San Francisco had now had since the year 1848 to grow under the impulse of the gold fever.  Kit Carson remembered it, a Spanish settlement as it existed in 1845—­6—­7, then containing not over two hundred inhabitants.  In 1847, the first gold discovery was made at Sutter’s Fort.  In two months thereafter, about $250,000 in gold dust were carried into the town.  The next two months $600,000 more.  In February, 1849, the population of the town was two thousand.  In the six months following, it increased to five thousand.  In the early part of the year 1850, the population had increased to nearly twenty thousand.  In 1852, according to the census, it was thirty-four thousand eight hundred and seventy.  The first settlement made at San Francisco, was commenced in the year 1776.  The place was then called Yerba Buena, or Good Herb, from the fact that an herb of that name, which was supposed to have great medicinal value, grew in rich luxuriance over the surrounding country.  The houses were at first built of adobes, or sun dried bricks.  It is now one of the most important cities on the western continent.

As Kit Carson neared this great emporium of California, possessed of some of the details of its astonishing growth, and remembering it as it existed when its inhabitants could be easily counted in an hour, he was perfectly astonished to behold the great changes which a few short years had produced.

Had it not been for the immovable landmarks about the city and the familiar scenery of the bay, he would have been entirely at a loss in considering that this was the spot, called San Francisco, which he had visited in former years.  This metropolis, however, like all others, presented few attractions to Kit Carson’s vision, further than its objects of curiosity, which were a source of interest and amusement to him.  When he had finished sight seeing he was ready and anxious to be on his way to New Mexico.  Previous to his setting out, he went on business to Sacramento City.  While there, he received a message from his friend and partner, Maxwell, asking him to wait until the latter could come in with a herd of sheep from Carson River, when they could join forces and return home together.

Kit Carson’s stay in California was shortened by the annoyance (as he considered it) of being made a lion.  His society was constantly courted by men whom he had never seen; he was passed free on steamboats and to all places of public amusement; and, in fact, the people, in acknowledging his worth, treated him with marked distinction.  He was pointed out wherever he went as a man who had done the State great service.  This reward of his merit was indeed a just tribute to his worth.  Kit felt himself highly honored and favored, but he did not expect or wish such attention.  He felt himself to be a humble individual, who had honestly and faithfully performed his duty, as it had been assigned to him, and his modesty would not allow him to ask or be willing to