TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
133 
Legar with twelve soldiers, over the island, to see if there be 
not some spring or stream more accessible. 
After a long search they report the discovery of a rivulet 
about two leagues distant. Everything is now ordered on 
board and the fleet proceeds at once to the mouth of the 
stream. While they are taking in water, the General orders 
the frigate to make the circuit of the island. On their return, 
the cosmographer reports it to be about thirty leagues in cir¬ 
cumference, to have high mountains covered with cedar and 
pine, and to be inhabited by savages, who answered all their 
signs of peace with the most threatening gestures. On the 
main coast a large bay was observed, which seemed to run 
far inland. All the ships of the fleet being supplied with 
water, they set sail on the ninth of September. Their course 
is northerly, towards the main shore. They make it on the 
eleventh, and discover a fine bay, which they call San Hypo- 
lito. Anchors are dropped and preparations made for sur¬ 
veys. For this purpose the General orders some soldiers 
ashore under Capt. Peguero and Ensign Alarcon. The coun¬ 
try is found very beautiful. A broad and well-beaten road 
leads inland from the coast to a large hut covered with palm- 
>eaves, capable of containing fifty persons. While returning 
to the ship they take a great quantity of the best fish, on 
which all hands feast sumptuously. Thus fed, and joyful that 
they have found so desirable a country, they raise anchors 
and stand up the coast. 
As they sail along they see many large fires, which they 
deem an indication that Indian villages are numerous. But 
they have proceeded a few leagues only, when a violent gale 
springs up from the northwest, which compels them to run in 
under some lofty hills bordering the sea. To the southeast 
of this anchorage is seen a line of white cliffs on which there 
appear to be a great number of Indians. The General, there¬ 
fore, orders the frigate in shore with the cosmographer to take 
a chart of the coast and ascertain the condition of the natives. 
On coming in close under the heights she is becalmed at such 
