PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. g5 



almost always rolls into it from the westward. The 

 mission of Santa Cruz is situated at the north extre- 

 mity of the bay near Punto ano nuevo, and vessels 

 occasionally anchor off there for fresh water and sup- 

 plies of vegetables, neither of which are to be had in 

 any quantity at Monterey. Care should be taken in 

 landing at Santa Cruz, as the surf is very heavy, and 

 the river of St. Lorenzo has a bar off it, which it is 

 necessary to pass. 



We dropped our anchor in Monterey Bay on the 

 first of January, and with the permission of the go- 

 vernor, D. Miguel Gonzales, immediately commenced 

 cutting the spars we required ; for each of which we 

 paid a small sum. Through the assistance of Mr. 

 Hartnell, we procured several things from the mis- 

 sions which we should otherwise have sailed without, 

 and our thanks are further due to him for his kind- 

 ness and attention during our stay. 



The anchorage of Monterey is about two miles 

 south-east of point Pinos, in the south angle of the 

 great bay just described. It is necessary to lie close to 

 the shore, both on account of the depth of water, and 

 in order to receive the protection of point Pinos, 

 without which ships could not remain in the bay. It 

 presents to the eye a very exposed anchorage, but no 

 accidents have ever occurred to any vessel properly 

 found in cables and anchors ; in which respect it very 

 much resembles the bay of Valparaiso, nearly in the 

 same parallel in the southern hemisphere. 



The village and presidio of Monterey are situated 

 upon a plain between the anchorage and a range of 

 hills covered with woods of pine and oak. The pre- 

 sidio is in better condition than that at San Fran- 



