Several other ſhallow rivers empty themſelves into this bay, the principal of which is called Saint Jago, on whoſe Southern ſide, at the diſtance of two or three miles from the mouth, is ſituated the town of Saint Blas, that contains the grand arſenal and dock-yard of the province of Mexico, and is the chief depot for all the riches collected in the Californias. The principal ſtore-houſes and treaſury are built on a ſmall mount, that riſes in the middle of the marſh which joins the dock-yard, and is about two miles from it. The face of the mount towards the ſea is a perpendicular rock of one hundred fathom, and preſents a very formidable appearance; but, on the land ſide, gradually ſinks in ſeveral places to the plain. In the rainy ſeaſon, when I was there, the marſh was ſo overflowed, as to render it a matter of difficulty to paſs on foot to the dock-yard. There are not even at ſpring tides, more than ten or twelve feet water on the bar,
a fleet, then fitting out in the ſpring, at Saint Blas; with which the Spaniards were ſo well ſatisfied, that they took for themſelves all the European ſalt proviſions they found on board the veſſels which they had captured, in having no doubt, but we could ſalt our own proviſions when we ſhould be releaſed, which happened at the time the Sun was vertical; in conſequence of which, though we did contrive, by cutting the meat in ſmall pieces, to make it take the ſalt, yet, when we got out to ſea, it was totally ſpoiled, and we were threatened with famine.
