54 EXPLORATION OF BURTON MOUND [ETH. ANN. 44 
Our new benevolent friend, accompanied by the commandant and Father 
Miguel, honored us with their company to dine on board, where in the course 
of conversation, I was informed that the mission of Bueno Ventura was situated 
near a small bay of easy access; and as Friar Vincente seemed much pleased 
with his visit on board, I requested he would favor me with his company in 
the discovery of his residence. This offer he cheerfully accepted and in doing 
so I had only reason to regret the short time I was to be indulged with the 
society of a gentleman, whose observations through life, and general knowledge 
of mankind, rendered him a most pleasing and instructive companion, 
In the evening our friends returned on shore, and I took that opportunity 
of soliciting their acceptance of a few useful articles which they had no other 
opportunity of obtaining; though I must confess they were a very incompetent 
return for their friendly, generous, and attentive services; and I trust they 
will accept this public acknowledgment as the only means within my reach 
to show the grateful sense I shall ever entertain of the obligations they so 
liberally and unexpectedly bestowed. 
We attended at breakfast the next morning, Monday the 18th, with our 
friends from the shore; and the want of wind detained us at anchor until near 
noon; when we took leave of our S‘" Barbara friends, and, accompanied by 
Father Vincente, we directed our course toward Bueno Ventura. 
Whilst we remained at S‘" Barbara Mr. Whidbey, whose time was principally 
devoted to the several duties on shore, embraced that opportunity of making 
some necessary astronomical observations with the artificial horizon; the only 
means we had of ascertaining the latitude, variation, and the longitude by 
the chronometers. The mean results showed the latitude, by four meridional 
altitudes of the sun, to be 34° 24’; the variation by six sets of azimuths, differ- 
ing from 11° 14’ to 9°, to be 10° 15’ eastwardly ; and the longitude, by eight sets 
of altitudes of the sun between the 11th and 15th, allowing the error and rate 
as calculated at Monterey, was shown by Kendall's chronometer to 240° 
45’ 40’’; Arnold’s No. 14, 240° 44’ 16’’; No, 176, 240° 56’ 45’’; and the true 
longitude deduced from subsequent observations, 240° 48’. As I continued to 
allow the same rate, the situation of the coast has been laid down by No. 14; 
and I should hope, by the regularity with which it had lately gone, with some 
degree of precision. The tide, though showing here no visible stream, regu- 
larly ebbed and flowed every six hours; the rise and fall, as nearly as could 
be estimated, seemed to be about three or four feet; and it is high water about 
eight hours after the moon passes the meridian. 
To sail into the bay, or more properly speaking the roadstead, of S'* Barbara, 
requires but few directions, as it is open and without any kind of interruption 
whatever; the soundings on approaching it are regular, from 15 to 3 fathoms; 
the former from half a league to two miles, the latter within a cable and half 
of the shore. Weeds were seen growing about the roadstead in many places; 
but, so far as we examined, which was only in the vicinity of our anchorage, 
they did not appear to indicate shallower water, or a bottom of a different 
nature. The shores of the roadstead are for the most part low, and terminate 
in sandy beaches, to which, however its western point is rather an exception, 
being a steep cliff moderately elevated; to this point I gave the name of Point 
Felipe, after the commandant of S‘* Barbara. 
The interior country a few miles only from the water side, is composed of 
rugged barren mountains, which I was informed rise in five different ridges, 
behind and above each other, a great distance inland towards the ENB.; which 
space is not at present occupied either by the Spaniards or the native Indians. 
