In order to avoid any difficulties from the government, the Prince Seravalle had taken the precaution to clear the vessel out for Guatemala, and the people at Leghorn fully believed that such was his object.  But Guatemala and Acapulco were left a long way south of us before we arrived at our destination.

At last everything was prepared.  I was sent for from the Propaganda—­the stock of wines, &c., were the last articles which were shipped, and the Esmeralda started on her tedious; and by no means certain voyage.

CHAPTER II.

I was very young then—–­ not thirteen years old; but if I was young, I had travelled much, and had gained that knowledge which is to be obtained by the eye—­perhaps the best education we can have in our earlier years.  I shall pass over the monotony of the voyage of eternal sky and water.  I have no recollection that we were in any imminent danger at any time, and the voyage might have been styled a prosperous one.

After five months we arrived off the coast, and with some difficulty we gained the entrance of a river falling into Trinity Bay, in lat. 41 deg. north and long. 124 deg. 28’ west.

We anchored about four miles above the entrance, which was on the coast abreast of the Shoshones’ territory, and resorted to by them on their annual fishing excursions.  In memory of the event, the river was named by the Indians—­“Nu eleje sha wako;” or, the Guide of the Strangers.

For many weeks it was a strange and busy scene.  The Prince Seravalle had, during his former residence with the Shoshones, been admitted into their tribe as a warrior and a chief, and now the Indians flocked from the interior to welcome their pale-faced chief, who had not forgotten his red children.  They helped our party to unload the vessel, provided us with game of all kinds, and under the directions of the carpenter, they soon built a large warehouse to protect our goods and implements from the effect of the weather.

As soon as our cargo was housed, the Prince and my father, accompanied by the chiefs and elders of the tribe, set off on an exploring party, to select a spot fit for the settlement.  During their absence, I was entrusted to the care of one of the chief’s squaws, and had three beautiful children for my play-mates.  In three weeks the party returned; they had selected a spot upon the western banks of the Buona Ventura River, at the foot of a high circular mountain, where rocks covered with indurated lava and calcined sulphur, proved the existence of former volcanic eruptions.  The river was lined with lofty timber; immense quarries of limestone were close at hand, and the minor streams gave us clay which produced bricks of an excellent quality.

The Spaniards had before visited this spot, and had given the mountain the name of St. Salvador; but our settlement took the Indian appellation of the Prince, which was—­“Nanawa ashta jueri e;” or, the Dwelling of the Great Warrior.  As the place of our landing was a great resort of the Indians during the fishing season, it was also resolved that a square fort and store, with a boat-house, should be erected there; and for six or seven months all was bustle and activity, when an accident occurred which threw a damp upon our exertions.