TO CALIFORNIA. QS5 



ger to M. Kuskof *, to whom I immediately wrote 

 to procure me some necessary articles, which he 

 could easily do, as he traded with tlic American 

 ships. 



October the 5th. The Rurick was obliged to be 

 caulked, the sails to be repaired, and much rotten 

 rope to be changed: the necessary w^orks were 

 favoured by the fine weather. While SchischmarefF 

 superintended these, I employed myself with the 

 instruments, which I caused to be brought into a tent 

 erected on shore, where I observed the daily going 

 of the chronometers. Our naturalists were also em- 

 ployed, as there was much room for new discoveries 

 in this country, so seldom visited by learned men. 

 M. Choris was busily occupied in painting ; and 

 when the day had thus quickly passed over in 

 various kinds of employment, we' assembled in the 

 evening to enjoy the repose of the beautiful climate, 

 in which we were joined by the officers of the Pre- 

 sidio. The soldiers seem as dissatisfied with the 

 government as with the Mission j and this is not 

 surprising, as it is already seven years since they 

 have received any pay, and are destitute of 



* M. Kuskof, agent to the Russian American Company, has 

 settled at Bodega, by the command of M. Baranof, who is at 

 the head of all the settlements in America; to supply the 

 possessions of the colony with provisions from thence. 

 Bodega lies half a day's journey by water to the north of St. 

 Francisco, and is called by the Spaniards Port Bodega. The 

 harbour is only for small ships. Kuskof's larger settlement 

 lies a little north of Port Bodega. 



