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26 the officers and men came ashore, swore allegiance to independence and the federal constitution, pitched their tents on the beach, and for over twenty days made things lively at Monterey. First, however, they had a religious duty to perform. The holy virgin had been induced at a time of great peril by prayers and vows so to strengthen a weak sail that it bore the violence of the gale better than those thought to need no prayers; and now all the men walked barefoot with the sail to church, and rendered their thanksgiving with much ceremony. Finally, when the merry-making was over, health restored, and some necessary refitting completed, the strangers embarked for Acapulco May 23d, under the charge of Captain Juan Malarin as chief navigator and bearer of despatches to the city of Mexico, by Argüello's appointment. The Mexican government approved the action of the Californian authorities, and assumed the obligation to pay the wages of the men to the amount of over $90,000. Whether the debt was ever paid is another matter. The new vessels thus unexpectedly added to the federal navy were sent round to Vera Cruz, and the Asia was subsequently known as El Congreso. Several