Memdocino TIERRAS DEL CO, BLANQUISCAS Y SIERRAS NEVADAS
Aun que este rio corra algunas leguas de N.S. como dicen no puede tener
su nacimto al N. porg. tendria breve termino pa, ser tan Caudaloso
-—de-la—Ba—grand
B. Grande cerca del Cabo
TT
Costa de barrancas asperas
TTT
Costa Seguida entre el rio grande de S. Sebastian
y la bahia grande del Co. Mendocino
> Costa de arboleda
= ampit__ g, Sebastian,
ost glee de 8
= an
—— Rw IZ
= Costa de arboleda
\ Costa de barrancas taxadas
Vizcaino’s Map. :
gale causes them to drift northward. On the 14th
they are close to Cape Mendocino, but on the 19th
the weather clears and they find themselves in latitude
42,° in sight of a white point near high snowy moun-
tains. They name the point Cabo Blanco de San
104 THE DISCOVERY OF CALIFORNIA.
Sebastian, and, with a favorable wind, turn south-
ward on St Sebastian’s day. They keep near the
shore, but. without discoveries that have left any
traces in the narrative, and without anchoring until
they come to Cedros Island on the 7th of February.
The suffering and loss of life from scurvy have been
terrible, but relief is found at Mazatlan.
Meanwhile Aguilar in the Tvs [eyes advances to
latitude 41° and is then driven by the gale to an
anchorage behind a great cliff near Cape Mendocino.
Continuing his voyage after the storm, he finds his
latitude on the 19th to be 48°, near a point named
Cape Blanco, beyond which the coast turns to the
north-west,” and also near a large river. On account
of sickness and because he has already reached the
limit of the viceroy’s instructions, Aguilar resolves to
return. Both he and Flores die on the voyage, only
five men surviving. I give a copy of the map repre-
senting discoveries above Monterey, not agrecing in
all respects with the narrative, and showing nothing
above Cape Mendocino. The sreat river, supposed by
Padre Ascension to be the entrance to Anian Strait,
must have been either imaginary or a small stream,
It is not possible to determine accurately the northern -
limit of this exploration; but the indications are that
it was not beyond the present Oregon line of 42° and
that Vizcaino’s Cape San Sebastian and Acuilar’s Cape
Blanco were identical with the modern Trinidad and
St George.”
72 Ascension says north-east and names the river Santa Inés.
3 See /Zist. Northwest Coast, i. 147-8. Cabrera Bueno’s description of the
northern coast is as follows: ‘In latitude 42° is a high cape, apparently cut
down perpendicularly to the sea, and from it runs a . lower coast some eight
leagues southward, where the land forms another high point, bare, with soma
white cliffs which rise from the water’s edge; this point is in 41° 30’ and is
called Cape Mendocino. From here the coast trends s. E. to lat. 39° 30’, the
land being of medium elevation and thickly wooded, with some small hills bare
along the shore. In the said latitude it forms a low point of white cliffs cut
down to the sea; and from here the coast trendss. E. one quarter s. to 33° 30’,
where the land forms a point of medium height, separated from the coast so
as to appear from a distance to be an island, which is called Punta de los.
Reyes. It forms asteep cliff (morro), and on its north side affords a good
shelter from all winds, in lat. 38° 30’, andis called San Francisco. Ina south
or south-east wind the anchorage is at the end of the beach where it forms an
RESULTS OF AGUILAR’S EXPLORATION. 105
Hxcept the discovery of Monterey Bay Vizcaino
had accomplished no more, and indeed in several
respects less, than had Cabrillo sixty years before; but
the results of his voyage were clearly recorded, while
the expedition of his predecessor had left practically no
trace in the world’s knowledge. From 1608 the trend
and general character of the Salanyis coast, together
with its chief harbors, always excepting the undiscov-
ered San Francisco, were well known to the Spaniards
by these records; but for more than a century and a
half there was no addition to this knowledge. No
ship is known to have entered the northern waters
from the south, while the Manila ships from the far
west neither touched at the new ports nor left any
record of what they saw as they passed. Vizcaino
made strong efforts to be intrusted with a new expe-
dition for the occupation of Monterey; and in 1606
there was a prospect of his success; but attention was
civerted to the far west; and though this navigator,
returning as a passenger from Japan, on the San Fran-
cisco, again sighted Cape Mendocino on December 26,
1613, no more attempts were made on the outer coat
Gamelli Carreri, however, describes his trip down the
coast on the galeon of 1696."
Herrera’s history containing an account of Ca-
brillo’s discoveries had been published in 1601-15, and
new Spanish editions appeared in 1728 and 1730.
Torquemada’s great work with a record of Vizcaino’s
angle on the N. w.; while on the N. E. are three white rocks very near the
sea, and opposite the middle one an estero makes in from the sea with a good
entrance and no breakers. Inside are found friendly Indians, and fresh water
may be casily obtained. S.s.w. from this port are six or seven small white fara-
llones some larger than others, occupying over a league in circuit... About 14
leagues s. E. $8. from Pt Reyes, the land makes a point, before reaching which
the land is of medium elevation, bare along the shore, with some steep cliffs,
though inland it is high and wooded, until a low point is reached in 37° 30’
called Pt Aiio Nuevo.’ Navegacion, 302-3. This author’s latitudes are from
30’ to a degree too high. He evidently saw a more minute account of Viz-
caino’s voyage than the one published, or what is not unlikely, had access to
Curmeiion’s report.
74 Venegas, Not. Cal., i. 191, 201; Clavigero, Storia della Cal., 159-60; Cali-
fornia, Estab. y Proy., 9, 10; "Doe. Hist. Mezx., ser. 1i. tom. 111. 443; Cardona,
ilem. 46; Vizcaino Rel., 1611-13, p. 199; see Hist, North Mex. St., Ge-
melli Carreri, Voyage, v. 286 et seq. The ‘only land sighted was the Sta ‘Cata
lina Islands, said to be in 36°, and near Baie de la Toque.
106 THE DISCOVERY OF CALIFORNIA.
voyage and Cermeifion’s mishaps appeared in 1613
and was republished in 1723. Drake’s adventures
were related in scores of popular voyage collections
besides the original printed accounts. In 1734. Ca-
brera Bueno’s sailing directions were printed across
the Pacific, but the work was not widely circulated.”
In 1742 Anson, the English navigator, found on a
captured galleon the Spanish chart of which I re-
produce that part showing the coast of California.
There is nothing to indicate that the maker had
access to any information not given by Vizcaino and
110
os Reyes
Pta.dé Ano Nuevo
Pta,de Sn.Diego
1 Ensenada de los Virgines
SpanisH CHart, 1742.
% Navegacion Lspeculativa, y Practica, con la Laplicacion de algunos instru-
mentos, qve estan mas en vso en los naveyantes, con las reglas necesarius para su
verdadero vso, etc.; Tabla de las declinaciones del sol, computadas al meridiano de
San Bernardino; el modo de navegar por la geometria; por las tablas de rumbos;
por la arithmética; por la trigonometria; por el quadrante de reduccion ; por
los senos logarithmos; y comunes; con los estampas, y figuras pertenecientes c lo
dicho, y otros tratados curiosos. Compvesta por el almirante D. Ioseph Gon-
zalez Cabrera Bueno, piloto mayor de la Carrera de Philipinas, y natural de la
isla de Tenerife una de los Canarias, qvien la dedica al M. Ill.tre Sen D. Fer-
nano de Valdés y Tamon...Governador y Capitan General de las Islas Phili-
pinas, etc. Manila, 1734, fol. 11 f. 392 pages. 2f. The bulk of the work is a
treatise on navigation; but Part V., 292-364, is devoted to derrotas, containing
sailing directions for the various Philippine and Pacific routes; and chap. v.,
302-22, relates to the coast from C. Mendocino to Panamdé. Portola and
Crespi in 1769 had a copy of this work, or at least were familiar with its con-
tents; but from that time to 1874, when it was described and quoted in the
Overland Monthly by my assistant, I have found no indication of its having
been consulted by any writer.
THE NORTHERN MYSTERY. 107
Cabrera Bueno.” In 1757 appeared Venegas’ work
on Baja California, from which, more than from any
other, a popular knowledge of the northern expedli-
tions was derived.”
The topic that I designate the Northern Mystery—
that is what was thought and written and pictured in
maps respecting the coast region above the Californian
gulf from 1530 to 1769, the voyages which I have
described in this chapter furnishing a slight founda-
tion of actual knowledge on which an imposing struct-
ure was reared by imagination, theory, and falsehood—
might very plausibly be regarded as a part of the his-
tory of California as a country stretching indefinitely
from the peninsula to the mythic strait of Anian.
Yet much more essential is this subject to the annals
of the regions above latitude 42°, and therefore,
especially as a general view of the theories involved
has already been presented,” to avoid undesirable
repetition I treat the subject very fully, with a repro-
duction of many quaint old maps, in another volume
relating to the northern countries,” confining my re-
marks here to a very brief: statement.
The. chief element of the Northern Mystery was
the belief in and search for an interoceanic strait sepa-
rating the Mexican regions from Asia. This strait
at first was between South America and the Asiatic
inain; but was pushed constantly northward by ex-
ploration, and was to be found always just beyond the
highest latitudewisited. Hach inlet was the entrance
to the strait until the contrary was proved; inlets
were discovered or written about that existed only in
imagination, and navigators even went so far as to
claim boldly that they had sailed through the strait.
76 Anson’s Voyage, ed. 1776, 384. Also in Venegas, Not. Cal., iii. 235-6.
The dotted line shows the route of the galleons.
™ Here may be mentioned a report given by the natives of San Luis
Obispo to Father Figuer and recorded in Anza, Diario, MS., 192-3, in 1776,
that 23 years before, in 1753, twelve white men dressed lke the Spaniards
landed from a boat and were subsequently cast away on the coast and perished.
78 See Fist. North Mezican States, i., this series.
7 See List. Northwest Coast, i, chap. i.-iv., this series.
108 | THE DISCOVERY OF CALIFORNIA.
At first the belief in rich islands on the way to India
had been strong, and with reports of the strait, rumors
of great kingdoms, cities, amazon isles, gold, and pre-
cious stones naturally multiplied. 3
Next by some strange blunder, apparently of the
historian Gomara, the wanderings of Coronado in
Arizona, New Mexico, and the far north-east, were
transferred to the Pacific coast, and for many years
Tiguex, Cicuic, Quivira, and the rest appeared dis-
tributed along the shore with names from Cabrillo
and Drake. For no other reason apparently than to
provide room for all these names, it was customary to
make the coast trend but little north of west between
25° and 40°, thence extending north to the strait.
One map, however, placed California far north of the
strait of Anian, and very near the north pole.
In the third great development of the imaginary
geography, California played a more definitely im-
portant part than in those mentioned. The New
Mexican names were removed from the coast, but
California from Cape San Liicas to latitude 44° be-
came agreat island. At first the gulf and peninsula
were mapped with remarkable accuracy. But Lok in
1582 turned the coast abruptly eastward above 44°.
Ascension in 1603 argued that Aguilar’s river in 43°
was the entrance of Anian, and probably connected
with the gulf. Ofiate at the Colorado mouth in 1604
convinced himself that the gulf extended north and
east to the Atlantic. Cardona in 1617, having as he
believed seen deep water extending far beyond 34",
openly declared the whole country an island. And
finally a party of adventurers about 1620 had no dif-
ficulty in circumnavigating California. For many
years the country was so mapped and described, Nova
Albion forming the north end of the island. From
1700 to 1746 the Jesuits labored to restore the belief
in a peninsula, and were successful. ‘The last phases
of the mystery were those of 1751 and 1774 that the
Colorado River sent off a branch to Monterey or San
ANCIENT MAPS. 109
Francisco, and then the search for northern wonders
was transferred to the far north, beyond the farthest
— limits of our California.
Of the many maps of the early times which [ re-
produce elsewhere, and of the many more similar ones
which I have studied, not one except those presented
in this chapter contains any real information about
the coast of Upper California. On them the reader
will find a coast line varying in its trend from north
to west, marked with capes, bays, rivers, and towns,
which, except so far as founded on the narratives and
maps which I have noted in this chapter, are purely
imaginary, the names being traceable to the same nar-
ratives and maps, except such as come from Coronado’s
inland explorations. These maps afford an interesting
study, but have no bearing on real discovery. It is
not unlikely, however, that useful original maps of
Cabrillo’s, Cermeiion’s, or Vizcaino’s explorations may
yet come to light, or that in the mean time men will
continue to build grave theories of local discovery on
the vagaries of the old cosmographers.
CHAPTER IV.
MOTIVES AND PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
1767-1770.
STATE OF THE SPANISH COLONIES—ACCIDENTAL AWAKENING FROM APATHY—
REVIVAL OF OLD MoTIvVEsS—FEAR OF THE RUSSIANS—VISITADOR JOSE DE
GALVEZ ON THE PENINSULA—CHARACTER AND AUTHORITY OF THE MAN—
CoNnDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOWER CALIFORNIA—INSTRUCTIONS AND PLANS
oF GALVEZ FOR THE OCCUPATION OF SAN DrEGO AND MontTEREY—A Tour-
FOLD EXPEDITION BY SEA AND LAND—VESSELS, TROOPS, AND SUPPLTES—
Porto.dA, RIVERA, AND SERRA—PLANS FOR THE Conquista EsPIRITUAL
—GALVEZ CONSULTS THE PADRE PRESIDENTE—SACRED ForcED Loans—
ACTIVE PREPARATIONS—SAILING OF THE FLEET FROM LA Paz AND CAPE
San Ltcas—MaRcH OF THE ARMY FROM THE NORTHERN FRONTIER—
Loss oF THE ‘San Josk’—TIDINGS oF SUCCESS.
In all the historical phases briefly alluded to in the
introductory chapters of this volume, and fully pre-
sented in early volumes of this work, I have shown an
epoch of decadence, of varying length in different
provinces, but nowhere much less than half a century
induration. ‘The adventurous spirit of the conquerors
had for the most part faded away. Poorly equipped
soldiers performed their routine of garrison duty, and
of entradas against frontier savages, in a listless me-
chanical way that but feebly reflected old-time glories.
Presidios were a kind of public works for the support
of officials, and the drawing of money from the royal
coffers. Missionary zeal had not perhaps materially
abated; but one of the great religious orders had been
driven from the country. The friars were impeded
in their efforts by discouraging difficulties; and the
mission establishments, reduced in number by secular-
ization in the south, by destruction and consolidation
(110 )
AWAKENING FROM LETHARGY. 11]
in the north, decimated in population by pestilence,
desertion, and diminished fecundity, ever coveted and
disturbed by vicious pobladores, or settlers, had passed
the era of their greatest prosperity. The most famous
mineral districts had yielded their richest superficial
treasures and were now, by reason of savage raids,
inefficient working, and the quicksilver monopoly,
comparatively abandoned. Commercial, agricultural,
and manufacturing industries were now as ever at a
low ebb. The native population had lost more than
nine tenths of its original numbers, the survivors liy-
ing quietly in the missions as neophytes, toiling in the
mines or on the haciendas practically as slaves, or
ranging the mountains as apostates more dreaded
than the savages of the frontier. The fables of the
Northern Mystery had lost something of their charm,
and were no longer potent to inspire at court the fit-
ting-out of armies or fleets. For more than a century
and a half no exploring vessel had sailed up the north-
ern coasts. Province after province had settled into
that stagnation which sooner or later became the lot
of every Spanish colony. ,
We come now to the partial awakening from this
lethargy which caused, or permitted, the occupation
of Alta California by Spain in 1769. This occupa-
tion was in a certain sense accidental; that is, all the
motives leading to it had long existed and had with
one exception no new force at this time. For over
one hundred and sixty years, or since the voyage of
Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602,as much had been known
of the country as was now known. This knowledge em-
braced the general trend and appearance of the coast,
the comparative fertility of the country and intelli-
gent docility of its people, the existence, location, and
general description of ports San Diego, Monterey, and
that under Point Reyes called San Francisco, with a
tolerably accurate account of the Santa Barbara chan-
nel and islands. Thus it was no new information about
the country that prompted the Californian conquest.
112 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
During all those years the Spanish Court had fully
realized the importance of extending its dominion
over the north and especially over the coast region;
but various troubles at home and abroad had encour-
aged procrastination. Year after year the Manila
galleon, coming from the west by the northern route
sadly in need of a refitting and relief station, had
borne her strained timbers and oriental treasure and
scurvy-stricken crew down past the California ports;
yet no practical effort was made to possess and utilize
those ports, though it was always intended to do so
at some future convenient season, and scores of un-
heeded communications on the subject passed between
Mexico and Spain. Tales of the Northern Mystery,
of great empires and rich cities, of golden mountains,
pearl islands, and giant queens, so effective in the
earlier days, had lost, as we have seen, much of their
power at court, if not elsewhere; yet little doubt was
ever felt that the strait of Anian afforded a northern
passage by which a fleet of English cruisers might
any day appear from the north-east to seize upon
Anian and Quivira, and to ravage more southern
coasts. The fear was real enough to the Spaniards,
but it was by no means sufficient to rouse them from
their apathy, which also successfully withstood the
better-founded fear of Russian encroachments from
the north-west across rather than through the famous
strait; a fear that furnished the only motive for north-
ern conquest which had any new or unusual weight at
this time. Finally among operative incentives must
be mentioned the missionary ambition to convert
northern gentiles. Many times was the king re-
minded of the rich spiritual harvest to be gathered
in California, by friars who never allowed him to for-
get the secular advantages to be gained by complying
with their wishes; but of late the petitions of Jesuits
and Franciscans, even for aid and protection in the
old frontier districts, had received but little attention.
Indeed, it does not appear that the Franciscans were
* “~~
GALVEZ IN THE PENINSULA. 113
especially urgent at this juncture in their claims to
be sent up the coast.
The expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767 fixed the
attention of the Spanish and Mexican authorities on
the north-west, where were situated the principal
missions of the expelled order. California, by reason
of the old mysterious charm hanging about the name
and country, the strangely exalted value and impor-
tance which the Jesuits had always attached to the
barren peninsula, and the current tales of immense
treasure hidden there by the society, attracted a very
large share of this attention. Moreover the explora-
tions of the Russians on the Alaska coasts from 1741
to 1765 were tolerably well known to the Spanish
authorities; the danger of Russian encroachment
seemed more threatening than in past years; and
finally the fitting-out of a military expedition for the
relief of Sonora suggested the expediency of taking
steps at this time for the protection of the peninsula.
Accordingly José de Galvez decided to visit in person
the western coast, and not only to superintend prep-
arations for the Sonora campaign, but to cross the
culf, investigate the state of affairs in Baja California,
and to adopt such measures as might be found neces-
sary for its safety.
