A Description of Distant Roads:  Original Journals of the First Expedition to 
California, 1769-1770, by Juan Crespi


The first complete edition of Franciscan Juan Crespi’s original journals has 
just been published by San Diego State University. The editor and translator 
is Alan K. Brown, who has been researching the subject for forty years, 
including on-the-ground research of the Portola Expedition’s route. What has 
appeared before as Crespi’s journal was in fact a version that had been 
heavily edited, condensed, and exerpted by Serra, Palou, and others, with 
much important detail left out.  Crespi’s account is the richest description 
of the first European land exploration of native California and will be  an 
important new source for ethnology, ethnobotany, and historical geography.

Copies can be ordered from:
Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4403

Copies are $60.00 each hardbound ($72.65 including tax and mailing) - checks 
or PO made to “SDSU Foundation”.

For further information:
(619) 594-5423
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An order form can be obtained from:
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/press/newtitles.html