TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
107 
We had a fine breeze from the time we weighed, till twelve 
o’clock on the twenty-ninth, when the wind died gradually 
away to a calm. During the night we lay off Punto Con¬ 
cepcion ; a rough ragged point of land forty miles north-west 
of Santa Barbara. On the thirtieth, a light breeze bore us 
early in the morning past San Miguel. This is an island, 
about fifteen miles from the coast. It is ten miles in circum¬ 
ference, with a rocky, barren and dry surface, marked here and 
there with a few fruitful spots and streams of water. At 
nine o’clock we were off Santa Rosa ; an island about the 
same distance from the land, twenty miles in circumference, 
piled with lofty barren hills, interspersed with a few forests 
and fertile districts. Next came Santa Cruz; an oblong 
island forty miles in circumference, with some woodlands and 
fruitful vales. Farther off shore and southward, are the 
islands of Santa Barbara, San Nicholas and San Clemente. 
They lie in a line running south-east and north-west, and 
form the outer wall of the roadstead, called the Canal de 
Santa Barbara. These islands have much high land, com¬ 
posed of dark shining rocks, apparently of volcanic origin. 
They are partially covered with trees, but a greater portion 
of their surface is barren sands and rocks. They are densely 
populated with goats. 
Near night a calm came on, and our sails, after flapping 
awhile, hung lifeless upon the spars. This was a very annoy¬ 
ing circumstance. All on board felt extremely anxious to be 
in Santa Barbara that night lest the prison-ship should leave 
before we arrived. About twelve o’clock, however, a slight 
breeze sprang up, which bore us along two knots the 
hour. The air was so bland on deck that I chose a berth 
among some loose sails in the long boat, in preference to the 
heated cabin. It was a pure night. No vapors obscured the 
sky. No harsh winds disturbed the waters. Every living 
thing seemed reposing and smiling in its dreams of joy. The 
birds on the land and water should be excepted. They were 
