Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/183

1837.] the small-pox probably was communicated by an American or Canadian.

The Sacramento was once famed for its beaver and land-otter. They are not scarce at present, but our mission Indians were anxious to induce us to become purchasers of furs which would certainly be termed refuse to the northward.

The climate by day was mild, ranging from 41° to 77°. On one occasion on shore at night it fell as low as 36°. The water ranged from 53° to 56°. Slight rain was experienced on two days, but the weather generally was extremely fine.

Our collection was enriched by some very beautiful ducks, owls, hawks, and other birds, which abounded on the banks. Of four-footed animals few were killed. CuyoteCoyote [sic] or jackal-fox, racoonraccoon [sic], land-otter, weasel, and squirrel, were obtained. I fired twice at small tigers or tiger-cats, but they were too thickly clad for small shot to make any impression. The party succeeded in taking an elk and a deer, and killing a great quantity of wild geese.

Near the mouth of the river the soil is entirely peaty; so much so, that it was very difficult to use the artificial horizon, particularly on the ebb or flood-tides. The spring-tides overflow all the lower lands, which are well stored with long flag grass, and rushes of great size, of which latter the natives construct their balsas. The ground does not assume a substantial bearing until the flood is overcome by the fresh water; and there the soil is of the finest VOL. I.