346 
VOYAGE TO THE 
the garrison, and the inconvenience felt by the governor, in 
having to wait for a report of arrivals, until the masters of the vessels 
could send their boats on shore. 
The port of San Francisco does not show itself to advantage, until 
after the fort is passed, when it breaks upon the view, and forcibly im- 
presses the spectator with the magnificence of the harbour. He then 
beholds a broad sheet of water, sufficiently extensive to contain all the 
British navy, with convenient coves, anchorage in every part, and, around, 
a country diversified with hill and dale, partly wooded, and partly 
disposed in pasture lands of the richest kind, abounding in herds of 
cattle. In short, the only objects wanting to complete the interest of 
the scene are some useful establishments and comfortable residences 
on the grassy borders of the harbour, the absence of which creates an in- 
voluntary regret, that so fine a country, abounding in all that is essen- 
tial to man, should be allowed to remain in such a state of neglect. So 
poorly did the place appear to be peopled that a sickly column of smoke 
rising from within some dilapidated walls, misnamed the presidio or 
protection, was the only indication we had of the country being in- 
habited. 
The harbour stretches to the S. E. to the distance of thirty miles, 
and affords a water communication between the missions of San Jose, 
Santa Clara, and the presidio, which is built upon a peninsula about 
five miles in width. On the north the harbour is contracted to a strait, 
which communicates with a basin ten miles wide, with a channel across 
it sufficiently deep for frigates, though they cannot come near the land, 
on account of the mud. A creek on the N. W. side of this basin leads 
up to the new mission of San Francisco Solano ; and a strait to the east- 
ward, named Estrecho de Karquines, communicates with another basin 
into which three rivers discharge themselves, and bring down so large 
a body of water that the estrecho is from ten to eleven fathoms deep. 
These rivers are named Jesus Maria, El Sacramento, and San Joachin : 
the first, I was informed, takes a northerly direction, passes at the 
back of Bodega, and extends beyond Cape Mendocino. El Sacramento 
trends to the N. E., and is said to have its rise in the rocky moun- 
tains near the source of the Columbia. The other, San Joachin, 
