202 



A HUNTING EXCURSION. 



[1825. 



ward about one mile, covered at low water to the depth of about three 

 feet. There is also a small sand-bank running off from the south- 

 west point, or Point Loma, to the distance of about one hundred 

 fathoms, on which the water is shoal. After passing this point, which 

 is high and bluff, you steer for the flag-staff on the fort, which will 

 bear north-by-west ; in which course you will have three fathoms of 

 water, sandy bottom, when within one hundred fathoms of the point 

 on which the fort stands. This point may be doubled at that distance, 

 and after passing it you may haul in to the westward, and choose 

 your anchorage in from five to three fathoms, clay bottom. Point 

 Loma is in lat. 32° 36' N., loi g. 116° 48' W. The centre of the 

 state of Georgia lies in the same parallel, and the climates are very 

 similar. 



CHAPTER VI. 



A hunting Excursion — The Party attacked by a hostile Tribe of Indians — A des- 

 perate Battle — Victory doubtful — The Savages defeated — A safe Return to St. 

 Diego — Sail to the North — Arrive at Monterey — Mission of San Carlos and 

 San Antonio — Mutiny on board the Asia sixty-four — Farallone Islands — Port St. 

 Francisco — Description of the Country and Inhabitants — Mission of St. Clara 

 — Cape Blanco in the Oregon Territory — Change our Course to the South — 

 Island of Socorro — Steer for the West — Sandwich Islands. 



On Monday, the 18th of April, agreeably to previous arrangements, 

 I joined a hunting party, consisting of seven well mounted horsemen, 

 armed with long muskets, broadswords, and lassos. I was also 

 armed in the same manner, with the exception of the lasso, which 

 would have been of little use in my unpractised hand. The party 

 complimented me with a well accoutred horse, as fine high-spirited an 

 animal as ever I had under me ; and at three o'clock in the morning 

 we were all mounted, with a plentiful supply of provisions and ammu- 

 nition for the projected cruise, light hearts, and a keen relish for the 

 anticipated sport. 



On leaving the town of San Diego, we took a course nearly due 

 east ; and long before sunrise had penetrated many miles into the 

 country. At half-past five o'clock, we first saw the golden luminary 

 peering through a volume of blue mist that was slowly ascending from 

 the distant range of mountains. This was soon dissipated by the 

 increasing warmth of the sun, until at length that purity of atmosphere 

 and serenity of sky mentioned by Humboldt as peculiar to Cali- 

 fornia, were witnessed and enjoyed by our party. At seven we halted 

 near a stream of clear running water, and made a hearty breakfast of 

 such materials as we had brought with us for the purpose ; and at nine 

 we estimated our distance from the coast to be about forty miles. 



The face of the country now began to assume a more rugged ap- 

 pearance, and from several eminences which we ascended we caught 

 glimpses of the broad Pacific in the distant western horizon. Hitherto 



