AN INDIAN PILOT. 107 



fectly still, and the air enchantingly mild. An 

 Indian named Marco, whom Estudillo had 

 brought with him, served us as pilot ; for the 

 Spaniards here, incapable, either through indo 

 lence or ignorance, of discharging that office, 

 always employ an experienced Indian at the 

 helm. 



Don Estudillo, although advanced in life, was 

 a very cheerful companion, and one of the most 

 enlightened Spaniards I have met with in Cali 

 fornia. He piqued himself a little on his lite 

 rary acquirements, and mentioned having read 

 three books besides Don Quixote and Gil Bias, 

 whilst, as he assured me in confidence, the 

 rest of his countrymen here had hardly ever 

 seen any other book than the Bible. Marco 

 had grown grey in the mission : on account of 

 his usefulness, he had been in many respects 

 better treated than most of the Indians : he 

 spoke Spanish with tolerable fluency ; and when 

 Estudillo endeavoured to exercise his wit upon 

 him, often embarrassed him not a little by his 

 repartees. This Marco affords a proof that, 

 under favourable circumstances, the minds even J 

 of the Indians of California are susceptible of 



