82 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
of the government. They believed the American to be some¬ 
thing more than a Commodore. His precise rank they could 
not determine. It was evident to them that he had a fleet 
outside under his command ! But he spoke and acted as if he 
not only had authority on the seas, but the land also, even in 
Los Californias ! He was everywhere present, forbidding 
one thing and ordering another ; rushing into the gover¬ 
nor’s apartments, upbraiding him for his acts, and threaten¬ 
ing to bring destruction upon the town, unless all his capri¬ 
cious wishes in regard to the rebels were gratified. His cha¬ 
racter was an enigma. If he assumed it, death was too light 
a punishment. If he were really a high agent of the Repub¬ 
lic of North America, his bearing and acts comported with 
his character, and indicated that great circumspection would 
be necessary in the course adopted toward the prisoners. 
Mr. Larkin was called upon to express his opinion in this 
vexed matter; but he very properly said that he knew noth¬ 
ing about it, except that this man appeared to be one who 
understood his duties, whatever they were ; and suggested 
that it might not be well to disregard his opinions, or other¬ 
wise treat him with disrespect. The subaltern dignitaries 
thereupon made their complimentary acknowledgments to 
the American, and passed a part of the day with him and 
Mr. Larkin. It pleased them to say many handsome things 
of the bravery and intelligence of the citizens of the States. 
They were told in reply that the United States expected the 
prisoners to be released from unjust and tyrannical impri¬ 
sonment. The Senors bowed assent; but mentioned as a 
difficulty in the way of this proceeding, that to release them 
would be an act of great disrespect to the governor, Juan Bap¬ 
tiste Alvarado. To this it was replied that such disrespect 
would not be very alarming—not quite so serious as the 
Paixhan guns of an American or British man-of-war. 
Another night of suffering in the prisons. u Heat, heat! 
Air ! for God’s sake give us air ! air ! You brown devils, 
