Colonial Expeditions to the Interior of California Central Valley, 1800-1820Cook, Sherburne Friend
History
Colonial Expeditions to the Interior of California Central Valley, 1800-1820
Cook, Sherburne Friend
California -- Discovery and exploration; California -- History -- To 1846 -- Sources; Central Valley (Calif.)
That leaving the mission of Santa Clara or the town of San José, in
a northerly direction, at about 15 leagues, one reaches the Río del
Pescadero,[3] which has good water, depth and current, and is so
called because fishing is done in it for salmon. That at one-quarter
league [farther on] is the Río de San Francisco Jabier, wider than
the preceding and with more water, for the latter reaches to the
bottom of the saddle pad. That at about two leagues [farther on] is
the Río de San Miguel, larger than the two others, and deeper, for
the water reaches to the back bow of the saddle. That the three have
no trees where they cross the valley of the Tulares. That at about
five leagues [farther on][4] is the Río de la Pasión, populated with
ash, alder, and other trees, and with a very deep channel.
That between the two last rivers is a fine oak park, in the area
toward the Sierra Madre which runs toward the north and is called
Sierra Nevada.
That, going through the oak park and leaving on the left hand the
tule swamps, there is a region of fresh-water lakes so spaced
that there are pockets of solid ground in which are encountered
rancherias inhabited by Gentiles. [These are] brave and strong, have
small dragnets with stone sinkers, and make bread with flour from
tule roots and from acorns like that which they presented to Captain
Fernando de Rivera.[5]
That these four rivers run from east to west and discharge into the
bay of the port of San Francisco. That when the tide rises salt
water is carried into them far upstream.[6]
That the Sierra Madre is distant from the Río de la Pasión a matter
of eight leagues. That the natives take two days to cross it. That
all the countryside abounds with fresh grass, tule swamps, and lakes
where deer breed. That before reaching the rivers, on the right hand
lies the territory of San Juan,[7] a short distance from the Sierra
Nevada, and visible from the presidio.
That the names of the four rivers were given by Captain Fernando
Rivera, commander of these presidios, when he passed by there during
the month of December, 1776.
(Under the heading "Information secured ... from the Christian
Indians of the Mission of San Francisco," is the following report.)
That the first Indian told him that his people traded with a "nation
of dark Indians" and that the latter have priests.[8]
(What follows is copied verbatim.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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