|
 iary
of Engineer Miguel Costansó of the exploratory expedition to northern
California under the command of Governor Gaspar de Portolá (July
14, 1769 January 24, 1770), from San Diego to the vicinity of Monterey
Bay and back. The purpose was to establish a settlement on Monterey Bay
and although the Expedition bypassed their goal, they discovered the San
Francisco Bay. The purpose of the diary, which Costansó compiled
at San Diego from his notes on February 7, 1770, was to make an official
report to the Viceroy of New Spain, Carlos Francisco de Croix, and ultimately
the King of Spain, Charles III. This edition is based upon Frederick J.
Teggart's The Portola Expedition of 1769-1770: Diary of Miguel Costanso,
1911.
|
7/14/1769 |
The Portolá
Expedition leaves the newly established Presidio of San Diego in
search of Monterey Bay |
|
9/8/1769 |
Some Expedition
members have a close scrape while bear hunting |
|
10/31/1769 |
From a high
point the Expedition members view the magnificent San Francisco
Bay, its islands, and its enormous river for the first time |
|
11/11/1769 |
Finally convinced
they have gone too far north, the Expedition turns back to the south |
|
12/5/1769 |
Frustrated
and running low on provisions they have still not located Monterey |
|
12/10/1769 |
After erecting
a cross on the beach and placing a message at its foot the Expedition
heads back to San Diego |
|
1/24/1770 |
The explorers
arrive at San Diego and happily find the infant establishment still
intact |
Diary
of Miguel Costansó
|
|
