64 VOYAGE OF CABRILLO. [1542, 1543. 



The disturbances being, at length, ended, in the spring of 1542, two 

 vessels were placed under the command of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, 

 a Portuguese of high reputation as a navigator, who was directed 

 to examine the western side of California, as far northward as pos- 

 sible, seeking particularly for rich countries, and for passages leading 

 towards the iUlantic ; while Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, a relation of 

 the viceroy, was sent, with the remainder of the disposable vessels 

 and forces, across the Pacific, to endeavor to form establishments in 

 India. 



The two vessels under Cabrillo sailed together from Navidad, a 

 small port in Xalisco, in June, 1542 ; and, having in a few days 

 doubled Cape San Lucas, the survey of the west coast of California 

 was begun from that point. It would be needless to endeavor to 

 trace the progress of Cabrillo along this coast, or to enumerate the 

 many capes and bays mentioned in the account of his voyage, 

 nearly all of which places, so far as they can be identified, are now 

 distinguished by names entirely different from those bestowed on 

 them by him. By the middle of August, he had advanced beyond 

 the limits of the supposed discoveries of Ulloa ; and, in November, 

 after having examined the coast as far north as the 38th degree of 

 latitude, he was driven back, and forced to take refuge in a harbor 

 named by him Port Possession, situated in the Island of San 

 Bernardo, one of the Santa Barbara group, near the main land, 

 under the 34th parallel. There Cabrillo, who had been for some 

 time sick, sank under the fatigues of the voyage, on the 3d of 

 January, 1543, leaving the command to the pilot, Bartolome Ferrelo. 



The new commander, being no less zealous and determined than 

 his predecessor, resolved, if possible, to accomplish the main objects 

 of the expedition before returning to Mexico. He accordingly, 

 soon after, sailed from Port Possession towards the north, and, on 

 the 26th of February, reached a promontory situated under the 41st 

 parallel, to which he gave the name of Cabo de Fortunas, (Cape 

 of Perils, or Stormy Cape,) from the dangers encountered in its 

 vicinity. On the 1st of March, the ships were in the latitude of 

 44 degrees, as determined by a solar observation ; but, on the fol- 

 lowing day, they were again driven to the south ; and, the men 

 being, at this time, almost worn out, by long exposure to cold and 

 fatigue, without sufficient food or clothing, Ferrelo determined to go 

 back to Mexico. The ships, therefore, quitted the Isle of Cedars, 

 discovered by Ulloa, in the beginning of April, and, on the 14th of 

 that month, they arrived at Navidad. 



