CONTENTS Introduction THE MARCH OF PORTOLÁ AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO DATA REGARDING DON GASPAR DE PORTOLÁ AFTER HE LEFT CALIFORNIA Causes that Decided the Government of Spain to Send an Expedition by THE LOG OF THE SAN CARLOS Report of Don Juan Manuel de Ayala Commander of the Packet Boat San Description of the Newly-discovered Port of San Francisco Reconnaissance of the Port of San Francisco, with Map Index of Persons FOOTNOTES Index of Persons FOOTNOTES...

In the annals of adventure, there are no more thrilling narratives of heroic perseverance in the performance of duty than the record of Spanish exploration in America. To those of us who have come into possession of the fair land opened up by them, the story of their travels and adventures have the most profound interest. The account of the expedition of Portolá has never been properly presented. Many writers have touched on it, and H. H. Bancroft, in his History of California, gives a brief dig

The popular mind accepts the oft-repeated statement that the settlement of California was due to the pious zeal of a devoted priest, eager to save the souls of the heathen, supplemented by the paternal care of a monarch solicitous for the welfare of his subjects. The political exigencies of the day are forgotten; military commanders and civil governors sink into insignificance and become mere executives of the priestly will, while the heroic efforts of Junípero Serra to convert the natives, his

Portolá and Costansó sailed, on July 9, 1770, for Mexico, to give to the viceroy an account of their discoveries. Costansó remained in the capital and took part in several engineering works, among others, the map of the Valley of Mexico and its drainage. Diligent search instituted by the writer in Mexico and Spain regarding Portolá's further history, has so far discovered little beyond the fact that the commander's return to the capital was followed by promotion from Captain to Lieutenant-Colone

Sea to Ascertain if there were any Russian Settlements on the Coast of California, and to Examine the Port of San Francisco. Father Junípero Serra had difficulty in obtaining from Commandant Fages the soldiers necessary to found the missions that were projected and notwithstanding his old age, he decided to go to the capital of Mexico to lay before the authorities his troubles. He sailed from San Diego in the mail boat San Carlos October 19, 1772, but, stricken by fever in Guadalajara, did not r

Under Command of Lieutenant of Frigate of the Royal Navy Don Juan Manuel de Ayala From the Port of San Blas to the Port of San Francisco The First Ship to Enter the Port of San Francisco. Transcript of a Certified Copy of the Original, now in the Archives of the Indies, at Seville, Spain 42 . On the 19th of March, 1775, Lieutenant of Frigate, Don Juan Manuel de Ayala had the schooner under his command anchored near the white rock in the harbor of San Blas, waiting the sailing of the frigate Sant

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 José Cañizares' report of his examination and the map he made of this port, the nature of

By Lieutenant Don Juan Manuel Ayala Placed about two leagues west-southwest of Point Almejas 52 , latitude 37° 42', the following is to be seen: First that it 53 is large, with two red barrancas 54 , and second, that to the north there are three white rocks at a stone's throw 55 . From that point the coast runs north-northeast, forming a small harbor in which there are five submerged rocks close to its shore; above it some white barrancas 56 , ending in a sloping bill which top, to the north, is

Report of the Pilot Don José de Cañizares to Commander Don Juan de Ayala Translation of a Certified Copy of the Original in the Archives of the Indies at Seville. Dear Captain:—During the four times that I made reconnaissance of this Port, and made its map, I found at the northeast and north-northeast what is shown on the map and I here describe. To the north-northeast of Angel Island, distant about a mile, there is a bay running in a direction north-northwest to south-southwest. The distance be