TO CALIFORNIA. 277 



ket-shot. As we drew near, they enquired through 

 a speaking trumpet, to what nation we belonged, 

 the Russian Imperial flag not being known here. 

 Having answered that we were Russians,and friends, 

 1 fired a salute of five guns, which were answered 

 by as many from the fort. A full hour elapsed after 

 we had cast anchor before they troubled themselves 

 about us; the soldiers had all left the fort, and 

 posted themselves on the shore opposite our ship. 

 It at last occured to me, that Vancouver had not 

 met with any boats here; I therefore sent Lieu- 

 tenant SchischmareflT, accompanied by M.Chamisso, 

 on shore, to announce our arrival to the comman- 

 dant, Don Louis d'Arguello, who received the two 

 gentlemen very politely, and promised to supply 

 the Rurick daily with fresh provisions. He im- 

 mediately sent me a basket of fruit, which was a 

 welcome present, after we had been so long de- 

 prived of it. As he had already received from his 

 government orders respecting us, he likewise des- 

 patched the same day a courier to Monterey, to 

 acquaint the Governor of California of our arrival. 



October the 3d. Early this morning I was 

 visited by an artillery-officer, belonging to the Pre- 

 sidio, sent by the commandant, accompanied by a 

 priest of the Mission. The former offered us, in 

 the name of the commandant, all possible accom- 

 modation ; the priest did the same in the name of 

 the Mission : gratefully accepting these obliging 

 offers, I merely expressed a wish to be supplied daily 



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