36 
DEPARTURE FROM LOS ANGELES.—PORT OF SAN PEDRO. 
March 22 —Camp 152.—A dense fog hung over the valley at sunrise, hut it soon disappeared, 
and we were favored with a bright and beautiful day, such as are said to render the climate of 
Los Angeles the most delightful of California. At ten a. m. the auction commenced, and con¬ 
tinued during the day. The sale being forced, the prices were confessedly low, although some 
of our mules brought upwards of one hundred dollars each. 
March 23 —Camp 153.—The sale was continued, and brought to a conclusion with all possible 
despatch, for we learned that the steamer for San Francisco would arrive a day earlier than had 
been expected, and it was necessary to proceed to San Pedro in the evening, in order to meet 
it. At 4 p. m. we were told that the stage-coach could wait for us no longer ; so, having 
placed the few things we had not time to attend to in charge of one of the assistants of the 
party, who proposed to remain, we started for San Pedro. The odometer was attached to a 
wheel, to measure the distance ; and with a prismatic compass and sketch-book, we hoped to 
make a hasty reconnaissance of the country to be passed over. Rolling rapidly over the fine 
prairie upon the right of the well-cultivated valley of the river, Los Angeles soon became dim 
in the distance behind. A rain-storm, and, shortly after, darkness overtook us, and we splashed 
through ponds of water produced by rain or brought by high tides from the ocean. The storm 
drove furiously ; the road was lost in darkness ; the stage-coach went blindly along, now and 
then dropping into a hole, and compelling us to alight to avoid an upset. At length two lights 
gleamed from ranchos ahead, and the driver found out where he was. But the road was so 
muddy and full of holes, that he said we must walk, first to the light on our right, and thence 
to the other, where he would meet us. As we plunged half knee-deep into water and mud, the 
light of heaven seemed actually extinct, and terra firma had to be felt for unseen. The driver 
cautioned us, as we started, to look out for some deep pits that had been dug for wells in the 
neighborhood, and to beware of the savage dogs that were kept at the ranchos. As for “ look¬ 
ing out,” that was impossible, so we steered straight for the distant light, and, without serious 
accident, reached it. We represented our condition to the master of the mansion, and asked 
him to lend us a lantern. We then, after many narrow escapes from sloughs and ditches, waded 
to the other house, took the coach, and without accident arrived about midnight at San Pedro, 
where we met with most hospitable entertainment. 
March 24.—The morning was bright and clear. At 8 a. m. the reading of the thermometer 
was 68° ; barometer 30.030 inches. The custom-house, where these observations were made, 
stands upon the bluff bank, from twenty to thirty feet above high-water mark. Spring tides are 
said to rise nine or ten feet; neap tides from four to five. The port of San Pedro does not afford 
complete protection for large vessels; small ones, by crossing a bar with some twelve feet water 
at high tide, enter a basin at the mouth of San Gabriel river, where they are entirely sheltered. 
A city has there been laid out, and several houses built, in the expectation of rivalling the 
pueblo of Los Angeles. At the playa, or principal landing, there is an indentation of the coast 
by which shipping is said to be screened, except from southeast winds. These occur only in 
winter, and then very seldom. Last winter only one arose, and a ship in port rode it out at 
anchor. Captain Ord, who is conducting the coast survey at this point, informs me that a 
breakwater of about a mile in length would make a safe and commodious harbor even for a fleet, 
and wharves could easily be built out into deep water so as to furnish every advantage of a good 
port. 
Our reconnaissance yesterday evening from Los Angeles was interrupted by the darkness. 
The distance measured by odometer was nearly twenty-five miles, and the course, approximately 
obtained, was a few degrees west of south, to San Pedro. The country was almost a plain, 
with a slight dip towards the coast. In the dark we seemed to cross a low ridge of hills ; 
whether to avoid the overflowed grounds or to shorten the distance, we did not learn. Evidently 
it could have been avoided. 
Early this morning the steamer from San Diego arrived, and, excepting Mr. White and Mr. 
Sherburne, who, delighted with the beauty of the country, preferred to remain in Los Angeles, 
all the officers of the party took passage for San Francisco, en route to Washington. 
