BANKS OF THE SACRAMENTO RIVER. 
57 
presents the same appearance, but relieved in the background 
by the coast range of mountains with which we were running 
parallel. This range appears a continuous ledge of granite, 
destitute of vegetation, and at one point towers up into a peak 
of considerable height, called Monte Diablo, (Devil’s Mount). 
At 12 M., we arrived at Benicia, now a port of entry and 
United States naval station. The man of man-of-war, “ South¬ 
ampton,” was anchored in the stream—guarding the passage— 
to prevent smuggling. As soon as we came in sight they low¬ 
ered their boat, and pulled out toward the middle of the stream 
to intercept us, and examine our papers—at the same time 
hoisting a signal for us to come to. Our captain was an “ old 
salt,” and, in his estimation, the greatest blessing conferred upon 
man is a fair wind. He had every inch of canvas set, and man¬ 
ifested a determination not to shorten sail; we were running- 
before a ten-knot breeze, and flew by them like a shadow. 
They hailed us, but not being obeyed they fired a gun from 
the ship, when our captain ordered the helm put down, and in 
an instant our sails were fluttering in the breeze; we had dis¬ 
tanced the jolly-boat—they being obliged to row half a mile 
against the current to reach us. The officer boarded us in not 
the most amiable mood; it was quite apparent that we were 
enjoying a joke he thought somewhat expensive to himself. 
He informed us that a foreign vessel had passed them a few 
days previous; but they were now on their guard and would 
have given us the next shot in our rigging. He pronounced 
our papers satisfactory, and pulled off for the ship, being most 
heartily cheered by us. 
We were soon under way dashing along at lightning speed; 
soon arriving at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joa¬ 
quin rivers, fifty miles above San Francisco, the latter river 
coming in from the east, the former from the north. The strait 
up which we had sailed, running in the same direction, is called, 
by many, the Sacramento river. At the junction of the two 
rivers there is a marsh, of some extent, in the midst of which 
is located the “ Hew York of the Pacific,” of newspaper noto¬ 
riety. I am informed that it now contains one house. There 
were not so many when we passed up. It is said there has 
never been a death in the city. We soon entered u Sui Sun” 
