90 ST. FRANCISCO. 



den it. But a short time since, no boat was to 

 be found in the neighbourhood, and now each 

 mission possesses only one large barge in which 

 the reverend Fathers pass up and down the 

 rivers that discharge themselves into the north- 

 ern half of the bay, to seek among the In- 

 dians who are occasionally seen on their banks, 

 for proselytes to recruit the ranks of their 

 laborious subjects. The only canoes of the 

 Indians are made of plaited reeds, in which 

 they sit up to their hips in water. That no 

 one has yet attempted to build even the simplest 

 canoe in a country which produces a super- 

 abundance of the finest wood for the purpose, 

 is a striking proof of the indolence of the Spa- 

 niards, and the stupidity of the Indians. 



Our island was surrounded by wild ducks 

 and other sea-fowl; the white-headed eagle 

 hovered too over the oaks, and seemed to be 

 pursuing a very small species of hare, and a 

 pretty partridge, of which there are great 

 numbers. 



We enjoyed for a few hours the recreation 

 of the land, so welcome to sailors, and then 

 continued our voyage with a favourable wind. 