Galvez set out from Mexico for San Blas April 9,
1768. Shortly after his departure Viceroy Croix re-
ceived from King Carlos III. orders to the effect that
in connection with other precautions against the Rus-
sians on the north-west coast, San Diego and Mon-
terey should be occupied and fortified. It had occurred
to the monarch, or his advisers, that this would be an
opportune time to carry into effect an old scheme,
give to the galleons their long-desired harbor, and
secure an important coast line from foreign aggression.
How the order was worded, whether peremptory in its
terms or in the form of a recommendation, does not
appear. But that under ordinary circumstances it
would have been obeyed with any degree of prompti-
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 8
114 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
tude may well be doubted. The governor instructed
to investigate and report; zealous friars called upon
for their views; the Franciscan authorities consulted
as to the supply of missionaries; treasury officials
questioned about ways and means; preliminary explor-
ations, conflicting reports, petty quarrels—all these
with the interminable complication of red-tape com-
munications therewith connected, resulting in vexa-
tious delay, if not in absolute failure, may be readily
pictured by the reader of preceding volumes, familiar
with the ways of the period.
Fortunately none of these obstacles was in this case
interposed. The royal order was clear that San Diego
and Monterey should be occupied; the movement was
not a complicated or apparently difficult one; it was
promptly and effectually executed. The cause of this
unusual promptness was in the man who undertook to
carry out the order. The whole matter was by the
viceroy turned over to José de Galvez, who was, as we
have seen, on his way to the Jalisco coast to embark
for the peninsula. Galvez had come to Mexico in 1765
as visitador general of New Spain. He was a member
of the Council of the Indies, and subsequently minis-
ter of state, holding the latter position at the time
of hisdeath in 1789. He was invested by Carlos III.
with well nigh absolute powers to investigate and
reform the administration of the government in its
different branches, particularly in matters pertaining
to the royal finances. Independent of the viceroy in
many respects by virtue of his position, only nominally
subordinate in others, assuming probably some prerog-
atives that did not belong to him, he was to all intents
the highest authority in New Spain. The viceroy
Cruillas was removed from office largely because of
his opposition to the visitador, and was replaced by
the more complaisant Marqués de Croix. If there
were any viceregal attributes not originally possessed
by Galvez, or arbitrarily assumed by him, they were
especially delegated to him by Croix when he started
DON JOSZ DE GALVEZ. 115
for the west. Thus powerful and independent, Galvez
was also remarkable for his practical good sense, busi-
ness ability, untiring energy, and disregard of all
routine formalities that stood in his way. He is
entitled to the first place among the pioneers of Cal-
ifornia though he never set foot in the country.’
Galvez sailed from San Blas in May, but was driven
to the Tres Marfas and back to Mazatlan, not reach-
ing the peninsula till the first week in July. At this
time Captain Gaspar de Portold, an easy-going, pop-
ular man, but brave and honest withal, was ruling the
country as civil and military governor, while Captain
Fernando Javier Rivera y Moncada commanded the
garrison of about forty soldiers at Loreto, Portola
was a new-comer of the preceding year; Rivera had
been long in the country.” The missions were in the
1Galvez was ‘alcalde de casa y corte, ministro del consejo de Indias, mar-
qués de Sonora, ministro de estado y del despacho universal de Indias.’ Rivera,
Gobernantes de Mex., 402-16. This is the only authority I have seen for the
exact date of the departure from Mexico. In an edict dated Nov. 2, 1768,
in Lower California, Galvez signs himself ‘del consejo y cAmara de Su Mages-
tad en el real y supremo de las Indias, yntendente de exército, visitador gen-
eral de todos los tribunales de justicia, caxas, y demas ramos de real hacienda
de estos reynos, y comisionado con las amplisimas facultades del Ex. Sr. Mar-
qués de Croix.’ Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 6. In his report to the viceroy dated
June 10, 1769, he gives as the chief object of the northern expedition the
establishment of a presidio to protect the peninsula from the danger always
threatened .by foreign nations ‘y con especialidad las (tentativas) que ultima-
mente han hecho los rusos pretendiendo familiarizarse con la navegacion del
mar de Tartaria.’ Palou, Not., i. 183. See also for notices concerning Galvez’
coming to lower California. Jd., i. 248-50. Fear of the Russians as the leading
motive for the northern establishment is mentioned in Armona, Carta, 1770,
in Doc. Hist. Mex., 4th ser., tom. ii. 156-7; Revilla-Gigedo, Informe de 1793,
according to Cavo, T'res Siglos, iii. 117; by Navarrete, introd. to Sutil y Mex.
Viage, xci.-ii.; and by other writers. Greenhow, Or. and Cal., 105, tells us
that Galvez wasa man of the most violent and tyrannical disposition. If this
be true it is to be regretted that violence and tyranny were not more common
qualities in Spanish officials. Hughes, California, 119, learns from Harper’s
Biog. Cyclopedia, that Galvez visited California in search of gold-mines dis-
covered by the Jesuits; that his companion, Miguel José de Arenza, became
discouraged after a few weeks, recommending the abandonment of the search
and accusing Galvez of insanity for continuing it, for which he was cast
into prison! Galvez was ill in Sonora after leaving California, and is said
to have imprisoned his secretary Azanza, afterward viceroy, for saying
that his malady was mental. Such was the origin doubtless of the story.
Venegas, Not. Cal., ii. 290, 543-4, iii. 4-14, has something to say on the
proposals to settle Alta California and how the matter stood in the middle
of the century.
* Biographical sketches of these officers will be given later. As authority
for the form of Portola’s name I cite his signature in an original letter of 1779
116 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
hands of sixteen Franciscan friars from the college of
San Fernando in Mexico, who had been in possession
only about three months, and were under the direc-
tion of Father Junipero Serra as president.’ There is
nothing to show that either governor, or commandant,
or president had come to the peninsula with any ex-
pectation that their authority was to be soon extended
to the northern coast. Yet all doubtless shared the
prevalent impression, amounting to a hope in the
minds of the padres, that sooner or later Monterey
and San Diego were to be occupied and missionary
work begun. Galvez set himself to work most zeal-
ously to investigate the condition and supply the needs
of the peninsula establishments. His policy and acts
in this direction are fully set forth in connection with
the annals of Lower California.* }
But the visitador kept always in mind his project
of northern conquest. Rapidly his busy brain ma-
tured a plan of action, which had probably been con-
ceived before he left San Blas, and which a few months
after his arrival he was ready to carry into execution.
Means and methods were fortunately under his exclu-
sive control, and he had resolved on an expedition in
four divisions, two by sea and two by land, to start
separately, but all to meet at San Diego, and thence
press on to Monterey. Thus a practical knowledge of
both routes would be gained, transportation econo-
mized, and risks of failure lessened. Available for the
sea-going divisions weretwosmall vessels, thepaquebotes,
or snows, San Carlos and San Antonio, under the com-
mand of captains Vicente Vila and Juan Perez, expe-
rienced pilotos of the royal navy. They had been built
among the MSS. of Molera; Portold, Diario del Viage, 1769, MS., a contem-
porary copy; Ortega in Santa Clara, Arch. Parr., MS., 48; Palou, Vida; and
Monterey, Estracto de Noticias; though Serra wrote it Portala in San Dieyo,
Lib. Mision, MS., 63; and in Palou, Noticias, it is printed Portola.
3 Father Serra was a native of Mallorca, 55 years of age, who had come
to America in 1749, had served as a missionary in the Sierra Gorda district
for nine years, and about the same time in the college, or travelling as comi-
sario of the inquisition. Palow, Vida, 1-13, 43-6. See preceding note.
4See list. North Alexican States, vol. i., this series.
VISITADOR AND PRESIDENT. 117
for the transportation of troops to Sonora, and the co-
mandante at San Blas had orders to fit them out and
send them over to La Paz with the least possible delay.
The land expeditions under Portold and Rivera were to
march from Santa Maria on the northern frontier. An
additional military force would be required, to supply
which Colonel Elizondo was instructed to send over
twenty-five Catalan volunteers’ under Lieutenant
Pedro Fages. The peninsular missions must assist at
the birth of the new ones, by furnishing church orna-
ments, live-stock, and other supphes to the full extent
of their ability.
From his head-quarters at Santa Ana Galvez super-
intended the collection at La Paz and Cape San Liicas
of everything that was to be forwarded by sea. He
sent north supplies for the land expedition, and ap-
pointed Captain Rivera, a man practically acquainted
with the country, as comisario with instructions to
proceed northward from mission to mission, and take
from each all the live-stock, provisions, and imple-
ments that could be spared. Likewise he was to re-
cruit some people for the new settlements, and bring
everything to Santa Maria with all possible despatch.
Rivera set out upon this work in August or Septem-
ber 1768.°
The proposed occupation of the northern country,
however, was to be spiritual as well as military. The
natives were to be converted after their subjection,
and not only presidios but missions were to be
founded. Preparations having been effectually set on
foot en lo secular, it was now time for the spiritual
aspect of the scheme to receive attention. Accord-
ingly the padre president was invited to come down
to Santa Ana for a personal interview with the visita-
dor, as he did, arriving at the end of October. Serra
doubtless had before this time made himself pretty
well acquainted with what Galvez was doing and pro-
5The Catalonia company, Ist battalion, 2d Pepe light infantry, had
left Cadiz May 27, 1767. Prov. Stat. Pap., M
6 Palou, Wot. i. 252, says August; but in Vida, 65, September,
118 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
posed to do; but he listened patiently to the visita-
dor’s explanations, and then not only expressed his
approval of the scheme, but announced his intention
to join the land expedition in person. It was thought
best to found, besides the missions at San Diego and
Monterey, another at some intermediate point,’ and
still another on the frontier of Lower California in
order to facilitate communication between the old
establishments and the new. Three priests were to go
north by sea and three by land; and in order that so
many might be spared three were drawn from the
college of San Fernando. Serra agreed with Galvez
that church furniture, ornaments, and vestments,
must be supplied by the old missions. Surplus grain
and other articles of food were to be taken as gifts,
while live-stock and implements must be regarded as
loans, and as such repaid in kind. This burden, al-
though in accord with the past policy of both Jesuits
and Franciscans that old missions must support the
new, might have met with opposition had there been
any to oppose.
The king’s and viceroy’s representative, the civil
and military governor, and the president of the
missions were in accord on the subject. The natives
were not consulted, and the priests were new-comers,
not very deeply interested in the country or in their
respective missions.2 Galvez and Serra had only
themselves to convince that the measure was right,
and the task was not a hard one. The Francis-
cans were bound by their vows, said the visitador,
the president echoing approval, to spread the faith,
not to accumulate wealth or build up grand establish-
ments—a doctrine that subsequently lost something
of its force in the land whither they were going. Serra
took a list of the church property that Galvez had
already collected, and promised to continue this sacred
" According to Palou, Vida, 57, this intermediate mission was to be called
San Buenaventura.
§Palou, Not., 1. 43-56, claims also that Galvez, the viceroy, and the king
fully repaid the missions later for all that was taken,
A PATRON SAINT. 119
though enforced loan in the north, as he did some
months later.®
During the month of November, Father Junifpero
made a tour of the southern missions, completing
arrangements for secularization which should release
two more priests for duty in the north. A slaughter
of wild cattle in the south furnished meat for the first
sea expedition. Stores of all kinds were collected
at La Paz. Galvez issued a proclamation naming St
Joseph the patron saint of the adventure,” and shortly .
after Lieutenant Fages arrived from Guaymas with
twenty-five Catalan volunteers of the compaita franca,
who were to go by sea as a first detachment of the
invading army to overcome gentile battalions that
might oppose the landing and progress of the Spaniards.
® Palou gives long lists of all the church property taken from each mission,
which I have thought it worth while to combine into the following, which is
as nearly accurate as the author’s occasional use of the terms ‘several’ and ‘a
few’ will permit: 7 church bells, 11 small altar bells, 23 altar cloths, 5 choir
copes, 3 surplices, 4 carpets, 2 coverlets, 3 roquetes, 3 veils, 19 full sets sacred
vestments, different colors, 6 old single vestments, 17 albas, albs, or white
tunics, 10 palios, palliums, or short cloaks, 10 amitos, amices, or pieces of linen,
10 chasubles, 12 girdles, 6 hopas, or cassocks, 18 altar-linens, or corporales, 21
purificadores, purificatories, or chalice cloths, 1 pall cloth, 11 pictures of the
virgin, 12 silver or gilded cualices, 1 cibary, or silver goblet, 7 crismeras, or
silver phials for chrism, or sacred oil, 1 custodia, or silver casket for holy
wafers, 5 conchas, or silver conchs for baptism, 6 incensarios, or silver censers
with incense dish and spoon, 12 pairs of vinageras, silver and giass cruets for
wine and water, 1 silver cross with pedestal, 1 box containing Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph, 1 copper platter for baptismal font, 2 copper baptismal fonts, 29
brass, copper, and silver candlesticks, 1 copper dipper for holy water, 1 silver
jar, | tin wafer box, 3 statues, 2 silver suns or dazzlers, 4 irons for making
wafers, coins and rings for arras at marriages, 5 aras, or consecrated stones,
4 missals and a missal-stand, 1 Betancurt’s Manual; also quantities of hand-
kerchiefs, curtains, and tinsels; with laces, silks, and other stuffs to be made
into altar upholstery, taken from the royal almacen at Loreto. This church
property was for the most part sent by water to the new establishments.
Many of the old vestments and church ornaments, some dating back perhaps
to this first invoice, are yet preserved in the missions. See Visit to Southern
California, MS.
10Tn his proclamation, dated Nov. 21st, and preserved in Arch. Santa Bar-
bara, MS., i. 15, 16, Galvez refers to the driving away of the locusts in 1767, at
San José del Cabo by aid of St Joseph’s image, as a reason why the Monterey
expedition is to be under him as patron. He charges the priests to say mass
on the 19th of every month, and the rogative litany while the expeditions con-
tinue, imploring through the intercession of the saint divine protection, and
this in addition to the regularsalve to Maria, patron of all the Californian con-
versions, and also in addition to the regular fiesta of San José. On the same
day he calls the attention of Padre Lasuen to this matter. Letter in /., xi.
369-70, with another letter of Nov. 23d, relating to supplies from the Loreto
warchouse.
120 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
Early in December the San Cérlos arrived at La Paz
fron. San Blas. She had been hastily and, like all
Pacific coast craft of the time, imperfectly constructed,
had encountered stormy weather, and was in a leaky
condition. She was already partially laden with effects
for the north from the San Blas warehouses; but had
to be unloaded, careened, and loaded again, all of which
labor Galvez personally superintended, often lending
a hand in the stowing of an unwieldy package, greatly
to the encouragement of his men and to the admira-
tion of the chroniclers." The 9th of January 1769
the San Carlos was ready. All who were going in
her confessed, heard mass, partook of the communion,
and then listened to a parting address from Galvez.
The visitador reminded his hearers that theirs was a
glorious mission, that they were going to plant the
cross among the heathen, and charged them in the
name of God, the king, and the viceroy to respect
their priests and maintain peace and union among
themselves. Finally Junipero Serra pronounced a
formal blessing on the pilgrims, their vessel, the flag,
the crew, and on Father Parron, to whom was in-
trusted the spiritual care of the conpany. The cere-
mony over, the San Carlos put to sea. Galvez in the
Concepcion accompanied her down the gulf from La Paz
to Cape San Liicas, watching her until she doubled the
point and struck bravely northward before a fair wind.”
While the president returned to Loreto Galvez
gave his attention to the San Antonio, which was to
follow the San Carlos. Touching at La Paz the 15th
of January, she arrived at Cape San Liicas the 25th.*
11 Palou, Vida, 60, notes that Galvez was particularly zealous in packing
for San Buenaventura which he called his mission, and was delighted at having
done his work quicker than Padre Junipero who packed for his mission of
San Carlos.
12 Crespi, in Palo, Not., ii. 149, says the San Carlos sailed January 10th.
Leaving La Paz on the 9th, she may have been last seen by Galvez on the 10th,
though Palou, Noé., i. 216, says it was the 11th. For further details respecting
the oilicers, men, cargo, instructions, and plans, see description of the voyage
in the next chapter.
'3 Galvez’ letter in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 44. Palou, Vida, 61, tells us
that the San Antonio had gone to San Lucas because prevented by the wind
from reaching La Paz.
.
PEREZ SAILS ON THE SAN ANTONIO. | 121
Her condition being no better than that of the
capitana, or flag-ship, she was unloaded and careened,
and so was not ready for sea till the 15th of Feb-
ruary. Then, after an exhortation by Galvez and the
usual religious ceremonies, Perez shook out his sails
and with a fair wind struck northward from San
José del Cabo. “God seems to reward my only
virtue, my faith,” writes Galvez to Fages, ‘for all
goes well.”™
Meanwhile active preparations for the land expe-
dition were being made in the north. Rivera had
left Santa Ana in September, as we have seen. On
his way northward he had visited each mission and
had taken such live-stock and other needed supplies
-as he and the different friars thought could be spared.
The 200 cattle, 140 horses, 46 mules, and two asses,
with various implements and articles of food thus
acquired,” were collected at first at the frontier mis-
sion of Santa Maria, but the pasturage there being
insufficient for his animals, Rivera soon transferred his
camp to Velicatd eight or ten leagues farther north.”
From this point he sent word to Galvez at Santa Ana
and to Serra at Loreto that he would be ready to
start for San Diego in March. The president had
returned to Loreto at the end of January, and had
since been busily engaged in his preparations, forward-
ing such articles as he could get to La Paz or to Santa
Maria according as they were to go by water or by
land. On receipt of Rivera’s message he at once noti-
fied Fray Juan Cresp{f, who was to accompany the first
land expedition, to join the force at Velicaté without
delay. Crespf, an intimate personal friend as well as
14 Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 46.
1 The articles, not including the Loreto contribution, were 54 aparejos, or
pack-saddles, 28 leather bags, 1 case of bottles, 13 sides of leather, 28 arrobas
of figs, 1 bale and 4 arrobas of sugar, 340 arrobas ¢asajo, or dried meat, 28
arrobas flour, 35 almudes pinole, 21 fanegas wheat, 23 arrobas raisins, 4
cargas biscuits, 10 arrobas lard, 2 jugs and 12 bottles wine. Eatables were
eer Prine Not., i. 43-5. Galvez sent some implements and seeds. Jd.
16 He reached Velicatd before Dec. 20th on which date he wrote to Galvez.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 45.
122 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
obedient subordinate of Serra,” accordingly left his
mission of Purisima the 26th of February and reached
Rivera’s camp on the 22d of March, having been
joined at Santa Maria by Padre Lasuen who had
journeyed from San Francisco de Borja in order to
bestow the customary blessing on the departing pil-
orims. Everything was in readiness, and two days
after the coming of the friars Rivera’s little army
began its march into the land of gentiles.
