The March of Portola and the Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 91 pages of information about The March of Portola and the Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco.

The March of Portola and the Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 91 pages of information about The March of Portola and the Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco.
was found to be Point Ano Nuevo.  At 7 p. m. another point came into view bearing north 1/4 northeast, distant about twelve leagues, which was considered to be Point Reyes.  At 10 p. m., the wind being northwest, the San Carlos steered west-southwest and continued in that course until 8 a. m. of the 4th, when the bearing was changed to the north-northeast.  At noon the sun’s altitude was taken and the latitude was found to be 37deg. 11’, and longitude 17deg. 51’ W. of San Blas.  At 6 p. m., August 4th, the southernmost Farallon of the Port of San Francisco was seen to the northwest, distant about eight leagues.  The land to the north was Point Reyes, bearing 4deg.  W., distant about fourteen leagues.  At half past eleven, considering the coast was near, the course was changed to the south-southwest, until 3 a. m. of August 5th, when it was changed again to the north-northeast 5deg. north to bring the ship at sunrise to the point it was at sunset of the day before.  At 5 a. m. four of the Farallones of San Francisco were seen to the north-northwest, distant four leagues.  Point Ano Nuevo was southeast 1/4 east from twelve to fourteen leagues and Point Almejas northeast 4deg. east, distant three leagues.  At 8 a. m., being near land, commander Ayala lowered the launch, and in it Pilot Canizares was sent with ten men to search for an anchorage, while the San Carlos continued along the coast.  At 9 a. m. a strong current was felt, which drove them to sea, but at eleven it was observed that the vessel was nearing the coast, which convinced the commander that it was due to the tide, and this was confirmed by the soundings; in entering the port, as on the first occasion, the tide was going out, and on the second one the tide was coming in.  The altitude of the sun was taken at noon of that day, with the utmost care, and the latitude was found to be 37deg. 42’ and the longitude 17deg. 14’ W. of San Blas.  At this time Point Ano Nuevo was about fourteen leagues distant to the southeast south; the Farallones to the northwest, distant four leagues, and Point Reyes north 1/4 northeast, distant four leagues.  The wind was from the west.  At 4 p. m. the vessel was steered to the north-northeast, and half an hour later soundings were taken and bottom found at sixteen brazas[46] of mud and sand mixed, and distant from the mouth about two leagues.  At 5 p. m. bottom was found at fifteen brazas, with the same kind of bottom material.  Sounding was continued and the bottom was found to be as noted in the large map.  The current was so great at the mouth of this port that at 8:30 p. m., with a strong wind from the west-southwest with full sails, the current allowed them to go not more than a mile and a half per hour, which shows that the current must go at least six miles at the middle of the channel.  The swiftness of the current, the fact that the launch had not returned and that night was coming on, made it necessary to seek for an anchorage; this was done with great care and precaution; as the force of the
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The March of Portola and the Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.