but of the moſt pleaſant appearance. The others are of great height, and may be ſeen at the diſtance of ſixteen or eighteen leagues. The Northernmoſt is diſtant from
or two, and left them to be devoured by the dogs and vultures. On the ſame day the Spaniards ſailed with our veſſel, we were removed to Tepeak, a place ſixty miles up the country: here we were allowed great liberty, and better treatment; and more particularly ſo on the arrival of Don Bodega Quadra, who was commander of his Catholic Majeſty's ſquadron, on the Coaſt of California. To this officer I am greatly indebted for his kind attention, and obtaining permiſſion for me to go to Mexico, to claim redreſs for our paſt treatment. On my arrival at Mexico, and during my reſidence there, I was treated by the Viceroy, Don Rivella Gigeda, with great politeneſs and humanity, and indeed by all ranks of people in that City. This Viceroy, in the moſt handſome manner, gave me an order to take poſſeſſion of my veſſel, and a paſſport directed to all claſſes of his ſubjects, to render me every ſervice I ſtood in need of whilſt in his government: and ſuch was his noble and generous treatment during my continuance of ſome months in Mexico and his ſubſequent correſpondence, that I am bound to acknowledge my laſting gratitude to him. I alſo underſtood the conduct of Martinez had, upon its being inveſtigated, occaſioned him very ſevere diſgrace. On my return to St. Blas, I found the Spaniards were unloading my veſſel, which had been laden with corn; and during my abſence, they had ſent her to Acapulco for guns and broke her back; ſhe was not only hogged, but otherwiſe greatly damaged, and they had alſo made uſe of every part of the ſtores, cargo and proviſions uſeful to them. For theſe they made out an account on a partial valuation of their own, and with an affected diſplay of liberality, calculated and allowed wages to my people, which they counterbalanced by charging them with maintenance, travelling expenſes, medical aſſiſtance, &c. &c. and alſo for an allowance of eight months ſtores and proviſions, in which were included our beef and pork, which we were obliged to ſalt before we put to ſea under a vertical ſun. After all, our departure was retarded, by their inſiſting I ſhould ſign a paper, expreſſing my complete and entire ſatisfaction of their uſage to me and my people.
