CALIFORNIA. 157 



the whole of its course by our land party, until it joined the Sacra- 

 mento: the latter is thought by some to pass through the mountains 

 and join Pitt's river. Pitt's river is said to take its rise to the northeast 

 of the Shaste Mountain, and from the information that I received, ex- 

 tends as far as Pitt's Lake, under the forty-second parallel. I have 

 reason to doubt whether the length of its course is so great, and believe 

 that the Sacramento has its source in the eastern spurs of the Shaste 

 Mountain. I have, however, indicated by a dotted line on the map, 

 the course Pitt's river is thought to pursue before it joins the Sacra- 

 mento. This, if correct, would give the Sacramento, with its branches, 

 a course of two hundred miles from the ocean. 



The first branch of any size in descending the Sacramento is that 

 called Feather river, which joins it below the Prairie Butes, coming 

 from the northeast. This branch takes its rise in the California Moun- 

 tains, near their northern end, and has a course of about forty miles. 

 The American river is a small branch that joins the Sacramento at 

 New Helvetia. After receiving this stream, the Sacramento is joined 

 by the San Joachim, which courses from the south, and below their 

 confluence enters the bay of San Pablo through the Straits of Kaquines, 

 thence passing into the bay of San Francisco. 



It is navigable for boats to the distance of one hundred and fifty 

 miles, and for vessels as far as New Helvetia. The upper portion of it, 

 near the Prairie Butes, overflows its banks, and submerges the whole 

 of the Sacramento Valley as far down as the San Joachim. This 

 inundation is probably caused by the united effects of the Sacramento 

 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 sepa- 

 rated from the channel of the river, but when full joins it. 



There are many small streams that flow through the different valleys, 

 and afford partial opportunites 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 

 O 



