PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 7 



indeed, as soon to lessen the desire of pursuit ; still 

 there were many inducements to both the officers and 

 seamen to land and enjoy themselves ; and as it was 

 for the benefit of the service that they should recruit 

 their health and strength as soon as possible, every 

 facihty was afforded them. Horses were fortunately 

 very cheap, from nine shillings to seven pounds 

 apiece, so that riding became a favourite amusement ; 

 and the Spaniards finding they could make a good 

 market by letting out their stud, appeared with them 

 every Sunday opposite the ship, ready saddled for the 

 occasion, as this was a day on which I allowed every 

 man to go out of the ship. Some of the officers pur- 

 chased horses and tethered them near the place, but 

 the Spaniards finding this to interfere with their 

 market, contrived to let them loose on the Saturday 

 night, in order that the officers might be compelled 

 to hire others on the following day. The only ob- 

 stacle to the enjoyment of this amusement was the 

 scarcity of saddles and bridles, some of which cost ten 

 times as much as a decent horse. The ingenuity of 

 the seamen generally obviated these difficulties, while 

 some borrowed or hired saddles of the natives : for my 

 own part, I purchased a decent looking horse for 

 about thirty-five shillings sterling, and on my depar- 

 ture presented it to a Spaniard, who had lent me the 

 necessary accoutrements for it during my stay, which 

 answered the purpose of both parties, as he was 

 pleased with his present, and I had my ride for about 

 a shilling a day : a useful hint to persons who may be 

 similarly circumstanced. 



Such of the seamen as would not venture on horse- 

 back made parties to visit the presidio and mission, 

 where they found themselves welcome guests with the 



