APPLICATION FOR PROVISIONS. 75 



his cannon is in condition to fire a single shot, 

 and his troops are cautious of venturing into 

 actual conflict : he fights with words only. I 

 would not therefore refuse to his fortress the , 

 courtesy of a salute, but was much astonished 

 at not finding my guns returned. An ambas 

 sador from shore soon solved the mystery, by 

 coming to beg so much powder as would serve 

 to answer my civility with becoming respect. 



As soon as we had dropped anchor, the whole 

 of the military left the fortress without a gar 

 rison, to mingle with the assemblage of curious 

 gazers on the shore, where the apparition of 

 our ship seemed to excite as much astonish 

 ment as in the South Sea Islands. I now sent 

 Lieutenant Pfeifer ashore, to notify our arri 

 val in due form to the commandant, and to 

 request his assistance in furnishing our vessel 

 with fresh provisions. The commandant him 

 self, Don Martinez Ignatio, lieutenant of ca 

 valry, had been summoned to the capital Mon 

 terey, to attend Congress, and was absent ; his 

 deputy, the second lieutenant, Don Joseph 

 Sanchez, received my envoy with much cor 

 diality, and referred in a very flattering manner 

 E 2 



