ELEVATED VALLEYS—SEDIMENTARY HILLS. 
127 
The valleys of Santa Maria and San Pasqual, although near together, differ greatly in eleva¬ 
tion. The road connecting the two places winds down long and almost precipitous hills. From 
the top of the principal hill an almost bird’s-eye view was obtained of the valley of San Pasqual. 
VALLEY OF SAN PASQUAL. 
It is small, and hemmed in on all sides hy high hills or mountains. The plain was covered 
with green grass, and the windings of a stream were visible. A fine view was also presented 
of the mountains beyond, but there did not appear to be a unifornity in the trend of the ridges ; 
they were exceedingly irregular. 
We encamped in the valley on the hank of a brook, near a village of Indians. The valley 
appeared to he very damp, and probably is well watered throughout the year. 
December 19 .—San Pasqual to San Diego, 29 miles .—The country beyond San Pasqual is 
more open, and the granite ridges are less prominent and distinctly defined than about Santa 
Isabel and Warner’s. Rounded hills of sedimentary orgin make their appearance, and contain 
rolled, water-worn boulders. These hills are of considerable altitude, and appeared to he prin¬ 
cipally formed of granitic sand and clays. From the summit of one of them- the Pacific ocean 
was visible in the distance ; and looking inland, towards the mountains we had been descend¬ 
ing, the predominating direction of the minor ranges and ridges appeared to be nearly north¬ 
west and southeast. Some of the highest peaks and ridges were whitened with snow. 
The rounded, sedimentary hills were free from large trees ; but their slopes were already green 
1 By a mistake, either of the artist or the engraver, the ocean is too fully represented in the engraving, and appears too 
near. It is very distant, and, according to recollection, is scarcely visible from the hill. 
