VISIT CAPE ST. LUCAS. 3 



These islands are so perilously placed for 

 shipping making Cape St. Lucas from the north- 

 ward, (a route annually followed by numerous 

 South-Seamen,) that it is surprising they should 

 have remained so long unnoticed, or their posi- 

 tion undetermined.* That we failed to observe 

 them during our passage of the preceding year, 

 arose from our having then hauled up for the 

 American continent much more to the southward 

 than on the present occasion. 



On the following day the dark and elevated 

 land of the N. American continent was seen from 

 the mast-head, bearing E. by S. ; and on the 

 morning of the 15th we approached that coast 

 within eight miles, and hove to between Cape St. 

 Lucas and Cape Palmo, (the southern extremity 

 of the peninsula of California,-}-) off the mouth of 



* Upon our subsequent arrival at Cape St. Lucas we 

 were informed, that the existence of this group had been 

 reported there by a brig, trading on the coast, and that 

 some small vessels in quest of fur-skins had attempted to 

 visit it, but without success. Judging from the appearance 

 of the island, it is very probable that the fur-seal abounds 

 on their shores. 



f Discovered by Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, in 

 honour of whom the gulf or strait was formerly named. In 

 the year 1578, Sir F. Drake visited this peninsula, and 

 (with the sanction of the sovereign chief of the whole 

 country) took possession of it for the British crown. But 



B 2 



