rin po esbaanlnisnnonl tun nirin
a aaa Se RUNS

’
calcd

198

About the first thin;
tion of the traveler
will be the

“‘TurEs,” which is the native name

iven to the rushes which cover the low
ands and bays of California. They are of
the bulrush fesily, probably the father of
all rushes. The ht from six to ten
feet high, and so thie on the ground that
it is extremely difficult to pass among
them. The lands on which they grow are
subject to annual overflows. During the
prevalence of the floods, miles and miles of
these lands are under water, presenting the
appearance of one vast lake or inland sea.
In the fall and early winter, when the
tuiles are dry, they are often set on fire,
forming a grand and terrible spectacle, es-
pecially during the night. When oncethe
fire attains headway, nothing can quench
its fury until the tuiles are swept away to
the bank of some water-course, which bars
its further progress.

The soil composing the land is adobe, of
a purely vegetable mold. Wherever it
has been reclaimed, it produces grain and
vegetables in almost fabulous quantities.

t is claimed by many, that, with proper
appliances, these lands could be converted
into magnificent rice fields; the advocates
of this measure asserting that they possess
every requisite of soil, clime, and adapta-
bility to irrigation. The State has pro-
vided for a system of levees, by which a
I amount of land, heretofore known as
tuile land, has been successfully reclaimed,
and is now counted the most valuable in
the State.

The country, after leaving Sacramento,
is level for a vast distance on either hand;
the “tuiles ” are disappearing, and, before
we reach Knight’s Landing, the left-hand
shore is more bold, and the wheat-fields
and gardens have taken the place of “tuiles”
along the river bank.

We have already been to Marysville by
railroad, now letus go via FeaTHER River,
a beautiful stream, its clear waters contrast-
ing advantageously with the muddy waters
of the riverwe have left. We pass through
a fine country with wheat farms on the
higher lands, and reach Nicholas, a dull,
quiet town of about 300 inhabitants, situa-
ted at the junction of Bear River with the
Feather. Proceeding up the Feather, we
pass HOCK FARM, the home of the venerable
pioneer of California, General Sutter. It
is a lovely place—the old farm-house and
iron fort standing on’ the bank of the

to attract the atten-
r leaving the city,

CROFUTTY’s NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

stream. Enormous fig trees line the bank,
while behind them can be seen the fine
orchards and vineyards planted by the
General nearly 50 years ago. General
Sutter settled in California under a grant
from the Russian Government, which con-
veyed to him large tracts of land around
Sacramento City, including the city site;
also a large tract, of which Hock Farm is
apart. Sharpers and swindlers deprived
the old pioneer of most of his property,
leaving him penniless, and a pensioner on
the State.

Passing on by the junction of the Yuba
and Feather rivers, we soon reach Yuba
near Marysville, 65 miles from Sacramento,
by water. (See description on page 194)
Returning to the Sacramento, the right-
hand of the river appears low and
swampy, covered with “tuiles” for a great
distance inland. Passing on, we soon ar-
rive at

Kyienr’s Lanprnc—a small place—46
miles from Sacramento. Population about
200. It is quite a shipping point for Yolo
county, and is on the line of the California
Pacific railroad. This road, in 1873-4, ex-
tended to Marysville, crossing the river at
this point, but the floods washed away the
road-bed on the east side of the river. The
road passed into the hands of the “ Central”
Company, that had a road to Marysville
via the Roseville Junction. So itneverwas
repaired, but the bridge turned to allow a
free passage of the river boats, and has
been so, for the last four years, and probably
will so remain until it rots down.

For a long distance above Knight's
Landing, the low marshy plains continue
on our right, the higher land covered with
wheat on our left, with no towns of any
importance to note until we arrive at

Cotusa—This is a point of considerable
trade—125 miles from Sacramento. It is
the county seat of Colusa county, situated
on the west bank of the Sacramento River,
and contains about 1,500 inhabitants. The
Colusa Sun is published here.

The town was laid out in 1850, by Col-
onel Semple, the owner of the “Colusa
Grant ”—containing two Spanish leagues.
It is now the center of a very large farming
and grazing country. Schools and churches
are well represented. Stages run daily be-
tween Colusa and Marysville—29 miles;
also to Williams, nine miles west.

Passing on up the river, the country
seems to gradually change to a grazing,

 

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