4 
TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 211 
the Cross,” and a boat called the Santa Barbara, to be used 
in sounding such waters as are too shallow for the larger 
vessel. The Santa Barbara has eleven feet keel and six feet 
beam. She carries eight persons. The bilander carries 
twenty ; six of whom are Europeans, and the rest Indians. 
Of the former, two have passed the straits of Magellan, another 
has made a voyage to the Philippine Islands and Batavia, 
and another has been several times to Newfoundland. The 
pilot passes for a man of learning and experience; and thus 
supported, Padre Ugarte departs on his momentous enter¬ 
prise. He takes but a small stock of provisions, expecting to 
receive a full supply from the mission on the opposite coast 
of Pimeria. The winds bear them safely to the bay of Con¬ 
cepcion, where Padre Ugarte visits the mission of Santa Ro¬ 
salia, and spends some hours in social pleasure with Padre 
Sistiaga. Hence they pass the islands of Salsipuedes. From 
these they cross the Gulf to the harbor of Santa Sabina and 
the bay of San Juan Baptista. Here they observe Indians 
standing on the shore, who flee as the boat nears them. When 
the Padre lands, he sees a rude cross set up in the sand. The 
simple solitary sign speaks to the good man’s heart. He 
bows before it, and the crews prostrate themselves in rever¬ 
ence at its foot. This is enough. The Indians, reassured by 
this act, shout a friendly welcome, and rush from their con¬ 
cealment. They have known the venerable Salva Tierra ; 
and the strangers’ reverence for the cross allays all their fears; 
so strong have been their love and respect for that great man, 
that they put all trust in his brethren; and are so impatient 
to be near the Padre Ugarte, that they swim to the ship, and 
manifest their joy by kissing his hands and face, and embrac¬ 
ing his feet The good Padre’s heart is deeply touched by 
these tokens of confidence and love, and having sent two of 
them with a letter to the Padre of San Ignacio, and distribut¬ 
ed some presents among the others, makes preparations to 
procure a supply of water. For this purpose all the casks are 
put on shore. They have no interpreter, but the 
immediately 
