November. ^ Pre^ ^ '° ’s ak °ut a league, in an eaftwardly dire&i'on ; our ride was
u— --- > rendered unpleafant by, the foil being very loofe and Tandy,' and by the
road being much incommoded with low groveling bulhes.
; Its flotation and external appearance in a great meafure refembled
that o f the prefidio ; and, like its neighbourhood, the, country was plea-
fingly diverlified with hill'and' dale. The hills were at a greater diftance
from each other, and gave more extent to the plain, which is composed
of a foil infinitely richer than that of the prefidio, being a mixture
o f fand and a black vegetable mould. The paftures bore a more luxuriant
herbage, and fed a greater number o f fheep and cattle. The
barren Tandy country through which we had palled,, feemed to make a
natural divifion between the lands of the milfion and thofe o f the prefidio,
and extends from: the Ihores o f the port to the foot o f a ridge of mountains,
which border on the exterior coaft, and appear to llretch in a line
parallel-to it. The verdure of the plain continued to a confiderable height
up the fides of thefe hills; the fummits o f which,, though ftill com-
pofed chiefly o f rugged rocks, produced a few trees.,
The buildings, of the milfion formed two fides o f a fquare only,. and
did not .appear, as if intended, at any future time, to form a perfeft
quadrangle like the prefidio. The archite&ure and materials, however,,
feemed nearly • to> correfpond'.
On our arrival, we were received by the reverend fathers with every
demonllration of cordiality, friendlhip, and the moll genuine hofpitality,,
We were infiantly conduced to their manfion, which was lrtuated- near,
and communicated with the church: The houfes formed a, fmall oblong
fquare, the fide of the church compofed one end, near which were
the apartments allotted to the fathers. Thefe were conftructed nearly
after the manner of thofe at the prefidio, but appeared to be more finilh-,
ed, better contrived, were larger, and much more cleanly. Along the
walls of this interior fquare,. were alfo many other apartments adapted
to various purpofes.
Whilft dinner was preparing, our attention was engaged in feeing the
feveral houfes within the fquare. Some we found appropriated to the
reception of grain, of which however they had not a very abundant
ftoek;