TRAVELS IN THE CAL1F0RNIAS. 
217 
tLib stream. But Padre Ugarte thinks the floods beneath, 
and die angry clouds above, will render the undertaking haz¬ 
ardous. Beside, himself and several of his crew are very ill. 
They therefore cross the western mouth of the Colorado, and 
anchor in four fathom water, opposite the island which divides 
the outlet. From this point they have a distant view of the 
union of the Penmsu’a with the main land. The Padre is de¬ 
sirous of exploring this region more particularly; but ill 
health and the great danger to which Ms vessel is exposed 
from the impetuosity and height of the tides, make him hesi¬ 
tate. The pilot is satisfied from the present height of the 
tides that they are at the head of a gulf; and that the 
waters beyond it are those of the Colorado. The danger of 
remaining in this place becoming more and more imminent, 
they at length hold a council, at which it is determined to re¬ 
turn to California. Their decision is received by the men 
with a general acclamation of applause, and greatly to the 
satisfaction of all, they weigh anchor on the sixteenth of 
July, 1721, for the port of Loretto. 
Their course lies down the middle of the Gulf; sometimes 
standing toward one shore and sometimes the other; in order 
to note more particularly the islands and shoals, which fill 
these waters. Meantime they are visited by tremendous tem¬ 
pests and storms of rain ; and the Padre, fearing for the peo¬ 
ple in the pinnace, which is without a deck, urges the mate to 
leave her and come with her crew on board of the bilander. 
But that officer trusting to his own craft, informs the Padre, 
that if he will furnish him with provisions, he will sail direct¬ 
ly to Loretto; and to secure safety in so doing, will keep so 
near the shore as to be able to run in, should any accident 
render such proceeding necessary. They therefore separate, 
and each pursues his own course. The bilander, after much 
trouble, arrives at the islands of Salsipuedes. She is here 
obliged, by the winds and strong currents, to lie at anchor 
for several nights. At last, however, she weathers the Islands 
of Tiburon. But such is the force of the currents, that in six 
