The Second Day After Our Arrival, A Full-Rigged Brig Came Round
The Point From The Northward, Sailed Leisurely Through The Bay,
And Stood Off Again For The South-East, In The Direction Of The
Large Island Of Catalina.
The next day the Avon got under weigh,
and stood in the same direction, bound for San Pedro.
This might
do for marines and Californians, but we knew the ropes too well.
The brig was never again seen on the coast, and the Avon arrived
at San Pedro in about a week, with a full cargo of Canton and
American goods.
This was one of the means of escaping the heavy duties the Mexicans
lay upon all imports. A vessel comes on the coast, enters a
moderate cargo at Monterey, which is the only custom-house,
and commences trading. In a month or more, having sold a large
part of her cargo, she stretches over to Catalina, or other of the
large uninhabited islands which lie off the coast, in a trip from
port to port, and supplies herself with choice goods from a vessel
from Oahu, which has been lying off and on the islands, waiting for
her. Two days after the sailing of the Avon, the Loriotte came
in from the leeward, and without doubt had also a snatch at the
brig's cargo.
Tuesday, Nov. 10th. Going ashore, as usual, in the gig, just
before sundown, to bring off the captain, we found, upon taking
in the captain and pulling off again, that our ship, which lay
the farthest out, had run up her ensign.
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