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DAWN AND THE DONS 20 He found that his “Noble Harbor” was on the northern side of a peninsula that projected seaward several miles, and whose delightful climate, scenic beauty, fertile soil,

and rich verdure he described in glowing terms in his report to the Viceroy of Mexico. He referred to the ‘‘infinite number of very large pines, straight and smooth,

fit

for

masts andspars,” and to “oaks of a prodigious size, proper for building ships.” Those were the days of the small, wooden

sailing vessels. He referred to the abundance of beautiful flowers. He spoke of shell fish, water fowl

and a variety of wild game. He seemed greatly impressed with the friendly attitude of the natives. He was enthusiastic about the climate. The month was December, but the days were those of balmy spring. In his local explorations, Vizcaino discovered a beautiful val-