Chap. IX. VIEW OF LOS ANGELES. ' 561 
CHAPTEE IX. 
Los Angeles and the South of California — Situation of the Town and Climate — 
Orchards and Vineyards — Exportation of Fruit and Grapes — Production 
of Wine — Other Resources of the Country — No Gold Mines in this Part 
of the State — Indians and Mexicans — Criminals and Desperadoes from 
the North withdrawing hither — Murders — Departure for San Francisco 
— Mist on the Coast — Monterey — Aspect of the Country — A Whale 
— Fisheries of Monterey — The Golden Gate and Bay of San Francisco — 
Situation of the Town. 
Los Angeles, or, with its Spanish name complete, Pue- 
blo de los Angeles, "the abode of the angels," is justly 
celebrated for the beauty of its situation. I should not 
desire a more beautiful residence for myself and my best 
friends than such a one as educated and intelligent 
people might form on this spot. Nature holds here that 
just balance in its products and phenomena — the happy 
medium between poverty and excess — which has entered 
so largely into the conditions of that glorious civilization 
which the early history of our race has developed in the 
classical countries of the Old World ; and, indeed, for 
points of comparison with Los Angeles and other parts 
in Southern California, we must turn our view to the 
Levant : nothing of a similar character is to be found in 
the rest of the United States. 
The most beautiful view of Los Angeles is obtained 
from the road which leads to the coast. Seen thence, the 
little town stands cleanly and elegantly at the foot of a 
hilly plateau, which abruptly terminates here, and, after 
the winter rain, is covered with grass and a rich flora of 
splendid flowers. A clear mountain-stream gushes forth 
from a gully which opens in the hills behind the town. It 
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