re,
that some altogether exceptional season prevailed during this
portion of the voyage.

Here they were well north of the Spanish possessions, and fell
among a people who knew nothing of the white man. A native in a
canoe speedily came out to the ship, as soon as she cast anchor;
and, standing at a long distance, made delivery of a very prolix
oration, with many gestures and signs, moving his hand, turning and
twisting his head and body, and ending with a great show of
reverence and submission. He returned to shore. Again, and for a
third time, he came out and went through the same ceremony; after
which he brought a little basket of rushes, filled with an herb
which is called there tambac, which he threw into the boat. Then he
again returned to shore.

The people came out, many of them in boats, but would not approach
the vessel; and upon the third day the vessel, having received a
leak at sea, was brought to anchor nearer the shore, and
preparations were made to land her stores.

Chapter 18: San Francisco Bay.

After his experience of the treachery of the native, the admiral
determined to build a fort to protect the party on shore. The
people, seeing these preparations, appeared in large numbers and
approached, but their attitude expressed astonishment rather than
hostility. They then, laying down their arms, gathered round the
little party of white men; but as they brought their women with
them, the admiral concluded that no hostility was intended, and
allowed them freely to mix with the whites. Their attitude and
deportment showed that they looked upon them as gods, paying
worship in the most abject manner. In order to show them that his
men were but human, the admiral ordered them to eat and drink, that
the people might observe that they were but men, as they. Even this
failed to convince them and, during the whole time that they
remained there, they were treated as being creatures of celestial
origin.

Two days later, the natives returned in great numbers. A leader at
their head again delivered a long and tedious oration, "to which,"
according to the chronicler, "these people appear to be much
addicted." This oration was delivered with strange and violent
gestures, the speaker's voice being extended to the uttermost
strength of nature, and his words falling so thick, one in the neck
of another, that he could hardly fetch his breath again.

When he had concluded, the people bowed to the earth, g