Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/313

Rh soon gained, by the aid of his military force, and especially by alliance with Solano, the Suisun chief, a control over the more distant tribes which had never been equalled by the missionary and his escolta, a functionary who, however, still remained as curate. Quite a number of families, both Californians and members of the famous colony, settled at Sonoma.

José Figueroa died at Monterey September 29th, at 5.30 P. M., from the effects of an apoplectic attack, after about a month's illness. The funeral ceremonies, with firing of guns and other military honors, took place at the capital October 2d, being attended by all the people of the vicinity, and by prominent men from all parts of the territory. The body was embalmed rudely and taken to Santa Bárbara by the Avon, which sailed the 17th, to be deposited in a vault of the mission church on the 29th. There the remains were to lie, according to Figueroa's request, until the Mexican government should send for them to render fitting honors to the memory of a warrior who had distinguished himself in the struggle for independence. Mexico never did anything of the kind, and the Californians were not much more zealous in perpetuating his memory. The diputacion, on motion of Juan B. Alvarado, passed some very eulogistic resolutions in the sessions of October 10th-14th, providing for the hanging of Figueroa's portrait in