I climbed Russian Hill and to take a look over the city.  It seemed poorly built, but the portion that had been burned in July 1852, had been built up again.  The business part was near the beach and north of Market street.

I had never lived in a town and did not know its ways, so I strolled around alone, for without acquaintance I did not know where to go nor what to look for.  I therefore thought I would see some other part of the country.  I found that a schooner was about to sail for San Pedro, near Los Angeles.  I took hold of a rope to help myself on board, when it gave way and I found myself floundering in the water.  They helped me out and the Captain gave me a dry suit to put on, I was profoundly grateful for the favor, and found him a generous man.

We sailed away and stopped at Monterey for 24 hours which gave me a good chance for a good look at the old Capitol houses, which were of adobe, and to find that this city was also liberally supplied with gambling, card and billiard tables.  The majority of the people were Spanish and fond of gaming, and the general appearance of the place was old and without good improvements, though there were more two-story houses than in most places in California.

Some houses were of stone, but more of adobe, and there seemed to be no fertile country round, and the hills about had small pines on them.

Some of the sailors went out and gathered a large bag of mussels and clams, from which they made a liberal allowance of chowder for the table.  After seven or eight days we arrived in San Pedro, and found the town to consist of one long adobe house.  The beach was low and sandy, and we were wet somewhat in wading through a light surf to get on shore.  We had on board a Mr. Baylis, who we afterward learned came down with Capt.  Lackey on a big speculation which was to capture all the wild goats they could on Catalina Island, and take them to San Francisco for slaughtering.

The goats were easily captured and taken on board the schooner, and thence to shore but many were drowned in the transit, and when driven to San Francisco the dead were scattered all along the route.  Although wild they seemed to lack the vitality that tame goats possess.  The speculation proved a disappointment to the projectors.

At the adobe house, kept by a Spaniard we had breakfast, then shouldered our packs for the march of ten leagues to Los Angeles for there was no chance to ride.  It was night before we reached the City of Angels, and here I staid a day to take a look at the first city I saw in California in March 1850.