Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/87



hat portion of Mexican Territory, which is generally alluded to under the name of California, is included between the Pacific coast, and the California Mountains; a lofty and rugged range, which is a continuation of the Cascade Mountains, in Oregon, running nearly parallel with the coast, and East of it about one hundred and twenty-five miles; and between the parallel of 42 deg. North, and the Gulf of California. But the Southern part of this district, including the Peninsula, called Lower California, is a poor, dry, barren region, and has not yet afforded inducements sufficient to attract the attention of foreigners. That portion which is most desirable, and to which persons from the United States, traveling through, and settling in the country, have entirely confined their attention, is called Upper California; and is that part lying between the head of the Gulf, and the Northern boundary of the Province: and to this portion, we shall be confined in our remarks.

The Bay of San Francisco, situated in latitude 37° 45' North, is, perhaps, without exception, the finest and most spacious Harbor on the globe. It has been spoken of, and we believe without exaggeration, as being of sufficient capacity to contain all the Shipping of the world. The entrance of the Bay, is only about one mile wide. It increases rapidly in width, after entering the land; and separating, forms two arms; one bearing to the South East, the other to the North East. The Southern arm, is fifty miles in length, and ten in width, and is a beautiful sheet of water; deep, and entirely free from sand-banks and Islands. The Northern arm,