On the 13th the vessel moved to another anchorage with nine brazas of water at pistol shot of the land.  On the 21st, the first pilot, Don Jose de Canizares, returned from an expedition on which he had been sent a few days before and made his report.  On the same day, the second pilot, Don Juan B. Aguirre, went, with fresh men, in the launch to try to find the party which the commander of the presidio had promised to send to San Francisco by land.  The second pilot did not see the party, but explored an estero which enters the land about twelve leagues[51].

On the 23d fifteen Indians came on a raft and were taken on board, where they were entertained and given something to eat.  They learned how to ask for bread in Spanish.

From this day to the 6th of September, the explorations of the Bay of San Francisco continued, and first pilot Don Jose de Canizares was instructed to make his report and the map of the bay.

On September 7th an attempt was made to go to sea for the return voyage, but the rudder was injured by a submerged rock on which the current had carried the vessel.

From this day to September 18th, the time was passed in repairing the rudder and making preparations for the return voyage, which took place on that day, going to Monterey, where they arrived the following day.

In order to make the necessary repairs to the ship and pass the equinox in good shelter, the San Carlos remained in the harbor of Monterey till October 13, 1775, when she started for San Blas, where she arrived on November 6th of the same year.

[42] This is a summary of the document.  A full translation would be too tedious for a work of this kind.

[43] On the Tres Marias Islands.

[44] Don Pedro Fages.  Commandante of California, who had been recalled.

[45] Bancroft.  Hist. of Cal., says Ayala sailed from Monterey, July 24th.  That was to make the sailing fit the Bancroft theories.

[46] Braza — Fathom:  Six feet.

[47] Ayala anchored inside Port Point — the Presidio anchorage.

[48] Richardson’s Bay.

[49] Angel Island.

[50] Alcatraz — Pelican

[51] The Southern portion of the bay.

Report of Don Juan Manuel de Ayala Commander of the Packet Boat San
Carlos to Don Antonio Maria Bucareli Viceroy of New Spain On the
Examination of the Port of San Francisco

Your Excellency:  — I have finished the orders under which I took command of the San Carlos, returning to this port of San Blas today, November 6th, after having visited the ports of Monterey and San Francisco.

Although Your Excellency will see in the account of my examination, together with the pilot, Don Jose Canizares’ report of his examination and the map he made of this port, the nature of the work done.  I will, notwithstanding in this, give a brief account, that shows the port of San Francisco to be one of the best that I have seen on this coast from Cape Horn.