CHAPTER III 



THE LOG OF CABRILLO 



ON the seventeenth of September, 1652, Cabrillo 

 sighted the Coronado Islands, near which is 

 now one of the most beautiful seacoast towns 

 of California. The long beach named for Coronado 

 forms the Bay of San Diego. 

 Quoting from Cabrillo's Log: 



"Sunday, on the seventeenth of the said month, they set 

 sail to pursue their voyage; and about six leagues from Cabo 

 de la Cruz they found a good port well inclosed; and to arrive 

 there, they passed by a small island wliich is near the main- 

 land. In this port they obtained water in a little pond of 

 rain-water; and there are groves resembling silk-cotton trees, 

 except that it is a hard wood. They found thick and tall 

 trees which the sea brought ashore. This port was called 

 San Mateo [San Diego Bay]. It is a good country in appear- 

 ance. There are large cabins, and the herbage like that of 

 Spain, and the land is high and rugged. They saw herds of 

 animals like flocks of sheep, which went together by the hun- 

 dred or more, which resembled in appearance and movement 

 Peruvian sheep, and with long wool. They have small horns 

 of a span in length and as thick as the thumb, and the tail 

 is broad and round and of the length of a palm. It is in 33^ 

 degrees. They took possession of it. They were in this port 

 until the following Saturday. 



" Saturday, the twenty- third of the said month, they departed 

 from the said port of San Mateo, and sailed along the coast 

 until the following Monday, in which time they made about 

 eighteen leagues. They saw very beautiful valleys and groves, 

 and a country flat and rough, and they did not see Indians. 



19 