Portoldé with the second division of the land expe-
dition was already on his way to the northern frontier,
having left Loreto on the ninth of March;”* but he
was obliged to await at Santa Maria the transporta-
tion from San Luis Bay of supplies which had been
sent up by water.” Serra was unable to accompany
the governor because his work of collecting church
utensils and ornaments was not yet completed, and
he was besides suffering from a sore foot, obtained
long before on a walk from Vera Cruz to Mexico,
which made it doubtful to every one but himself
whether he would be able to go with the expedition
at all. However, he promised to follow as soon as
possible, and meanwhile sent Campa from San Jenacio
in his place. At the end of March, though still very
Jame, he was ready to start, and after spending several
days at San Javier with Francisco Palou,” whom he
appointed president of the old missions during his
absence, he journeyed slowly and painfully northward,
stopping at each mission except Mulegé, and finally
17 Crespi was like Serra a native of Mallorca, had come to America in the
same vessel, and had served 16 years in the Sierra Gorda missions. He
was at this time 48 years of age. Many old Californians say they were
accustomed to hear his name pronounced by their fathers Crespi, and it is so
written in Portold, Diario and other MSS.
* Sergeant José F. Ortega, who was with Portola on this march, says that
he left Loreto March 14. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 171. According to a frag-
ment in Ortega’s handwriting in Sta. Clara, Arch. Parroquia, MS., 48, the
date was March 14th or 16th. Palou makes it the 9th.
19 They had been sent by the canoas San Ignacio and San Borja, which
returned to San Lucas before Feb. 14th. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,i. 45.
*° Palou was now 47 years of age. He had been a pupil of Serra in Spain,
was perhaps also a native of Mallorca, had come with him to America, and
had served with him in the Sierra Gorda.
—_
a a
ALL EN ROUTE. 123
joining the governor’s party at Santa Marfa the 5th
of May. The whole company left Santa Marfa on the
11th, and arrived at Velicaté the 14th.” The same
day a mission was founded there under the name of
San Fernando, Campa being left in charge; then on
the 15th of May Portoldé with the second land expe-
dition set out and followed the track of Rivera.
Thus within a period of four months Galvez had
despatched the four divisions, and only an extraordi-
nary series of misfortunes could prevent the successful
occupation of San Diego and Monterey. He had not,
however, quite reached the limit of his efforts in that
direction, since he had caused to be built at San Blas
a new vessel, especially intended for northern coast
service, and named for the patron saint of the expedi-
tion the San José. She arrived at Cape San Liicas on
the 13th of February, two days before the departure
of the San Antonio,” but it was found necessary to
overhaul her for repairs at the cape harbor, whence
she was convoyed by Galvez in a sloop to Loreto in
_ April. In Mayshe bore the visitador across the gulf
to the Rio Mayo, and brought back part of a cargo of
supplies to Loreto, where she completed her lading
and sailed for San Diego on the 16th of June.* She
was to have touched at San José del Cabo to take on
board Father Murguia and some church ornaments;
but nothing was seen of her there or elsewhere, until
three months later she appeared at Loreto with a
broken mast and otherwise disabled. Word was sent
to Galvez in Sonora, and he ordered her to San Blas
for repairs. The cargo was taken out and sent in
boats to Cape San Liicas, except a quantity of corn
left on board. A trunk of vestments was sent to
Velicatdé by land, and the vessel sailed for San Blas
21 Portold, Diario, MS., 1, 2. The leader and friars went in advance and
reached Velicata on the 13th.
22 Galvez, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 45.
23 Palou, Vida, 63, says the vessel was never heard of again, and it is only
in his other work, Noticias, i. 54, 276-9, in which, however, he says nothing
of her trip to Sonora, that he describes her subsequent movements.
124 PREPARATIONS FOR SPANISH OCCUPATION.
in October. The unfortunate paquebot came back
next year, and sailed from San José del Cabo in May
with a cargo of supplies and a double crew to reén-
force the other vessels, but without Mureguia, who
was detained by illness. Nothing was ever heard
subsequently of either vessel or crew. The captain’s
name was Callegan.
The proceedings of Galvez and other events in the
peninsula after the departure of the northern expedi-
tions have been fully narrated elsewhere; and there
is but little in connection with those annals for several
years that has any bearing on the new establishments
of San Diego and Monterey. As early as July 1769,
the San Antonio returned to San Blas, and on the 7th
of September a schooner brought up to Loreto news
that all the expeditions had reached San Diego.” The
25th of February 1770 Rivera returned to Velicata
for cattle and other supphes left there, with San Diego
news to the 11th of February, and with reports for
Galvez and the viceroy on the failure of the first
attempt to find Monterey. A month later two natives
arrived from San Diego with April letters to Palou
and the viceroy which reached Loreto late in May.”
The 2d of August messengers arrived from Monterey
at Todos Santos, bringing to Governor Armona and
Father Palou news of the founding of San Carlos
mission. The event was celebrated by a mass of
thanksgiving and by a discharge of fire-arms at Santa
Ana. From Portolé who returned by sea the good
news was received in Mexico about the same time.”
I have already noticed the despatching of the ill-fated
San José in May 1770. Palou, the acting president,
*4See /Zist. North Mexican States, vol. i., this series.
* Aug. 20, 1769, Juan B. Anza writes from Tubac, Sonora, to Gov. Pineda
that an Indian from the Gila has reported that a nation beyond the Cocomari-
copas met four Spaniards with guns, whom the writer thinks may be part of
the Monterey expedition. Doc. Hist. Mex., ser. iv. tom. ii. 117-18.
26Gov. Armona of Baja California writes from Santa Ana J uly 19, 1770,
that he arrived June 13th, and found good news of the northern expeditions,
including the discovery of the ‘prodigiosisimo puerto’ called San Francisco
and’ which may be Monterey. Doc. Hist. Mex., ser. iv. tom. ii. 156-7.
*7 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., [xxxvii. 10.
i
oP on ae
ee de ee ee ee ee
PALOU IN THE PENINSULA. 125
kept himself in constant communication with Serra,
and in the midst of all his cares and vexations respect-
ing peninsular affairs, never lost sight of the new
northern establishments.”
28 On preparations in the peninsula for the northern expeditions the standard
authority is Palou, Noticias, i. 29-56, 247-79, and /d., Vida de Juntpero Serra,
57-75, besides the original sources of information to which I have referred on
special points in past notes. So large and complete is my collection of original,
and especially manuscript, authorities on California history that I shall not
attempt any systematically complete reference to all the printed works which
touch upon each point or each brief epoch, but which give information at
second hand only. I shall refer to such works to point out errors worth notic-
ing, or for other special purposes; and I shall also for bibliographical purposes
give occasional lists of these secondary authorities bearing on definite historic
periods. For such a list on the occupation and early mission history of Cal-
ifornia see end of this volume.
CHAPTER V.
OCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO—EXPEDITIONS BY SEA AND LAND.
1769.
VoyYAGE OF PEREZ IN THE ‘San ANTONIO’—ARRIVAL IN SAN DrEGo Bay—
A MrracLte—DIscovERY oF SANTA Cruz ISLAND—WAITING FOR THE
CAPITANA—VOYAGE OF VILA IN THE ‘SAN CARLOS’— FAGES AND HIS
CATALAN VOLUNTEERS—INSTRUCTIONS BY GALVEZ—A SCURVY-STRICKEN
Crew —A PEsST-HOUSE AT SAN DrEGO-- ARRIVAL OF RIVERA y¥ Mon-
. CADA—CREspPi’s D1iary—Camp AND HospitaL Movep To Nortu San
Dieco—Comina oF PorTOLA AND JUNIPERO SERRA—REUNION OF THE
Four EXxPEDITIONS—THANKSGIVING TO SAINT JOSEPH—THE ‘San AN-
ToNIO’ Sent To SAN BLas—PortTOLA SETS OUT FOR MONTEREY—FounpD-
ING oF SAN Dreco Mission—A BATTLE WITH THE NAtTIVES—A MISSION
WITHOUT CONVERTS.
Turn now to the northern coasts, to the bay of San
Diego, whose waters had lain for more than a century —
and a half undisturbed by European keel, whose
shores had known no tread of iron heel since Sebas-
tian Vizcaino was there. The nativé inhabitants yet
preserved a traditional remembrance of white and
bearded visitors, kept alive perhaps by an occasional
rumor wafted overland from the south-east, and by
distant glimpses of the white-winged galleon which
year after year bore its oriental treasure down past
this port, which, so far as can be known, was never
entered. And now the aboriginal solitude is destined
to be forever broken.
The 11th of April 1769' a Spanish vessel appears
and anchors in the bay. It is the San Antonio some-
times called Ll Principe, and is commanded by Juan
1Crespi, in Palow, Not., ii. 149, gives the date as April 14th. Humboldt,
Essai. Pol., 318, says it was in April 1763.
(126)
ef i i ae
te ee Nett
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST EXPEDITION. 127
Perez, an experienced Mallorcan who has seen service
in the Pacific as piloto, or master, of the Manila gal-
leon. She had been despatched from Cape San Liicas
in February, after religious services and a parting
address from the visitador general José de Galvez, the
highest official who had visited the north-western
coast since the days of Hernan Cortés. On board are
the friars Juan Vizcaino and Francisco Gomez, a few
carpenters and blacksmiths, then there is the crew,
whose number is not known, and a miscellaneous
cargo of supplies for two settlements which it is
designed to found on the upper coast. Under the
protecting care of Saint Anthony of Padua, patron,
indeed, of the day of sailing as well as of the vessel
herself, the voyage of twenty-four days has been a
prosperous one, the only misfortune recorded being
the illness of a few seamen who suffered from scurvy,
a scourge rarely escaped by voyagers of the period.
The first land made was an island in the Santa Bar-
bara Channel, which was named Santa Cruz from the
honesty of the natives in restoring an iron cross left
on shore. Here they received the best of treatment
and obtained plenty of fish and water in exchange for
beads; but their observations showed that they were
above the supposed latitude of San Diego,’ and Perez
accordingly returned southward along the coast until
he passed Point Guijarros and entered the desired
port, as we have seen, on the 11th of April. Here
also the natives are kind to the strangers,’ but Perez
finds no sign of Vila, his superior in command of the
2 According to observations the vessel was in 34° 40’, but really in about
34°; while San Diego, supposed to be in 34°, Cabrera Bueno, Navegacion, 305,
was nearly a degree and a half further south.
3 The natives at first took the vessel for a great whale, but soon discovered
their error, and regarded it as the forerunner of wonderful things, especially
as an eclipse of the sun and an earthquake occurred simultaneously with the
arrival of the vessel. This story was told by them later, and is recorded by
Serra, Representacion sobre Misiones, 21 de Mayo 1773, MS., who says the
Spaniards noticed neither eclipse nor temblor, and regards it as a miracle by
which, though the padres could not yet begin their teachings, ‘ comenzaron
4 predicar prodigiosamente 4 aquellos miseros gentiles las criaturas insensibles
del Cielo y de la tierra.’ These phenomena are also noticed, from the same
source, in the §. /. Bulletin, Oct. 12, 1865.
128 OCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO.
flag-ship, which had sailed from the peninsula more
than a month before the San Antonio, and which he
had hoped to find at San Diego. Neither are there
any tidings to be obtained of the overland party to
the same port. Under these circumstances the cap-
tain’s orders call for a stay of twenty days before pro-
ceeding to Monterey. As there are no soldiers, and
as the instructions of Galvez had been to run no risks,
the friars do not land, nor is any attempt made to ex-
plore the country. Two days before the twenty days
elapse, that is on the 29th of April, the tardy capr-
tana comes in sight.
The San Carlos, otherwise called the Golden Fleece,
is commanded by Vicente Vila, a native of Andalucia,
and sailing- -master of the first class in the royal Spanish
navy.* She had sailed from La Paz having on board
Vila, a mate not named, Alférez Miguel “Costzas0
acting as cosmographer, and a crew of twenty-three
sailors and two boys. Also on board were Lieutenant
Pedro Fages, with twenty-five Catalan volunteers,
including a sergeant and corporal; Hernando Parron,
a Franciscan friar; Pedro Prat, a Frenchman and
surgeon of the royal army; four cooks and two black-
smiths—sixty-two persons in all; with supplies for
eight months or a year, implements of various kinds,
and a quantity of church furniture and other mission
property.® All the proper religious ceremonies had
{Vila’s appointment by Galvez, dated La Paz, Dec. 27, 1768, names as
‘Capitan, Piloto Mayor, y comandante del San Cdrlos, 4 D. Vicente Vila,
piloto de los primeros de la Real Armada, por las apreciables circunstancias
que en él concurren, con la jurisdiccion y prerogativas que le corresponden por
la Real Ordenanza de Marina,’ with $120 per month and $30 additional if the
voyage is successful. Officers and crews of both vessels are ordered under
severe penalties to obey Vila as commander of the capitana. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., i. 66-8.
5 Printed Costansé in Monterey, E'stracto de Noticias, and so signed by him-
self in several autographs now before me. Often printed Costanzo or Constanzo.
6 The manifest of the San Carlos signed by Vila on Jan. 5th is preserved in
Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 18-21. The list of supplies includes: 4,676 lbs. meat,
1,783 lbs. fish, 230 bush. maize, 500 lbs. lard, 7 jars vinegar, 5 tons wood, 1,272
Ibs. brown sugar, 5 jars brandy, 6 tanates figs, 3 tanates raisins, 2 tanates dates
300 lbs. red pepper, 125 lbs. garlic, 6,678 lbs. bread, common, 690 lbs. bread,
white, 945 lbs. rice, 945 lbs. chickpeas, 17 bushels salt, 3,800 gallons water,
450 lbs. cheese, 6 Jars Cal. wine, 125 lbs. sugar, 275 lbs. chocolate, 10 hams,
.
ee ee ee
VOYAGE OF THE SAN CARLOS, 129
been attended to at the start; Junipero Serra, presi-
dent of the California missions, had invoked the
blessing of heaven upon this first detachment of pa-
cificators; Miguel de Azanza, subsequently viceroy of
New Spain, had acted as shipping-clerk at the em-
barkation of the supplies; and José de Galvez, the
foremost man in America, had not only aided in the
lading and delivered a parting address, but had ac-
companied the vessel to the cape, seeing her safely
headed for San Diego.
Yet despite such favorable auspices the San Carlos
was unfortunate. The water-casks leaked and noth-
ing but water of a bad quality could be obtained at
Cedros Island. This greatly aggravated the scurvy,
always prevalent on the coast, and soon no sailors
were left with sufficient strength to work the vessel
or to launch the boats for fresh water. Vila, in accord-
ance with his instructions,’ was obliged to go up the
coast to 34° as had Perez before him, the increased
distance and cold adding greatly to his troubles. At
11 bottles oil, 2 Ibs. spice, 25 smoked beef-tongues, 6 live cattle, 575 lbs. len-
tils, 112 lbs. candles, 1,300 Ibs. flour, 15 sacks bran, 495 lbs. beans, 16 sacks
eoal, hens for the sick and for breeding, $1,000 in money, etc. The brandy and
cheese were for stormy weather only, the former being considered conducive
to scurvy if used habitually on this coast. The wine was for cabin use, or for
the missions. Many of the articles named, or specified portions thereof, were
intended for the missions, or for the land expedition; and part of the panocha
was to be used in sweetening the temper of the natives.
7 Galvez’ instructions to Capt. Vila, dated Jan. 5th, are preserved in Prov.
St. Pap., MS., i. 22-31, under the title, ‘Instruction to be observed by D.
Vicente Vila, first-class master in the royal navy and Captain Comandante
of the paquebot of his majesty called the San Cdrlos alias Toison de Oro in
the voyage which by divine aid this vessel is to make to the ports of San
Diego and Monterey, situated on the northern coast of this peninsula of Cali-
fornias in 33° and 37° of latitude.’ The different articles of this document are
in substance as follows: Ist. The object is to establish the Catholic faith, to
extend Spanish domain, to check the ambitious schemes of a foreign nation,
and to carry out a plan formed by Felipe III. as early as 1606. Therefore no
pains can be spared without offense to God, the king, and the country. 2d.
The vessel being new, strong, and well supplied for over a year, to be followed
by the San Antonio with additional supplies, having only 300 leagues to make,
having a strong military force, and going to a land whose natives are docile,
have no arms but bows and arrows, and are without boats, there can be no
. excuse en lo humano for failure. 3d. Vila is to sail Jan. 7th, weather per-
mitting, keep out to sea according to his judgment in search of favorable
winds, to take careful observations, and to stand in shore at 34°, San Diego
being in 33° according to the cédula of Felipe III., and being easy to find by
Vizcaino’s narrative enclosed with this document in print in the third volume
Hisr. Cau., Vou. I. 9
130 OCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO.
last, however, a tedious navigation of a hundred and
ten days was ended by the San Carlos, almost mi-
raculously it would seem, by turning into San Diego
Bay the 29th of April.®
Perez has already deposited a letter at the foot of
a cross on shore, and has completed his preparations
to sail on the Ist of May, when the San Cédrlos ap-
pears and drops anchor, but without lowering a boat.
A visit to the vessel soon reveals the fact that all
hands are down with scurvy. The sick are at once
removed by the crew of the San Antonio to the shore,
where they are sheltered by sail tents and receive
from Dr Prat and the three friars such care as cir-
cumstances allow. It does not clearly appear that
more than two had succumbed at sea; but now death
begins its ravages in the canvas pest-house on the
beach.® Perez’ men are attacked by the scourge;
of the Noticia de Californias (that is in Venegas, Not. Cal., iii. 85-9). 4th. If
Capt. Rivera be found at San Diego, the mission effects are to be landed, and
such other supplies as Rivera may need, the rest to be taken by sea to Mon-
terey. 5th. If Rivera and the land force have not arrived Vila is to wait 15
or 20 days at most, obtaining wood and water, while Fages and Costansé
explore the country. 6th. After the 20 days, or on Rivera’s arrival, the San
Carlos is to sail for Monterey, with the San Antonio if she be there. 7th.
The strictest discipline is to be kept, every precaution taken for safety, and
any outrage on the natives to be severely punished. 8th. The sailors are to
aid the soldiers in building a temporary fort at Monterey. 9th. The natives
are to be conciliated with panocha and trifles, but to be very closely watched,
and to be induced to look on weapons as a kind of adornment. 10th. Panocha,
cloths, etc., are to be given to Fages and Rivera on their demand, a receipt
being taken. llth. A report is to be sent to Galvez from San Diego by land,
and from Monterey one of the vessels is to return to San Diego with de-
spatches to go overland, or if only one vessel is there she is to come as soon
as safety will permit and return immediately. 12th. Vila to remain in the
best fitted of the two vessels at Monterey until the San José shall arrive.
