PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
375 
trigonometrical measurement. Upon the summit of that part of the CHAP, 
sierra bordering the arm of sea called Estrecho de S4n Jose, a thick 
wood, named Palos Colorados from its consisting principally of red cedar Nov. 
pine, stands conspicuous on the ridge. I mention this particularly, 
and wish to call attention to the circumstance, as the straggling trees 
at the south extreme of the wood are used as landmarks for avoiding 
a dangerous rock which we discovered in the harbour, and named after 
the Blossom. 
About noon they reached a small cottage named Burri Burri, about 
twelve miles from S4n F rancisco ; and being unused to travelling, 
especially upon Californian saddles, which are by no means constructed 
for comfort, they determined to rest, until the baggage that had been 
left in the rear should overtake them. The house in which they lodged 
was a small miserable mud cottage full of holes, which, however, 
afforded them repose and some new milk. Its inhabitants had been 
engaged in tanning, in which process they used a liquid extracted from 
oak bark, contained in a hide suspended by the corners. They had 
also collected in great quantities a very useful root called in that country 
amoles, which seems to answer all the purposes of soap. 
From Burri Burri, a continuation of the Sierra de San Bruno passes 
along the centre of the peninsula formed by the sea and the Estrecho 
de Scin Jose, and is separated from this arm of the harbour by a plain, 
upon which the travellers now descended from the mountains, and 
journeyed at a more easy and agreeable rate than they had done on the 
rugged paths among the hills. This plain near the sea is marshy, and 
having obtained the name of Las Salinas is probably overflowed oc- 
casionally by the sea. The number of wild geese which frequent it is 
quite extraordinary, and indeed would hardly be credited by any one 
who had not seen them covering whole acres of ground, or rising in 
myriads with a clang that may be heard at a very considerable distance. 
They are said to arrive in California in November, and to remain there 
until March. Their flesh in general is hard and fishy, but it was re- 
ported by padre Luis Gil, of the mission ofS4nta Cruz, that those which 
have yellow feet are exceptions to this, and are excellent eatin.o-. The 
blackbirds are almost equally numerous, and in their distant flight 
