapted to the rearing 

 of cattle and sheep ; they can find plenty of nutritious food 

 the whole year round, and they require no watching. The 

 mutton is of very fine flavor, and the usual price for a sheep 

 is from one dollar to one dollar and a half. 



The Sacramento, and other rivers of California abound in 

 salmon, and might be made a source of considerable profit. 

 Many more valuable species are taken in these waters. 



The white and mixed population of this section is estimated 

 at five thousand. They are robust and tall, and pride them- 

 selves on their horsemanship ; they early become expert and 

 fearless riders, and they have been known to ride upwards of 

 two hundred miles in one day. Descended from the old 

 Spaniards, they are found to have all their vices and scarcely 

 any of their virtues ; they are cowardly, ignorant, lazy, and 

 addicted to gambling and drinking ; very few of them are able 

 to read or write, and know nothing of science or literature, 



