Sir Francis Drake, description of his landing at Drake's Bay, Marin County, California, June 17, 1579. Being an exact copy of parts of the original report of this voyage, in his caravel the "Golden Hind," including a description of the first religious service in English ever held in America, and also the date of his departure for England, July 25, 1579

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Sir Francis Drake

Description of his landing at
Drake's Bay, Marin County,
California

X

June 17, 1579

Being an exact copy of parts of the
original report of this VOYAGE, in
his caravel the "GOLDEN HIND,"
including a description of the first
religious service in English ever
held in AMERICA, and also
the date of his departure for
ENGLAND, JULY 25th, 1579.

MARIN COUNTY

THE NARRATIVE

"In 38 Deg. 30 min. we fell with
a conuenient and fit harborough
and June 17 came to anchor
therein. *

The next day, after our coming
to anchor in the aforesaid harbour,
the people of the countrey shewed
themselues, sending off a man
with great expedition to vs in
a canow. *

The 3 day following, uiz., the
21, our ship hauing receiued a
leake at sea, was brought to
anchor neerer the shoare, that,
her goods being landed, she might
be repaired; but for that we were
to preuent any danger that might
chance against our safety, our
generall first of all landed his
men, with all necessary prouision.

CALIFORNIA 1579

to build tents and make a fort for
the defense of our selues and
goods; and that wee might vnder
the shelter of it with more safety
(what euer should befall) end our
businesse; which when the people
of the countrey perceiued vs do
ing, they came down to vs, and
yet with no hostile meaning or
intent to hurt vs. * * *

Their men for the most part goe
naked; the women take a kinde of
bulrushes, and kembing it after
the manner of hemp, make them-
selues thereof a loose garment,
which being knitte about their
middles, hanges downe a b out
their hippes, and so affordes
to them a couering. They are
very obedient to their husbands.

MARIN COUNTY

and exceeding ready in all
seruices. *

Against the end of three daies
more (the newes hauing the while
spread itself e farther, and as it
seemed a great way vp into the
countrie), were assembled the
greatest number of people which
wee could reasonably imagine to
dwell within any conuenient dis
tance round about. Amongst the
rest the king himselfe, a man of
goodly stature and comely person
age, attended with his guard of
about 100 tall and warlike men,
this day, uiz., June 26, came
downe to see vs. * * *

In the meane time the women
remaining on the hill, tormented
themselues lamentably, tearing

CALIFORNIA 1S79

their flesh from their cheekes,
whereby we perceiued that they
were about a sacrifice. In the
meane time our generall, with his
companie, WENT TO PRAYER,
AND TO READING OF THE
SCRIPTURES, AT WHICH EX
ERCISE THEY WERE ATTEN-
TIUE, and seemed greatly to be
affected with it. * * *

This one thing was obserued to
bee generall amongst them all,
that euery one had his face
painted, some with white, some
blacke, and some with other col
ours, euery man also bringing in
his hand one thing or other for a
gift or present. * * *

Few were the dayes, wherein
they were absent from vs, during

MAR1N COUNTY CALIF. 1579

and kingdome, both by the king
and people, into her majesties
hands; together with her high-
nesse picture and armes, i n a
piece of sixpense currant English
monie, showing itself e by a hole
made of purpose through the
plate; vnderneath was likewise
engrauen the name of our gener-
all, etc. * * *

And now, as the time of our de
parture was perceiued by them to
draw nigh, so did the sorrowes
and miseries of this people seeme
to themselues to increase vpon
them.

The 23 of July they tooke a
sorrowfull farewell of vs, but be
ing loath to leaue vs, they pres
ently ranne to the top of the hils

MARIN COUNTY CALIF. 1570

to keepe vs in their sight a* long
as they could, making fires before
and behind, and on each side of
them, burning therein (as is to be
supposed) sacrifices at our depart
ure. * * *

Not farre without this har bor
ough did lye certaine ilands (we
called them the ilands of Saint
James), hauing on them plentifull
and great store of seales and
birds, with one of which wee fell
July 24, whereon we found such
prouision as might competently
serue our turne for a while. We
departed againe the day next fol
lowing, uiz., July 25, 1579. * *

MARIN COUNTY

THEN AND NOW

"The 23 of July they toake a
sorrowful farewell of us, making
fires before and behind and on
each side of them (as is supposed)
sacrifices at our departure."

