They are all off again before midsummer,
and make their appearance on the "off-shore ground." We saw some
fine "schools" of sperm whales, which are easily distinguished by
their spout, blowing away, a few miles to windward, on our passage
to San Juan.
Coasting along on the quiet shore of the Pacific, we came to anchor,
in twenty fathoms' water, almost out at sea, as it were, and
directly abreast of a steep hill which overhung the water, and was
twice as high as our royal-mast-head. We had heard much of this place,
from the Lagoda's crew, who said it was the worst place in California.
The shore is rocky, and directly exposed to the south-east, so so that
vessels are obliged to slip and run for their lives on the first
sign of a gale; and late as it was in the season, we got up our
slip-rope and gear, though we meant to stay only twenty-four hours. We
pulled the agent ashore, and were ordered to wait for him, while he
took a circuitous way round the hill to the mission, which was hidden
behind it. We were glad of the opportunity to examine this singular
place, and hauling the boat up and making her well fast, took
different directions up and down the beach, to explore it.
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