JOURNEY TO ROSS. 105 



powder that remained after returning our salute, 

 one morning announced the arrival of Don Ig- 

 natio Martinez, the commandant, who, after the 

 breaking up of the congress at jNIonterey, had 

 returned to his post. With him came also the 

 commandant of the Presidio St. Diego, Don 

 Jose Maria Estudillo, whom I had before 

 known. They visited me, accompanied by 

 Sanchez, dined with me on board, and were so 

 well entertained, that they did not take leave of 

 us till late at night. 



Indispensable business now summoned me to 

 the establishment of the Russian-American Com- 

 pany called Ross, w^hich lies about eighty miles 

 north of St. Francisco. I had for some time 

 been desirous of performing the journey by 

 land, but the difficulties had appeared insur- 

 mountable. Without the assistance of the 

 commandant, it certainly could not have been 

 accomplished ; I was therefore glad to avail 

 myself of his friendly disposition towards me 

 to make the attempt. We required a number 

 of horses and a military escort ; the latter to 

 serve us at once as guides, and as a protection 

 F 5 