So wrote the ancient chronicler
of the Drake expedition and sank
to slumber while the Golden Hind
plowed its way homeward. In a
second (for in the great calendar)
three centuries are but as seconds)
those people who tormented
themselves lamentably have van
ished and the goodly country
which Drake foresaw has come
into its own. Home estates, farms
and bungalows crowd its hills and
valleys, and the spot has become
a principality, tributary to a me
tropolis whose spires have risen

CALIFORNIA 1915

like magic on what was the deso
late sand spit to the south. The
ancient chronicler was a worthy
prophet. "A goodly country."
No more beautiful spot than Marin
County can be found in all the
world lying so close to a metrop
olis. Neither London, Paris, Ber
lin, New York nor any other com
mercial center of which we know,
has within one hour of the busy
city streets such a variety of hills,
mountains, valleys, cascades,
streams and wooded trails as
Marin County offers to San Fran
cisco. In fact, here at one's very
door is a mountain fastness pos
sessing all of the beauties that an
indulgent nature and climate has
to offer.

MARIN COUNTY

Take boat from San Francisco
and in half an hour one lands upon
the selfsame peninsula where
landed Drake. Explore inland as
did he; but not as painfully as did
he. Electric roads add to the
pleasure and accessibility of this
garden spot.

The boat itself lands one at
Sausalito, a city of beautiful
homes upon terraced hills and
looking out across the great bay.
Before it, in the waters of Tiburon,
rests Belvedere, a dream island of
homes.

Across the hills a vigorous walk
lands one on Point Bonita where
a picturesque lighthouse looks
across the sea to China and Japan
and sees close at hand that island

CALIFORNIA 1915

which the brave voyagers of
Drake called the "Hand of Saint
James," "having on them plentiful
and great store of seals and birds."
Again an electric train front
Sausalito and one is at the foot of
Mt. Tamalpais amidst the pines
and redwoods. Trails wind
through the woods up and up until
one gains the crest of the divide.
Far away one sees the silver of
the Pacific; below, at one's very
feet, the green of the Muir Woods
where stand the forest monarchs
which stood when Drake landed,
and even in that day they were
hoary veterans: along the crest
lies West Point; and further still,
at the summit of Mt. Tamalpais,
the Tavern from which the whole

MARIN COUNTY CALIF. 1915

country lies spread out like a map.
One sees the gleam of San Fran
cisco Bay, the dark green of the
forests, the lighter green of the
valleys and farms, the glitter of
the nestling towns, the slow crawl
ing trains, a picturesque panorama
covering nine counties; and far
away, above the clouds Mt.
Diablo peering across the open to
its neighbor; the Sierra Nevadas
further to the east stately with its
crown of perpetual snow; and Mt.
Hamilton on whose summit the
Lick Observatory, that outpost of
Science watching with unerring
eye the procession of the Heaven
ly Hosts.

Again the electric line to
San Rafael, the ideal city of
homes and rich of woods.

MARIN COUNTY

passing on the way station after
station where happy throngs wait
the returning city traveler and
happy homes peer out from the
green of the woods. Here no
snow falls nor winter chills; nature
is kindly and like a kindly mother
gathers to herself the laughing
children giving them their birth
right of sunshine and fresh air.
Who would shut within bricks and
mortar these tender shoots when
such a climate and country lies so
close at hand?

Or, if one can spare the time,
press even further. The railroad
runs through farms and valleys,
past bungalows and wooded
slopes beside the ever changing
streams till it comes to rest at last

CALIFORNIA 1915

into the heart of the woods. Take
a motor stage. S wi n g through
the hills where nature rests silent
and undisturbed till at last you
break forth upon a wide sweep of
majestic ocean. It is the Pacific.
Hour after hour you may skirt the
cliffs; the restless ocean tosses far
below you, its white fangs gleam
ing upon the dripping rocks while
the stately forests stand upon the
hills gazing calmly down upon this
giant who would eat his way into
their sanctuary. Along the rock-
bound shore busy fisheries thrive,
their industry supplying a ready
market close at hand. "A goodly
country and fruitful! soyle, stored
with many blessings fit for the use
of man."

MARIN COUNTY

We have been hearing the roar
of cannon and the call to arms as
Christian man springs like a wier
wolf at the throat of Christian
man; from the city comes the cry
of travail as the wheels of toil and
care grind on and ever on. Are
you weary of all this? Does it
rest as a burden on your soul?
Take boat with Drake. Plunge
into this goodly country. The
sweet air will bring you solace.
The hills and forests will look
upon you with so deep a calm that
you will wonder at your restless
ness. The seemingly great things
of the city will shrink to littleness
while mother nature rocks you on
her bosom. The Land of Drake
will welcome you. And when

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you leave, it will be you that will
take sorrowful farewell, not those
blessed inhabitants who stand
watching on the hills.