134 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
a distance from the shore that they cannot land. The sea, 
meanwhile, running very high outside, obliges the ships to lie tc 
for twenty-four hours, during which time the frigate drifts out 
of sight and the Almiranta is near foundering. In the morn¬ 
ing they endeavor to continue their voyage. But the wind 
increases till evening, when a thick fog envelopes earth, sea, 
and ships. The Almiranta being in much jeopardy from the in¬ 
juries received the previous night, the General determines to 
look for some harbor where they may be secure against the 
heavy storm presaged by the fog. He finds none;but much to 
their surprise, the following day opens clear, and with a gentle 
breeze, which carries them off the Mesas, near which the frigate 
left them. The promises of fair weather, however, prove very 
deceitful; for before night a gale, more violent than any they 
have experienced, and accompanied by a thick fog, overtakes 
them. The ships lie to all night under reefed mainsails ; but 
before morning they lose sight of each other. 
The General now makes every effort to fall in with the 
Almiranta ; and keeping close in shore for this purpose, very 
unexpectedly meets the frigate. But as he gets no tidings of 
the ship, his fears for her safety are not lessened. He there¬ 
fore puts into a fine harbor which they have discovered north¬ 
west of Cape Enganno, and there awaits her. He believes 
that, if still in a sailing condition, she must, by pursuing her 
instructions in regard to her course, necessarily pass near the 
mouth of this bay. They call this harbor Bahia de San Fran¬ 
cisco. In a rancheria near the anchorage they find a species 
of onions. Goats’ horns, also, are strewn over the ground. 
The surrounding country is level, fertile, and very beautiful. 
The plains are fed by large herds of cattle and deer. The 
crew of the frigate point out an island a little north of the 
anchorage which they call San Geronimo ; and the Captain- 
General orders some of the seamen ashore to examine it. It 
proves to be heavily wooded, and frequented by immense flocks 
of birds. Its shoals abound in the finest cod and other fish 
Of these they take a supply for all the ships. Beyond the 
