344 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAPTER XIII. 
Arrive at San Francisco — Description of the Harbour, Presidio, and the Missions — Occupa- 
tions — Dissatisfied State of the Garrison and the Priesthood — Contemplated Plan of 
settling the Indians in the Missions — Occupations of the converted Indians — Manner 
of making Converts — Expedition against the Tribe of Cosemenes — Official Despatch — 
Overland Journey to Monterey — Scarcity of Provisions at that Place — Plan of the 
Voyage altered in consequence — Departure. 
CHAP. When the day broke, we found ourselves about four miles from the 
land. It was a beautiful morning, with just sufficient freshness in the 
Nov. air to exhilarate without chilling. The tops of the mountains, the 
only part of the land visible, formed two ranges, between which our 
port was situated; though its entrance, as well as the valleys and the 
low lands, were still covered with the morning mist condensed around 
the bases of the mountains. We bore up for the opening between the 
ranges, anxious for the rising sun to withdraw the veil, that we might 
obtain a view of the harbour, and form our judgment of the country in 
which we were about to pass the next few weeks. As we advanced, the 
beams of the rising sun gradually descended the hills, until the mist, 
dispelled from the land, roUed on before the refreshing sea wind, dis- 
covering cape after cape, and exhibiting a luxuriant country apparently 
abounding in wood and rivers. At length two low promontories, the 
southern one distinguished by a fort and a Mexican flag, marked the 
narrow entrance of the port. 
We spread our sails with all the anxiety of persons who had 
long been secluded from civilized society, and deprived of wholesome 