13th. The other vessel is to remain at San Diego long enough to deliver
despatches, etc., and is then to continue her voyage to C. San Liicas and San
Blas with duplicate despatches. 14th. Coasts about Monterey are to be
explored, especially port and river Carmelo, and if possible the port of San
Francisco said to be in 38° 30’. To this end Vila will give all possible aid to
Costansé and Fages. 15th. On the arrival of the San José, Vila in his vessel
will return to San Blas, exploring the coast in order to confirm or correct
Cabrera Bueno’s derrotero, the best extant. Navegacion Especulativa y prac-
tica, Manila, 1734.
8 According to Palou, Not., i. 262, she anchored on the 30th.
®Judge Hayes, Emig. Notes, MS., 474, thinks that the vessels were
anchored off what is now New Town, between the two wharves, and that
Punta de los Muertes, or Dead Men’s Point, derived its name from the burial
Se a a ae
—— a
as nd ‘en pie
i eg ee ee ae ee
te
|
j
:
:
;
RAVAGES OF THE SCURVY. | 131
and of about ninety sailors, soldiers, and mechanics
considerably less than one third survive, though none
of the officers or friars die or are even attacked so
far as the records show.” Of course the continua-
tion of the voyage to Monterey is not possible under
the circumstances. Neither can Fages and Costansé
do otherwise than disregard their instructions" call-
ing for a preliminary exploration of the surrounding
of the scurvy-stricken sailors. And such is probably the fact, for the name
appears on Pantoja’s chart of 1784 in Sutil y Mexicana, Viages, Atlas, No. 5.
See also Bancroft’s Pers. Obs., MS., 14.
10 There is some confusion respecting numbers, increased by our ignorance
of the exact force on the San Antonio. Palou says, Wot., i. 262, that from
the San Cédrlos 5 of the crew and 12 soldiers survived; while of the other
crew all but 7 died. Again, ii. 151, he says that before May 14th 9 of the
San Carlos had died. Again, i. 282, that the San Antonio, sailing July 6th
(or 9th), lost 9 men on the voyage, arriving at San Blas sin gente para marear.
And finally, that 5 sailors and 2 boys remained on the San Carlos after July
14th, at which time 29 sailors and soldiers had been buried on the beach.
In a letter dated July 3d, Serra states that all the crew of the San Carlos
died except one man and a cook, and 8 died from the San Antonio. Palou,
Vida, 76. He writes in the San Diego death register, San Diego, Lib. Mision,
MS., 63-5, that half of Fages’ soldiers died; that Parron at first and himself
later kept a record of deaths which was destroyed with the mission a few
years later, and that the deaths within a few months amounted to over 60,
including some Indians. The good friar hopes the names are inscribed in the
‘book of life.’ In Loreto, Lib. Mision, MS., 129, the Indian Juan Alvarez
is mentioned as having been one of the San Antonio’s men, who died at San
Diego on June 25th.
1 Galvez’ instructions to Fages, dated like those to Vila January 5th, and
found in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 31-48, are substantially as follows: Ist. Fages,
military chief of the sea expedition, is to exercise the same authority on land
until Gov. Portola arrives; that is he is to be Rivera’s superior, and is to
superintend the economical distribution of rations, 2d, The soldiers are to
aid the sailors, and Fages must see that harmony and discipline are preserved.
3d. Three fires on the hill north-west of San Diego will be a signal to the
vessel that Rivera has already arrived. 4th. If Rivera has not arrived at
San Diego, Fages is to use every possible means by exploration and inquiry
to learn his whereabouts and aid his march. 5th. Before Rivera’s arrival the
natives, and especially chiefs, are to be prepared so far as possible by Fages
and Parron for the founding of a mission. 6th. The natives being friendly,
and Costansé having selected a proper site, Fages may erect some buildings,
and thus prepare for Rivera’s coming with soldiers for a mission guard; but
if Rivera has already attended to this, Fages is to render any needed aid
with the least possible delay to the vessel. 7th. If Rivera has not come, and
the San Antonio arrives, the latter vessel is to be left at San Diego, with half
the soldiers, to attend to the preceding instructions, while the San Carlos,
with Fages, goes on to Monterey. Galvez also wrote to Fages on February
14th, /d., 46-7, directing him to put half his men on board the San Antonio,
8th. At Monterey the Indians are to be pacified, a landing effected with all
caution, and a camp fortified with ditch, estacada, and cannons on a site
chosen by the engineer, and under the guns of the vessel. 9th. The natives
are to be impressed with the advantages of peace and salvation and protection
from foreign insult offered by the Spaniards. 10th. The natives, if friendly,
to be told of Rivera’s approach and induced to send guides, llth. Fages and
132 OCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO.
country. For two weeks the well have more than
enough to do in caring for the sick and in burying
the dead, and then on the 14th of May other Span-
iards come to their relief. |
These are Rivera y Moncada with his twenty-five
soldados de cuera,” or cuirassiers, from the presidio of
Loreto; also the priest Juan Crespi, the pilotin™® José
Cajiizares, three muleteers, and a band of christianized
natives from the northern missions of Baja California.
Of these last there were forty-two in number at the
outset, whose duty it was to make roads, assist the
muleteers, and perform the drudgery. This first
division of the land expedition had started from
Velicaté in March, and had been fifty-one days on
the way, the distance being given at the time as one
hundred and twenty-one leagues. Two diaries were
kept and are extant, one by Crespi and the other by
Cafiizares.* Both are very complete, but neither
affords matter of much interest to the historical stu-
dent, since it could serve no good purpose to repeat
the details of that monotonous march.
Many localities were named and their latitudes
Costansé may, if deemed best, send soldiers with the natives to meet Rivera.
12th. Fages may use force to overcome resistance if necessary. 13th, The
natives are never to be fully trusted, but always watched, for the ‘common
enemy’ will surely incite them to mischief. 14th. Both soldiers and sailors to
work on the fort. 15th. Constant precautions against danger, notwithstand-
ing peaceful appearances. 16th. Trade with the natives is allowed, but no
knives or other weapons must be given them. 17th. Fages is to send full re-
ports to Galvez down to the time of Portola’s taking the command. Great
reliance is placed in the ‘activity, honor, and prudence’ of Fages and Cos-
tansé. Galvez adds a note to the effect that the presidio and mission at Mon-
terey are to be called by the glorious name of San Carlos.
12 These soldiers derived their name from the cwera, or cuirass, which in
California was a sleeveless jacket made of 7 or 8 thicknesses of deer or sheep
skin quilted. From the Latin corium. The metallic cuirass was called in
Spanish coraza.
13. A pilotin was the master’s mate on a vessel. Cafiizares accompanied the
land force to take observations and write a diary.
14 Canizares, Diario ejecutado por Tierra desde el parage de. Villacata a este
puerto de San Diego, 1769, MS. This diary is dated July 3d, and was proba-
bly sent south by the San Antonio a few days later. Crespt, Primera Hsped.
de Tierra al Descubrimiento del Puerto de San Diego, in Palou, Not., ii. 93-
149, This diary extends to July 2d, and probably was completed like the other
on July 3d. The writer had before him the diaries of the second expedition
under Portol4, from which he takes some material respecting changes in names
of places along the route.
a a
ie
a
THE FIRST LAND EXPEDITION. 133
fixed, but these geographical details belong to the
- peninsula rather than to Alta California. The route
lay west of the main sierra and for the most part near
the coast.” The country was barren and unattractive;
water had to be carried for the animals and men for
days at a time; and at times their progress was hin-
dered by showers of rain. At Santa Cruz on Todos
Santos Bay the savages made some threatening demon-
strations, and once again there was almost a fight, but
the foe was frightened away by the noise of gun-
powder. ‘The Indians of the company soon began to
sicken and die or to desert, and one or more of the
men had usually to be carried on tepestles, or litters.
As the party approached San Diego the gentiles
became more numerous, less timid, more disposed to
curiosity and theft, and eager to explain by their sign-
language the recent passing of the Spanish ships. On
the morning of the 14th of May the little army rose
so completely wet through by the rain that had fallen
during the night that mass had to be omitted, much
to the sorrow of Father Crespi because it was the first
day of pentecost. The march began at ten o'clock.
Soon they caught a distant view of the anchored ves-
sels; Crespi says they had seen the mast-tops the day
before; and at four in the afternoon, having travelled
six leagues during the day, they reached the camp on
the beach and were welcomed by a salute from all the
fire-arms that could be manned.”
The first thing to be done, now that the coming of
Rivera’s men renders it possible, is to prepare for per-
manent settlement. The old camp, or pest-house, on
18 At the outset they followed the route of Link in 1766, but the latter soon
turned to the right to cross the mountains.
16 Serra, in San Diego, Lib. Mision, MS., 64, says that 5 died. Nine de-
serted at one time according to Palou.
1’ Ortega, in Santa Clara, Arch. Parroquia, MS., 48-54, gives an account
of this expedition in which he represents the sufferings of the soldiers to have
been very great, three tortillas per day being the rations. Vallejo, Hist. Ca’.,
MS., i. 83, obtained the same idea from his father’s narrative, stating that
the soldiers were glad to barter their jewelry and clothing for the rations of
their Indian companions, while the latter lived on roots, wild fruits, etc.
134 OCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO.
the bay shore, is probably within the limits of what
is now the city of San Diego, locally known as New °
Town; but the day after his arrival Rivera—so say
the chroniclers, although according to the instructions
of Galvez, Fages was chief in command—selects a
new site some miles north, at what is now Old, or
North, San Diego, at the foot of a hill on which are
still to be seen the remains of the old presidio. Here
camp is pitched and fortified, a corral for the animals
and a few rude huts are built, and hither on the sev-
enteenth are transported the sick and their tents.
The immediate purpose is that the camp may be near
the river which at this point flows into the north end
of the bay. For six weeks officers, priests, and sol-
diers are occupied in attending to the wants of the
sick and in unloading the San Antonio. Then they
await the arrival of Portold.
In the last days of June Sergeant Ortega with a
soldier makes his appearance in camp, announcing that
his companions under Portolé are only a few days’
march from the port. Ten soldiers are sent back with
Ortega to meet the approaching party. On the 29th
the governor arrives in advance of his men; and on
the first of July, a little before noon, Father Serra
and all the rest are welcomed in camp. This second
division of the land expedition, consisting of the three
officials just named, of nine or ten soldiers de cuera,
four muleteers, two servants of the governor and
president, and forty-four natives of Lower California,
had left Velicaté the 15th of May, and had followed
the route of Rivera’s party. The journey had been
an uneventful and comparatively easy one. The gen-
tiles were occasionally threatening, but did no harm.
As in the case of the first division most of the neo-
phytes deserted, only twelve reaching San Diego;
but there were no deaths.” The second day Father |
18 Portola, Diario del Viage que haze por tierra Dn Gaspar de Portola, Cap-
itan de Dragones del regimiento de Espana, Governador de Californias, a los
puertos de San Diego y Monterey situidox en 33 y 87 grados, haviendo si:'o nom-
brado comandante en gefe de esta expedicion por el [limo Seiior Dn Joseph de
THE SECOND LAND EXPEDITION. 135
Junipero’s foot became so painful that it seemed im-
possible for him to continue. Portold wished to send
him back, but the president would not think of it. A
litter was thereupon ordered to be made, but Serra
was much troubled at the extra work this imposed on
the poor Indians. Calling an arriero he induced him
to prepare an ointment of tallow and herbs which,
combined with the friar’s faith and prayers, so far
healed the affected limb in a-single night that it gave
no more trouble. Listen to the record: ‘‘ That even-
ing he called the arrievo Juan Antonio Coronel, and
said, ‘Son, canst thou not make me a remedy for the
ulcer on my foot and leg?’ But he answered, ‘ Padre,
what remedy can I know? Am Ia surgeon? I am an
arriero, and have healed only the sores of beasts.’
‘Then, son, suppose me a beast and this ulcer a saddle-
gall from which have resulted the swelling of the leg
and the pains that I feel and that give me no rest; and
make for me the same medicament that thou wouldst
apply to a beast.’ ”” .
Galvez en virtud de las facultades vice-regias que le ha concedido su Excel4- Dicha
expedicion se componia de 37 soldados de cuera con su capitan Dn» Fernando de
Rivera deviendo este adelantarse con 27 solidados, y et governador con 10 y un
sargento. MS., folio, 35 pages. This diary is a copy from the original made
in early times. It includes not only the trip to San Diego but the later one
to Monterey to be noticed in the next chapter. The entries for each day’s
march are very brief, containing the number of hours marched, generally 4 or
5 per day, the character of the road and camping-place, and some notes of
interviews with gentiles. For example, May 27, ‘anduvimos como cinco
horas, buen camino, paramos en la cieneguilla, cuio nombre puso cl padre
jesuita Linc, desde aqui se tomdé otro rumbo, y paramos en un arroyuclo
aunque seco,’ etc. June 21, they were at Todos Santos, and heard of other
Spaniards beyond. For the last 3 or 4 days they travelled on or near the shore.
Other diaries of this journey, several of which were written, are not extant;
but Crespt’s journal already referred to was intended to embody all the infor-
mation worth preserving. Sergt. Ortega, in Santa Clara, Arch. Parroquia,
MS., 48-54, represents the hardships of the soldiers as very great; but he
was evidently writing for an object that required this view of the matter.
The same writer gives a brief and rather confused account of the journey in
a narrative of his own services dated 1786. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 171-2.
Serra, in his letter of July 3d, to Palou, says there was no suffering whatever.
Palou, Vida, 78; Greenhow, Or. and Cal., 109, sro gush implies that both
land expeditions started together and that Portola arrived last on account of
having followed a more difficult route.
19 rom San Diego Serra himself writes, Palou, Vida, 73-8: ‘Now the foot
is all sound like the other, while from the ankle half way up the leg it is as
the foot was before, an ulcer; but without swelling or pain except the occa-
sional itching. In faci it is nothing serious.’
136 OCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO.
Thus are the four branches of the visitador gen-
eral’s grand expedition finally reunited at San Diego,
one year after Galvez had begun his preparations on
the peninsula. Next day is Sunday, fiesta de la visi-
tacion, and the California pilgrims, one hundred and
twenty-six in number—out of two hundred and nine-
teen who had started;” or, omitting natives and
sailors, seventy-eight of Spanish blood out of ninety
who had come to remain—celebrate their safe reunion
by a solemn thanksgiving mass to the patron San
José chanted with ‘la solemnidad posible,” and to the
accompaniment of exploding gunpowder. ‘The cere-
monies over, the two comandantes Portoldé and Vila
meet to consult respecting future movements, the
want of sailors necessitating changes in the original
plans. The decision is to send the San Antonio back
to San Blas for supplies, and especially a crew for
herself and the San Cdrlos, which is to await her
return. The friars for missionary and hospital work
are to be left at San Diego under the protection of a
guard of soldiers, while the main force presses on to
Monterey by land. Great dependence is placed on
the San José which on arrival is to be sent up the
coast to aid the land expedition. Accordingly the
9th of July Perez sails with a small crew of convales-
cent sailors for the south,” bearing reports from the
commandants and president. ive days later Portold
starts on his overland march northward, which will
be described in the following chapter.
There are left at San Diego Captain Vila, Surgeon
Prat, the mate Cafiizares, three friars, a guard of eight
20 The numbers are not exact, statements of deaths being conflicting. These
pioneers included captains Portolé and Rivera, Lieut. Fages, captains Vila
end Perez of the vessels, padres Serra, Crespi, Vizcaino, Gomez, and Parron;
Surgeon Prat; Costansé, engineer; Cafiizares, piloto; and sergeants Ortega
an Puig. Tor names of all the band see list at end of this volume.
1 Palou, Not., i. 282, says that July Gth was the day set for sailing; but this
may be a misprint. Nine of the sailors died of scurvy on the voyage. It is
probable that these last victims were included in Palou’s statement of 12 sur-
vivors, 5 of whom were left on the ‘an Cédrlos, 2 or 3 reached San Blas, and
s or 5 remained ill at San Diego. The San Antonio made the voyage in 20
days.
A MISSION FOUNDED. 137
cuera soldiers, five convalescent Catalan volunteers,
a few sick sailors, five.able seamen, a carpenter and
a blacksmith, three boy servants, and eight Lower
California Indians—about forty persons in all. As yet
no mission has been formally founded; but this duty
is at once attended to by Father Serra, who raises
and blesses the cross on Sunday, the 16th of July.”
This first of the Californian missions is dedicated, as
the port had been by Vizcaino long before, to San
Diego de Alcalé, being founded on a spot called by
the natives Cosoy,” now Old Town. The ceremonies
are not minutely recorded, but are the usual blessing
of the cross, mass, and sermon by which it was hoped
“to put to flight all the hosts of Hell and subject to
the mild yoke of our holy faith the barbarity of the
gentile Dieguinos.” Then more huts are built, and
one is dedicated as a church.
The new establishment, however, in which Father
Parron is associate minister, still lacks one essential
element of a prosperous mission, namely, converts,
who in this case are difficult to find. The natives are
by no means timid, but they come to the mission for
gifts material rather than spiritual; and being adroit
thieves as well as importunate beggars, their presence
in large numbers becomes a nuisance, rendering it
impossible for the small force to watch them and give
proper attention to the sick. Fortunately the savages
will have nothing to do with the food of the Spaniards,
attributing to it some agency in the late ravages of
the scurvy; but other things, particularly cloth, they
deign to steal at any hour of day or night. They even
22 Tt is noticeable that in all the general reports after 1823 this date is given
as June 16th; but there is no doubt that it is an error. Arch. Santa Barbara,
MS., xii. 125. Serra thinks, Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 125, that April 11th has
some claim to be considered the beginning of the mission, since on that
day when the San Antonio arrived began the spiritual manifestations to the
natives, causing them to see an eclipse and feel an earthquake, not perceptible
to the Christians.
23 San Diego, Lib. de Mision, MS. St James of Alcala was an Andalucian
Franciscan who lived from 1400 to 1463, and was canonized in 1588 rather for
his pious life and the miracles wrought through him before and after death
than for any high position held by him. see <0
Pocitos de la Cafiada de San Diego...... 2.5 (3) N.W.
15.| Sta Isabel Valley. 1 league by 400 varas.
S. Jdcome dela Marca Val. 11. by 51.,
from nN. tos. (Posa de Osuna), [7 1.
froimiS,/ nan, }. Cop. eee eee ...| 3.5 (4) N.N. We
16.) EnoinosCafiada : , 1.0 enc bie ees '« 2
Ds ALOIO, Ua ‘sa s's sox toe pe ee eel &
17.|S. Simon Lipnica Val., near sea-shore...
Sta PinfOross :s 3.3 <., 2 eee Meenas 3 2 N.
18.|S. Juan Capistrano Val. 2 1., N.E. to
8.w., ending at shore, 33° 6’. Really
S. Luis Rey, lat. accurate............ 2 Ne
20.|Sta Margarita Val. The sierra draws
near shore and threatens to stop ad-
vance. Name retained..........++-- 1.5 N.
21.| Sta Pragedis de los Rosales Cafiada, 33° 10’ | 2 . N.E.
