CALIFORNIA. 
197 
which fronts on the public square, and is said to be one of the best 
houses in California. On the right of this is the residence of the 
general’s brother, Salvadore, and to the left, the barracks for the 
accommodation of the guard for the general, consisting of about twenty 
fusileers. Not far removed is the old dilapidated mission-house of San 
Francisco Solano, scarcely tenantable, though a small part of it is 
inhabited still by the Padre Kihas, who continues, notwithstanding the 
poverty of his mission, to entertain the stranger, and show him all the 
hospitality he can. 
Besides the buildings just enumerated, there were in the course of 
construction, in 1841, a neat little chapel, and a small building for a 
billiard-room. There are also three or four more houses and huts 
which are tenanted; and at some future day it may boast of some 
farther additions. 
General Vallejo was one of those who figured in the revolution of 
1836, and was then appointed Commandant-General of Alta-Cali- 
fornia. He is now the owner of large estates ; and having chosen this 
part of the country for his residence, he is free from the opposition 
and broils that are continually growing out of the petty concerns of 
the custom-house and its duties. He is not over-scrupulous in demand¬ 
ing duties of the vessels entering the port of San Francisco; and until 
he has been seen and consulted, a vessel trading here is liable to an 
indefinite amount of duties. A portion of the payment adds to his 
wealth, and how much goes to the government is not known; enough, 
I was told, in some cases, to save appearances, and no more. The 
foreigners who trade here are very attentive to him; and it might be 
supposed, before making inquiry into the cause, that he is a great 
favourite with them. The highest official protection is necessary for 
all those who wish to prosper in their trade to this port, and to prevent 
exactions from subordinates. 
I have already spoken of the unceremonious manner in which Cap¬ 
tain Suter officiated as administrador of the district to the east of the 
Sacramento. The anecdotes related to me of Vallejo, in like manner, 
show a striking disregard for the lives, as well as for the property and 
liberty of the Indians and gente de razon. He is supreme, and acts 
with the same impunity as all his predecessors, with one or two 
exceptions, have done before him. As an instance of the lawless acts 
of the governors, it is said that one of them entertained the idea of 
training the Indians as soldiers, and a company of them had been 
brought together, drilled, and made such proficiency in the use of their 
arms, that his excellency became alarmed, and forthwith ordered them 
all to be shot! I have little doubt that this story may be essentially 
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