to the North-West Coast of America. 109 



Wother. When any of these Indians were surprised by 

 night in the habitations of the Spaniards, they asked for 

 torches to enable them to return to their huts, and sent thcni 

 punctually back the next day. Their fidelity in discharging 

 their promises was carried to the most scrupulous rigidity ; 

 the following is a striking proof of it : — one of their chiefs, 

 whom the editor calls prince Natzape, had asked from the 

 Spaniards plates of copper and other articles of exchange, 

 with which he intended to procure otter skins among a neigh- 

 bouring tribe, separated by an arm of the sea. In the pas- 

 Sage his canoe foundered, and poor Natzape lost his wife, 

 with every thing he possessed, and all that he had bor- 

 rowed. He supported his misfortunes with wonderful con- 

 stancy ; and having wept for his companion some time, 

 he began to work till he had paid the whole of what he 

 owed. 



The Spanish vessels left Nootka on the 31st of August 

 1792, to explore the coast from the strait of Fuca as far as 

 ^onterey and Saint Bias; that is to say, for the space of 

 twenty-eight degrees. The Spaniards seem to be very well 

 acquainted with all this part of America. On the 20th of 

 September they anchored at Monterey, the position of 

 which they had accurately determined the preceding year, in 

 lat. 36** 33' 45'', and long. 113''47' 30" from the meridian of 

 Cadiz. The shore of Monterey, besides other curiosities, 

 contains a great abundance of very beautiful shells, known 

 to naturalists by the name of allot ismyde; they are found 

 only on this coast and on that of New Zealand ; some of 

 them are remarkably large; the index and thumb of both 

 hands, when made to touch, can scarcely comprehend them. 

 They are lined on the Inside with a covering of mother-of- 

 pearl, veined with the most beautiful azure. 



The fort of Monterey, which is the principal settlement 

 of New California, has a garrison of onlv sixty-three sol- 

 diers, who, for want of tradesmen, are obliged to exercise 

 all kinds of mechanical occupations. A law which cannot 

 be explained, much less excused, prevents them from build- 

 ing houses and cultivating the land. Two leagues from 

 Monterey is the mission of San Carlos, which has effected 

 a kind of miracle, by civilizing the Indians irl the neigh- 

 bourhood. This is one service more rendered by religion to 

 mankind ; for the civilized Indians are sensibly more happy 

 than those of the same canton who continue to wander 

 through the woods, or to sail about at random in their 

 canoes. Though apparently stupid, they are, however, 

 susceptible of instruction j they haye a wonderful dexterity 



in 



