Sunday 17.
my fufpicions that the unpleafant reflriflions impofed upon us on
our late return to that port, had been occafioned by our having made’
too free with the liberty then granted. To prevent the chance o f any
fuch offence taking place here, I ilfued pofitive injunctions that no individual
under my command fhould extend his excurlions beyond the view
from the Prefidio, or the buildings of the miffion, which being fituated
in an open country of no very uneven furface, admitted of fufficient fpace
for all the exercife on foot or horfeback that health or amufement might
require.
Notwithflanding the water on the beach was the fame as that with
which all the Spanifh veflels that had vifited this roadflead had been fup-
plied, and although much pains had been taken to clean out the wells,
yet they were very dirty and brackifh; and as they afforded a very fcanty
fupply, we were induced to makefearch for better water.
A t the diflance o f only a few yards further than where the wells had
been made, a molt excellent fpring of very fine water was difcovered;
amongfl fome bufhes, in a kind of morafs; and though it flowed but
flowly,; yet it anfwered all our purpofes, and was obtained with more eafe
than the water from the wells. This fpring was totally unknown to the
refident Spaniards, and equally fo, I prefume, to thofe employed in their
fhipping; or they would not fo long have been content with the dirty
brackifh water procured from the wells. A t the Prefidio is a large well
o f excellent water, from which alfo, by the afhflance o f the cart, a pro--
portion of our flock was obtained.
Our bufinefs being thus in a train for eafy execution, the agreeable
fociety of our Spanilh friends, the refrefhments we procured, and the
daily recreation which the country afforded, rendered our fituation at S'*
Barbara extremely pleafant.
We here procured fome flout knees from the holly-leaved oak, for the
fecurity of the Difcovery’s head and bumkins; this, and our other occupations,
fully engaged our time until the evening of the 17th, when preparations
were made for failing on the day following.
The pleafing fociety of our good friends at the miffion and Prefidio,
was .this day augmented by the arrival of friar Vincente S“ Maria, one of
the
the Rev. Fathers of the miffion o f Bueno Ventura; fituated' about 7 lT93-
leagues from hence on the fea coafl to the fouth-eaflward. » _ _ 1
The motives that induced this refpeftable priefl to favor us with his
company, evidently manifefted his chriftian-like benevolence. Having
croffed the ocean more than once himfelf, he was well aware how valuable
the frelh produflions of the fhores were to perfons in our fituation ; under
this impreflion he had brought with him, for our fervice, half a fcore
fheep, and twenty mules laden with the various roots and vegetables from
the garden of his miffion. This excellently-good man earneflly intreat-
ed that I would accompany him by land back to Bueno Ventura ; faying,
that I fhould be better able on the fpot to point out to him, and to his
colleague the Rev. Friar Father FrancifcoDume, fuch of the productions
o f the country as would be moft acceptable, and contribute mofl to our
future comfort and welfare. O f this journey I fhould have been very
happy to have been able to have availed myfelf had the exifling circum-
flances not obliged me to decline the pleafure I fhould thereby have re-
■ ceived.
Our new benevolent friend, accompanied by the commandant and
Father Miguel, honored us with their company to dine on board, where,
in the courfe o f converfation, I was informed that the miffion of
Bueno Ventura was fituated near a fmall bay of eafy accefs ; and as Friar
Vincente feemed much pleafed with his .vifit on board, I requefled he
would favor me with his company in the Difcovery to his relidence.
This offer he cheerfully accepted, and in doing fo I had only reafon to
regret the fhort time I was to be indulged with the fociety of a gentleman,
whofe obfervations through life, and general knowledge of mankind,
rendered him a mofl pleafing and inflrufttive companion.
In the evening our friends returned on fhore, arid I took that opportunity
of foliciting their acceptance of a few ufeful articles which
they had no other opportunity of obtaining ; though I muft confefs
they were a very incompetent return for their friendly, generous,
and attentive fervices ; and I trull they will accept this public acknowledgment
as the only means within my reach to {hew the grateful
. fenfe