54 VOYAGE TO THE 



bell by his bedside, and which by being arranged at 

 night could be made to give an alarm at any stated 

 hour. 



It was here that our travellers were surprised at the 

 intelligence of the north-west passage having been 

 effected by a Spaniard, and were not a little amused 

 at the idea of having stumbled upon the long-sought 

 north-west passage in an obscure mission of California. 



The padre, however, was cjuite in earnest, and pro- 

 duced a work published by the Duke of Almodobar, 

 Director of the Royal Academy in Spain, in which was 

 transcribed at full length the fictitious voyage of 

 Maldonado. It was in vain they endeavoured to 

 persuade the padre that this voyage was not real, see- 

 ing that it bore even in its detail all the marks of 

 truth, and that it emanated from such high authority. 

 His credulity in this instance affords a curious proof 

 of the very secluded manner in which these holy men 

 pass their time, for it may be remembered, that it was 

 in the very ports of California that both Vancouver 

 and Quadra anchored, after having satisfactorily proved 

 the voyage in question to have been a fabrication. 



A still greater instance of the simplicity of the priest 

 is related at his expense by persons in the mission. A 

 youthful Indian couple who had conceived an affection 

 for each other eloped one day, that they might enjoy 

 each other's society without reserve in the wild and 

 romantic scenery of the forests. Soldiers were imme- 

 diately sent in pursuit, when, after a week's search, the 

 fugitives were brought back ; upon which padre Ar- 

 royo, to punish their misbehaviour, incarcerated them 

 together, and kept them thus confined until he thought 

 they had expiated their crime. 



In addition to his other manifold accomplishments. 



