182 
CALIFORNIA. 
Dr. Marsh crossed nothing like a range of mountains in the whole 
route from the United States. Hills and mountains were often seen 
on what he calls the table-land of New Mexico. The most common 
plant met with was an acacia, a small shrub which is also to be found 
in the southern parts of New Mexico, where the climate is likewise 
very arid. In one district where it occurs, it is found necessary to 
protect both horse and rider with a sort of armour against this rigid 
and thorny vegetation, between latitude 37° and 38° N. 
He also reports that there are other streams to the east of the moun¬ 
tains without outlets, and which do not reach the Colorado, although 
running in that direction. He identifies the Youta, or great Salt Lake, 
with the Lake Timponogos of the early Spanish fathers who visited 
it, and agrees with others in placing the north end of it nearly in the 
parallel of 42° N. 
The Colorado he reports to be impracticable for boats to descend 
from the head waters to its mouth, on account of its rapidity. There 
is one place in it that is described as similar to the Dalles of the 
Columbia, which is supposed to be where it passes through the range 
of mountains. 
The banks of the river are bordered with marshes, which extend 
for miles back. This kind of country continues up both the Sacra¬ 
mento and San Joachim, and is the proper Tula district of which so 
much has been said, and so many errors propagated. Here the tula 
(Scirpus lacustris) grows in great luxuriance. 
On the 25th, the boats left New Helvetia. It was discovered, pre¬ 
vious to starting, that four men had deserted from their party. This 
is a common circumstance in this port, and very few vessels visit it 
without losing some portion of their crews. The dissolule habits 
of the people form such strong temptations for sailors, that few can 
resist them. A number of men who were deserters were continu¬ 
ally around us. Among others, the sergeant and marine guard that 
had deserted from H. B. M. ship Sulphur were the most troublesome. 
Their appearance did not prove that they had changed their situation 
for the better. 
Ten miles up the river, a sand-bar occurred, over which it was 
found that the launch could not pass. Lieutenant-Commandant Ring- 
gold therefore left her at this place, under charge of Mr. Williams, 
taking sufficient provisions in the boats. The oaks became more scat¬ 
tered, and the soil thickly covered with vegetation, although parched 
up by continued drought. 
On the 26th, they reached the mouth of Feather river, which is fif¬ 
teen miles above New Helvetia. It appeared nearly as broad as the 
