104 A FRIENDLY RECEPTION. 



off, we were very willing to accede to Padre 

 Thomas's wish ; and he left us with an invitation 

 to visit him the following noon. 



Accordingly, several of my officers and myself 

 rode the next day to the mission of St. Fran- 

 cisco, which I have described in the account of 

 my former voyage, and which has remained 

 pretty much in the same state ever since. The 

 jovial Father Thomas was now the only monk 

 in the mission, and, consequently, at its head ; 

 he entertained us in a very friendly manner, and 

 with considerable expense. 



The repast consisted of a great number of 

 dishes, strongly seasoned with garlic and pepper, 

 and plenty of very tolerable wine of the Padre's 

 own vintage ; it was animated by music, partly 

 the performance of some little naked Indian 

 boys, upon bad fiddles, and partly of the vene- 

 rable father himself on a barrel organ which 

 stood near him. The fruits for the dessert were 

 procured from the mission of Santa Clara, as the 

 mists from the sea prevent their ripening at 

 St. Francisco. 



Some guns from the Presidio, fired with the 



