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where the Marquis anxioufly expe<5ted them, as the provifions, of 

 which he began to be in great want, were on board. Of thofe veffels 

 which did not join him at Santa Cruz, one was ftranded on the coaft 

 of Xahfco, and the people on board being tired of the bufinefs quitted 

 her there, moft of them returning to New Spain. This was the one 

 which contained the provifions. The other came to a bay which they 

 named, from the quantity of guayavas, Guayaval. 



During this time the Marquis and thofe with him were famiflaing 

 upon this uncultivated ifland. Twenty three of the foldiers died from 

 abfblute diftrefs, and the reft were finking every day, and curfing his 

 expeditions and difcoverics. Their fituation and murmurs compelled 

 him at length to go in fearch of his fhips, and he accordingly embark- 

 ed with fifty foldiers, and judging that they muft have been driven on 

 the coaft in the ftorms, he fearched in that dire(5l:ion, and after fome 

 time found one as before mentioned, ftranded on the coaft of Xalifco, 

 and abandoned by the people. The other was met with by hifn amongft 

 fome rocks. Having got them repaired and afloat, with much trou- 

 ble, he brought them to his Ifland of Santa Cruz, and a quantity of 

 provifions being now ferved out to the famifhed foldiers, they eat there- 

 of in fuch a manner that the half of them died. 



The Marquis, in order to avoid fuch a fcene of diftrefs, embarked 

 in purfuit of new difcoveries, and during this voyage fell in with the 

 land of California. He was by that time as heartily tired of the bufi- 

 nefs as any one, but he could not bear the thoughts of returning after 

 fuch expences and lofTes, without having effedted fomething, left his 

 misfortunes fhould be afcribed to the <;urfes of the conquerors of Mexico, 

 his ancient companions. 



The Marchionefs del Valle, hearing of the lofs of one of the vef- 

 fels on the coaft, grew very apprehenfive, and accordingly fitted out 

 two (hips, which failed under the command of one UUoa, in fearch of 



the 



