179*. would be a tedious:tack, by the oppolition of the winds along the coafh
i which generally blow between the n.w . and n. n.w . To-thefe points o f
the compafs this anchorage is wholly expofed; babas the oceanic fwell is
broken by the land of point Pinos, and.as. thefe winds,.which'prevail only
in the day time; feldom- blow ftronger. than a moderate gale, the anchorage
is rendered tolerably fafe and convenient; and notwithftanding thefe north-
wefterly winds- are common throughout molt part o f the year, I have not
heard- of an-inflance o f their being fo violent as to affeft the fafety a f vefi
fels.tolerably well found with anchors,andcables. The foundings, are regular
from:|| to 4 fathoms ; the bottom; a mixture of fand and mud; and
the fhores arefuffieiehtly lleep for all the purpofes of navigation, without
flioals or other, impediments,. Near point- Anno Nuevo arc fome fmali
rocks, detached from the coaft at a. very little diftance; the Ihores o f
point Pinos are alfo rocky, and have- fome detached, roeks lying at
a fmali diftance from them, but which.do not extend; fo far into the ocean
as. to be dangerous. T h e . rocky Ihores of point Pinos .terminate juft
to the louth -of the: .anchoring place, where a fine fandy; beach commences;
.which : extends-, I believe, all round, the bay to point; Anno
Nuevo. In a diie&iom N..42 e ., at the diftance of 4 leagues- from point
Finds, isrwhat.the- Spaniards call Monterrey river; which, like the
river Carmelo, is no more than a- very, (hallow brook o f frefh water;
that empties itfelf into that part o f the bay. Here a fmali guard of
Spanilh foldiers are generally polled, who refide on the fpot in mife-
rably. wretched huts»' Near, - point Anrio- Nuevo is, another o f thefe-
rivers, fomething left than the other, in. whofe-neighbourhood the mift
lion of S'Klruz- is planted;. Such are the riyulets to which the Spaniards
in their reprefentation • o f this country, as- well by their writings as
their charts, have-given, the appellation of Rivers., and delineated them
as fpacious and- extenftve..
The anchorage already deferibed, is the-only fituation in the Bay
where veflels. can; ride with any degree of fafety or convenience. In its
neighbourhood is the; Spanilh eftablilhment, The prefidio is about three
quarters of a. mile to the fouthward o f the fpot, where the fandy. beach
before
before mentioned commences. This is the landing place, where they ‘ 79=- ,
' ~ < , . . - . n t > December.
have erected a moft wretched kind of houfe, which they call a ftore-houfe, v__w----
ferving for that purpofe, and for the reception of a guard o f foldiers
generally polled there.
The prefidio, like that of St. Francifco, is fituated in an open clear
plain, a little elevated above the level o f the fea ; the fpace, between the
prefidio and the landing place, is very' low fvvampy ground. The former
does not appear to be much benefited by its vicinity to frelh water,
lince in the dry feafon it mull-be brought from a confiderable diftance, as
the Spaniards had not been at the pains of finking wells to infure a permanent
fupply. There were many delightful fituations in the immediate
neighbourhood of the prefidio-, with great diverfity in the ground to favor
the tafte of the ingenious, and a foil that Would amply reward the labour of
tire induftrious, in which our Spanilh friends might with equal eafe have fat
themfelves downmor e comfortable, .more convenient, and I Ihould conceive
more falutary than their prefent refidente appeared to be.
The moft important of all blelfings, health, is here treated with great
indifference; lince not only the climate of Monterrey, but the whole of
the furroundingcountry, has the reputation of being as healthy as any
part of the known world. Other objefts o f a fecondary nature, liicii
as the place o f their abode, convenience, or. comfort, have, no greater
influence on their confideration, as the prelent prefidio is the identical
one that was built on the firll eftablilhment of this port in the year
1770, without, having undergone the. lead improvement or alteration
fince, that period. The buildings o f the prefidio form a parallelogram
or long fquare, comprehending an area of about three hundred
yards long, by. two hundred and fifty yards wide, making one intire
inclofure. The external wall is of the fame magnitude, and built with
the fame materials; and except that the officers? apartments are covered
in with a fort of red tile made in. the neighbourhood, the whole prefents'
the fame lonely uninterefting appearance, as that already deferibed at’
St. Francifco. Like that eftablilhment, the feveral buildings for the-
life o f the officers, foldiers, &c. ..and for the proie£ti;on of (lores and pro--
G 2 i vifions,