Some Of The Sick Were Believed To Be In The Last
Extremity, And On October 8th, The Holy Viaticum Was Administered To
Three, Who Were Thought To Be Dying.
On this day they crossed the Rio del Pajaro, which they named because of
a great bird the Indians had killed and stuffed with straw, and which
measured seven feet and four inches from the tip of one wing to that of
the other.
It was thought to be a royal eagle, and that the natives were
preparing it for some ceremony when they were frightened away by the
approach of the Spaniards. Crespi, who still had a supply of saints on
hand, gave the river the name La Senora Santa Ana, but again the saint
was ignored, and the river is known as the Pajaro (Bird). On the 17th
they crossed and named the Rio de San Lorenzo, at the site of the
present city of Santa Cruz. On the 20th they were at Punta de Ano Nuevo,
and camped at the entrance of the canon of Waddell creek. They
recognized Point Ano Nuevo from the description given by Cabrera Bueno,
and Crespi estimated that it was one league distant from the camp. With
good water and fuel, the command rested here the 21st and 22d. Both
Portola and Rivera were now added to the sick list. Meat and vegetables
had given out and the rations were reduced to five tortillas of bran and
flour per day. Crespi named the camp San Luis Beltran, while the
soldiers called it La Canada de Salud. On the 23d, they again moved
forward, passing Punta de Ano Nuevo and, traveling two leagues, camped
probably on Gazos creek, where was a large Indian rancheria, whose
inhabitants received them kindly. This camp, which was about opposite
Pigeon Point, they named Casa Grande, also San Juan Nepomuceno[27]. The
next jornada was a long one of four leagues, and their camp was on San
Gregoria creek. It began to rain and the command was prostrated by an
epidemic of diarrhoea which spared no one. They now thought they saw
their end, but the contrary appeared to be the case. The diarrhoea
seemed to relieve the scurvy, and the swollen limbs of the sufferers
began to be less painful. They named the camp Vane de los Soldados de
los Cursos, and Crespi applied the name of Santo Domingo to it. Unable
to travel on the 25th and 26th, but resuming the march October 27th,
they pressed forward. The next stop was Purisima creek, two short
leagues distant, but the way was rough, and the pioneers had to make
roads across three arroyos where the descents were steep and difficult
for the transportation of the invalids. On the bank of the stream was an
Indian rancheria, apparently deserted. The Spaniards took possession of
the huts, but soon came running forth with cries of "las pulgas! las
pulgas![28]" They preferred to camp in the open. The soldiers called
the camp Rancheria de las Pulgas, while Crespi named it San Ibon.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 22 of 46
Words from 11128 to 11639
of 24217
