298 INTKODUCTOEY NOTES. 



safe port, where could be had the necessary water and provisions. Hence the declara- 

 tion that no harbor could be found was possibly made in all honesty and sincerity; 

 but, whether so or not, was evidently, from the care evinced in the statement, intended 

 to serve as an explanation, and, if necessary, an excuse, for the temporary abandon- 

 ment of the voyage of discovery. 



With reference to the most northerly point reached by the Spaniards, there can 

 be no doubt but that the latitude " about 44 degrees," as given in the narrative, is con- 

 siderably too high. On the other hand, there is reason for believing that Cape Men- 

 docino, which has usually been considered as marking about the turning-point of the 

 expedition, is somewhat too low. Deducting a full degree and a half from the figures 

 above given, which, from a careful analysis of the distances sailed in connection with 

 the localities identified, appears to represent the most probable error, a point near the 

 southern border of Oregon is indicated, or 42J degrees. It was just about here that 

 the storm was encountered that caused them to finally put about and abandon the 

 further discovery of the coast. That Cape Mendocino was doubled there can be no 

 possible doubt. 



Of the character and motives of the voyage of Cabrillo little need be said. Unlike 

 many of the expeditions sent out by the Spanish grandees, it appears to have been 

 prompted by a desire to extend geographical discoveries, with doubtless the primary 

 purpose of adding to the possessions of the Spanish Crown, and not by the insatiate 

 thirst for gold whicb urged the " conquerors" on their usual paths of rapine and blood- 

 shed. Cabrillo appears to have well deserved the character of "good man" as well 

 as "skillful navigator" bestowed upon him by his contemporary Herrera, and his 

 conduct towards the natives was marked by a moderation and good-will that had their 

 full effect in securing for him from this naturally inoffensive and well-disposed people 

 a full return in kind. His untimely death doubtless had its effect in retarding the full 

 exploration of the coast, while probably his own account of the voyage, had he lived 

 to write it, would have been in every way more complete and satisfactory. 



Throughout the narrative the identification of the localities visited by the Span- 

 iards as made are given in brackets, with, occasionally, such short notes as appear to 

 shed light upon the subjects mentioned, or as are rendered necessary by the doubtful 

 nature of the identification. These, however, have been made as brief as possible, the 

 diary being left to tell its own tale in its own way. It was deemed preferable to make 

 the translation a literal one, it being thought that whatever was gained by a rendition 

 into good English would be lost in other ways. 



A sketch is appended to show the position of the burial places near Santa Bar- 

 bara in which excavations were made by the expedition, as also the location of many 

 other ancient burial-places and shellheaps* along the coast and on the islands, of which 

 the greater portion have been examined with more or less thoroughness. Numerous 

 as these are, it is probable that many more are still to be discovered. 



It only remains to express the great obligation the expedition is under to Lieut. 

 Commander Taylor for the assistance which, not alone upon this, but upon other 

 occasions, his courtesy has prompted him to extend. 



*The term "mound "as used upon the map is to be understood as applying only to shell mounds and 

 refuse heaps, and not to true mounds in the sense of the term as applied to the tumuli of the Mississippi 

 Valley. 



