PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
383 
Having performed the honours of the table, padre Arroyo retired CHAP, 
to indulge his usual siesta : this, however, caused but a brief suspen- 
sion to the 'efforts he most industriously continued to make for the Nov. 
purpose of converting his heretical opponent to the true faith, reading 
him innumerable lectures in refutation of the Lutheran and Calvinistic 
doctrines, and in favour of the pope’s supremacy, infallibility, and power 
of remitting offences. 
It more than once occurred to the party — and I believe, not with- 
out good foundation for their opinion — that it was the hope of success 
in this conversion which occasioned all the little manoeuvring to delay 
them, that I have before described. But having at length given his 
pupil over as irrevocably lost, he consented to their departure on the 
following morning. The padre appeared to be of an active mind, and 
had constructed a water clock w'hich communicated with a bell by his 
bedside, and which by being arranged at night could be made to give 
an alarm at any stated hour. 
It was here that our travellers were surprised at the intelligence 
of the north-west passage having been effected by a Spaniard, and were 
not a little amused at the idea of having stumbled upon the long-sought 
north-west passage in an obscure mission of California. The padre, 
however, was quite in earnest, and produced a work pubhshed by the 
Duke of Almodobar, Director of the Royal Academy in Spain, in which 
was transcribed at full length the fictitious voyage of Maldonado. It 
was in vain they endeavoured to persuade the padre that this voyage 
w'as not real, seeing that it bore even in its detail all the marks of truth, 
and that it emanated from such high authority. His credulity in this 
instance affords a curious proof of the very secluded manner in which 
these holy men pass their time, for it may be remembered that it was 
in the very ports of California that both Vancouver and Quadra anchored, 
after having satisfactorily proved the voyage in question to have been 
a fabrication. 
A still greater instance of the simplicity of the priest is related at 
his expense by persons in the mission. A youthful Indian couple who 
had conceived an affection for each other eloped one day, that they 
might enjoy each other’s society without reserve in the wild and ro- 
