46 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
was entirely without interruption, and the scene most enchant¬ 
ing. It seemed to us that, the gates had been thrown open, and 
we ushered in to view some fairy scene. At our left was the 
little bay of “Saucelito” (Little Willow), where several vessels 
were lying cosily under the bank, taking in water. Here is a 
small island, inhabited only by sea-fowl—there a strait which is 
the mouth of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, beyond 
which the shore of the bay is bold with mountains in, the back¬ 
ground. We still head toward the island in the centre. At our 
right, the shore is bold, and still further on, a point of considera¬ 
ble elevation juts out into the bay. The tide is still bearing us 
along with headlong speed, and we are obliged to take in all 
sail with the exception of the flying-jib. As we neared the point 
we changed our course, making as near it as practicable, and, 
as we round it, San Francisco is spread out before us, where 
rides a fleet of two hundred sail. We feel that we have attained 
the acme of our ambition, that we have really entered the 
“Golden Gates.” We pass along, and passing several vessels, 
come to the United States man-of-war, “Gen. Warren.” Our 
patriotism, at this particular time, was not of a nature to be 
smothered into silence. We took off our hats, opened our 
mouths, and it was soon evident that our lungs had lost none .of 
their vigor by exposure to the sea air. We passed most of the 
shipping, and finding a convenient place our captain cried out 
“haul down the flying jib,” “let go the anchor,” and our ship 
rounded to, as if willing to rest after a run of sixty-five days. 
We were immediately boarded by boatmen, and I was soon 
in a row-boat on my way to the shore. On landing, my first 
move was for the post-office. I had gone but a few paces in 
this city of strangers, before some one called my name. I 
turned around; he did not recognize my six months’ beard, 
and apologized. I recognized him as a New York friend, and 
assured him there was no offence, that I was the identical indi¬ 
vidual he was looking for. I accompanied him to his store, where 
he exhibited several specimens of gold, weighing twenty-seven 
ounces, twenty-five ounces, and down to a single ounce. These 
were no unwelcome sight to me, and served to stimulate the 
fever. My greatest anxiety, however, was to hear from home, 
and with the least possible delay, I hurried to the post office. I 
