10 VOYAGE TO THE 



the building in question ; and such was the dissatis- 

 faction of the people that there was no inclination to 

 improve their situation, or even to remedy many of 

 the evils which they appeared to us to have the 

 power to remove. 



The plain upon which the presidio stands is well 

 adapted to cultivation ; but it is scarcely ever touched 

 by the plough, and the garrison is entirely beholden 

 to the missions for its resources. Each soldier has 

 nominally about three pounds a month, out of which 

 he is obliged to purchase his provision. If the go- 

 vernor were active, and the means were supplied, the 

 country in the vicinity of the establishment might be 

 made to yield enough wheat and vegetables for the 

 troops, by which they would save that portion of their 

 pay which now goes to the purchase of these neces- 

 sary articles. 



The garrison of San Francisco consists of seventy- 

 six cavalry soldiers and a few artillerymen, distributed 

 between the presidios and the missions, and conse- 

 quently not more than half a dozen are at any time 

 in one place. 



They appeared to us to be very dissatisfied, owing 

 not only to their pay being so many years in arrear, 

 but to the duties which had been imposed both on the 

 importation of foreign articles, and on those of the 

 Mexican territory, amounting in the first instance to 

 forty-two and a half per cent. ; whereas, under the old 

 government, two ships were annually sent from Aca- 

 pulco with goods, which were sold duty free, and at 

 their original cost in that country, and then, also, their 

 pay being regularly discharged, they were able- to pur- 

 chase what they wanted. A further grievance has 

 arisen by the refusal of the government to continue 



