HARRINGTON ] HISTORY OF BURTON MOUND 53 
likely to prevent any abuse of the indulgence, or any just cause of complaint. 
For when I reflected on the unrestrained manner in which most of the officers 
and gentlemen had rambled about the country, during our former visit at 
Monterrey, I was not without my suspicions that the unpleasant restrictions 
imposed upon us on our late return to that port had been occasioned by our 
having made too free with the liberty then granted. To prevent the chance 
of any such offense taking place here, I issued positive injunctions that no 
individual under my command should extend his excursions beyond the view 
from the Presidio or the buildings of the mission, which, being situated in 
an open country of no very uneven surface, admitted of sufficient space for 
all the exercise on foot or horseback that health or amusement might require. 
Notwithstanding the water on the beach was the same as that with which all 
the Spanish vessels that had visited this roadstead had been supplied, and 
although much pains had been taken to clean out the wells, yet they were 
very dirty and brackish; and as they afforded a very scanty supply, we were 
induced to make search for better water. 
At the distance of only a few yards farther than where the wells had been 
made, a most excellent spring of very fine water was discovered, amongst 
some bushes, in a kind of morass; and though it flowed but slowly, yet it 
answered all our purposes, and was obtained with more ease than the water 
from the wells. This spring was totally unknown to the resident Spaniards, 
and equally so, I presume, to those employed in their shipping, or they would 
not so long have been content with the dirty brackish water procured from the 
wells. At the Presidio is a large well of excellent water, from which also, by 
the assistance of the cart, a portion of our stock was obtained. 
Our business being thus in a train of easy execution, the agreeable society 
of our Spanish friends, the refreshments we procured, and the daily recreation 
which the country afforded, rendered our situation at S‘" Barbara extremely 
pleasant. 
We here procured some stout knees from the holly-leaved oak, for the security 
of the Discovery’s head and bumkins; this and our other occupations, fully 
engaged our time until the evening of Sunday the 17th, when preparations were 
made for sailing on the day following. 
The pleasing society of our good friends at the mission and presidio was this 
day augmented by the arrival of Friar Vincente S‘* Maria, one of the Rey. 
Fathers of the mission of Bueno Ventura, situated about seven leagues from 
hence on the seacoast of the southeastward. 
The motives that induced this respectable priest to favor us with his com- 
pany, evidently manifested his christian-like benevolence. Having crossed the 
ocean more thap once himself, he was well aware how valuable the fresh pro- 
ductions of the shores were to persons in our situation; under this impression 
he had brought with him, for our service, half a score sheep, and twenty mules 
laden with the various roots and vegetables from the garden of his mission. 
This excellently good man earnestly entreated that I would accompany him by 
land back to Bueno Ventura; saying, that I should be better able on the spot 
to point out to him, and to his colleague the Rey. Friar Father Francisco Dume, 
such of the productions of the country as would be most acceptable, and con- 
tribute most to our future comfort and welfare. Of this journey I should have 
been very happy to have been able to have availed myself had the existing cir- 
cumstances not obliged me to decline the pleasure I should thereby have 
received. 
