Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/176

122 them wave the hand slowly to indicate their disinclination, and therefore gave up all further hope of friendly communication. Before quitting, I left other presents; and our interpreting friends were very anxious to exhibit their generosity, by easing them of bags of acorns, &c., and were much disconcerted at my refusal to sanction their exploits. They were termed the Wallock tribe by our Indians.

Our extreme position having been satisfactorily determined by astronomical observations, and true bearing of the Sierras Bolbones, the more arduous part of our duty commenced, viz. the trigonometrical survey from hence to the junction with the Blossom's Survey at the mouth of the San Pablo.

By these observations Point Victoria was found to be in latitude 38° 46′ 47″ north, longitude 0° 47′ 31″5 east of the observatory on Yerba Buena; traversing in its meanderings about one hundred and fifty miles.

Throughout the whole extent, from Elk station to the Sacramento mouth, the country is one immense flat, bounded in the distance N.W. by Sierras Diavolo, W. Sierras Bolbones, and E.N.E. to E.S.E. by the Sierras Nievadas, from whence no doubt this river springs, and rises in proportion to the rains and thaws. Our course lay between banks, varying from twenty to thirty feet above the river-level, apparently, from its strata, of differently composed clay and loose earth, produced by some great alluvial deposit. Sand did occur at times, but not a rock or