CHAPTER VIII. 
Three hundred years ago—The Capitana, Almiranta, Frigate and Barcu 
Longo—A rare Bird—Mazatlan—A Fog and a Reef—San Barnabe— 
Laying down Arms—Rich Shores—Game—Nature’s Salt Works— 
Departure—A Northwester—A Separation—Signal Fires—A Desert- 
Fish—A Saline Lake—Tracts and a Meeting—An Island—A Precious 
Mountain—Amber—Cerros—Circumnavigating—San Hypolito—Up 
the Coast—A Gale—Out of sight—Comes to Anchor—Bahia San 
Francisco of the South—Native Cattle—Indian Courtesy—A Meeting— 
Another Bay—A Battle—Weighs—San Diego—Savages—Graves— 
Santa Catarina—Its Inhabitants and Customs—Its Productions—A 
Temple—A line of Islands—His Majesty and Hospitality—A Blow— 
Four Canoes—Rio San Carmelo—Monterey in 1602—Death—The Al¬ 
miranta dispatched to Mexico—A Horrid Disease—The Country—Its 
People and Animals—Bahia San Francisco of the North—Cape Men¬ 
docino—Death ! Death !—Return to Mazatlan—Death—To Acapulco 
. -Lamentations!! 
In 1542 the Viceroy of Mexico sends Juan Rodriguez Ca- 
brillo from the Port of Navidad with two ships, on a voyage 
of discovery up the coast of California. He touches at 
Santa Cruz, la Magdalena, Cape del Enganno in lat. 32°, 
La Cruz in 33°, de la Galera in 36^°, the Bay of San Fran¬ 
cisco in about 37° 40', and sees a large Cape, in lat. 40°, 
which he calls Mendocino, in honor of the Viceroy. In March, 
1543, he reaches 44° without making any additional discover¬ 
ies of importance. At this time, the cold being very intense, 
he turns his ship homeward and enters the harbor of Navidad 
on the 14th of April, 1545. No other expeditions are under¬ 
taken to California, until 1596 ; when Count Monterey, the 
reigning Viceroy, receives an order from Philip II. for mak¬ 
ing discoveries and settlements in California. In obedience 
to this order, Sebastian Viscayno is appointed Captain-general 
