NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY—SACRAMENTO VALLEY. 
57 
July 11.—The road was at first slightly hilly, and bordered by a few scattered oaks. It then 
crossed a level plain, bare of trees, where the heat was very oppressive. We found a little 
lake on this plain, and the dry beds of two small streams, which were evidently tributaries in 
the rainy season. Towards the end of the day’s march, the country again became undulating. 
We encamped on a small creek, near a collection of two or three houses called Vacaville. 
July 12.—To-day, we travelled among the low foot hills of the Coast Range to Putos creek, 
where there were several fine oak, peach, and fig trees, and a vineyard. The hills could be 
avoided by keeping further towards the east. Lieut. Williamson made the following note 
upon Putos creek, in his journal: “ Putos creek, at the most favorable point, requires a bridge 
130 feet in length. The bed of the stream is now 20 feet below the banks, and the water 
less than a foot deep. In the winter and spring, the banks are nearly reached by the water. 
The stream, I am informed, was named after a tribe of Indians which lived upon its banks, and 
which were known to the Spaniards as the Putos Indians ; the word 1 putos’, being masculine, 
means a lazy, worthless vagabond. Hence the creek was called Rio de los Putos. It is, how¬ 
ever, generally called Puta creek, and sometimes Pewter creek.” 
The road next crossed a dry, dusty plain, several miles in width, where every breath of air 
felt like the blast of a furnace, so intense was the heat. We then entered a fine oak forest, 
which skirted the banks of Cache creek. We encamped at the lower ford of this creek, 
after having crossed at the upper. The following extract is from Lieut. Williamson’s journal. 
“ This stream has, in many places, a bottom as much as a half mile wide. The width of 
the stream itself, at the narrowest part I saw near the upper crossing, was, I should think, 
about 300 yards. At the lower crossing, it was much narrower, being only about 100 yards 
wide, with banks 30 feet high. I am told that in times of freshet it rises so much as to over¬ 
flow these banks.” 
July 13.—Early this morning, we reached the Sacramento river at Knight’s rancho, and, 
finding that the most direct road to Marysville was impassable on account of mire, followed 
down the river to Fremont. Here we crossed by a ferry. The water was low, the river being 
only about 250 yards in width. At season of high water it is at least 100 yards wider, and 
during freshets it sometimes overflows its banks for miles. It is bordered by a dense growth 
of willows, sycamores and oaks. We followed up Feather river for about 8.5 miles, and 
encamped near Nicholas. The road to-day was level, and often led through noble forests of 
oak. There was little or no underbrush, and the country resembled a grand old park in 
appearance. Many large squirrels were seen among the trees. 
July 14.—For a few miles this morning, the road continued to be bordered by the noble oak 
forest. The extreme shortness of their trunks gave the trees the strange appearance of having 
been pressed down into the ground. On leaving the forest, we travelled over a dry, dusty 
plain, which continued to Marysville, a fine little city, containing several brick stores 
and houses, and presenting a very thriving appearance. It is situated near the junction 
of the Yuba and Feather rivers. We encamped opposite it, on the former stream, which 
was turbid from the gold washing carried on near its sources. The sediment deposited by 
it is having a marked effect upon the navigation of Feather river. 
July 15.—To-day we forded the Yuba river, and after passing through Marysville crossed 
Feather river by a good wooden bridge. The first stream was about 200, and the second 250 
feet in width, and both were bordered by low bluffs. Lieutenant Williamson decided to make a 
8 X 
