wrasmr] END OF THE MIXTON WAR 411 



weapons. With the help of these Indians, Mendoza eventually suc- 

 ceeded in destroying or reducing the revolted tribes. The campaign 

 was a series of fiercely contested struggles, which culminated at the 

 Mixton penol, a strongly fortified height where the most bitter enemies 

 of the Spanish conquerors had their headquarters. This place was sur- 

 rendered during the Christmas holidays, and when Coronado returned 

 in the autumn of 1542, the whole of New Spain was once more quiet. 



FURTHER ATTEMPTS AT DISCOVERY 

 THE VOYAGE OF CABRILLO 



Mendoza took possession of the vessels belonging to Alvarado after 

 the death of the latter. In accordance with the plans which the two 

 partners had agreed on, apparently, the viceroy commissioned Juan 

 Rodriguez Cabrillo to take command of two ships in the port of La 

 Natividad and make an exploration of the coast on the western side of 

 the peninsula of Lower California. Cabrillo started June 27, 1542, and 

 sailed north, touching the land frequently. Much bad weather inter- 

 fered with his plans, but lie kept on till the end of December, when he 

 lauded on one of the San Lucas islands. Here Cabrillo died, January 

 3.1543, leaving his chief pilot, Bartolome Ferrel or Ferrelo, "a native 

 of the Levant," in command. Ferrel left the island of San Miguel, 

 which he named Isla de Juan Rodriguez, on January 20, to continue 

 the voyage. Iu a little more than a month the fleet had reached the 

 southern part of Oregon or thereabouts, allowing for an error of a 

 degree and a half in the observations, which said that they were 44° 

 north. A severe storm forced the ships to turn back from this point. 



The report of the expedition is little more than an outline of distances 

 sailed and places named, although there are occasional statements which 

 give us valuable information regarding the coast Indians. 1 Among the 

 most interesting of these notes are those showing that the news of the 

 expeditions to Colorado river, and perhaps of the occupancy of the 

 Pueblo country by white men, had reached the Pacific coast. About 

 September 1, 1542, a party from the fleet went ashore near the southern 

 boundary of California. Five Indians met the Spanish sailors at a 

 spring, where they were filling the water casks. "They appeared like 

 intelligent Indians," and went on board the ships without hesitation. 

 "They took note of the Spaniards and counted them, and made signs 

 that they had seen other men like these, who had beards and who 

 brought dogs and cross-bows and swords . . . and showed by their 

 signs that the other Spaniards were five days' journey distant. . . . 

 The captain gave them a letter, which he told them to carry to the 

 Spaniards who they said were in the interior." September 28, at San 



'The report or memorandum was written h\ Juan Tat'/.. or more probably by the pilot Ferrel. It has 

 been translated in the reports of the United Siaies Geological Survey West of the One Hundredth 

 Meridian. (Appendix to part i, vol. vii, Archteology, pp. 293-314.) The translation is accompanied by 

 notes identify ing the places named, on which it is safe enougb to rely, and by other notes of somewhat 

 doubtful value. 



