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- 



