of narrow, but rich and beautiful valleys which wind away among unexplored, and rugged spurs and peaks, and penetrate deep into the bosom of the California Mountains.
In the upper extremity of the Valley of the St. Wakine there are four lakes or marshes, called tulares, from the tule, (bullrushes,) with which they are filled. It grows to an astonishing size, and so thick that it is almost impossible to pass through it. This tule, when it falls, covers the marshes in places to the depth of more than two feet. There is one of the tulares here, in particular, which is very large, has several, streams emptying into it, and covers an extent of many miles. There are others similar to these, in different parts of the country; there is said to be a large one, through which the River, which empties into the southern arm of the Bay of San Francisco, flows; and there are some in the Valley of the Sacramento. There has yet been made no permanent settlement in the Valley of St. Wakine. The causes of this are, that until now, there were other portions of the country which were thought to offer greater inducements to the settler; and the Indians, who live in the bordering mountains, and who roam through the valley, are, by no means to be trusted. In consequence of there having been no settlements made here, the Valley of the St. Wakine abounds with all kinds of game common to the country. Elk, in large bands, are scattered over it in every direction. Deer are numerous. And there are Antelopes and Bears, also. The tulares and the streams are crowded with deafening swarms of waterfowls. All of these different kinds of game, at certain seasons, get to be very fat. There are other wild animals in the St. Wakine Valley. There are many wolves; and wild horses in bands of many hundreds may be seen at all times feeding on its extensive prairies.
