COAST OF CALIFORNIA. 73 



time, victory declared for Boreas, and he drove 

 the smooth strip towards our vessel, which had 

 hitherto been sailing in the territory of the south 

 wind. We presently entered the calm region ; 

 and while we had not a pufF to swell our sails, 

 the wind raged with undiminished fury on both 

 sides. This strange spectacle lasted for about 

 a quarter of an hour; when the north wind, 

 which had been continually advancing, reached 

 us, and carried us quickly forward towards the 

 point of our destination. 



On the 25th of September we found our- 

 selves, by observations, in the neighbourhood of 

 the promontory called by the Spaniards " the 

 King," not far from the bay of St. Francisco ; 

 but a thick fog, which at this season always 

 reigns over the coast of California, veiled the 

 wished-for land till the 27th. At ten o'clock 

 in the morning of this day, at a distance of 

 only three miles, we doubled his rocky majesty, 

 a high bold hill terminating towards the sea in 

 a steep wall of black rock, and having nothing 

 at all regal in its appearance, — and perceived in 

 his neighbourhood a very strong surf, occasion- 



VOL. II. E 



