in the fascinating regions of the north so full of possibilities.
There consequently sailed from Acapulco, July 8, 1539, a fleet of
three vessels under Francisco de Ulloa. Cortes was prevented by
circumstances from going with this expedition. After many
difficulties Ulloa at length found himself at the very head of the
Sea of Cortes in shallow water.

* For a full account of the experiences of Alvar Nunez, see the
translation of Buckingham Smith. Also Bandolier, Contributions to the
History of the Southwestern Portions of the United States.


"And thus sailing [he writes] we always found more shallow water, and
the sea thick, black, and very muddy, and came at length into five
fathom water; and seeing this we determined to pass over to the land
which we had seen on the other side, and here likewise we found as
little depth or less, whereupon we rode all night in five fathom
water, and we perceived the sea to run with so great a rage into the
land that it was a thing much to be marveled at; and with the like
fury it returned back again with the ebb, during which time we found
eleven fathom water, and the flood and ebb continued from five to six
hours." The next day the captain and the pilot went up to the ship's
top and saw all the land full of sand in a great round compass and
joining itself with the other shore; and it was so low that whereas
we were a league from the same we could not discern it, and it seemed
there was an inlet of the mouths of certain lakes, whereby the sea
went in and out. There were divers opinions amongst us, and some
thought that that current entered into these lakes, and also that
some great river there might be the cause thereof."*