Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/609

Rh war he described at some length his past efforts and success in colonizing the region north of the bay. He required not only approval of what he had done, but aid to carry on the work, including certain commercial concessions to the colonists; for he could not longer support the military force from his own resources, and at the same time meet the constantly increasing demands of the settlers for aid. A few recruits were obtained for the regular companies, but they were of a vagabond class which the municipal authorities were glad to get rid of, and which the general did not desire for soldiers. There was trouble also because the governor discharged militia officers without the comandante's consent, and otherwise interfered in military matters. The chief difficulty, however, was a financial one. There was of course a quarrel about the distribution of revenues, the army not getting its share, as was believed by military men, and each company being defrauded, in the opinion of its officers. The chief complaint came from Santa Bárbara, as Sonoma interests were protected by the presence of the general, Monterey with the custom-house had the first handling of the funds, and San Diego had no company to support. Both in the south, and to some extent