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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