Hall Jackson Kelley 119
were a learned and hospitable class of men. I received from them not only facilities for traveling, but much valuable infor- mation concerning that country and its aboriginal inhabitants. I held a correspondence with the Rev. Fr. Felipe Ayroyo de la Cuesta of St. Miguel ; and Don Matias Montaiier of Qgedo ; and with Gen. Jose Figueroa, the political governor."® Both by letter and in person he sought to obtain Figueroa's patron- age and co-operation. He informed him of his ultimate pur- pose of founding a colony in the northern part of California, and asked that he might explore that country and prepare a map for the guidance of those who would wish to settle there. But the governor, while professing to be favorable to the pro- posal, declared that he was without authority to grant a license to prepare a map or funds for the proposed undertaking, and offered to send Kelley's letter with his endorsement to the Mexican government.® There had been delays enough already, however, and Kelley determined to push on.
"With a party of nine men, I set off on the 8th of July for the land of my hopes. Young had fifty horses, each of his men had one or more, and myself had six, with a mule. My personal arms were a light gun, which was always in my hands, and always ready for action ; a brace of pistols, and a Spanish dirk. . . . Included in the mules' cargo were articles for Indian presents, such as cotton cloth scarlet velvet sashes, beads, etc., stationery, my journals and papers, a Nautical Almanac, thermometer, a compass, and an instrument . . . for making astronomical observations. . . .*® In a trunk made of a wild bull's hide were deeds, charts, historical accounts and other papers, showing myself to be in possession of a good title, which certain Americans, myself among them, had to the largest and fairest portions of Quadra's [Vancouver] Island, and also showing myself to be the attorney and advo- cate of the claimants.""
8 Memorial, 1848: 13.
9 PeHH(m, 1866: 4-5; Settlement of Oregon, 67-8.
10 Memorial, 1848:13-4.
1 1 Settlement of Oregon, 20.
