San Francisco there were some seventy
men, including invalids; and the number varied little at the other
military centres, Rezanov inferred, although there was a natural effort
to impress the foreigner with the casual inferiority of the armed force
within his ken. Cattle and horses increased so rapidly that every few
years there was a wholesale slaughter, although the agricultural yield
was enormous. What the Missions were unable to manufacture was sent
them from Mexico, and disposed of the small salaries of the priests;
the "Pious Fund of California" in the city of Mexico being
systematically embezzled. The first Presidio and Mission were founded
at San Diego in July of 1769; the last at San Francisco in September
and October of 1776.

Rezanov's polite interest in the virgin country was cut short by the
entrance of two Indians carrying heavy bundles, which they opened upon
the floor without further delay.

The cloth of gold was magnificent, and the padres handled it as
rapturously as had their souls and fingers been of the sex symbolized
while exalted by the essence of maternity, in whose service it would be
anointed. Rezanov looked on with an amused sigh, yet conscious of
being more comprehending and sympathetic than if he had journeyed
straight from Europe to California. It was not the first time he had
felt a passing gratitude for his uncomfortable but illuminating sojourn
so close to the springs of nature.

The priests were as well pleased with the pieces of fine English cloth;
and as their own homespun robes rasped like hair shirts, they silently
but uniformly congratulated themselves that the color was brown.

Father Abella turned to Rezanov, his saturnine features relaxed.

"We are deeply grateful to your excellency, and our prayers shall
follow you always. Never have we received presents so timely and so
magnificent. And be sure we shall not forget the brave officers that
have brought you safely to our distant shores, nor the distinguished
scholar who guards your excellency's health." He turned to Langsdorff
and repeated himself in Latin. The naturalist, whose sharp nose was
always lifted as if in protest against oversight and ready to pounce
upon and penetrate the least of mysteries, bowed with his hand on his
heart, and translated for the benefit of the officers.

"Humph!" said Davidov in Russian. "Much the Chamberlain will care for
the prayers of the Catholic Church if he has to go home with