We Remained In Uncertainty As To This War For More Than Two Months,
When An Arrival From The Sandwich Islands Brought Us The News Of An
Amicable Arrangement Of The Difficulties.
The other vessel which we found in port was the hermaphrodite brig
Avon, from the Sandwich Islands. She was fitted up in handsome style;
fired a gun and ran her ensign up and down at sunrise and sunset; had a
band of four or five pieces of music on board, and appeared rather like
a pleasure yacht than a trader; yet, in connection with the Loriotte,
Clementine, Bolivar, Convoy, and other small vessels, belonging to
sundry Americans at Oahu, she carried on a great trade - legal and
illegal - in otter skins, silks, teas, specie, etc.
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. This meant "Sail ho!"
of course, but as we were within the point we could see nothing.
"Give way, boys! Give way! Lay out on your oars, and long stroke!"
said the captain; and stretching to the whole length of our arms,
bending back again, so that our backs touched the thwarts, we sent
her through the water like a rocket. A few minutes of such pulling
opened the islands, one after another, in range of the point, and gave
us a view of the Canal, where was a ship, under top-gallant sails,
standing in, with a light breeze, for the anchorage. Putting the
boat's head in the direction of the ship, the captain told us to lay
out again; and we needed no spurring, for the prospect of boarding a
new ship, perhaps from home, hearing the news and having something
to tell of when we got back, was excitement enough for us, and we
gave way with a will.
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