12 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



conquered hy the Mexicans. Flattering accounts of 

 the fertility of the country and of the abundance of 

 the precious metals in it were brought back by the ex- 

 pedition, and these served to excite the attention of 

 the Spaniards. When the expedition returned Cortes 

 Avas in Spain, whither he had gone to have his title 

 and powers more clearly defined. He returned in 

 1530 with full power to make discoveries and con- 

 quests upon the western coast of Mexico. From the 

 opposition of his enemies, he was prevented from fit- 

 ting out an expedition before 1532. The most north- 

 ern post upon the Pacific coast, occupied by the 

 Spaniards, was Aguatlan, beyond which the coast was 

 little known. 



The expedition sent by Cortes to the north-western 

 coast of Mexico was commanded by his kinsman, Diego 

 Hurtado de Mendoza. It sailed from Tehuantepec 

 in July, 1532, and consisted of two vessels ; one com- 

 manded by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza in person, and 

 the other by Juan de Mazuela. Mendoza proceeded 

 slowly along the shore of the contirrent as far as the 

 27° of latitude, where, his crew being mutinous, he 

 sent back one of his vessels with the greater part of 

 his men, and continued the voyage with the remaining 

 vessel. Vague report^ were afterwards received that 

 Mendoza' s vessel was thrown ashore somewhere to the 

 northward, and that all on board had perished. The 

 vessel which was sent back, was stranded near the 

 mouth of the River Vanderas, and after the murder 

 of the greater part of the crew, she was plundered 

 by Nuno de Guzman, Governor of Xalisco. About 

 the middle of the next year, Cortes received the news 

 of the return of the vessel which Mendoza had sent 

 back, and he immediately despatched two ships under 



