PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
347 
stretches to the southward, through the country of the Bolbones, and is 
divided from the S. E. arm of the harbour by a range of mountains. 
When Langsdorif was at this port, an expedition was undertaken 
by Don Louis Arguello and Padre Uria to make converts, and to in- 
quire into the nature of the country in the vicinity of the Sierra 
nevada ; and I learned from Don Louis, I believe a son of the com- 
mander, that they traced the Sacramento seventy or eighty leagues 
up, and that it was there very wide and deep, but that he had no boat 
to ascertain its depth. The padre had it in contemplation to form a 
settlement in that direction, which he thought would become very rich 
in a short time by the number of Indians who would flock to it ; but 
as it was never done, I presume he found material obstacles to his 
design. 
As we opened out the several islands and stopping places in the 
harbour, we noticed seven American whalers at anchor at Sausalito, not 
one of which showed their colours ; we passed them and anchored off 
a small bay named Yerba Buena, from the luxuriance of its vegetation, 
about a league distant from both the presidio and the mission of San 
Erancisco. I immediately went on shore to pay my respects to Don 
Ignacio Martinez, a lieutenant in the Mexican army, acting governor 
in the absence of Don Louis, and to the priest, whose name was Tomaso, 
both of whom gave me a very hospitable and friendly reception, and 
offered their services in any way they might be required. Our first 
inquiries naturally related to supplies, which we were disappointed to 
find not at all equal to what had been reported ; in short, it seemed 
that with the exception of flour, fresh beef, vegetables, and salt, which 
might be procured through the missions, we should have to depend 
upon the American vessels for whatever else we might want, or upon 
what might chance to be in store at Monterey, a port of more import- 
ance than San Francisco, and from being the residence of a branch of a 
respectable firm in Lima, better supplied with the means of refitting 
vessels after a long sea voyage. 
It was evident from this report that the supplies were likely to be 
very inadequate to our wants, but that no opportunity of obtaining 
them might be lost, 1 despatched Mr. Collie the surgeon, and Mr. 
CHAP. 
XIII. 
Nov. 
]82fi. 
Y Y 2 