22.| Los Cristianos, 8. Apolinario, Bautismos
[arroyo], (Cafiada del Bautismo)..... 4 N.W,
23.| Sta Maria Magdalena Cafiada [Quemada],
BO 1A, oo Vance tec og oe eee © ge 4 (38) N.N.We
24.|S. Francisco Solano, 33° 18’. A mesa at
foot of sierra with fine stream, oppo-
site Sta Catalina Island, said by the
explorers to be 51. from 8. Pedro Bay.
At or near S, Juan Capistrano. ...... 3. [2] N.W.
26.|S. Pantaleon (Aguada del P. Gomez), on
the edge of a large plain............ 2.5 [3] N.W.
27.| Santiago Arroyo, 33° 6’. Misprint?..... 3 N.E.
28.|Sta Ana Riv., or Jesus de los Temblores,
thought to flow into S. Pedro Bay [91.
from Rio Porciineula] 4.645 6. os 0s 1.5 [1] N.W.
29.! Sta Marta Spring (Los Ojitos and S. Mi-
griel)s,. noth ia gue eae ee END ene 0 2 N.W.
30.| (No name), lat. 33° 34’.........--..068- 6 N.W.
31.| (No name), lat. 34° 10’. Los Angeles re-
GUN enna s Siva eee ge ha wala eek pees Cas 2 NW.
GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 143
Four days after setting out from San Diego the
explorers reached the pleasant valley in which the
mission of San Luis Rey was later built. Their
progress had been at the rate of from two to four
leagues each day, and nothing along the way attracted
more attention than the abundance of flowers, especially
Aug. 2.| Porcitncula Riv., a large stream, with | Leagues. Course.
much good land. North branch of the
DVALSILOTECL, Ata @ ae shee a calls iud,a9 of e's 3 (2) N.W,
3.| Alisos de S. Estévan Spring, near an as-
Pia Cama ra eee es yeca eteial 55 ds 3 Ww.
4.|S. Rogerio Spring, or Berrendo (Fontaine
Cu ‘Caluy MmoOuUCnete ibis bac cil iv cie o's. ale 2 N.W.
5.| Sta Catalina de Bononia de los Encinos
Val., 34° 37’, really 34° 10’. San Fer-
nando Valley, in which a station still
CULLEN FNCU OM pea Lehane aletes via tess ee
PTY INC) EATING ch See ote acc ee coos 0 (ol nse so
8.| Sta Rosa de Viterbo, or Corral rancheria,
3 1. across the plain, and 41. over mts.,
Ae Sef oe NCAT LI OTE S o's. ix a: 0's ie A
10.| Sta Clara stream and cafiada............
11./ Sta Clara, down same stream, 34° 30’, a
good site for a mission. 6 1. from Sta
Rosa and 10 1. from Sta Catalina.
Dig ust UO OA ET TOT oan). cate ka
12.}S. Pedro Amoliano rancherifa, down the
SELOAI tain cco 9 x o's: 4's ale she clap lars
13.| Stos Martires Ipdélito y Cuciano rancheria
and river, down same stream, which
widens out into a river. Still called
FIO 50: CLT ies gis. 0's slate ores
14.; Asuncion (Asunta) rancheria, onsea-shore,
Fine site for a mission, 34° 36’. Co-
stansé made it 34°13’. Doubtless S.
Buenaventura...... sive Blah d'6retaneenre one 2.5 E.N.E,.
15.| Sta Conefundis (RancheriaVolante), along
DERG ee met he > od) poe node aaa
16.| Sta Clara de Monte Talco, or Bilarin, a
large pueblo in 34° 40’, on an arroyo,
VES (ea! 922 1 10 ag ee nA 2 Ww.(W.N.W.)
17.|S. Roque, or Carpinteria, a large pueblo
in a plain, 41. by 1 1, much asphal-
tum, “Sta Barbara region. «0 osc
18., Concepcion Laguna (Pueblo de la Lagu-
na), a very large rancheria, on a point
across an estero. Sta Barbara was af-
terwards founded at S. Joaquin de la
Laguna. Coast turns from w.N.w.
CVn cer ene «all cos we sly ok ms SONS 4 [(3)] w.(W.N.W.)
20.| Sta Margarita de Cortona, or Isla, or Mes-
caltitlan pueblos, 34°43’. In amarshy
region, where the sloughs form an
island, with four or five scattered ran-
CARE CIC. BIR Sige Aaa nies Fak pty Bene i 3.5[2.5]| Ww.(W.N.W.)
N.N.W.
Oo 09
N,
W.N.We
OO >
oO
W.S.W,
oo
Ww. 8. WwW,
bo
S.W,
bo
W.(W.N. W.)
i)
w.(W.N. W.)
144. EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
of roses similar to those of old Castile, and for that
reason delightful to the Spaniards. Crespf notes the
plucking of one branch bearing six roses and twelve
buds. Thus far all was literally couleur de rose. The
route followed was very nearly that of the subsequent
stage road between San Diego and Los Angeles. It
was noticed that much of the grass had been burned
Leagues. Course.
Aug. 21.]S. Luis Obispo, 34° 45’, still along shore. | 2 [2.5] Ww.
23.|S. Giiido de Cortona, along shore, four
islands in steht J... Geena os 3 We
S. Luis Rey, or La Gaviota, along shore,
ona slough, 34° 47’. Perhaps origin of
Gaviota Pass. Three islands in sight:
S. Bernardo, 8. Miguel, farthest west;
Sta Cruz, Sta Rosa, next; and Sta Bar-
bara, Sta Cruz, farthest east......... 2.5 (3) [2] W.
25. | S. Seferino, 34° 30’ (14”), an Indian pueblo,
Ste Ana rancberiac,.yieey eed sie s ios 2 Ww.
26. | Sta Teresa, or Cojo, rancheria, 34° 30’, or
Be) i ee 2.5 Ww.
Pt Concepcion, 34° 307. 25a405 eee ee 2? 1 ; W,
27.| Concepcion, rancheria (Rancho de la Es-} {1.5 or ae
pada), 34° S130"... 4, So vae ewes J \ .5 (1) a
28.) S. Juan Bautista, or Pedernales (34° 33’),
in sight of another point near by [from
which Pt Concepcion bears 8.E., 8°
E.] This point must be Pt Arg gitello,
though there are some difficulties...... 2 N.W.
29.| Sta Rosalia, or Cafiada Seca, on a bay be-
tween last point and another........ 2.5 (2) N.W.
30.|S. Bernardo Riv., or Sta Rosa, mouth
filled with sand, the largest river yet
passed, 34° 55’... The Rio Sta Inés,
though distance and bearing are not cor-
rect; just possibly the Sta Maria, in
which case Pt Concepcion was Ar giiello,
Argiello Purtsima, the 2d point Pu-
risima, and Sta Rosalia at the mouth
of Rio ‘Sta Tribals ae .5 (1) N.W.
31.|S. Ramon Nonato, La Graciosa, or Baile
de las Indias laguna........-....5.- 2.5 (2) N.
Sept. 1.]S. Daniel, laguna grande, ina fine valley,
31. by 7 1., having in the middle a la-
guna 500 varas wide? 34°13’? Mouth
of the Rio Sia. Marta. i.c..05 0.0... 1.5 (3) N.
2.|S. Juan Perucia y 8. Pedro de Sacro Ter-
rato, or Real de las Viboras, or Oso
Flaco (Laguna Redonda)............ 3 N.W. (N.N.W.)
4.|S. Ladislao, or El Buchon. By varying
courses, and finally N. into mts., 35°
29. Not-cleaticM a epee tee 4
Sta Elena, or Angosta Cafiada, 35° 3’?...| 2 N.W.
Natividad, or Cafiada de los Osos, down
which they went to the sea. WS. Latis :
Obispowas founded luieronthis canadu. | 3 (4) |
24,
“aoe
PROGRESS UP THE COAST. 145
by the natives to facilitate the capture of rabbits. Few
of the inhabitants were met in the south, but when
seen they were always friendly, and the 22d of Jaly
they permitted to be baptized two dying children, who
were named Marfa Magdalena and Margarita. About
the same time two mineral deposits, of red ochre and
white earth, were discovered. On the 24th the islands
Sept. 8.|S. Adriano, near the shore at mouth of| Leagues. Course.
Cafiada de los Osos. The diary clearly
mentions the Estero Bay and Morro
Rock of modern MADPS....++6 2 esses 2 Ww.
9.| Sta Serafina Estero, 36°, or 35° 27', after
crossing ight arroyosi. .2..4 245%... 05 3 N.W.
10.| 8. Benvenuto, « or Osito, 36” 2’, or (35° 33’) | 2 N.N.W.
11./8. Nicolas, or Cantil, arroyo 35° 35’, along |
Dee cet AR. Piya eet serra essa or tas (1) N.wW.
12.|S. Vicente ar royo (Arroyada Honda), 36°
AO seens oie guts hs te wat oe ne 2 N.W. and N.N.E.
13.| Sta Umiliana arroyo [35° 45’], at foot of
Sierra de Sta Lucia. Jn region between
S. Simeon and Cape S. Martin....... 2 N.W:,
16. | Pié de la Sierra de Sta Lucia, upacafiada
into the mts., probably N.E........-- Ie
17.| Hoya de la Sierra de Sta Lucia, or San
Francisco, 36° 18’ 30”, up into the mts.
on N. side of a cafion [slightly differ-
ent route onreturn]. Jn region of the
later S. Antonio mission. Probably
LEGO “ates dc Shela aa PEER ie PLM BR 1
20.| Real de Pifiones, by a mt. way over the
SUE CNGCOI GE A oe a Pape eee 2
21.| 8, Francisco (Rigwde Truchas).?2roeee4 1
26.|S. Elizario [Elcearo] Rio, or Real del
Chocolate, down a cafiada to a river
believed to be the Carmelo, but really
OR COR ST OUT hop Ag a PPE PEAY bse 8s ecatane’s 1.5 N.W.
16.| Rosario del Serafin de Asculi arroyo, near ‘
lea lees ohh ae mee GE eae ae 2 N.W.
17.| 8S. Lorenzo River—still retains the name.
The camp was near Sta Cruz.......+. 2 W.N.W,
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 10
146 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
of San Clemente and Santa Catalina were sighted.
Next day the natives seemed to say that inland were
other white men with horses, mules, swords, and hats.
On the 28th, when the governor and his followers
were on the Santa Ana River, four violent shocks of
earthquake frightened the Indians into a kind of
prayer to the four winds, and caused the stream to be
also named Jesus de los Temblores. Many more
shocks were felt during the following week; yet the
foreigners were delighted with the region, noting the
agricultural possibilities which they and their succes-
sors later realized. The Ist of August they began to
kill and eat berrendos, or antelopes, and next day
forded the Rio de Porcitncula on which the city of
Los Angeles now stands.
From the Angeles region the route lay through the
valley of Santa Catalina de los Encinos, now San Fer-
nando, and thence northward through the mountain
pass to the head ‘streams of the Rio de Santa Clara,
so called then and now, down whose banks the
Spaniards followed to the sea again. Immediately on
leaving the Porcitncula more earthquakes were felt,
causing the friars to think there were volcanoes in the
sierra; springs of pez, brea, chapopote, or asphaltum,
Oct. 18.| Sta Cruz arroyo, and four other streams, | Leagues. Course.
the last being 8. Liicas, or Puentes
BITOY 0. oc sg ies & | esate ee dana nth 2 W.N.W.
La Olla (Hoya) barranca...............
19.| S. Pedro de Alcantara, or Jumin [Jamon].| 2.5 N.W.
20.|S. Luis Beltran, or Salud, arroyo, about
11. from Pt Afio Nuevo, 37° 22’, or
of 3 [Pé in eG 24 cee oe 3 1 N.W.
23.|S. Juan Nepomuceno, or Casa Grande,
rancheria, across a level mesa along
SNOT s 4s Ges & tpheet geen SRMMMMeneIMTe oto os 2 N.N.W.
Ban Pedro ‘Svegaladg 7. 40. semitone a>.> >.
24.1 Sto Domingo, 37 7305 peers eke ss co 4or2 N.
27.|S. Ibon, or Pulgas, rancheria........... 2 N,
28.|S. Simon y S. Judas arroyo, or Llano de
los Ansares, in sight of a point N.N.w.
with farallones—just above Llalf-Moon
Bay, and in sight of Pt S. Pedro..... 2
30.| Pt Angel Custodio, or Almejas, 37° 24’,
OU. 40° [ Oiristtde | astern Rete d se « 2 N.W.
To points subsequently visited, no names
were applied.
THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL. 147
were also regarded as signs of volcanic action. The
natives now spoke not only of bearded men who came
from the east in earlier times, but said they had
lately observed vessels in the channel—it will be remem-
bered that the San Antonio and San Carlos had reached
this latitude on their way from Cape San Liicas to
San Diego—and one man even claimed to recoynize
Gomez, ages, and Costanséd whom he had seen on the
vessel. Everywhere the men went naked, but from
this region the women dressed more according to Euro-
pean ideas, covering much of their person with skins
of deer and rabbits. August 14th Portola crossed
from a point near the mouth of the Santa Clara to
the shore farther north, where he found the largest
Indian village yet seen in California. The houses were
of spherical form thatched with straw, and the natives
used boats twenty-four feet long made of pine boards
tied together with cords and covered with asphaltum,
capable of carrying each ten fishermen. A few old
blades of knives and swords were seen. Some in-
habitants of the channel islands came across to gaze
at the strangers. Previously the inhabitants had
bartered seeds, grass baskets, and shells for the cov-
eted glass beads, but now fish and carved bits of wood
were added to the limited list of commercial products.
Thus more food was offered than could be eaten. This
fine pueblo, the first of a long line of similar ones
along the channel coast, was called Asuncion and was
identical in site with the modern San Buenaventura.’
From the middle of August to the 7th of Septem-
ber the Spaniards followed the coast of the Santa
Birbara Channel westward, always in sight of the
islands, meeting a dense native population settled in
many larere towns and uniformly hospitable. Passing
Point Concepcion, they turned northward to the site
on which San Luis Obispo now stands. On the 18th
of August they passed a village called Laguna de la
Concepcion in the vicinity of what is now Santa Bér-
5 See founding of San Buenaventura in a later chapter.
1448 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
bara, perhaps on the exact site, since the presidio was
founded later at a place said to have been called San
Joaquin de la Laguna by these first explorers. A
few leagues farther, and in several other places, there
were noticed large cemeteries, those of the men and
women being distinct as the gentle savages explained.
Over each grave a painted pole was set up bearing
the hair of the men, and those of the women being
adorned with coras, or grass baskets. Large whale-
bones were also a distinguishing feature of the burial-
erounds. Many of these graves have been opened
within the past few years, and the relics thus brought
to ight have created in local circles quite a flutter of
archeological enthusiasm, being popularly attributed,
as is the custom in such cases, to ‘prehistoric’ times
and to races long since extinct. On the 24th a sea-
cull was killed and the place called San Luis by the
padres was christened La Gaviota by the soldiers—
very many localities along the route being thus doubly
named, whence perhaps the name Gaviota Pass of
modern maps. Near Point Concepcion the natives
displayed beads of European make, said to have been
obtained from the north. Here a lean and worn-
out mule was left to recuperate under Indian care.
Crespt’s latitudes for the channel coasts were too high,
varying from 34° 30/ to 34° 51’. Costansd’s observa-
tions placed Point Concepcion in 34° 30’, about 5’ too
far north. After turning the point the natives were
poorer and less numerous, but were still friendly.
On the 30th a large stream was crossed on a sand-bar
at its mouth which “served as a bridge.” This was
the Rio Santa Inés,’ called at its discovery Santa Rosa,
and on September Ist the camp was pitched at the
Laguna de San Daniel, probably at the mouth of the
Rio Santa Maria. Next day Sergeant Ortega was
6 Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 61-2.
7 There is some confusion in the description of this part of the coast, and
this stream might as well be the Santa Maria, were it not for the fact that
Purisima Mission was afterward built on Rio de Santa Rosa. Purisima, Lib.
Mision, MS., 1; Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 112-13.
OVER THE SIERRA DE SANTA LUCIA. 149
taken ill, and ten of the men began to complain of
sore feet. Turning inland not far from what is now
Point San Luis, they crossed the hills by a some-
what winding course and on the 7th encamped in
the Caiiada de los Osos in the vicinity of the later
San Luis Obispo. Here the soldiers engaged in a
grand bear-hunt, in which one of these fierce brutes,
seen here in groups of fourteen or sixteen, according
to Portold’s diary, was killed after receiving nine bul-
lets, one of the soldiers barely escaping with his life.
The names Los Osos and El Buchon applied at this
time are still preserved in this region.
From San Luis, instead of proceeding north and
inland, which would have been the easier route, the
explorers follow the Bear cajiada down to the sea,
where they note Estero Bay and Morro Rock, and
whence they follow the coast some ten leagues to a
point located by Costansé in latitude 35° 45’, and
apparently not far below Cape San Martin. The
sierra of Santa Lucia, so named long before, now
impedes further progress, and on September 16th the
travellers turn to the right and begin to climb the
mountain range, ‘con el credo en la boca,” one league
per day being counted good progress in such a rough
country. From the 17th to the 19th they are on the
Hoya, or ravine, de la Sierra de Santa Lucia, on the
_head-waters of the Rio de San Antonio near where
the mission of the same name is afterward founded.
On the 20th the lofty range northward is ascended,
and from the highest ridge, probably Santa Lucia
Peak, the Spaniards gaze upon a boundless sea of
mountains, ‘‘a sad spectacle for poor travellers worn
out by the fatigues of so long a journey,” sighs Crespt.
The cold begins to be severe, and some of the men
are disabled by scurvy; yet for the glory of God and
with unfailing confidence in their great patron St
Joseph, they press bravely on, after remaining four
days in a little mountain cation dedicated by the friars
to the Llagas de San Francisco, the name San Fran-
150 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
cisco proper being reserved forthat saint’s ‘famous port.’
Wending their way down the northern slope, perhaps
by way of the Arroyo Seco, on the 26th they reach
a river which they name San Elizario, or Santa Del-
fina, believed by the Spaniards to be the Rio del Car-
melo. It is the stream, however, since known as
Salinas, and down it Portola’s company march to the
sea, arriving on the 30th at a point near the mouth.
The natives are less hospitable in the Salinas Valley
than south of there.
As the expedition draws near the sea-shore, a point
of land becomes visible in the south, which is correctly
judged to be Point Pinos, one of the prominent land-
marks by which Monterey was to be identified. It is
therefore determined to stop here for exploration.
