Still we contemplated a visit to the Yuba and Feather Rivers, from which we had heard of more wonderful "diggings;" but met a courier, who announced the arrival of a ship at Monterey, with dispatches of great importance from Mazatlan.

We accordingly turned our horses back to Sutter's Fort.

Crossing the Sacramento again by swimming our horses, and ferrying their loads in that solitary canoe, we took our back track as far as the Napa, and then turned to Benicia, on Carquinez Straits.

We found there a solitary adobe-house, occupied by Mr.Hastings and his family, embracing Dr.Semple, the proprietor of the ferry.

This ferry was a ship's-boat, with a latteen-sail, which could carry across at one time six or eight horses.
It took us several days to cross over, and during that time we got well acquainted with the doctor, who was quite a character.