April.] 



OLD CALIFORNIA. 



199 



must be brought about by foreigners : it will never be effected by the 

 natives. 



By this time the most inexperienced reader must be aware that Old 

 California is a long narrow peninsula, extending nearly north-west and 

 south-east through about eleven degrees of latitude, and perhaps eight of 

 longitude, being united to the continent at its north-west extremity by a 

 neck of land one hundred and sixty miles in width, reaching from the 

 mouth of the Colorado river to a bay called San Diego. A chain of 

 mountains ranges through the whole length of this extensive peninsula, 

 the most elevated peak of which rises to nearly five thousand feet 

 above the level of the sea. The width of this peninsula varies from 

 thirty to one hundred and twenty miles. It is said to comprise fifty-six 

 thousand square miles ; viz. eight hundred in length by an average of 

 seventy in breadth. The population, however, is only estimated at a 

 little over ten thousand. Wherever fresh water is found the soil is 

 excellent ; and vines grow spontaneously in the mountains. It is said 

 that the Jesuits, when they resided here, made abundance of wine, 

 which in taste was much like Madeira. Among the mountains are 

 interspersed several fertile valleys of good soil ; and some of the plains, 

 particularly in the vicinity of the coast, are well adapted both for pas- 

 turage and tillage, and are now in a fair way to become greatly im- 

 proved by cultivation. 



The Bay of St. Francis, in which we now lay at anchor, is in the 

 northern division of the peninsula, being in latitude 30° 20' N. The 

 surrounding country abounds with excellent grazing-meadows, which 

 are thickly stocked with wild cattle, deer, gray foxes, &c. Here also 

 are found many different kinds of birds, but very few that are remark- 

 able for beauty of plumage or sweetness of song. In this bay vessels 

 may procure cattle, sheep, deer, hogs, potatoes, and vegetables of va- 

 rious kinds, at the most moderate prices. But it is difficult to obtain 

 fresh water or wood at this place. The banks in this bay are fre- 

 quently visited by sea-leopards, but they are very wild ; the sea-otter 

 likewise is sometimes taken by the natives, but they have become quite 

 scarce, and I believe the race is nearly extirpated. 



There are many kinds of scale-fish at the head of this bay, which 

 may be caught with a small seine in great abundance ; among them 

 are very large mullets, which average three pounds apiece. The 

 neighbouring country abounds with rattlesnakes of an enormous size. 

 During an excursion of five miles into the interior I have seen more 

 than two hundred of these reptiles, and killed some that were six feet 

 in length and twelve inches in circumference. 



Vessels intending to enter this port must steer for the south-west 

 point of the bay, which opens to the south. This point is in latitude 

 30° 20' N., long. 115° 14' W. ; and when you are within two miles of 

 its southern extremity, steer north-north-east until the point bears west- 

 north-west, when you may haul north-north-west ; or, if the wind is out 

 of the bay, you may make short tacks, taking care not to stretch under 

 the east shore in less than five fathoms of water, from which it shallows 

 very suddenly. In approaching the west shore, you may stand within 

 a cable's length of the beach, after the point bears west, and choose 



