ARRIVE AT SANTA CLA.RA. 91 



The sun was near the horizon when we ap- 

 proached the eastern shore of the bay. Here the 

 water is no longer of sufficient depth to admit 

 large vessels, and the face of the country assumes 

 a different character. The mountains retire to 

 a greater distance ; extensive plains slope from 

 the hills towards the water's edge, where they 

 become mere swamps, intersected however by 

 a variety of natural channels, by means of which, 

 boats may run some distance inland. It was 

 already growing dark as we entered these chan- 

 nels, where,- even during daylight, the assist- 

 ance of a good pilot is requisite to thread the 

 intricacies of a navigation among thick reeds 

 that grow to such a height in the marshes on 

 both sides, as to exclude from view every object 

 but the sky. Our sailors plied their oars vi- 

 gorously ; the channels became gradually nar- 

 rower, and the banks drier ; at length we heard 

 human voices behind the reeds, and at midnight 

 we reached the landing-place. A large fire had 

 been lighted. Two dragoons and a few half- 

 naked Indians, sent from the mission, were 

 waiting our arrival, with saddle-horses intended 

 for our use. As the mission was at the dis- 



