J line. 



DANGEROUS TIDE-RACE SAN VICENTE. 



453 



angles and bearings, and at noon were close to Cape San 

 Diego, where the flood-tide opposed the north wind very 

 strongly, and in addition to a heavy swell from the northward, 

 made such an irregular high sea, as nearly caused the loss of 

 our new boat, and would have damaged many a vessel. The 

 weather became worse ; and as the swell continued high from 

 the northward, I was obliged to stand to sea, and carry a press 

 of sail to keep off the land, Vv^hich by that time was too much 

 obscured by haze and clouds to admit of our running back. 



" June 1st. Bad weather, with rain nearly all day. At 

 about twelve miles to the northward of Cape San Vicente, by 

 estimation, we stood off and on until in the latter part of the 

 day we got a breeze from south, to which sail was made to 

 close the land about Cape San Vicente. 



" At noon, on the 2d, we were well in-shorc, and stood 

 along the land, looking for a harbour. Seeing a promising 

 place, we anchored off it, in twenty-two fathoms water ; and, 

 as the night proved to be fine, remained quiet in smooth 

 water, with the wind off the land, and a regular tide setting 

 past the ship. 



" At daylight next morning, I went to look at the opening, 

 which, from the masthead, seemed like a spacious harbour ; 

 but I found it to be so shallow an inlet, that at its entrance, 

 just within the heads, there was no more than one fathom of 

 water. Nevertheless this cove must be the place which the Spa- 

 niards dignified with the name of Port San Policarpo. 



" We weighed and sailed along-shore, but the wind being 

 scant, and the tide against us, it was late before we could get 

 into San Vicente Bay, where we anchored in a line between 

 that cape and Cape San Diego, but nearest to the former. In 

 a cove at the head of this bay, Mr. Banks landed when Cook 

 was here. During the night we were tossed about by a very 

 heavy swell, opposing a strong tide ; the wind being moderate, 

 not enough to steady the vessel. 



" Finding this morning (June 4th), that the swell was too 

 high to allow a boat to be lowered in safety, I gave up my 

 intention of examining the cove, and hastened back to tlie Bay 



