244. L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
Since the firft difcovery of California, there have been various
wandering Miffionaries who have vifited it at different times) tho”
to little purpofe : But of late years the Jefuits, encouraged and
fupported by a large donation from the Marquis de Vallero, a moft
munificent bigot, have fixed themfelves upon the place, and have
there eftablifhed a very confiderable miflion. Their principal fet-
tlement lies juft within Cape St. Lucas, where they have colic died
a great number of favages, and have endeavoured to inure them to
agriculture and other mechanic arts; Nor have their efforts been-
altogether ineffectual; for they have planted vines at their fettle-
ments with very good fuccefs, fo that they already make a confiderable
quantity of wine, which begins to be efteemed in the
neighbouring kingdom of Mexico-, it refembling in flavour the inferior
forts o f Madeira.
The Jefuits then being thus firmly rooted on. California). they
have already, extended their jurifdidtion quite acrofs- the country
from fea to lea, and are endeavouring to fpread. their influence farther
to the northward ; with which view they have made feveral
expeditions up the gulph between Calfarnia and Mexico,- in order
to difcover the nature o f the adjacent countries, all which they
hope hereafter to bring under their power. And being thus occu -
pied in advancing the interefts-of their fociety., it is no wonder if
fome lhare of attention is engaged about the fecurity of the Manila
fhip, in which their Convents at Manila are fo deeply concerned.
For this purpofe there are refrelhments, as fruits, wine, water, & c.
conftantly kept in readinefs fbr her; and there is befides care taken
at Cape St. Lucas, to look out for any fhip of the enemy, which
might be cruizing there to intercept h e r t h i s being a ftation where
lhe is conftantly expefted, and where. Ihe has been- often waited
fbr and fought with, though generally with little fuccefs. In con-
fequence then of the meafures mutually fettled between the Jefuits
©f Manila and their brethren at California, the Captain of the
galeon is ordered to fall in with the land to the northward of Cape
S.t. Lucas, where, the. inhabitants, are. dire.dled,. on fight of the vefr
feh
R O U N D T H E W O R L D . 24 S
fel to make the proper fignals with fires. On difcovering thefe
fires the Captain is to fend his launch on (horewith twenty men,
well’ armed, who are to carry with them the letters from the Convents
at Manila to the Californian Miffionaries, and are to bnffg
back the refrelhments which will be prepared for the Hup, and like-
wife intelligence whether or no there are any enemies on the coaft.
I f the Captain finds, from the account which is fent him, that he
has nothing to fear, he is direfted to proceed for Cape St Lucas,.
and thence to Cape Corientes, after which he is to coaft it along, for
the port of Acapulco, '
The moft ufual time of the arrival of the galeon at Aoapulc*
is towards the middle of January : But this navigation isTo uncertain
that Ihe fometimes gets in a month fooner, and at other-
times has been detained at fea- above a month longer.. The port
of Acapulco is’, by much the fecureft and fineft in- all- the northern
parts of the Pacific ocean, being, as it were, a bafon furrounded
by very high mountains : But the town is a moft wretched place,
and extremely unhealthy, for the air about it is fo pent up by the
hills, that it has fcarcely any.circulation. _ Acapulco is befides.de-
ftitute of frelh water, except what is brought from arconfiderable
diftance and is in all refpeas fo inconvenient, that except at the
time o f ’the mart, whilft the Manila galeon is in the port, it is al-
moft deferted. T o com-penfate in fome meafure for the ihortnefs
of this defcription, I have added in the third book, in the fame plate
with the bay of Manila abovementioned, a-plan o f this .town and
of its port and citadel, in- which, are likewife drawn the new.
works, which, were added, on their firft intelligence of the equipment
of our fquadrom As,this plan, was taken from the Spaniards
I cannot anfwer for. its accuracy ; but having feen. two or.
three other &panijh draughts of the place, I conceive, by comparing,
them together, that this I have here inferted.ismot very diftant
from the truth.
When