348 
VOYAGE TO THE 
GHAH Marsh the purser, overland to Monterey with Mr. Evans as interpreter, 
with orders to procure for the ship what medicines, provisions, and 
/soft' other stores were to be had, and to negotiate government bills, on 
which the exchange was far more favourable there than at the Sand- 
wich Islands. The governor politely furnished a passport and a guard 
for this service; and our hospitable friend Tomaso, the padre of the 
mission, provided horses for them free of any charge. In the mean 
time we arranged with a relation of the governor for the daily supply 
of the ship’s company, an arrangement which it afterwards appeared in- 
creased the jealousy that had long existed between the presidio and the 
missions, by transferring to the pocket of the commandant the profits 
that would otherwise have been reaped by the padre. 
We were happy to find the country around our anchorage abound- 
ing in game of all kinds, so plentiful, indeed, as soon to lessen the de- 
sire of pursuit ; still there were many inducements to both the officers 
and seamen to land and enjoy themselves ; and as it was for the benefit 
of the service that they should recruit their health and strength as soon 
as possible, every facility was afforded them. Horses were fortunately very 
cheap, from nine shillings to seven pounds apiece, so that riding became a 
favourite amusement ; and the Spaniards finding they could make a good 
market by letting out their stud, appeared with them every Sunday op- 
posite the ship, ready saddled for the occasion, as this was a day on 
which I allowed every man to go out of the ship. Some of the officers 
purchased horses and tethered them near the place, but the Spaniards 
finding this to interfere with their market, contrived to let them loose 
on the Saturday night, in order that the officers might be compelled 
to hire others on the following day. The only difficulty to the enjoyment 
of this amusement was the scarcity of saddles and bridles, some of which 
cost ten times as much as a decent horse. The ingenuity of the sea- 
men generally obviated these difficulties, while some borrowed or hired 
saddles of the natives ; for my own part, 1 purchased a decent looking 
horse for about thirty-five shillings sterling, and on my departure pre- 
sented it to a Spaniard, wffio had lent me the necessary accoutrements 
for it during my stay, which answered the purpose of both parties, 
as he was pleased with his present, and I had my ride for about a 
