132 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
being out in search of water and wood, find a lake filled with 
very good salt. Near it are some pits containing brackish 
water. Around these they discover innumerable foot prints, 
and other signs which, to their inexpressible joy, clearly in¬ 
dicate that the crew of the Almiranta have been here before 
them ! They therefore take a small supply of this miserable 
water, and sail for the island of Cerros in search of their com¬ 
panions. On their way they pass a very high barren moun¬ 
tain upon the main coast, showing every variety of color, on a 
bright shining surface. It is affirmed, by a sailor from Peru, 
to be a bed of silver and gold ! They are very desirous to 
ascertain if this opinion be true ; but the wind will not per¬ 
mit them to land. 
They soon after enter a good harbor, which they name San 
Bartholome. Here the General sends Ensign Alarcon and 
some soldiers ashore for water. The only thing they find 
worthy of notice is a kind of resin, or gum, which being 
rather offensive to the smell, they do not think worth taking 
to the ship. They believe it to be amber, and report enough 
of it to load a large ship. As no water is to be found on 
this barren shore, they continue their search for the lost 
vessel. 
On the last day of August they come to anchor at the island 
of Cerros. While they are furling their sails, Padre Tomas 
de Aquino discovers the Almiranta approaching them. The 
most extravagant joy is manifested on board both ships at 
this meeting. Capt. Viscayno learns that she has been lying 
in a fine harbor since the nineteenth ; that she has just weigh¬ 
ed for the purpose of circumnavigating the island in search 
of the Capitana, and that supplies of wood, water, salt, &c., 
may be had at her last mooring ground. Accordingly, the 
little fleet runs into the Almiranta’s old harbor. Here the 
General orders his men to pitch a tent for the Padres, and 
take in supplies. But the water is found so remote, that the 
General sends Ensign Juan Francisco and Sergeant Miguel de 
