234 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
former, called Santa Rosa, in honor of the foundress ; but does 
not arrive. And it is determined, therefore, to commence 
that at San Lucas, called San Jose del Cabo. This is a post 
which requires great integrity, zeal and address. Padre 
Tamaral, founder of the mission La Purissima, is therefore 
chosen to fill it. This Padre and the Visitor General embark 
on the tenth of March, and visiting on their way at the mis¬ 
sions of La Paz and San Jago de los Coras, proceed to San 
Lucas, and finding an agreeable spot a short distance from 
the Cape, erect a chapel and houses; and though only about 
twenty families present themselves, the Padre founder enters 
upon his labors. As soon, however, as the Padre Visitor with 
his two soldiers leave the spot, they come in great numbers to 
Padre Tamaral, assigning as a reason for not appearing 
sooner, that they feared the Padres had come with the soldiers, 
to punish their assaults on the missions of San Jago and La 
Paz. Padre Tamaral makes a journey in search of the 
rancherias and the people whom he is to teach, and also of a 
better site for his mission. The present one is infested 
with musquitoes and other insects ; the dampness and extreme 
heat also render it intolerable. On becoming acquainted 
with the country, he determines to remove the mission to a 
spot about five leagues from the sea ; and proceeds at once 
to erect a chapel and houses on the new site. He labors in¬ 
cessantly to induce the natives who have hitherto led wander¬ 
ing lives, to settle in fixed habitations; and so successful is he, 
that in one year he has instructed and baptized one thousand 
and thirty-six souls; and so far as their indolent roving cha¬ 
racter will permit, has bettered their temporal welfare. 
In the year 1730, Padre Tamaral undertakes to survey the 
islands which lie near the Pacific coast. Accompanied by six 
Indians, he sets out on the festival of San Xavier, and after 
travelling six days by land, reaches one of the capes or head¬ 
lands of a large bay, which he calls San Xavier. From this 
point they see two islands, lying some seven or eight leagues 
from the coast, which they determine to visit. Accordingly 
