at the entrance of the river, and the frigates belonging to the ſtation in the Gulf of California, though they are capable of carrying fifty guns, are conſtructed ſo, as to paſs over the bar, and to protect the ſettlements on the gulf, from the attacks of the native Indians; who are continually at war with the Spaniards, particularly on the Eaſt ſide, which is ſaid to contain the richeſt mines of gold, that have been yet diſcovered; beſides ſeveral of ſilver.
The deepeſt water at the entrance of this river is cloſe along ſide the North point: where, on a gentle aſcent, there is an irregular battery of fourteen or fifteen pieces of cannon, of different bores, which they fetched from Acapulco, in one of my veſſels.
If I am correct in my recollection, for I have loſt all the minutes I made on the ſubject, it is high water on the bar of the river, at full and change, at ten o'clock, and the tide flows only eight or ten feet[1].
- ↑ The ſhore in the bay is low; but the in-land mountains are very lofty; one of them which has the moſt ſingular appearance, is called Tepeak, and may be ſeen at the diſtance of thirty leagues. Here, myſelf and thoſe of my officers and crew who ſurvived the yellow fever at St. Blas, paſſed the ſix latter months of our captivity.
