FRANCIS DE ULLOA ad. 



1539- 



a great round compasse, and joyning it selfe with the 

 other shore, and it was so low, that whereas wee were a 

 league from the same wee could not well discerne it, 

 and it seemed that there was an inlet of the mouthes 

 of certaine lakes, whereby the Sea went in and out. 

 There were divers opinions amongst us, and some thought 

 that that current entered into those lakes, and also that 

 some Prreat River there mig^ht be the cause thereof. And 

 when we could perceive no passage through, nor could 

 discerne the countrey to be inhabited, the Captaine 

 accompanied with certaine of us went to take possession 

 thereof. The same day with the ebbe of the Sea wee fell 

 downe from the other coast from the side of Nueva 

 Espanna, though alwayes we had in sight the firme land 

 on the one side of us, and the other Islands on our left 

 hande, on the side of the port of Santa Cruz situate on 

 the Westerne shore : for on that side there are so many 

 Islands and lands, so farre as we could descry, that it 

 was greatly to be wondered at : for from the said haven 

 of Santa Cruz, and from the coast of Culiacan we had 

 alwayes in a maner land on both sides of us, and that so 

 great a countrey, that I suppose if it should so continue 

 further inwarde, there is countrey ynough for many yeeres 

 to conquer. This day wee had the winde contrary, and 

 cast ancker until the flood increased, which was in the 

 afternoone, and then wee set saile likewise with contrary 

 winde untill midnight, and then cast ancker. 



The next day wee departed, shaping our course along 

 the coast Southwest, untill midnight with little winde, 

 and wee sawe within the land high mountaines with some 

 openings, and wee made way some three leagues, and all 

 the next night wee were becalmed, and the next day we 

 continued our course but a little while, for we sailed not 

 above five leagues, and all the night were becalmed, and 

 sawe the lande full of bare and high mountaines, and on 

 our left hande wee descried a plaine countrey, and saw 

 in the night certaine fires. 



[Chap. 4 

 215 



