»793- From this anchorage, fituated in latitude 34° 24', longitude 240°3af,
1__^— 1 the coaft as before mentioned takes a foutherly turn, s. 48 e ., about 2
leagues to a point bearing by compafs N. 81 E., half a league diftant
from our Ration; the center of the ifland of St. Miguel bore s. 27 w.,
diftant 11 leagues;' S,aRofa from s. 11 w „ to s. 5E .; the former twenty-
five, the latter twenty-fix miles diftant; the ifland o f S'* Cruz, s. 81 E-,
to s. 55 E . ; and the main land in fight from s. 82 w. to s, 87 e.
The want of wind detaining us in this fituation, afforded an opportua
nity to feveral of the natives from the different villages, which were numerous
in this neighbourhood, to pay us a vilit. They all came ia- canoes
made o f wood, and decorated with (hells like that feen on the 8th.
They brought with them fome fifh, and a few of their ornaments;' thefe
they difpofed o f in the moft cheerful manner, principally for fpoons,
beads, and fciffars. They feemed to poffefs great fenfibility, and much
vivacity, yet they conduced themfelves with the moft perfeft decorum
and good order; very unlike that inanimate ftupidity that.marked the
character of moft o f the Indians we had feen under the Spanifh jurifdic-
tion at St. Francifco and Monterrey. . Thefe people, either did not utv
derftand the Spanifh language, or fpoke it in fuch a manner as to be unintelligible
to us; for as we were totally unacquainted with their native
dialed, we endeavoured, but to no effeft, by means of Spanifh, to gain
from them fome information.
On a light breeze fpringing up from the weftward at about eight o’clock
we dire&ed our courfe along .fhore to the eaftward; our progrefs.was
very flow, owing to light winds, though the weather was very pleafant.
About two in the afternoon we paffed a fmall bay, which appeared likely
to have afforded good anchorage, had it not been for a bed o f fea-weed
that extended acrofs its'entrance, and indicated a (hallow rocky bottom.
Within this bay a very large Indian village was pleafantly fituated,
from whence we were yifited by fome of its inhabitants ; amongft whom
was a very fhrewd intelligent fellow, who informed us, in the Spanifh
language, that there was a miflion and a Prefidio not much further to
the eaftward. About five in the evening this eftablifhment was difco-
vered in a fmall bay, which bore the appearance o f a far more civilized
]|
fiized place, than any other of the Spanifh fettlements had exhibited.
The buildings appeared to be regular and well conftrufted, the walls
clean and white, and the roofs of the houfes were covered with a bright
red tile.’ The Prefidio was neareft to the fea fhore, and juft (hewed itfelf
above a grove of fmall trees, producing with the reft of the buildings a
very pifturefque effeH.
As I purpofed to anchor fome where for the night, and as this bay
feemed likely not only to anfwer that purpofe, but another equally effen-
tial, that of procuring fome refrefhments, We hauled in, and anchored
in 6 fathoms water, fandy bottom; the fouthern land in fight, called by
the Spaniards Converfion Point, bore by compafs s. 70 e. ; a low cliffy
point in the bay n . 42 e . ; the Prefidio n . 32 w . ; the neareft fhore n.n.w .,
diftant half a mile; the north-weft point of the bay S.64W.; the north-
weft extreme o f the ifland of S'*Rofa SV34 w., diftant thirty-two miles ;
its weftern extreme was {hut in with the weft point of S'* Cruz, which
bore from s.22 w. to s.28 e ., feventeen or eighteen miles; the neareft
part o f that ifland S.20E., diftant thirteen miles; and the fouth-eaftern-
moft of the iflands in fight s. 28 e. ; appearing from our anchorage like
a Jingle rock, but confiding of three fmall iflands.
Having thus anchored before the Spanifh eftablifhment, I immediately
lent Lieutenant Swaine to inform the commanding officer at the
Prefidio of our arrival, and as I intended to depart in the morning, to
fequeft that the Indians, who had (hewn a great; ■ defire to trade with
Us, might be permitted to bring us in the. courfe of the night fuch articles
of refrefhmenf as they had to difpofe o f ; which, as we underftood,
confided of an abundance of hogs, vegetables, fowls, and fome excellent
dried fifh.
' Mr. Swaine returned, after meeting with a moft polite and friendly
reception from the commandant Sen'1 Don Felipe Goycochea, who with
the greateft hofpitality informed Mr. Swaine, that- every refrefhment
the country could afford was perfeftly.at our command; and defired that
I might be made acquainted, that he hoped I would remain a few days
to partake of thofe advantages, and to allow him the pleafure of admi-
niftering to our wants and neceflities.
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