72 RETURN FROM SAN FRANCISCO 
shot rapidly through the ‘‘Golden Gate.” Outside 
it was so calm, that the broad surface of the Pacific 
resembled an ocean of glass. 
April 15th. Reached Monterey at eleven, a. m, 
where I found Captain Ottinger with his beautiful 
little craft. 
The coast between San Francisco and Monterey 
presents nothing but low sandy hills, covered with 
chapporal or scanty verdure. Large quantities of sand 
are blown up from the sea, and in many places overtop 
the vegetation. | 
On coming to this place from San Francisco, one 
is struck with its remarkable dulness; yet until the 
discovery of gold in the country, it was the chief 
place on the coast, and the capital of California. 
Many of its houses are now deserted, or in a dilapi- 
dated state, and the grass may be seen growing in 
its streets. 
The town is prettily situated on a gentle slope of 
land, facing the north, about two miles from Point — 
Pinos, which forms the southern extremity of the har- 
bor or roadstead. The harbor is not a good one, 
being exposed to the prevailing north-westerly winds, 
and exhibiting a long beach, with as troublesome a surf 
as the open sea. From the southwesters it is well pro- 
tected by Point Pinos. On the east isa succession of 
small hills, rising one above the other directly from the 
slope on which the town stands, and covered chiefly 
with pines. Behind, and immediately contiguous to 
these, rises the coast range of mountains. On the 
north, the bay makes a broad semi-circular sweep some 
fifteen or twenty miles distant, terminating at a point 