October 1st the governor, engineer, and Crespi, with
five soldiers climb a hill, “from the top of which,”
writes the friar, “we saw the great entrance, and con-
jectured that it was the one which Cabrera Bueno
puts between Point Aiio Nuevo and Point Pinos of
Monterey.” That is to say, believing yet doubting
they look out over the bay and harbor of Monterey
in search of which they had come so far, then pass on
wondering where is Monterey. Rivera with eight men
explores southward, marching along the very shore of
the port they are seeking; then toward Point Pinos
and over to ‘fa small bight formed between the said
point and another south of it, with an arroyo flowing
down from the mountains, well wooded, and a slough,
into which the said stream discharges, and some little
lagoons of sheht extent;” but the mountains prevent
further progress southward along the shore. The
places thus explored are Carmelo bay, river, and point;*
nevertheless Rivera returns to camp saying that no
port is to be found.
The 4th of October after solemn mass in a brush-
8 Cypress Point is not noticed in this exploration; but it is certain that if
the bight now visited were not Carmelo Bay, that bay would have been found
and mentioned later when the attempt was made again to find a shore route
southward.
MONTEREY NOT FOUND. 151
wood tent at the mouth of the Salinas River, a meet-
ing of all the officers and friars is held to deliberate
on what shall be done. At this meeting the com-
mandant briefly calls attention to the scarcity of pro-
visions, to the seventeen men on the sick-list unfit for
duty, to the excessive burden of labor imposed on
those who are well in sentinel duty and continual
reconnoissances, and to the lateness of the season. In
view of these circumstances and of the fact that the
port of Monterey could not be found where it had
been supposed to lie,? each person present is called
upon to express freely his opinion. The decision of
officers and priests is unanimous “that the journey be
continued as the only expedient remaining, in the hope
of finding by the favor of God the desired port of
Monterey and in it the San José to supply our needs,
and that if God should permit that in the search for
Monterey we all perish, we shall still have fulfilled
our duty to God and men by working together to the
death in the accomplishment of the enterprise on
which we have been sent.” Their hope rests mainly in
the fact that they had not yet reached the latitude in
which Vizcaino and Cabrera Bueno had placed the port.
®* En visto de lo dicho y de no hallar el puerto de Monterey en la altura
que se presumia.’ Crespt, Viaye, 355. This use of the word altura is an error
of the writer, since Cabrera Bueno, the authority on which dependence was
placed, gives the latitude of Monterey as 37°, while Costansé now made it
36° 30’; but the explanation is that this was written after subsequent explor-
ations further north which had an influence on Crespi’s words. The /unta
74 de guerra de la expedicion de tierra que pasaba en sclicitud del puerto te
Monterey en 4 de Octubre de 1769 is attached to the Portold, Diar‘o MS. In
his opening address Portolé says ‘what should be the Rio Carmelo is only an
arroyo; what should be a port is only a little ensenada; what were great lakes
are lagunillas;’ and yet to go on and find another Sierra de Sta Lucia would
take time; 11 men were sick, and only 50 costales of flour remained. Cos-
tansé gave his opinion first: that they were in only 36° 42’, while Monterey
was in 37° or perhaps more; they should not fail to explore up to 37° 30’ so as
either to find the port or to be sure of its non-existence. Fages followed and
also favored going on to 37° or a little more, as the port had certainly not
been passed, and they had not yet reached its latitude. Then Rivera, who
did not seem to think Monterey would be found, since it was not where it
ought to be, but thought they should establish themselves somewhere, but
not where they then were. Then Portold decided to rest 6 days, go on as
far as possible, and then select the most eligible place for a settlement if
Monterey did not appear. All agreed in writing to this plan, including
padres Gomez and Crespi.
152 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
It is and must ever remain more or less inexpli-
cable that the Spaniards should have failed at this
time to identify Monterey. All that was known of
that port had resulted from Vizcaino’s visit, and
this knowledge was in the hands of the explorers in
the works of Venegas and Cabrera Bueno. The de-
scription of landmarks was tolerably clear,” and in
fact these landmarks had been readily recognized by
Portold’s party at their first arrival on the bay shore.
Moreover, the advantages of the harbor had not been
very greatly exaggerated, both Torquemada, as quoted ,
by Venegas, and Cabrera Bueno having called Monte-
rey simply a famoso puerto, the former stating that it
was protected from all winds, and the latter, from all
except north-west winds. Yet with the harbor lying
at their feet, and with several landmarks so clearly
defined that Vila and Serra recognized them at once
from the reports at San Diego, and penetrated the
truth of the matter in spite of their companions’
mystification, the Spanish officers could find nothing
resembling the object of their search, and even were
tempted to account for the port’s disappearance by
the theory that since Vizcaino’s time it had perhaps
been filled up with sand!*
10See chapter iii., this volume.
11 Crespi’s remarks, in addition to what has been given in the preceding
narrative, are as follows: ‘In view of what has been said...and of our not
finding in these regions the port of Monterey so celebrated and so praised in
their time by men of character, skilful, intelligent, and practical navigators
who came expressly to explore these coasts by order of the king...we have
to say that it is not found after the most careful efforts made at cost of much
sweat and fatigue; or it must be said that it has been filled up and destroyed
with time, though we see no indications to support this opinion; and therefore
I suspend my opinion on this point, but what I can say with assurance is that
with all diligence on the part of comandante, officers, and soldiers no such
port has been found...At Pt Pinos there is no port, nor have we seen in
all our journey a country more desolate than this, or people more rude, Se-
bastian Vizcaino to the contrary notwithstanding. ..although this was easier
to be misrepresented than a port so famous as was Monterey in former cen-
turies.’ Viage, 395-6. In a letter buried before the final return it is stated
that the expedition ‘sighted Pt Pinos and the ensenadas north and south of
it without seeing any signs of the port of Monterey, and resolved to go on in
search of it,’ and again on the return ‘made an effort to search for the port
of Monterey within the mountain range following along the sea, in spite of
its roughness, but in vain.’ Palou, Not., i. 399-400. According to Palou,
Vida, 88, P. Crespi wrote him that he feared the port had been filled up; and
se
HOW THE ERROR OCCURRED. 153
There are, however, several circumstances which
tend to lessen our difficulty in accounting for the
error committed, and which are almost sufficient to
remove the difficulty altogether, especially so far as
this first visit on the northward march is concerned.
First, the Rio Carmelo, seen but once when swollen
by winter rains, was on the record as a ‘river of good
water though of little depth,” and in geographical
discussions of the past had gradually acquired great
importance. Portold’s party reaching the Salinas, the
largest river in this region, naturally supposed they
were on the Carmelo. If i were the Carmelo, Pt
Pinos should bear north rather than south; if it were
not, then not only was this large river not mentioned
in the old authorities, but there was no river in the
region to be identified with the Carmelo, for it never
occurred to the travellers to apply that name to the
creek, now nearly dry, which flowed into the en-
senada to the south’of the point. Second, Cabrera
Bueno’s description of the bays north and south of
Point Pinos as fine ports, the latter protected from all
winds and the former from all but those from the
north-west, was exaggerated, perhaps very much so; yet
it was not Galbbrera’e S or Vizcaine? S exaggerations that
Serra mentioned in one of his letters the same opinion founded on the great
sand dunes found where the port ought to be. /d., 92. Fages says: ‘We
knew not if the place where we were was that of our destination; still after
having carefully examined it and compared it with the relations of the ancient
voyagers, we resolved to continue our march; for after having taken the lati-
tude, we found that we were only in 36° 44’, while, according to the reports
of the pilot, Cabrera Bueno, Monterey should be in 37°, and so serious en
error was not supposable on the part of a man of well known skill. The con-
figuration of the coast did not agree either with the relations which served us
as a guide.’ Voy. en Cal., 328- 9. Rivera simply says: ‘We went in the ex-
pedition by land to San Diego and Monterey, and having failed to recognize
the latter we proceeded in search of it till we came to San Irancisco, w hence
for want of provisions we returned and the whole expedition elept two nights
in Monterey itself and encamped several days on the Rio Carmelo.’ S¢. Pap.,
Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 52-3. According to Ortega, ‘On October 5th or
Gth we reached Pt Pinos, and according to the indications of Capt. Vizcaino
and the piloto Cabrera Bueno—and our latitude as well—we should have
thought ourselves already at Monterey; but not finding the shelter and pro-
tection ascribed by them to the port caused us to doubt, since we saw a bight
over twelve leagues across with no shelter except for small craft at the point,
although the said bight is large enough to hold thousands of vessels, but with
little protection from some winds.’ Fra gmento, MS., 52.
154 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
misled Portolé. Monterey had been much talked and
written about during the past century and a half in
connection with the fables of Northern Mystery, and
while its waters lay undisturbed by foreign keel its
importance as a harbor had been constantly growing
in the minds of Spanish officials and missionaries. It
was not the piloto’s comparatively modest description
so much as the grand popular ideal which supported
the expectations of the governor and his companions,
and of which the reality fell so far short. Third, the
very different impressions of storm-tossed mariners
anchoring in the bay when its shores were brightened
and refreshed by winter rains, and of travellers arriv-
ing at the end of the dry season from the sunny clime,
large villages, and hospitable population of the Santa
Barbara Channel must be taken into consideration.
Fourth, the Spaniards had no boats in which to make
soundings and test the anchorage capacities of the
harbor. Fifth, Cabrera’s latitude was thirty minutes
higher than that resulting from Costansd’s observa-
tions.
To these considerations should be added two other
theories respecting the failure to find Monterey. One
is that favored by Palou,” who like some of his com-
panions was disposed to regard the concealment of
the port as a miraculous interposition of God at the
intercession and in the interests of St Francis; for
on starting from the peninsula after completing ar-
rangements for the new establishments, Father Juni-
pero had asked Galvez—‘‘and for Our Father San
I'rancisco is there to be no mission?” to which the
visitador had replied—‘‘if San Francisco wants a
mission let him cause his port to be found and it will
be put there;” and the saint did show his port and left
St Charles to do as much at Monterey later. The
12 “Tuego que lei esta noticia atribui 4 disposicion divina el que no hallando
la expedicion el puerto de Monterey en el parage que lo sefialaba el antiguo
derrotero, siguiese hasta llegar al Puerto de N. P. S. Francisco.’ Vida de
Junipero Serra, 88. Gleeson, Hist. Cath. Ch., ii. 35-8, accepts the view that
it was a miracle.
SANTA CRUZ REGION. 155
other theory is one that was somewhat prevalent
among the descendants of the first Spanish soldiers
and settlers in later years, namely, that the explorers
had secret orders from Galvez not to find Monterey,
but to go on to San Francisco.* Neither this view
of the matter nor that involving supernatural agencies
seems to demand much comment. It would be very
difficult to prove the inaccuracy of either.
It having been determined to proceed, Ortega and
afew men advance October 6th to make a reconnois-
sance which seems to favor former conclusions, since
he saw another river and thought he saw another
wooded point, which might be the veritable Rio Car-
melo and Point Pinos. Next day the whole company
set out and in twenty-three days march up the coast
to Point Angel Custodio, since called Point San
Pedro. Eleven men have to be carried in litters,™
and progress is slow. On the 8th the Pdjaro River
is crossed and named by the soldiers from a stuffed
bird found among the natives. A week later in the
vicinity of Soquel the palo colorado, or redwood,
begins to be seen. On the 17th they cross and name
the Rio de San Lorenzo, at the site of the present
Santa Cruz; and on the 23d Point Afio Nuevo is
passed. Vegetables soon give out as had meat long
ago, and rations are reduced to five tortillas of bran
and flour a day. Portoléand Rivera are added to the
sick list. On the 28th the rains begin, and the men
are attacked by diarrhcea, which seems to relieve the
scurvy. The 30th they reach a point with detached
rocks, or farallones, located by Costansé in 37° 31’,
13 Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 39-42; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 19-20;
Vallejo (J. J.), Remin., MS., 66-7. All have heard from Ignacio Vallejo and
others of his time that Portol4 was supposed to have passed Monterey inten-
tionally.
ué Oriepa describes the labors and sufferings of the men more fully than
others. He says 16 lost the use of their limbs. Hach night they were
rubbed with oil and each morning were fastened to the tjeras, a kind of
wooden frame, and raised to the backs of the mules. The rain however
brought some relief. Mragmento, MS.
156 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
where the hills bar the passage along the shore. It is
named Point Angel Custodio and Point Almejas,
being that now known as San Pedro.”
It is the last day of October. After some prelimi-
nary examination by an advance party, the whole com-
pany climb the hill and gaze about them. On their
left is the ever present sea, rolling off to the west in
a dim eternity of waters. Before them is a bay, or
bight, lying between the point on which they stand
and one beyond extending into the sea far to the north-
west. Rising abruptly full before them, high above
the ocean, the bold shore presents a dismal front in
its summer-soiled robes, as yet undyed by the delicious
winter rains, the clouded sun meanwhile refusing its fre-
quent exhibitions of exquisite colorings between the
deep blue waters and the dark, purple bluff. Farther to
the left, about west-north-west from their position and
apparently south-west from the distant point, is seen
a group of six or seven whitish farallones; and finally
looking along the shore northward they discover white
cliffs and what appears to be the mouth of an inlet
making toward the north-east. There is no mistaking
these landmarks so clearly laid down by Cabrera Bu-
eno.”* The travellers recognize them immediately;
the distant point of land must be Point Reyes, and
under it lies the port of San Francisco. The saint
has indeed and unexpectedly brought the missionaries
within sight of his port. Strong in this well founded
conviction, the pilgrims descend the hill northward
and encamp near the beach at the southern extremity
18 Mr Doyle, Address 7, makes it Corral de Tierra, or Pillar Point, at the
northern extremity of Half Moon Bay. Ido not know if this was a deliber-
ately formed opinion; but my reasons for identifying Mussel Point with San
Pedro are: Ist, the detached rocks or farallones not found in connection with
the other points, see Cal. State Geol. Surv. Map of region adjacent to S. F., 1867;
2d, the hiils cutting off the shore passage as they do not at Pillar Point, see Jd. ;
3d, the clear view of Drake Bay and the Farallones, etc.; and 4th, the fact
that in order to put in the number of leagues they did going south along the
cafiada they must have crossed at San Pedro rather than at Pillar, especially,
if as Doyle suggests, their last camp was no farther south than Searsville
There are, however, some difficulties.
6 For this author’s full description of this region see chap. iii. this volume.
THE OLD SAN FRANCISCO. 157
of the sheet of water known to the Spaniards from
that time as the Ensenada de los Farallones. .
There has been much perplexity in the minds of
modern writers respecting this port of San Francisco,
resulting from want of familiarity with the original
records, and from the later transfer of the name to
another bay. These writers have failed to clear away
the difficulties that seemed to surround the subject.”
I have no space to catalogue all the erroneous “ideas
that have been Bad seaunaet but most authors seem
to have supposed that the matter was as dark in the
minds of the Spaniards as in their own, and it has
been customary to interpret the reply of Galvez to
Serra already quoted somewhat like this: “If San
Francisco wants a mission let him reveal the where-
abouts of this port of his of which we have heard so
much and which we have never been able to find,”
in other instances more simply, “let him show a edna
port if he wants a mission.”
™Certain exceptions should be noted. My assistant, in the Overland
Ai y, made known for the first time to the English- reading public the
statements of Cabrera Bueno and Crespi, and in a few brief notes “put the sub-
ject in its true light. Doyle in notes to his reprint of Palou subsequently
gave a correct version; and several writers since have partially utilized the
information thus presented.
** The following from Dwinelle’s Colon. Hist. 8. F., xi. 24, is a sample of
the errors current in the best class of works: ‘There was a report in Mexico
that such a port existed, yet navigators sent to explore it had not succeeded
in finding it, and even at Monter ey y nobody believed in it. But in 1772 Father
Junipero, taking the viceroy at his word, caused an overland expedition to set
out for Monterey under the command of Juan B. Ainsa to search for the apoc-
ryphal port. They were so successful as to discover the present bay of San
Francisco.’ Dwinelle’s idea seems to be that there was a tradition of such a
bay before Drake’s time; that Drake and others after him missed the bay on
account of fogs, etc.; and that the real bay had thus come to be regarded as
apochryphal. Randolph in his famous oration, //uéching»’ Mag., v. 209, regards
it ‘as one of the most remarkable facts in history that others had passcd it,
anchored near it, and actually given its name to adjacent roadsteads, and so
described its position that it was immediately known; and yet that the cloud
had never been lifted which concealed the entrance of the bay of San I*ran-
cisco, and that it was at last discovered by land,’ Randolph’s error was in
supposing that it was the inside bay that ‘was immediately known,’ rather
than the ‘adjacent roadstead.’ Tuthill, Hist. Cal., 77-9, says that Portola
went on to San Francisco and recognized it as having been before described.
Possibly some Spaniards had visited the port and their oral descriptions mixed
with that of Drake gave rise to the name and to glowing accounts which were
accredited to Monterey! Thus all became confusion between the two bays.
Some authors, See ey, stating that Portola discovered the bay of San Fran-
158. EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
There was, however, nothing mysterious in the
matter, save as all things in the north were at one
time or another tinged with mystery. The truth is
that before 1769 San Francisco Port under Point
Reyes had been twice visited by Spaniards, to say
nothing of a probable visit by an Englishman, while
Monterey had received only one visit; both were
located and described with equal clearness in Cabrera
Bueno’s coast-pilot; and consequently, if less talked
about San Francisco was quite as well known to Gal-
vez, Portoldé, Crespi, and the rest, as was Monterey.
The visitador’s remark to Serra meant simply, ‘if San
I’rancisco wants a mission let him favor our enter-
prise so that our exploration and occupation may be
extended northward to include his port.” The ex-
plorers passed up the coast, came within sight of San
Francisco Port, and had no difficulty in recognizing
the landmarks at first glance. The miracle in the
padre’s eyes was not in the showing of San Francisco,
but in the concealment of Monterey. And all this,
be it remembered, without the slightest suspicion or
tradition of the existence of any other San Fran-
cisco, or of the grand inland bay so near which has
since made the name famous. St Francis had indeed
brought the Spaniards within sight of his port, but
his mission was not to be there; and some years later,
when the Spaniards found they could not go to San
Francisco, they decided that San Francisco must come
to them, and accordingly transferred the name south-
ward to the peninsula and bay. Hence the confu-
cisco in 1769, also tell us that he named it.. See Gleeson’s Hist. Cath. Ch., ii.
38; Capron’s Hist. Cal., 122; Soule’s Annals of S. F., 46, etc.; but the inner.
bay was not named for some years, and the outer bay had been named long
before. That confusion still reigns in the minds of the best writers is shown
by the following from /7itttell’s Hist. S. Francisco, 41; ‘The Spanish explorers,
Portola and Crespi, did not imagine that they had made a discovery. They
saw that the harbor was different from that of Monterey, described by Viz-
caino, but they imagined that it was the bay of San Francisco mentioned by
their navigators as lying under shelter of Point Reyes. Friar Juan Crespi,
who may be considered the head of the expedition, not knowing that he had
made a discovery, did on the 7th of November 1769 discover the site and
harbor of San Francisco, and he gave to them the name which they now bear.’
DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY. 159
sion alluded to. It must be borne in mind that the
inner bay was not named during this trip, nor for
some years later; while the outer bay had been named
for more than a half century.
A few of the company still venture to assert that
Monterey has not been passed, and to remove all
doubt it is decided to send the explorers forward to
Point Reyes. Ortega sets out with a small party on
the day following, taking provisions for a three days’
trip. Meanwhile the rest remain in camp just north
of Mussel Point. But during Ortega’s absence, the
2d of November, some of the soldiers, in hunting for
deer, climb the north-eastern hills, and return with
tidings of a new discovery. From the summit they
had beheld a great inland sea stretching northward
and south-eastward as far as the eye could reach. The
country is well wooded they say, and. exceedingly
beautiful. Thus European eyes first rest on the waters
of San Francisco Bay; but the names of these deer-
hunters can never be known. At camp they make
one error on hearing the news, by attempting to iden-
tify this new “‘brazo de mar 6 estero” with the ‘‘es-
tero” mentioned by Cabrera Bueno as entering the
land from the port of San Francisco under Point
Reyes;” that is, at first thought it did not seem pos-
sible for an inlet of so great extent to have escaped
the notice of the early voyagers; but this erroneous
idea does not last long, or lead to any results. It is
at once foreseen that Ortega’s party will not be able
to reach Point Reyes, because he has no boats in
which to cross, and no time to go round the inlet.
And indeed next day Ortega returns. As had been
anticipated, he had not been able to cross the inlet
and reach San Francisco. To Ortega, whose descend-
ants still live in California, belongs the honor of having
19Tt must be remembered that, to casual observers like the hunters at
least, standing on the San Bruno hills, the connection of the bay with the
ocean would seem to be very much farther north than the Golden Gate, and
possibly far enough north to reach the bay under Pt Reyes.
160 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
first explored the peninsula on which stands the com-
mercial metropolis of the west coast of North Amer-
ica; probably also that of having discovered what is
now known as the Golden Gate, and possibly that of
being the discoverer of the bay, for he may have
climbed the hills on his way north and have looked
down on the ‘brazo de mar,’ before the deer-hunters
saw it. Yet we have no details of Ortega’s ex-
ploration, because he comes back with one idea
which has driven all others from his mind, and which
indeed turns the thoughts of the whole company into
a new channel. He has understood the natives, of
whom he found some on the peninsula, to say that
at the head of the ‘brazo de mar’ is a harbor, and in
it a vessel at anchor.
Visions of the San José and of the food and other
necessaries they can now obtain float before them
sleeping and waking. Some think that after all they
are indeed at Monterey. Obviously the next thing
to be done is to seek that harbor and vessel. Hence
on the 4th of November they break camp and set
out, at first keeping along the shore, but soon turning
inland and crossing the hills north-eastward, the
whole company looking down from the summit upon
the inland sea, and then descending into a caiiada,
down which they follow southward for a time and
then encamp; the day’s march being only about five
or six miles in all. They have crossed the San Bruno
hills from just above Point San Pedro to the head
of the cafiada in a course due west from Milbrae.
Next day they march down the same cafiada, called
by them San Francisco, now San Andrés and San
Raimundo, for three leagues and a half, having the
main range on the right, and on the left a line of
low hills which obstruct their view of the bay. They
encamp on a large lagoon, now Laguna Grande, on San
Mateo Creek. On the 6th they continue their march
20 Tt must also be noted that among Fages’ volunteers there was a Sergeant
Puig who may possibly be entitled to all this honor, but probably not.
ee Oe
ON THE PENINSULA. 161
for other three leagues and a half to the end of the
cafiada, pitching their camp on a stream flowing into
the bay—doubtless the San Francisquito Creek in
the vicinity of Searsville.
Here the main force remain four days, suffering
considerably from hunger, and many making them-
selves ill by eating acorns, while the sergeant and
MOovEMENTS OF THE DISCOVERERS.
eight of the party are absent examining the country
and searching for the port and vessel. On the 10th
of November the men return and report the country
sterile and the natives hostile. There is another large
‘estero’ communicating with the one in sight, but no
sion of any port at its end, which is far away and
difficult to reach. There is nothing to show how far
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 11
162 EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY AND SAN FRANCISCO.
this reconnoissance extended along the bay shore;
but the new estero is evidently but the south-eastern
extension of the main bay; and reports of the country
are doubtless colored by disappointment respecting
the San José. A council of officers and friars is
called on the 11th, and after the solemnities of holy
mass each member gives his written opinion on what
should be done. The decision is unanimous that it is
useless to seek Monterey farther north, and that it is
best to return to Point Pinos. Portolé makes some
objection, probably as a matter of form, but yields to
the views of the others.
The same afternoon they set out on their return,
and in a march of twenty-six days, over the same —
route by which they came, and without incidents that
require notice, they reach what is really Carmelo
Bay. Here they remain from November 28th to
December 10th, making some additional explorations,
but finding no port, and in fact learning nothing new
save that the mountains in the south belong to the
Sierra de Santa Lucfa and that no passage along the
shore is practicable. Grass is now abundant for the
animals, but the men can get no game, fish, or even
clams. Some gulls are eaten, and a mule is killed
which only the Catalan volunteers and Lower Cali-
fornians will eat. Finally, after religious exercises on
the preceding day a councilis held on the 7th." Three
plans are proposed. Some, and among them the gov-
ernor, favor dividing the force, part remaining at Point
Pinos to wait for a vessel, the rest returning to San
Diego; others think it best for all to remain till pro-
visions are exhausted, and then depend on mule-meat
for the return; but the prevailing sentiment and the
decision are in favor of immediate return, since sup-
plies are reduced to fourteen small sacks of flour, while
the cold is excessive and snow begins to cover the
hills. Meanwhile two mulatto arrieros desert, and on
21 The record of this junta and of the former one of Nov. 11th were in-
cluded in the original Portoldé, Diario, MS., but are not in the copy.
BACK TO SAN DIEGO. 163
the 9th an iron band supposed to have come from the
mast of some vessel is found on the beach by the natives.
Before leaving Carmelo Bay a large cross is set up
on a knoll near the beach, bearing the carved inscrip-
tion “Dig at the foot and thou wilt find a writing.”
The buried document is a brief narrative of the expe-
dition with a request that the commander of any ves-
sel arriving soon will sail down the coast and try to
communicate with the land party.” Recrossing the
peninsula they set up, on the shore of the very harbor
they could not find, another cross with an inscription
announcing their departure. Setting out on their
return the 11th they ascend the Salinas and retrace,
with a few exceptions, their former route. It is an
uneventful journey, but I catalogue a few details in a
note.” Below the San Luis Obispo region the natives
begin to bring in an abundance of fish and other food,
so that there is no further suffering, and on January
24, 1770, with many curious conjectures as to the
condition in which their friends will be found, they
approach the palisade enclosure at San Diego, and
announce their arrival by a discharge of musketry.
Warm welcome follows and then comparison of notes.
Neither party can report much progress toward the
conquest of California.
22'The letter is dated Dec. 9th, and is translated in Doyle’s Address.
*3 December 16th, a lean mule left in the Sierra de Sta Lucia was recovered
fat and well cared for by the natives. 20th, to prevent theft provisions
were distributed, 40 tortillas to each man and a little biscuit, ham, and
chocolate for each officer and padre. 21st, a man who had deserted at Point
Pinos was found among the natives and excused himself by saying that he had
gone in search of Monterey in the hope of honor and reward. Another
deserter returned later to San Diego. 24th and 25th, the natives began to
bring in food. 28th, stuck fast in a mud-hole near San Luis Obispo, and
unable to say mass though it was a day of festa. January Ist, a bear and
cubs killed furnishing material for a feast. January 3d, passed Point Con-
cepcion. 4th, another fat mule restored by the natives. Food now abundant.
11th, at Asumpta, or Santa Barbara. January 12th to 15th, instead of going
up the Santa Clara River, they took a more southern route. They could not
get through by the first route tried, on which they named the Triunfo ran-
cheria, a name that seems to have survived; but they finally crossed by the
modern stage route via Simi. January 16th to 18th, their route through the
Los Angeles region was also different but not very clear. On the 17th they
crossed the Rio Porcitncula and went to a valley which they called San
Miguel, where San Gabriel mission afterwards stood; and next day they
crossed the Rio Santa Ana 6 long leagues distant.
CHAPTER VII.
OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY—FOUNDING OF SAN CARLOS, SAN
ANTONIO, AND SAN GABRIEL.
1770-1771.
Arrairs aT SAN DreGo—A DISHEARTENED GOVERNOR—CALIFORNIA TO BE
ABANDONED—RIVERA’S TRIP TO THE SOUTH—PRAYER ANSWERED—
ARRIVAL OF THE ‘SAN ANTONIO ’— DiscovERY oF MontTEREY—IN Camp
ON CARMELO BAY—FOoUNDING OF THE PRESIDIO AND MIsSION oF SAN
CARLoS—DEspPATCHES SENT SoutH By LAND AND SEA—PorTOLA LEAVES
Faces IN COMMAND—RECEPTION OF THE NEwWs IN MEex1co—TEN PADRES
SENT TO CALIFORNIA—PAatov’s MEMoRIAL—MISSION WoRK IN THE
NortH—ARRIVAL OF THE NEW PADRES—STATIONS ASSIGNED—FouND-
ING OF SAN ANTONIO—TRANSFER OF SAN CARLOS TO CARMELO Bay—
Events at San DrrGo—DESERTIONS—RETIREMENT OF PARRON AND
GoMEZ—ESTABLISHING OF SAN GABRIEL—OUTRAGES BY SOLDIERS.
At San Diego during Portold’s absence no progress
had been made in mission work, save perhaps the ad-
dition of a palisade and a few tule huts to the build-
ings. The governor’s return in January 1770, from
his unsuccessful trip to Monterey, had no effect to
brighten the aspect of affairs, since he was much dis-
heartened, and not disposed to afford aid to the presi-
dent in advancing the interests of a mission that would
very likely have to be abandoned. So nothing was
done beyond making a new corral for the horses.
Serra and Parron were just recovering from the
scurvy, and Vizcaino was still suffering from the
arrow wound in his hand.’ Portold’s plan was to
make a careful inventory of supplies, reserve enough
for the march. to Velicaté, and abandon San Diego
when the remainder should be exhausted, which would
1 Kight of the volunteers had died. Portold, Diario, MS., 34.
(164 )
“MUST CALIFORNIA BE ABANDONED ? 165.
be a little after the middle of April, the 20th being
fixed as the date of departure.
The friars, especially Serra and Crespi, were greatly
disappointed at the governor’s resolution. They were
opposed to the idea of abandoning an enterprise so
auspiciously begun, though how they expected the
soldiers to live does not clearly appear. Portoldé was
probably somewhat too much inclined to look at the
dark side; while the president perhaps allowed his
missionary zeal to impair his judgment. So far as
they were concerned, personally, Serra and Crespi
resolved to stay in the country at all hazards; and for
the result they could only trust in providence to send
supplies before the day set for departure. They re-
ceived some encouragement, however, from Captain
Vila, who, judging from the description, agreed with
Serra that the northern port where a cross had been
left was really Monterey. Furthermore it is said
that Vila made a secret promise to take the priests on
board the San Carlos, wait at San Diego for another
vessel, and renew the northern coast enterprise.”
On the 11th of February Rivera was despatched
southward, with nineteen or twenty soldiers, two
muleteers, two natives, eighty mules, and ten horses.
He was accompanied by Padre Vizcaino whose lame
hand procured him leave of absence; and his destina-
tion was Velicatdé, where he was to get the cattle
that had been left there, and such other supplies as
inight be procurable. He carried full reports to secu-
Jar and Franciscan authorities of all that had thus
far befallen the expedition, bearing also a letter from
Serra to Palou, in which the writer bewailed the
prospect of failure and announced his intention to
remain to the last. After some skirmishes with the
savages, two of whom had to be killed to frighten
away the rest, Rivera reached Velicaté February
25th, at once setting about his task of gathering sup-
plies, in which he was zealously seconded by Palou;
?Palou, Vida, 95-6.
166 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
but some months passed before he could be ready to
march northward—indeed, before he was ready the
urgent necessity had ceased.
Meanwhile at San Diego men and officers were
waiting, preparations were being made for departure,
friars were praying, and days were passing one by
one, but yet no vessel came. The only conversation
was of abandoning the northern country, and every
word was an arrow to the soul of the pious Junifpero;
but he. could only pray unceasingly, and trust to the
intercession of Saint Joseph the great patron of the
expedition. In his honor a novena—nine days’ public
prayer—was instituted, to culminate in a grand cere-
monial entreaty on the saint’s own day, March the
19th, the day-before the one of final abandonment.
Gently smiled the morning sun on that momentous
morrow as it rose above the hills and warmed to hap-
piness the myriads of creatures beneath its benignant
rays. Surpassingly lovely the scene; the beautiful
bay in its fresh spring border hiding behind the hills
like a sportive girl from briny mother ocean. At-an
early hour the fathers were abroad on the heights,
for they could neither eat nor rest. The fulfilment or
failure of their hopes was now to be determined. The
day wore slowly away; noon came, and the hours of
the afternoon, and yet no sail appeared. The suspense
was painful, for it was more than life to these holy
men, the redemption of the bright, fresh paradise;
and so all the day they watched and prayed, watched
with strained eyes, and prayed, not with lips only but
with all those soul-longings which omniscience alone
can translate. Finally, as the sun dropped below the
horizon and all hope was gone, a sail appeared in the
distance like a winged messenger from heaven, and
before twilight deepened into darkness the so ardently
longed-for vessel was in the offing. California was
saved, blessed be God! and they might yet consum-
mate their dearly cherished schemes.
nel i
= ce > Tae
COMING OF RELIEF. 167
The fourth day thereafter the San Antonio anchored
in the bay, whence she had sailed the previous July.
She had reached San Blas in twenty days, and both
Galvez and the viceroy gave immediate orders to pro-
vide the needed supplies. After certain vexatious but
unavoidable delays, she had again turned her prow
northward in December. Perez had orders to sail
for Monterey direct, where it was supposed Portoldé
would be found; but fortunately he was obliged to
enter the Santa Barbara channel for water, and the.
natives explained that the land expedition had re-
turned southward. Hiven then Perez in his perplexity
would have gone to Monterey had not the loss of an
anchor forced him to turn about just in time to pre-
. vent the abandonment of San Diego. The San An-
tomo brought abundant supplies, and she also brought
instructions from Galvez and Viceroy Croix, one or
both of which facts drove from Portolé’s mind all
thought of abandoning the conquest.. He made haste
in his preparations for a return to Monterey with
Serra and Crespi, setting out overland April 17th,
after despatching the San Antomo northward the day
before.
There were left at San Diego, Vila with a mate and
five sailors on the San Carlos, Sergeant Ortega and
eight soldiers de cuera as a guard, Parron and Gomez
as regular ministers in charge of the mission, and ten
Lower Californians as laborers. The San Carlos had
orders to receive a crew from the San José when that
most uncertain craft should arrive, and then proceed
to Monterey. Simultaneously with the departure of
the northern expedition two natives had been sent
south with letters which reached Velicaté in nine
days, and Loreto late in May. All went quietly with
the little company left to struggle spiritually with the
southern gentilidad. Let it be hoped that before the
end of 1770 the missionaries succeeded in making a
few converts, as they probably did, but.there is no
positive record of a single baptism. Rivera with his
168 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
nineteen or twenty soldiers, over eighty mules laden
with supplies, and one hundred and sixty-four head of
cattle, having left Velicaté in May,’ arrived in July.
About the same time messengers came down by land
announcing the successful occupation of Monterey, and
the intention of Portold to come down by sea and take
the San Carlos for San Blas. Vila, accordingly, made
ready for departure, obtaining a soldier and two mule-
teers to reénforce his crew; but as the San Antonio
did not appear, and his own vessel was being injured
by her long stay, in August the worthy captain shook
out his idle sails and made for San Blas. He died a
little later, and his pioneer paquebot had to return to
California under a new commander.*
Let us turn again toward the north with the expe-
ditions sent out by land and sea to renew the search
for Monterey. The San Antonio sailed from San Diego
April 16th, having on board besides Perez and crew—
Miguel del Pino being second officer—Junipero Serra,
Miguel Costansé, Pedro Prat,’ and a cargo of stores
for a new mission. Next day Portold set out by land,
his company consisting of Fages: with twelve Cata-
lan volunteers and seven soldados de cuera, Padre
Crespi, two muleteers, and five natives. They followed
the same route as before, recovered in the Sierra de
Santa Lucia an Indian who had deserted on the former
trip, and finally encamped on the 24th of May near
the spot where they had left the second cross the
winter before on the bay shore. They found the cross
still standing, but curiously surrounded and adorned
with arrows, sticks, feathers, fish, meat, and clams
evidently deposited there by the savages as offerings
to the strangers’ fetich. And later when the natives
3 April 14th, according to Monterey, Estracto de Noticias.
* On San Diego events of 1770 see Palou, Not., i. 423-6, 432-9, 460-1; Jd.,
Vida, 88-104,
5 By computation there should also have been on board 2 mechanics, 5
servants, 3 muleteers, and 6 Lower Californians; but it is doubtful if these
figures are correct, especially in the items of Indians and muleteers, not a
very useful class of persons on board a ship.
OFFERINGS TO THE CROSS. 169
had learned to make themselves understood, to speak
as best should please their teachers, some strange tales
they told, how the cross had been illuminated at night
and had grown in stature till it seemed to reach the
heavens, moving the gentiles to propitiate by their
offerings this Christian symbol that it might do them
noharm. As Portola, Crespi, and Fages walked along
the beach that afternoon returning from a visit to the
cross, they looked out over the placid bay, ruffled only
by the movements of seals and whales, and they said,
all being of one accord, “This is the port of Monterey
which we seek, just as Vizcaino and Cabrera Bueno
describe it”—and so it was, the only wonder being that
they had not known it before. Soon for lack of fresh
water camp was moved across to Carmelo Bay.
A. week later, on the last day of May, the San
Antomo hove in sight off Point Pinos; fires were
lighted on shore for her guidance; and she entered the
harbor by Cabrera’s sailing directions. She had at
first been driven south to latitude 30°, and then north
to the Ensenada de los Farallones, where she might
have explored the port of San Francisco and the
newly discovered inland bay had not Perez’ orders
required him to steer direct for Monterey. June Ist
the governor, friar, and lieutenant crossed over from
Carmelo to welcome the new arrival, and the order
was given to transfer the camp back to the port of
Monterey, about whose identity there was ‘no longer
any doubt; for close search along the shore revealed
the little ravine with its pools of fresh water, the trees,
and even the wide-spreading oak whose branches
touched the water at high tide and under which mass
had been said by Ascension in 1602,° all as in olden
time except the crowds of friendly natives.
