THE ROMANCE OF MONTEREY 19
said he would give each of the men ten women. Vizcaino, however, could not see his way clear to the acceptance of this generous hospitality, and sailed
northward until, on December 16,
1602, he discovered what he char-
acterized as a “Noble Harbor. Here they made a landing, and under a large oak that stood near the water’s edge—an oak destined to play an important part in later Californian history—the ceremonies were performed that gave the new land to Spain, and placed an enduring name on the harbor and its bordering country. To honor the Viceroy. of
Mexico, the Count of Monterey, Sebastian Vizcaino called his "Noble Harbor” Monterey.
Vizcaino spent nearly three weeks exploring the region round about, and he became highly enthusiastic over his newly discovered harbor and its beautiful background.
