TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIOS. 
57 
diately took me into favor, expressed great surprise that my 
friend should have thought that he could refuse my request, 
and assured me that it gave him infinite pleasure to write 
me a permission of residence. Here it is. When the 
reader is informed that it was an impromptu production, he 
will be able to estimate, in a faint degree indeed, the in¬ 
telligence and genius of the Californians. Only one hour 
and a quarter were consumed in bringing it forth ! 
Mr. Thomas J. Farnham pasagero en la barca Americana Don Quixote 
habiendama manifesta do el pasporte de su consul y queriendo quidar en 
tierra a (vertarblesse) en su salud le doy el presente bolito de des en barco 
en el puerta de Monterey!! 
A 18 de Abril de 1840. 
Antonio Ma. Orio. 
A permission this to remain on shore as long as might be 
necessary for the restoration of my health ! Having received 
it with many demonstrations of regard, we took our leave of 
the illustrious dignitary under a running salute from his dog, 
and repaired to el casa del goubernador (the governor’s 
house). The dog accompanied us. He appeared to rejoice 
in our presence. After he saw us pass into the governor’s 
door he howled piteously, and trotted off toward the prisons. 
We obtained from Sa Excellentissimo a written confir¬ 
mation of the alcalde’s document, and returned to the house 
of Mr. Larkin. There we met a number of Americans and 
Britons, from whom we learned that their countrymen were 
famishing unto death in the prisons of the town ! A con¬ 
sultation, held in an upper room, in whispeis, under the 
dreadful ceitainty that death would be the penalty if it be¬ 
came known to the demon government, ended the labors 
of that day and night! The house of my friend was but a 
few rods from some of the prisons, and when all was still at 
midnight, I could hear, between the breaking surges on the 
beach, the prisoners cry— 
u Breathe fast, for God’s sake ! J must come to the grate 
soon or I shall suffocate!” 
