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DAWN AND THE DONS 48 Portola began his march the following day, taking substantially the same route as that over which he had twice traveled, and with whose landmarks he had become familiar.

The land party reached Monterey Bay on May 24, thus completing their five hundred mile march in thirtyseven days, slightly less than half the seventy-eight days consumed in the initial march over the same route. Guided by a kindlier fate, they discovered

the identi-

fying marks set down by Vizcaino, including the celebrated

oak, under

which

Father

Ascension

had

said Mass, and under whose spreading branches Vizcaino had proclaimed the occupancy of Spain a hundred and fifty years before.

A rather interesting incident occurred shortly after the arrival of the land party. It will be remembered that