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^Xllc*' provision, and had been living upon fresh beef in
China, turtle and fish in the Arzobispo Islands and Petrapaulski, besides
O re the full allowance of lemon juice, pickled cabbages, and other antiscorbutics.
The season to the northward, it is true, had been more
severe than that ofthe preceding year, and the duty in consequence more
harassing ; but this is not sufficient in my opinion to occasion the difi
ference, and I cannot but think that the indulgence in turtle, after
leaving the Arzobispo Islands, which was thought so beneficial at the
moment, induced a predisposition to the complaint. The disease assumed
an unusual character, by scarcely affecting the gums, while patients
were otherwise so ill that a disposition to syncope attended the exertion
of walking. Our eases fortunately were not numerous, being confined
to six, and, after a few days’ fresh provisions in California, were entirely
cured.
On the 29th we were apprised of our approach to the coast of California
by some large white pelicans, which were fishing a few miles to
the westward of Point Pinas. AA"e soon afterwards saw the land, and
at eight at night moored in the Bay of Monterey. Early the following
morning I waited upon the governor, and despatched messengers to the
missions of St. Carlos and St. Cruz for vegetables, which were afterwards
served daily in double the usual proportion to the ship’s company,
who benefited so much by the diet that, with one exception, they very
soon recovered from all indisposition.
By some English newspapers, which were found in this remote
part of the world, we learned the melancholy news of the death of His
Royal Highness the Duke of York, and put the ship in mourning, by
hoisting the flag half-mast during the time she remained in the port.
In my former visit to this country I remarked that the padres
were much mortified at being desired to liberate from the missions all
the Indians who bore good characters, and who were acquainted with
the art of tilling the ground. In consequence of their remonstrances
the governor modified the order, and consented to make the experiment
upon a few only at first, and desired that a certain number miglit be
settled in the proposed manner. After a few months’ trial, much to his
surprise, he found that these people, who had been always accustomed
to the care and discipline of schoolboys, finding themselves their own
masters, indulged freely in all those excesses which it had been the C H A P .
endeavour of their tutors to repress, and that many having gambled
away their clothes, implements, and even their land, were compelled to
Nov.
beg or to plunder in order to support life. They at length became so
J827.
obnoxious to the peaceable inhabitants, that the padres were requested
to take some of them back to the missions, while others who had been
guilty of misdemeanors were loaded with shackles and put to hard work,
and when we arrived were employed transporting enormous stones to
the beach to improve the landing-place.
The padres, conscious that the government were now sensible of the
importance of the missions, made better terms for themselves than they
had been offered by the Republican government. They were allowed
to retain their places, and had their former salary of four hundred
dollars a year restored to them, besides a promise of payment of
arrears. In return for this a pledge was exacted from the padres, binding
them to conform to the existing laws of the country, and in everyway
to consider themselves amenable to them. Thus stood the missionary
cause in CaUfornia when we quitted that country.
AVe remained in Monterey until the 17th, and then sailed for St.
Francisco to complete our water, which at the former place, besides
being so scarce that we could hardly procure sufficient for our daily
consumption, was very unwholesome, being brackish and mingled with
the soapsuds of all the washerwomen in the place, and with streams
from the bathing places of the Indians, into w-hich they plunge immediately
on coming out of the Temeschal.
San Francisco had undergone no visible change since 1826, except
that the presidio had suffered from the shock of an earthquake on the
22d of April, which had greatly alarmed its inhabitants.
AVe had here the misfortune to lose James Bailey, one of our
marines, who had long been an invaUd.
The third of December we left the harbour St. Francisco, the
shores of w-hich, being newly clothed with snow, had a very wintry
appearance ; and on the 13th we saw Cape St. Lucas. The next day w-e
were off the Tres Marias, three high islands, situated seventy-five miles
to the westward of San Bias, and well known by the frequent mention of
Are .A i