128 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
of the Expedition, and Capt. Toribio Gomez admiral. Both 
are persons of great worth, enterprise and skill. Two ships, 
the Capitana and Almiranta, are purchased, and a frigate built 
expressly for this service. There is besides a barco longo for 
surveying creeks and bays, and such other services as cannot 
be performed with deeper keels. Three barefooted Carmel¬ 
ites, Padre Andrez de la Assumpcion, Padre Antonio de la 
Ascencion, and Padre Tomas de Aquino, accompany the ex¬ 
pedition in the capacity of spiritual advisers; and Capt. Alon¬ 
zo Estevan Peguero and Ensign Gaspar de Alarcon, as coun¬ 
sellors in relation to the proceedings of the expedition. Capt. 
Geronimo Martin is likewise attached to it as draughtsman of 
the coasts, islands, and harbors which shall be discovered. 
This body of officers are men of enterprise and skill; and sup¬ 
ported by the best seamen in Spanish America, great results 
are anticipated from the voyage ! 
On the 5th of May, 1602, the fleet sails from Acapulco. 
Strong head winds and currents buffet them for many days; 
but on the 19th of May, they reach Puerta La Navidad, and 
put in to obtain ballast and repair the Capitana. All which 
being dispatched with the utmost speed, they proceed on their 
voyage and reach Cape Corrientes on the 26th of May. 
Having surveyed this coast, and the adjacent country, they 
sail northward to the Islands of Mazatlan. These they reach 
on the 22d of June. They are two in number, lying near 
each other, and making a fine roadstead between them and 
the main shore. In this the Capitana and Almiranta come to 
anchor. The frigate having been separated from them soon 
after leaving Navidad, they fear she is lost; but they are glad 
to find her lying in a river which empties into this roadstead. 
The officers and priests visit one of the islands. Great num¬ 
bers of sea birds, about the size of a goose, having a bill 
nearly half a yard in length, legs resembling those of the 
stork, and a large crop in which they carry small fish to their 
young, cover the beach; deer and wild goats abound inland. 
These islands lie at the entrance of the Gulf of California. 
