OF NEW ALMADEN. | 69 
he was in search of was a perfect terra incognita even 
to the people who then composed the settlement at 
Yerba Buena; nor could he gain any information re- 
specting the river which lea to it, or even as to where 
it entered the bay. His scheme of settling in the inte- 
rior among the wild Indians, was considered a danger- 
ous one, and efforts were made to dissuade him from it; 
but he had made up his mind to go, and accordingly 
got a small boat and set off with a few men to find the 
Sacramento River. They coasted along the bay in vain 
for several days, and were about to abandon their 
search, when one night as they were moving slowly 
along by moonlight, Captain Sutter himself discovered 
an opening which proved to be the mouth of that river. 
He passed up it, and selected the spot where he built 
his fort, and of which he afterwards obtained a grant 
from the Mexican government.” 
When we hear of the pioneers of the West, we 
imagine them to be such as our Daniel Boon, who led 
the life of a hunter, trapper, and Indian fighter, until 
his home was surrounded by settlers, when he again 
moved farther off, desiring always to be beyond the 
pale of civilization. Captain Sutter was not of this class ; 
although he has had his share in fighting the battles 
of Europe, as well as encountering the Indian on the 
prairie. He has the manners of anintelligent and cour- 
teous gentleman, accustomed to move in polished socie- 
ty. He speaks several languages with fluency. He is 
_ kind, hospitable, and generous to a fault; as very many 
Americans know who have lived on his bounty. Had 
he been permitted to retain his immense estate on the 
Sacramento, and dispose of it as wanted by actual set- 
