TRAVELS IN THE CAL1F0RNIAS. 
139 
which spread their branches over them, are discernible as 
they leave the land ! They scarcely clear the headlands of 
the harbor when a terrible northwester comes down upon 
them and changes their grief to fear. They see another voy¬ 
age begun which may terminate their own lives. But they 
keep their course and soon make another large bay. It is 
surrounded by a level, beautiful country, the inhabitants of 
which make fires on the heights along the coast, and by every 
sign in their power, invite the fleet to anchor. On approach¬ 
ing the land, however, they find no shelter from the northwest 
wind and stand out again to sea. A few leagues brings them 
to the large island of Santa Catarina. 
On the twenty-eighth they anchor in the bay. The in¬ 
habitants of Santa Catarina make the most noisy and earnest 
invitations for them to land. The General therefore orders 
Admiral Gomez, Capt. Peguero, and Ensign Alarcon, with 
twenty-four soldiers, to land on the island, and learn what the 
natives so earnestly desire. As soon as they reach the shore, 
they are surrounded by Indian men and women, who treat 
them with much kindness and propriety, and intimate that 
they have seen other Spaniards. When asked for w T ater they 
give it to the whites in a sort of bottle, made of rushes. 
They explore the island. It appears to be overgrown with 
savin and a species of briar. A tent is pitched for religious 
service, and Padre Tomas being ill, Padres Antonio and An- 
drez celebrate mass in presence of all the people. These In¬ 
dians spend much of their time in taking the many varieties 
of fish which abound in the bay. They have boats made of 
plank, capable of containing twenty persons. In these they 
carry long slender poles, to which harpoons of fish-bone are 
attached by long ropes. They strike with the harpoon and 
pay out rope till the fish is unable to run longer, and then if 
it be small, take it into the boat, or if large tow it ashore. 
They prize the sea-wolf most highly, as well on account of its 
flesh, which they eat, as its skin, of which they make most of 
their clothing. 
