458
November. arguments or afTurances, to remove thefe ill founded impreffions. To
1---- «---- ' the laft moment they remained with him on the beach, fupplicating in
the moll eameft manner that he would give his attention to their advice;
and frequently repeating, that though they had hitherto confided in every
thing he had told them, yet in this inftance they were fure they Should
be deceived. The Rev. Father, though gratified by their affeftionate
anxiety; fmiled at their groundlefs apprehenfions for his fafety, gave
each of them his- blefling, and again diredted them to follow his orders
and return home to Buena Ventura.
Tuefday 19. We found ©ur-fituation on the fucceeding morning to be within about
2 miles of the fhore, its neareft part bearing by compafs N. by e ., tire
landing-place near the milfion of Buena Ventura, s. 68 e ., 3 milesdif-
tant; point Converfion s. 62 K,: a group o f three iflands, called by the
natives Enneeapah, (the weflernmofl being the largeft and highefl ifland,)
from s. 10 e . to s. 1 e .; the illand o f S’*Cruz, s. 23 w., to s. 48 wv;
and point Felipe; n . 68 w.
The coaft immediately oppofite, and to the northward o f us, chiefly
confifted of high lleep cliffs, indented with fome fmall fandy coves. The
general face o f the country was mountainous, rugged, barren, and
dreary; but towards the milfion, a margin of low land extended from the
bafe o f the mountains, fome of which were o f great height, and at a
remote diftance from the ocean; and being relieved by a few trees in
the neighbourhood of the eflablifhment, gave this part o f the country a
lefs unpleafing appearance.
Having taken an early breakfall, I attended Father Vincente to the
Ihore, where a large affortment o f refrefhments were in readinefs for
embarkation. The violence o f the furf prevented our landing, nor was
it without the greateft caution and eircumfpeflion that the Indians,
though very dexterous in the management o f their canoes, could venture
olf to us. From thefe people I underflood, that this inconvenience
was unufual, -and that about noon, or towards the evening, it Would
probably fubfide, fo as to permit our landing. We therefore determined
to wait, and in the mean time the canoes brought off fome o f the good
things which our reverend friend had ordered to be provided, confifling
1 ! ' - , . 0f
offheep, fowls, roots, and other vegetables in fuch abundance, that it
required four boats to, convey them to the fhips. c— ~y-—j
In this fituation we waited at a grapnel until the afternoon; when finding
tire furf not diffidently abated to admit o f our landing in perfett
fafety, and my reverend friend not having fufficient courage to venture
on fhore in any of the canoes, after feveral had been filled and overfet,
we returned on board; not a little mortified at the difappointment, which
teemed to damp the fpirits and lively cpnVerfation of our worthy guefl.
When about half way to the fhip, the uneafinefs of Father Vincente was
greatly increafed by his recollefting, that he had intrufled both his bible,
and prayer- book to the care of a- faithful fervant, with the flrongefl injunctions
to depofit them fecurely on fhore; this fervice had been punctually
performed; for on our return, thefe fpiritual comforts, with which he had
too hallily parted, had been forgotten to be recalled. Theomiffion produced
no fmall addition to the dejeCtion of fpirits that had already taken
place, and which became almoll infupportableby an untoward accident, that
for a moment prefented a fituation of danger, Until it Was difeovered to
proceed from the plug having unfortunately Worked out of the boat’s bottom,
by which means a great quantity o f water was received, and kept
increafing until the caufe was found out and removed; When the effeft
inflantly, ceafed, and the boat was foon relieved, Yet this accident,
amidfl other misfortunes and difappointments, appeared to the good
prieft a matter of the molt ferious concern, and might perhaps be a little
aggravated by fome fmiles at his diflrefs, which it was impoflible to
fupprels.
Our excellent friend was now fo- much difconcerted, and his fpirits
fo depreffed; that I found it as difficult to convince him that we
fhould arrive fafe at the fhip, as he had before found it to perfuade his
trufly fervants of his fecurity in embarking with us at S“ Barbara; and
I verily believe that at this moment he heartily repented that he had not
yielded to their advice.
We were however foon alongfide, and our friend was by no means reluctant
to leave the boat; when on board die, fhip he foon recovered
from his former apprehenfions of danger, yet the abfence o f his books
3 N 2 was