FRANCIS DE ULLOA a.d. 



1539- 

 alwayes the coast of the maine Ocean on our right hand, From hence 

 and the farther we sailed, wee alwayes found the countrey firzvard the^ 

 more delightsome and pleasant, as well in beholding the ^^^^^^.^^ ^^. 

 greennes therof, as also in that it shewed certaine plaines backside of 

 and deepe valleys, through which rivers did fall downe California. 

 into the land, within certaine mountaines, and hilles full 

 of great woods which were not very high, and appeared 

 within the countrey. Here we were 54 leagues distant 

 from California little more or lesse, alwayes toward the California. 

 Southwest, seeing in the night three or foure fires, where- 

 by it appeareth that the countrey is inhabited, and full of 

 people, for the greatnes of the countrey argueth no lesse : 

 and we supposed that there must needs bee great townes 

 inhabited within the land, although in this poynt we were 

 of divers opinions. The sea is so deepe on all this coast 

 that we could scarce find ground in 54 fadomes. On the 

 greatest part of the coast there are hilles of very white 

 sand, and it seemeth to be a dangerous coast, because of 

 the great and swift tides which goe there, for the sand 

 sheweth so much for the space of ten or twelve leagues, 

 for so the Pilots affirmed. This day being Saturday 

 the winde increased, and wee had sight of the Isle oi Islade perks. 

 pearles, which on this side of the gulfe appeareth with 

 a deepe valley all covered over with trees, and sheweth 

 much fairer then on the other side, and wee entred into 

 the Porte of Santa Cruz. From the ninth of November 

 to the fifteenth we sayled not above tenne leagues, be- 

 cause we had contrary winds, and great showres : and 

 besides this we had another mischance which did not a 

 little grieve us : for wee lost company of the ship 

 called The Trinitie, and could never see her for the 

 space of three dayes, whereupon wee suspected that 

 shee was returned home unto New Spaine, or that she 

 was severed from our company : wherefore we were 

 grieved out of measure to see our selves so left alone, 

 and the Captaine of all others was most sad, though 

 he ceased not to encourage us to proceede on our 

 voyage, saying that notwithstanding all this wee ought 



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