[From Audubon's _Western Journal, 1849-1850_ (Cleveland, 1906)]
This "city of the angels" is anything else, unless the angels are
fallen ones. An antiquated, dilapidated air pervades all, but
Americans are pouring in, and in a few years will make a beautiful
place of it. It is well watered by a pretty little river, led off in
irrigating ditches like those at San Antonio de Bexar. The whole town
is surrounded to the south with very luxuriant vines, and the grapes
are quite delightful; we parted from them with great regret, as fruit
is such a luxury with us. Many of the men took bushels, and only paid
small sums for them.