DAWN AND THE DONS 44
in his statement referred to, tells how they added to their commissary en route by occasionally killing and dressing a mule, which in their state of hunger, was eaten with unabashed relish. They arrived at San Diego on January 24, 1770, where they found a situation far from encouraging. There had been much sickness, mostly scurvy, a number of deaths, and to add to the discouragement, the food supplies were running low. Then followed a season of discussion and doubt, when the fate of Monterey hung in the balance. Portola, though a good soldier and a brave man, was not particularly enthusiastic toward further efforts to find Vizcaino’s “Noble Harbor.” His inclination was rather to return to Lower California, and there resume his duties as Governor.
Serra, who had remained
at San
Diego, stoutly opposed this course, and strongly urged another attempt to find the port of Monterey. Having just concluded an unsuccessful search, with six months of hardship, peril and danger fresh in mind, Portola gave expression to doubt of the existence of any such port, and Crespi, who had been of the party, was
inclined to agree with him. But Serra was still full of faith and an ardent desire to participate in a second attempt to find the lost port. Advice of Galvez and Croix could not, of course, be sought, for communication with
the City of Mexico would, in that day, have consumed several months, and an immediate decision was imperative. Finally, after taking an inventory of supplies, Portola
