94 SUPPOSED RIVER OF AGUILAR. [1603. 



degree of latitude, was, for a long time, universally credited, and 

 excited many speculations. The supposed river was first, as Tor- 

 quemada says, generally believed to be the long-sought Strait of 

 Anian. It was then, upon the strength of a statement made by the 

 captain of a Manilla ship, in 1620, universally considered as the 

 western mouth of a passage, or channel, connecting the ocean with 

 the northern extremity of the Californian Gulf; and, accordingly, 

 during the remainder of the seventeenth century, California was 

 represented, on all maps, as an island, of which Cape Blanco was 

 the northern end. When this error had been corrected, the exist- 

 ence of a great river, flowing from the centre of America into the 

 Pacific, under the 43d parallel, was again affirmed by some geogra- 

 phers ; while others again placed at this point the western entrance 

 of a passage leading to the Atlantic. 



It is now certain that no such stream or channel as that which 

 Aguilar is reported to have seen, falls into the Pacific within three 

 degrees of the 43d parallel ; although the mouths of two small 

 rivers are situated near the point where that line crosses the western 

 coast of the continent. Several head-lands project into the ocean, 

 not far from the positions assigned to the Capes Blanco and San 

 Sebastian. The former may have been the promontory, in latitude 

 of 42 degrees 52 minutes, on which Vancouver, in 1792, bestowed 

 the name of Cape Or ford. 



On comparing the accounts of Vizcaino's voyage with those of 

 Cabrillo's, it appears that the same, or very nearly the same, por- 

 tions of the American coast were seen by both commanders. The 

 expedition of Vizcaino was, however, conducted in a much more 

 efficient manner than the other ; and a mass of valuable informa- 

 tion, respecting the geography of the western side of California, 

 was collected, in the shape of notes, plans, and sketches, upon 

 which were founded the first maps of that coast approaching 

 to correctness. 



Vizcaino, after his return to Mexico, endeavored to prevail upon 

 the viceroy to establish colonies and garrisons on the western side 

 of California, at places which he recommended, in order to facili- 

 tate the trade with India, and to prevent the occupation of the 

 American coasts by people of other nations. His efforts, with this 

 view, however, produced no effect, as the viceroys never encouraged 

 such enterprises, being generally obliged to pay the costs them- 

 selves; and Vizcaino, in consequence, went to Spain, where, atter 

 many years of solicitation, he at length procured the royal mandate, 



