Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/31

Rh that respect; but his disregard for law was always in the interest of his province and people, and no selfish or unworthy action is recorded against him. After his accession to the chief command, he had some enemies — notably José María Estudillo, José Joaquin de la Torre, and José Antonio Carrillo; but none of these were Californians of the best class. With the people, and especially with his soldiers, he was always popular, by reason of his kindness, liberality, and affability. If he came into somewhat more bitter controversy with the friars than had his predecessors, it was due to the times and circumstances rather than to the man. In person he was tall, stout, and attractive, with ruddy complexion and jet-black hair. He was a jovial companion, a bon vivant, so far as a man could be so in this poverty-stricken province, free with his money, in fact a spendthrift, and always in debt. His peculiarities of temperament led him into an increasing fondness for wine and aguardiente; and his drinking habits doubtless broke down his health, and hastened his death in middle life.

There were embarked on the Nieves, in June, from San Blas, besides Echeandía, Alférez Romualdo Pacheco and Alférez Agustin V. Zamorano, both engineer officers, and probably from the college of which Echeandía had been director, the former coming as aide-de-camp and the latter as secretary to the governor; also Alférez José María Ramirez, a cavalry officer, whose position at this time under Echeandía is not apparent; Alférez Patricio Estrada, in command of a detachment of about forty infantry of the battalion known as Fijo de Hidalgo; and also probably a fifth alférez, Juan José Rocha, though it is possible that he came on to Monterey by the Morelos. Of Estrada and