Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/460

442 in quest of aid by which to restore order. In his absence, Gutierrez would hold both commands from August 1st. Gutierrez was advised to adopt such a policy as to check the conspiracy against the government. There is some evidence that Chico had promised at first to leave the gefatura in the hands of the diputacion; and he is also said to have left orders to institute suits against Estrada and Cosme Peña.

Chico sailed from Monterey on the Clementine July 31st, and from San Pedro on August 10th. Of his departure, as of his rule, many queer stories are told. He presented Alvarado with a 'universal recipe' for the cure of all maladies, and shouted to him as he stepped into the boat, "Bring up crows to peck your eyes out!" He embraced an old Indian woman on the beach, saying, "Of all the men in this country thou art the best." He raved at Muñoz and Portilla for not coming up with reënforcements; declared he would return with 5,000 men; and shouted, with one foot in the boat, "Me voy Chico, pero volveré Grande." He left his gold watch to be regulated in California, transferred the command in a sealed packet not to be opened until midnight, and thanked a man for having caught his hat when running in the street on the day of the mob. He was prevented by the people from landing at Santa Bárbara. At San Pedro he put on board his vessel large quantities of tallow, stolen by the aid of Gutierrez from San Gabriel and other missions, to be disposed of at Mazatlan in payment for