128 Menaics' Journal. 



Nootka. 



1792. 

 Oct. 3rd. 



For 



biographical 



note see 



Appendix. 



Atanaslo 



Echeverria. 



Malaspina was 

 at Nootka from 

 Aug. 13th to 

 28th, 1791. 



Oct. 5th and 

 6th. 



receivd as Commandant, by a Guard & a salute of / eleven 

 Guns ; & after dinner was over the health of the Sovereigns 

 of Spain & England were drank under the discharge of 2i 

 Guns. The Aranzaza Frigate was at this time unmooring 

 in order to leave the Port & follow S"^ Quadra to California, 

 so that we took leave of our friends S"" Cormano & his 

 Officers when they left the Discovery in the evening & they 

 went away in the course of the night. 



There were two Botanists attachd to the Spanish 

 Squadron who visited the Coast this Summer, one of them 

 had been in the Aranzaza to the Northward & had made a 

 considerable Collection of Plants from the different places 

 they touched at, the other whose name was Don Jose Mozino 

 remaind at Nootka with S^' Quadra together with an excel- 

 lent draughtsman S'" Escheverea a Native of Mexico, who 

 as a Natural History Painter had great merit. These told 

 me that they were part of a Society of Naturalists who were 

 employd of late years in examining Mexico & New Spain for 

 the purpose of collecting Materials for a Flora Mexicana 

 which they said would soon be publishd, & with the assis- 

 tance of so good an Artist it must be a valuable acquisition. 



S'" Malaspini who has been some time out on Discoveries 

 with two Vessels under his Command they all agree is a 

 very able Navigator & fitted out in the most ample manner 

 for Discoveries with Astronomers Naturalists Draughtsmen 

 &c. — He has already examined the Shores of South America 

 & this Coast / & is now surveying the Philipine Islands. — 

 He is to return by Peru & Chili round Cape Horn, to publish 

 the result of his enquiries : So that the Spaniards mean to 

 shake off now entirely that odium of indolence & secrecy 

 with which they have been long accused. 



On the 5th Sz: 6th the Markee Tents & Observatory were 

 struck & brought on board, together with the Astronomical 

 Instruments, & preparations were now making for leaving 

 the Port with the first fair wind. The Jenny Schooner of 

 Bristol Commanded by Mr. Baker arrivd in the Cove from 

 a Trading Cruize along the Coast. — This Vessel touchd at 

 Otaheite & the Sandwich Islands on her way to this Coast, 

 & from the latter place they brought away with them two 

 women, who were still on board, though some of the Ameri- 

 can Traders were so malevolent as to report to us that they 

 had been disposd of on the Coast as slaves. 



