stantially without men physically able to perform their duties. The first land division, under Rivera, worked its way
slowly up the peninsula from Mission to Mission until it reached Velicata, the northermost Mission, several hun-
dred miles above San Lucas. Here was found some limited pasturage for the animals, and from here on March 24, 1769, the final plunge was made into an unknown land, with San Diego as the objective. The second land division, under Portola, pursued much the same course, and on May 15, 1769, made their final start from Velicata.
Rivera’s land division was the first into San Diego, on
May 14, 1769, having occupied fifty-one days on the march, with the Portola-Serra division arriving June 28,
1769, making the journey from Velicata in forty-four days. The distance traveled by these land parties was more than four hundred miles, mostly through regions hitherto unexplored. There was some danger and much hardship, and several Indians died on the
