We may suppose, from the Manner in which this Part was managed, that there was a great Necessity to get the Translation finished in any Manner. As the Difficulties of the Translation increased, the Design of this Account being only Amusement, the Translator thought it would answer the Purpose to give the Account in gross.
The Date, the 22d June, is an apparent Error, by reason de Fonte did not enter into Lake Belle, as will be shewn hereafter, until that Time.
Admiral de Fonte dispatched one of his Captains to Pedro de Barnarda, to sail up a fair River, gentle Stream, and deep Water. Then the Translation breaks off abruptly, and the Translator renders the following Part as an Account of Bernarda's Voyage, not observing how just a Connection there is with de Fonte dispatching one of his Captains to Bernarda; and what follows being the Orders sent by him, and the Instructions for Bernarda; instead of being Bernarda's Account of his Expedition, and not observing how consistent it is with being a summary Recital of those Instructions these Words are which follow, Admiral de Fonte, after he had dispatched Captain Bernarda on the Discovery, &c.
As to his dispatching one of his Captains, he must be supposed to have besides the Captain of the Ship he was in, also one called an Admiral's Captain. The Instructions were of such Consequence, that a less Person might not be so properly employed, nor consistent with the Respect due to Bernarda.
De Fonte and Bernarda were Strangers here; but these Parts had been already discovered, as it is expresly said that two Pater Jesuits had been here two Years, and made Observations as far as the Latitude 66. From their Discoveries we may conclude, that these Instructions were formed which Bernarda received, and those of the whole Course of the Voyage; and it was necessary that de Fonte should not only mention that he had dispatched Bernarda, but should also, with the Brevity due to a Letter, mention the Orders with which he dispatched him. And further from what is expressed in those Orders, as to the River, the Course and Soundings, what Fish were in the River and Lake, the Road or Harbour which was to be found in the Lake, the Temper and Disposition of the Inhabitants, it evidently appears that there had been a prior Discovery of these Parts, and Observations made of every Thing worthy of Consideration, and necessary also at this Time to be mentioned to Bernarda. To let him know that his Ship could pass up the River, would find a Harbour in the Lake, he had nothing to fear from the Natives, and would meet with Provisions. There leaving his Ship he might be furnished with Periagos to proceed. And I understand his Directions to steer first North and North-east, then North and North-west, that he might make no Mistake by pursuing or entering into any other Openings which might present themselves in his Course up, and which from their Appearance might perplex him, as to which of them he was to enter; no uncommon Thing, as those who have been to Northward on like Undertakings will allow.
'The Admiral sailed up a very navigable River, which he named Rio los Reys, that run nearest N. E. but on several Points of the Compass 60 Leagues, at low Water, in a fair navigable Channel, not less than 4 or 5 Fathom Water. It flowed on both Rivers near the same Water, in the River Los Reys, 24 Feet Full and Change of the Moon; a S. S. E. Moon made high Water. It flowed in the River Haro, 22 Feet and a half Full and Change. They had two Jesuits with them, that had been on their Mission to 66 Degrees of North Latitude, and had made curious Observations.'
De Fonte, having dispatched Bernarda, sets out on his Part of the Expedition, and proceeds up the River Los Reys, at the Entrance of which he had arrived the fourteenth of June. During his Stay, until Bernarda was dispatched and sailed, he seems to have taken an accurate Account of the Tides in both Rivers. The Distance up the River was more than sixty Leagues, and though a good navigable Channel, yet would require a great Precaution in his Proceeding with the two Ships; Tide Times and the Night would make it necessary for him to bring too; for had he touched the Ground with either of them, the Delay that might have followed on such Accident, might have defeated this Part of the Undertaking, and the most important, and which, therefore, was allotted to him to execute.
Their having had two Jesuits with them seems an additional Note. That two Jesuits should be sent into those Parts to make Observations, is but consistent with the general Practice of the Jesuits to go on Missions into all Parts of the Globe, engaged by a special Vow, not injoined any other Order, to be always ready to go and preach whithersoever they shall be sent.
These Jesuits are by no Means a singular Instance of the People of that Order being great Adventurers, when we consider those who ventured to the Philippinas and Japan, enforced by the Vow, puffed up with the Vanity of popular Applause, the Favour of the President, and the Hope of being acceptable to the rest of the Order on their return from such Mission, expecting by such Mission to add to the Wealth or Reputation of the Order. The Effect of this Mission seems to have been they had acquired the Favour of the Natives. Had made some Observations of the Country, but principally to Northward, as to which they seem not to have got a perfect Account; though they did a great deal for the Time, the Unseasonableness of the Winter, and the melting Weather in the Spring considered; nor is it strange they should not get a perfect Account, in a Country so intermixed with Waters, which hide themselves in their Courses between inaccessible Mountains; and in many Places where they are to be come at, are deceitful in their Appearance, as to what they really are, whether Lakes, Gulphs of the Sea, or Inlets. As they proceeded to the Northward, they thought it the Part that principally claimed their Observation. Were of Opinion as to the Northward, that it was Part of the Continent of New Spain, or they would not have lead de Fonte to Los Reys, but caused him to proceed up that Streight which separated the Part they had been in from New Spain. As to this Mission not being known to the Publick, these Jesuits must have been sent from Europe into New Spain; and they would so far regard their Obedience to the Pope, as to pay due Respect to the King of Spain's Authority, in observing the established Maxim of the Time, as to keep their Discoveries a Secret from the Publick or other Nations. And as to all Missionaries who went into New Spain, the King of Spain hath a Power to call them to Account, by the Pope's Permission, though not permitted in Old Spain to meddle with ecclesiastical Affairs, or ecclesiastical Men.
'A Letter from Captain Barnarda, dated the 27th of June 1740, that he had left his Ship in the Lake Valasco, betwixt the Islands Barnarda and the Peninsula Conibasset, a very safe Port; it went down the River from the Lake 3 Falls, 80 Leagues, and fell into the Tartarian Sea in 61 Deg. with the Pater Jesuits, and 36 Natives, in three of their Boats, and 20 of his Spanish Seamen; that the Land trended away North East; that they should want no Provision, the Country abounding with Venison of three Sorts, and the Sea and Rivers with excellent Fish (Bread, Salt, Oil, and Brandy they carried with them) that he should do what was possible. The Admiral, when he received the Letter from Captain Barnarda, was arrived at an Indian Town called Conosset, on the South Side Lake Belle, where the two Pater Jesuits on their Mission had been two Years; a pleasant Place. The Admiral, with his two Ships, enter'd the Lake the 22d of June.'