which one has also been a disputed question. But probably 

 it was the bay, a little north of the Golden Gate, which now 

 bears his name. Here he remained for some weeks, cleaning 

 his ship's bottom, and making preparations for the homeward 

 voyage by way of the Philippines and the Cape of Good Hope. 

 While engaged in these operations 1 lie ship's company estab- 

 lished themselves on shore, where they formed a most cordial 

 friendship with the "King of the region and Ins subjects.'' 



'Idle reputation for veracity of the good chaplain lias not 

 gone nnimpeached, not alone because of his account of the 

 June severities of the climate of Northern California and 

 Southern Oregon, hut also for other reasons. Indeed his com 

 mander once in his wrath characterized him as the "lyingesl 

 knave that lived." But certainly the notes quoted below are 

 founded on actual observations. 



He tells us that there were a ■'multitude of a strange 

 kind of Conies; their head and bodies in which they resemble 

 other Conies are bid small; his tayle like the tayle of a Rat, 

 exceeding long: and his feet like the feet of a Want or moale; 

 vnder his chinne on either side, he hath a bagge, into which 

 In' gathereth his meate, when he hath tilled his belly abroad. 

 that he may with it. either ['a'(\ his young, or feed himselfe 

 when he lists not to trauile from his burough. The people 

 eat their bodies, and make great account of their skins, for 

 their king's holidaies coate Avas made of them." 



While the "tayle" and the feet in this description unmis 

 takably indicate Hie California gopher, it is not unlikely, from 

 the economic uses of which the author speaks, that lie con- 

 founded this animal with the ground squirrel. 



A second note which is both ethnological and botanical 

 refers to a plant which it is impossible to identify. 



Describing the costumes of the natives at a state reception, 

 the chaplain says there were some present "having cawles 

 coured oner with a certaine downe, which groweth up the 

 countrey vpori an herbe much like our letuce, which layed 

 vpon their cawles. by no winds can be remoued. Of such 

 estimation is this herbe amongst them, that the downe thereof 

 is not lawful to he worne bul by such persons as are aboul 

 the king, and the seeds are not vsed but only in sacrifice to 

 their gods." 



These brief and imperfect notes cause us to regrel that 

 the author tells us no more of what he saw on the California 

 coast. Hut the day of the trained observer had not yet come, 

 and pieces of eighl and bars of bullion were of more interest 

 than natural history, 



65 



