TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIA S. 
53 
termed u the revolution.” Men of stout hearts even spoke 
little. Life appeared to hang upon a breath in Monterey ! 
We entered the house of an American merchant by the name 
of Larkin, and sat down to tea. We did not eat alone ! An 
officer of the government sat with us ! Conversation ran on 
general topics. The cause of the apparent trepidation was 
inquired into by an American from the Don Quixote, but 
nothing could be elicited. The official sat erect, swelled 
his person into dignity, ate heartily, drank deeply, rose first 
from the table, an intimation that we might follow his illus¬ 
trious example; burned his fingers in smoking a paper 
cigar, and at length rolled his greasy form out of doors. 
u Rid of you at last, thank God,” said a little Englishman, 
who had dropped in during supper, u and now for talk inside 
of ceilings.” We soon learned from Mr. Larkin and others, 
that one hundred and fifty odd Americans and Britons were 
thirsting and starving in the prisons of the town and destined 
to be sacrificed to Spanish malignity ! The question arose, 
Can they be saved 1 It was hoped they might; it was re¬ 
solved on our lives that they should be ; while all in a low 
voice spoke of the uncertainty of life for an hour in Monterey! 
The first duty, on setting foot in California, is to report 
oneself to the governor, and obtain from him a written per¬ 
mission to remain in the country. This I proceeded to do. 
Mr. Larkin was obliging enough to accompany me to the 
governor’s residence. We found before it a small number 
of men, who were usually complimented with the cognomen 
of u guard.” They consisted of five half-breed Indians, and 
what passed for a white corporal, lounging about the door in 
the manner of grog-shop savans. Their outer man is worth 
a description. They wore raw bull’s-hide sandals on their 
feet, leathern breeches, blankets about their shoulders, and 
anything and everything upon their heads. Of arms, they 
had nothing which deserved the name. One made preten¬ 
sions with an old musket without lock ; and his four com¬ 
rades were equally heroic, with kindred pieces, so deeply 
