HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 15 



from Tampa Bay, Florida, until they reached Culia- 

 can. They had received from the natives, accounts 

 of rich and populous countries situated to the north 

 west. Mendoza, wishing to ascertain the truth of the 

 reports, sent two friars, according to the advice of 

 Las Casas, to make an exploration. They were ac 

 companied by a Moor who had crossed the continent 

 with Caheza-Vaca and his friends, and they set out 

 from Culiacan on the 7th of March, 1539. 



Soon after the departure of the friars, Cortes sent 

 out his last expedition. It was commanded by Fran 

 cisco de Ulloa, and consisted of three vessels, well 

 equipped. Sailing from Acapulco, on the 8th of July 

 1539. Ulloa reached the Bay of Santa Cruz, after 

 losing one of his vessels in a storm. From Santa 

 Cruz he started to survey the coast towards the north 

 west. He completely examined both shores of the 

 Gulf of California, and discovered the fact of the 

 connection of the peninsula with the main land, near 

 the 32 of latitude. This gulf Ulloa named the Sea 

 of Cortes. On the 18th of October, he returned to 

 Santa Cruz, and on the 29th again sailed with the 

 object of exploring the coasts farther west. He 

 rounded the point now called Cape San Lucas, the 

 southern extremity of California, and sailed along the 

 coast towards the north. The Spaniards proceeded 

 slowly, as they were opposed by north-western storms, 

 and often landed and fought with the natives. In 

 January, 1540, Ulloa reached the island under the 

 28th parallel of latitude, near the coast, which they 

 named the Isle of Cedars. There he remained till 

 April, when one of the ships, bearing the sick and 

 accounts of the discoveries, was sent back to Mexico. 

 The returning vessel was seized at Santiago by the 



