284 ELDORADO 



the lofty islands of P'lamingo, I'erico, Tobat^o, and 

 others present themselves to view. At the island of 

 Tobago all the vessels that come into the bay obtain 

 their supplies, and the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- 

 pany have established their depot for coal, etc., on its 

 shores. After obtaining all the necessary supplies the 

 steamshi]') moves out of the bay rounding Point Mala. 

 The voyage upon the Pacific with all its variety of in- 

 cident and scenery then commences. The principal 

 annoyance of the travelers is the ahuost intolerable 

 heat of the sun and furnaces of the steamship united. 

 "Water-spouts and difTerent species of whale are 

 frequent sights. North of the Gulf of Tehauntepec the 

 steamer nears the land and the bold mountain coast of 

 Mexico breaks u])on the view, and at night the pas- 

 sengers enjoy a sight of the glaring light jjroduced by 

 the burning volcano of Colima, though the volcano 

 itself is Init imperfectly seen, being at the distance of 

 ninetv miles from the vessel. Soon after this fades 

 from view the islands oflf the town of San Bias appear, 

 and an immense white rock, isolated from the sea, 

 serves as a lighthouse to ships steering for the port. 

 At San Bias the steamships ren'ain some tiiue to ol)- 

 tain supplies of coal, fresh fruits, and i^rovisions, 

 then Cape San Lucas, the extreme southern point of 

 Cape Carientes next appears, and soon afterwards the 

 entrance to the Gulf of California is approached ; and 

 California, with its mountains and rocky shores, is 

 hailed by the traveler as the first portion of the "prom- 

 ised land" that greets his sight. Passing along the 

 western coast of the ])eninsula, the island and bay of 

 "Magdalena ap]:)ear, with shores three or four thousand 

 feet above the sea. Next the towering ridges of Ceros 



