22 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



"The following Monday, on the ninth day of the said month 

 of October, they departed from La Bahia de los Fumos [Santa 

 Monica] and proceeded this day about six leagues, and anchored 

 in a large inlet [laguna near Point Mugu]; and they passed on 

 thence the following day, Tuesday, and proceeded about eight 

 leagues on a coast northwest and southeast; and we saw on 

 the land a village of Indians near the sea and the houses large 

 in the manner of those of New Spain; and they anchored in 

 front of a very large valley on the coast. Here came to the 

 ships many very good canoes, which held in each one twelve 

 or thirteen Indians; and they gave them notice of Christians 

 who were journeying in the interior. The coast is from north- 

 west to southeast. Here they gave them some presents, with 

 which they were much pleased. They made signs that in 

 seven days they could go where the Spaniards were travelHng; 

 and Juan Rodriguez was determined to send two Spaniards to 

 the interior. They also made signs that there was a great 

 river [Rio Colorado]. With these Indians they sent a letter 

 at a venture to the Christians. They gave name to this village 

 of 'El Pueblo de las Canoas. ' ['The Village of Canoes,' near 

 Buenaventura, 'Pueblo de las Canoas' has usually been iden- 

 tified with Santa Barbara, but the distance places it below 

 that point, while the beautiful valley described certainly does 

 not apply to the location of Santa Barbara, which can scarcely 

 be said to be in a valley at all. The Santa Clara Valley and 

 mountains agree exactly with the description.] They go cov- 

 ered with some skins of animals; they are fishers and eat the 

 fish raw; they also eat agaves. This village is in 35 J degrees. 

 The country within is a very beautiful valley; and they made 

 signs that there was in that valley much maize and much 

 food. There appear within this valley some sierras very high, 

 and the land is very rugged. They call the Christians Taqui- 

 mine. Here they took possession; here they remained until 

 Friday, the thirteenth day of the said month. 



"Friday, the thirteenth day of the said month of October, 

 they departed from Pueblo de las Canoas on their voyage, and 

 proceeded this day six or seven leagues, and passed two large 

 islands [Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands], which extend four 

 leagues each one, and are four leagues from the continent. 



