HARRINGTON | HISTORY OF BURTON MOUND 51 
unintelligible to us; for as we were totally unacquainted with their native 
dialect, we endeavoured, but to no effect, by means of Spanish, to gain from them 
some information. 
On a light breeze springing up from the westward, at about eight o’clock, 
we directed our course along shore to the eastward; our progress was very 
slow, owing to light winds, though the weather was very pleasant. About two 
in the afternoon we passed a small bay, which appeared likely to have afforded 
good anchorage, had it not been for a bed of seaweed that extended across its 
entrance, and indicated a shallow rocky bottom. 
Within this bay a very large Indian village was pleasantly situated, from 
whence we were visited by some of its inhabitants; amongst whom was a very 
shrewd intelligent fellow, who informed us, in the Spanish language, that there 
was a mission and a Presidio not much further to the eastward. About five in 
the evening this establishment was discovered in a small bay, which bore the 
appearance of a far more civilized place than any other of the Spanish settle- 
ments. The buildings appeared to be regular and well constructed, the walls 
clean and white, and the roofs of the houses were covered with a bright red 
tile. The Presidio was nearest to the sea shore, and just shewed itself above a 
grove of small trees, producing with the rest of the buildings a very picturesque 
effect. 
As I purposed to anchor somewhere for the night, and as this bay seemed 
likely not only to answer that purpose, but another equally essential, that of 
procuring some refreshments, we hauled in, and anchored in six fathoms 
water, sandy bottom; the southern land in sight, called by the Spaniards Con- 
version Point, bore by compass S. 70 E.; a low cliffy point in the bay N. 42 E.; 
the Presidio N. 32 W.; the nearest shore NNW. distant half a mile; the north- 
west point of the bay S. 64 W.; the northwest extreme of the island of S'“ Rosa 
S. 34 W. distant thirty-two miles; its western extreme was shut in with the 
west point of S‘“ Cruz, which bore from 8S. 22 W. to 8S. 28 E. seventeen or eighteen 
miles; the nearest part of this island 8. 20 E. distant thirteen miles; and the 
southeasternmost of the islands in sight S. 28 E.; appearing from our anchorage 
like a single rock, but consisting of three small islands. 
Having thus anchored before the Spanish establishment, I immediately sent 
Lieutenant Swaine to inform the commanding officer at the Presidio of our 
arrival, and as I intended to depart in the morning, to request that the Indians, 
who had shown a great desire to trade with us, might be permitted to bring 
us, in the course of the night, such articles of refreshment as they had to 
dispose of; which, as we understood, consisted of an abundance of hogs, 
vegetables, fowls, and some excellent dried fish. 
Mr. Swaine returned, after meeting with a most polite and friendly reception 
from the commandant, Senor Don Felipe Goycochea, who with the greatest 
hospitality informed Mr. Swaine that every refreshment the country could 
afford was perfectly at our command; and desired that I might be made 
acquainted, that he hoped I would remain a few days to partake of those 
advantages, and to allow him the pleasure of administering to our wants and 
necessities. 
On his learning from Mr. Swaine which way we were bound, he observed 
that wood and water would not only be found very scarce, but that a supply 
could not be depended upon at St. Diego, or any other port to the southward; 
and if it were necessary that we should replenish our stock of those articles, 
it would be well to embrace the opportunity which our present situation 
afforded for so doing. 
The general deportment of this officer was evidently the effect of a noble 
and generous mind; and as this place, which was distinguished by the name 