6 ‘Hizose la Iglesia 4 la sombra de una grande Encina, que con algunas de
sus ramas llegaba 4 la Mar, y cerca de ella, en una Barranquilla, 4 veinte pas-
sos, havia unos pozos en que havia agua muy buena.’ Venegas, Not. Cal., ili.
101-2, quoted from Torquemada. According to Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i.
54, the tree under which Ascension said mass in 1602, and Serra in 1770, is
still standing, being that under which a new cross was set up on the 100th
anniversary June 3, 1870; but as the latter tree is at some distance from the
170 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
On the 3d of June all were assembled on the beach,
where an enramada, or shelter of branches, had been
erected and a cross made ready near the old oak.
Water was blessed, the bells were hung, and the fiesta
began by loud and oft-repeated peals. Then Father
Junipero donned his alb and stole, and all on bended
knee chanted the venite creator spiritus, after which
the cross was planted and blessed, and the good friar
sprinkled beach and fields with holy water, thus “ put-
ting to rout all infernal foes.” An image of. the holy
virgin presented by Archbishop Lorenzana of Mexico
having been set up on the altar, mass was said by
Serra amidst the thunder of cannon and the crack of
musketry, followed by a salve to the image and a
te deum laudamus. The church ceremonies ended,
Portola proceeded to take formal possession in the
name of Carlos III. by hoisting and saluting the royal
flag of Spain, and going through the usual forms of
pulling grass, throwing stones, and recording all in
the prescribed acta. Finally the officers and friars
ate together under the shade of trees near the shore,
while the soldiers and others enjoyed their feast a little
apart.
Thus were formally founded on June 3, 1770, the
mission and presidio of San Carlos Borromeo de
Monterey.’ The mission was founded in the name of
tide-water the identity may be questioned. David Spence, an old and well
known citizen of Monterey; said that Junipero’s tree was shown him in 1824
by Mariano Estrada, and that it fell in 1837 or 1838, the water having washed
away the earth from its roots. Spence thought there was no doubt of its
identity. Yaylor’s Discov. and Founders, ii., No. 24, 5.
7S$t Charles Borromeo was born at Arona near Milan, Italy, in 1538. He
was son of the Count of Arona, nephew of Pope Pius IV., archbishop of
Milan, and cardinal. Dying in 1584, he was canonized in 1610. A word is
necessary to remove certain difficulties into which modern writers and modern
usage have fallen respecting the name of this mission. This name was
always San Carlos; San Carlos de Monterey was simply San Carlos at Mon-
terey, that port having been named long before. When the mission was
moved to Carmelo bay and river it was naturally spoken of as San Carlos del
Carmelo, or San Carlos at Carmelo, a port also named long before. But Mon-
terey being a prominent place the mission continued to be often called San
Carlos at Monterey, or San Carlos at Carmelo near Monterey, as the Spanish
preposition de may best be translated. But again the full name of the bay
and river Carmelo was Nuestra Sefiora del Monte Carmelo, or Nra. Sra. del
Carmen, and hence anew source of confusion arose, all of which, however,
ee
a Se ne Tn, Dae ee ee a
EE a a ee sae De er ad ete an AD al
MISSION OF SAN CARLOS. 171
the college of San Fernando; Saint Joseph was named
as patron; and Crespi was appointed as associate min-
ister with Serra. A few humble huts were at once
erected on a site surveyed by Costansd, a gunshot
from the beach and three times as far from the port,
on an inlet which communicated with the bay at high
water. These buildings constituted both presidio and
mission, as at San Diego, being enclosed by a palisade.
One of the huts was completed and blessed as a tem-
porary church on the 14th of June, when a grand pro-
cession took place; bells were rung, and guns were
fired; but thus far no natives appeared, being fright-
ened it is said by the noise of cannon and musketry.
A. soldier and a young sailor volunteered to carry
despatches with news of success to San Diego and to
the peninsula. They started June 14th, met Rivera
just below San Diego, were reénforced by five of his
men, and finally carried their glad tidings to Gov-
ernor Armona, who had just succeeded Portold, and
to Padre Palou at Todos Santos, on the 2d of August.
Salutes and thanksgiving masses celebrated the occa-
sion at Loreto, Todos Santos, and Santa Ana, while
Armona despatched a vessel to carry the news to the
main.
In accordance with previous orders from Galvez,
Portoldé, as soon as a beginning was fairly made at
Monterey, turned the government of the new estab-
lishments over to Fages as military commandant, and
sailed away in the San Antonio on the 9th of July.
He took with him the engineer Costansé; and Perez
may be removed by bearing in mind that the mission was always San Carlos,
and that other words were used solely to express its locality. Tay'or, in Cal.
Farmer, April 20, 1860, gives the following native names of locahties at Mon-
terey; site of modern town Achiesta or Achasta; beach, Sukilta; Fort hill,
Hunnukul; site of post-office, Shirista. About the date of foundation on June
3d, there is no possible error. Palou, Serra, the mission books of San Carlos,
and scores of official reports in later years confirm this. Vallejo, Hist. Ca/.,
MS., i. 66-8, and Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 23-4, are very positive that
the mission was not founded till later; but these writers confound the found-
ing with the subsequent transfer. See S. Cérlos, Lib. Mision, MS., Prov.
St. Pap., MS., i. 109-10. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., v. pt. il. 33.
172 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
intended to touch at San Diego to divide his crew
with the San Carlos if the San José had not yet ap-
peared, but, as we have seen, was not able to do so,
and arrived at San Blas the Ist of August. Costansé
and Perez went to Mexico as bearers of the news,
arriving on the 10th, at which date the name of the
former disappears from the annals of California for
twenty years or more, at the end of which time we
shall find him giving some sensible advice on Califor-
‘nian affairs; while of Portolé nothing is known after
his landing ‘at San Blas, except that he was governor
of Puebla in 1779. He was first in the list of Cali-
fornia rulers. His term of office may be regarded as
having extended from April 1769 to July 9, 1770,
and he is spoken of in the record both as governor
and comandante; but, though there is some confusion
respecting his exact title, it appears that that of
military commandant is used with more propriety
than the other.®
Leaving the four friars under the protection of
Fages and his nineteen men in the north and of Rivera
with his twenty-two men in the south,’ busy in ear-
8 Portola came to Lower California in 1768 as governor, the first the penin-
sula had ever had; but when he volunteered to take command in person of
the northern expedition, it seems that Armona was appointed to succeed him
in the governorship. I do not know the exact date of Armona’s appointment,
but he arrived at Loreto in June 1769, and went back to the mainland two
weeks later without having taken possession of his office. In the mean time
Gonzalez ruled as a kind of lieutenant-governor or military commandant until
relieved in October 1769 by Toledo, who governed in the same capacity until
Armona, who had failed to get his resignation accepted, returned in June
1770 to rule until November, Moreno ruling, in much the same capacity
apparently as Gonzalez and Toledo, until the arrival of Gov. Barri in March
1771. Now while Gonzalez, Toledo, and Moreno cannot be properly credited
with any authority in Upper California, their terms as interinos render it
difficult to detine those of the proprietary governors. Thus, though Portola
was in a sense governor of the Californias down to June 1770, since no regu-
lar successor had taken possession of the office, I have nained him in my list
of rulers of Alta California as commandant from the first settlement down
to J wy 9, 1770. In Monterey, Estracto de Noticias, he is called comandante
en gefe
® Rivera and his men were expected to march to Monterey on their return
from the peninsula, but for some unexplained reason, possibly dissatisfaction
at Fages’ appointment to the chief command, Rivera remained at San Diego.
According to Monterey, Estracto de Noticias, Fages had a force of over 30
men besides Rivera’s force, which is an error.
THE NEWS IN MEXICO. 173
nest if not very successful efforts to attract and convert
the gentiles of Monterey and San Diego, let us glance
briefly at what was being done in Mexico to advance
Spanish interests in the far north. We have seen
that the news of success at Monterey had arrived by
land at Loreto and by sea at San Blas early in August. .
Therefore, the despatchés sent by Portoldé from San
Blas reached Mexico in advance of the others on the
10th. The news was received with great manifesta-
tions of joy; the cathedral bells rang out their glad
peals, those of the churches responding. A solemn
thanksgiving mass was said at which all government
dignitaries were present; and there followed a grand
reception at which Galvez and Croix received con-
gratulations in the royal name for this last extension
of the, Spanish domain. Immediate and liberal pro-
vision was made for the new establishments. So
favorable were the reports on both country and inhab-
itants that it was resolved at once to forward all
needed aid and to found five new missions above San
Diego. The guardian of San Fernando was asked to
furnish ten friars for these missions, besides twenty
more for old and new missions in the peninsula. For-
tunately a large number of Franciscans had lately
arrived from Spain, and after some deliberation and
discussion resulting in a determination to secularize
the Sierra Gorda missions, the required missionaries
were furnished.”
These arrangements were all made within six days
after the news arrived, and under the date of August
16th the viceroy caused to be printed in the govern-
ment printing-office for general circulation a résumé
in pamphlet form of all that had been accomplished
by the northern expeditions, the present condition
of the new presidios and missions, and of what had
10The 10 were Antonio Paterna, president en route, Antonio Cruzado,
Buenaventura Sitjar, Domingo Juncosa, Francisco Dumetz, José Cavaller,
Angel Somera, Luis Jaume, Miguel Pieras, and Pedro Benito Cambon. They
were to receive each a stipend of $275 a year, and $400 travelling expenses.
Each new mission received $1,000 and the necessary vestments, including a
specially fine ornamento, or set of vestments, for Monterey. é
174 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
been decided upon respecting aid for further exten-
sion." The San Antonio was to sail from San blag
in October with the ten friars and a full cargo of
supplies. The priests set out from the college in
that month, but were obliged to wait at Tepic until
January 20, 1771, before the vessel could be made
ready for sea.” The viceroy in his letter to Fages
states that Rivera is ordered to put his men at
the commandant’s disposal, and the captain of the
company at Guaymas has orders to send twelve men
to supply the places of those who had died on the
voyage. In 1771 the only thing to be noticed is
the memorial presented in December to the viceroy
by the guardian of San Fernando, at the suggestion
of Palou. Twelve of the eighteen articles of this
document were suggestions for the welfare of the new
establishments, some of them founded on minor dis-
agreements which already began to manifest them-
selves between the military and missionary authorities.
At Monterey after Portold’s departure little was
accomplished during the year 1770. For want of
11 Monterey, Hstracto de Noticias del Puerto de Monterey, de la Mision, y
Presido que se han establecido en él con la denominacion de San Carlos, y del
sucesso de las dos Hxpediciones de Mar, y Tierra que & este fin se despacharon
en el aio proximo anterior de 1769. Mexico 16 de Agosto de 1770. Con
licencia y orden del Ex™o Seftor Virrey. En la Imprenta del Superior Govi-
erno. Fol., 3 unnumbered leaves. This rare tract is in my collection, and it
is reprinted also in Palou’s Noticias. When this notice was printed the
despatches from Loreto had not yet arrived.
22 Palou, Vida, 113-16, says she sailed Jan. 2d.
13 Letter dated Nov. 12th, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 69-71.
M4 1st. That the commandants at San Diego and Monterey be made to obey
more closely the instructions of Galvez. (There had been some disagreement
with the friars in connection with the desertion of an arriero.) 2d. That some
families of Christian natives be sent up from Baja California to serve as
laborers. 3d. That a guard or presidio be established at San Buenaventura.
4th. That these natives be kindly treated. 5th. That the train of mules be
increased for service from Sonora and the peninsula. 6th. That presidios and
missions be supplied for 18 months by the service of two snows. 7th. That
San Francisco be explored, Monterey being as some sayno harbor. 9th. That
mission temporalities should be wholly under control of the friars, with the
power of removing servants and officials. 14th. Vessels for Monterey should
sail in February or April. 15th. A proper limosna, or allowance, should be
granted to friars going or coming. 16th. San Diego, Monterey, and San
Buenaventura should have the $1,000 allowed to new missions. 18th. Sol-
diers should be supplied with rations so as to be able to do escort duty. Palou,
Not., i. 120-3.
CONVERSIONS AT SAN CARLOS. 175
priests and of soldiers” nothing was done towards
the founding of San Buenaventura, although the
necessary supplies were lying in readiness at San
Carlos. Meanwhile Serra and Crespt worked among
the Eslenes, who under: the influence of gifts and
kindness were fast losing their timidity. A Baja
Californian neophyte who had learned the native
dialect rendered great assistance; preaching soon
began; and on December 26th the first baptism was
administered.”
The San Antonio anchored at Monterey May 21,
1771, having on board the ten priests already named,
except that Gomez from San Diego was in place of
Dumetz, with all the necessary appurtenances for the
establishing of five new missions. The father presi-
dent’s heart was filled with joy, and he was enabled
to celebrate the festival of corpus Christi on the 30th
with a community of twelve friars. The five new
missions proposed, in addition to San Buenaventura,
were San Gabriel, San Luis Obispo, San Antonio,
15 Palou, Vida, 104-6, says it was for want of soldiers, because Rivera did
not come up as expected; but he says nothing of the fact that there were no
padres available.
16 Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 22, mentions some writings of the soldier
J. B. Valdés to the effect that the Baja Californians conversed readily with
the Eslenes, and he is disposed to believe after much inquiry that the language
was to some extent understood. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 55-6, names the
interpreter Maximiano, and states that the Eslen chief lived near the spring
called Agua Zarca on what was later the rancho of Guadalupe Avila. Un-
fortunately the first book of baptisms for San Carlos has been lost, and the
exact number of converts for the early years is not known. The first burial
was on the day of founding June 3d, when Alejo Nifio one of the San Antonio’s
crew was buried at the foot of the cross. According to Palou, Not., i. 451,
he was a calker; the mission record makes himacadete. The tirst interment
ia the cemetery was that of Ignacio Ramirez, a mulatto slave from the San
Antonio, who had money ready to purchase his freedom. There were four
more deaths during the year, three of sailors and one of a Baja Californian.
The first marriage did not take place till Nov. 16, 1772. San Carlos, Lib. de
Mision, MS., 84; V'aylor’s Odds and Ends, 4. A writer in the Revista Cientifica,
i. 328, tells us that the mission of Carmen or Monte Carmelo was founded
June 3d on the gulf of Carmelo, but never progressed much. A newspaper
item extensively circulated speaks of an Indian woman still living in 1869
who was the mother of two children when the mission church was built.
Shea, Cath. Miss., 94, calls the mission Monte Carmel. Tuthill, Hist. Cal.,
80-1, says that Portold retired by water and Rivera by land, leaving Junipero
with 5 friars and Fages with 30 soldiers.
176 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
Santa Clara, and San Francisco. There were sent
only missionaries sufficient for five of the six, and as
Parron and Gomez, unfitted for duty by the scurvy,
had to be granted leave of absence, still another mis-
sion must wait, San Francisco and Santa Clara being
selected for that purpose. The president immediately
announced the distribution of priests to their respec-
tive missions,” and on the 7th of June the six intended
for the south sailed in the San Antonio for San Diego,
ages accompanying them.
Only one of the northern missions could be founded
until Fages should bring or send north some of Rive-
ra’s soldiers, but Serra set out early in July with ar
escort of eight soldiers, three sailors, and a few Indian
workmen for the Hoya de la Sierra de Santa Lucia,
named by the first land expedition, where he proposed
to establish the first mission under Pieras and Sitjar
who accompanied him. His route was probably up
the Salinas River and the Arroyo Seco, and the site
selected was an oak-studded glen named Cafiada de los
Robles® on a fine stream. Here the bells were hung
on a tree and loudly tolled, while Fray Junipero
shouted like a madman: ‘‘Come gentiles, come to the
holy church, come and receive the faith of Jesus
Christ!” until Father Pieras reminded the enthusiast
that there was not a gentile within hearing and that
it would be well to stop the noise and go to work
Then a cross was erected, the president said mass
under a shelter of branches, and thus was founded on
July 14, 1771, the mission of San Antonio de Padua.”
1’ The distribution was as follows: San Diego, Luis Jaume and Francisco
Dumetz; San Buenaventura, Antonio Paterna and Antonio Cruzado; San Luis
Obispo, Domingo Juncosa and José Cavaller; San Gabriel, Angel Somera and
Pedro Benito Cambon; San Antonio, Miguel Pieras and Buenaventura Sitjar;
San Carlos, Junipero Serra and Juan Crespi.
18 The native name of the site was Texhaya according to Dept. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxxi. 49, or Sextapay according to Taylor, note on the fly-
leaf of Cuesta, Vocabulari io, MS.
19 Palou, Vida, 122.
20 5. Antonio, Lib. de Mision, MS., 1; Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 112-15; Palou,
Not., ii. 24-5, tells us of an old woman who applied for baptism, and who wher
a girl had heard her father speak of a padre dressed like these, who cane tz
——
ee ee ea eC ee
FOUNDING OF SAN ANTONIO. 177
Only one native witnessed the ceremonies, but he soon
brought in. his companions in large numbers, who
brought pine-nuts and seeds, all they had to give, and
aided in the work of building a church, barracks, and
house for the missionaries, all of which were on a
-humble scale and protected as usual by a palisade.
The natives seemed more tractable than at either San
Diego or Monterey, and the ministers had hopes of a
great spiritual conquest, the first baptism taking place
the 14th of August.” Leaving the harvest to the
reapers and their guard of six soldiers, I return with
Serra to Monterey at the end of July.
Soon after the establishing of San Carlos Padre
Junipero had determined to transfer the mission to
Carmelo Valley. His avowed reason was lack of
water and fertile soil at Monterey; but it is likely
that he also desired to remove his little band of neo-
phytes, and the larger flock he hoped to gather, from
immediate contact with the presidio soldiers, always
regarded by missionaries with more or less dread as
necessary evils tending to corrupt native innocence.
The necessary permission for the transfer came up by
the San Antonio on her third trip,” and two days after
her departure, before going to found San Antonio,
the president crossed over to select the new site.
There he left three sailors and four Indians from the
peninsula at work cutting timber, and making prepa-
rations under the watchful eyes of five soldiers who
were charitably supposed to lend occasional assist-
the country flying through the air and preaching Christian doctrines. Gomez,
Lo que sabe, MS., 53-4, records the tradition that the ringing of the bells
frightened away the natives; and that subsequently they refused to eat cheese
believing it to be the brains of dead men. San Antonio de Padua was born
in Lisbon in 1195, died at Padua in 1231, and was canonized in 1232. He was
a famous preacher, his sermons affecting even the fishes, and a zealous propa-
gator of the Franciscan order. His day, as celebrated by the church, is June
13th.
21P. Serra in his Representacion, MS., of May 21, 1773, says the work of
building was hurried to get ready for farming, and that it was hindered by
Fages taking away the best soldiers. Hight mules were left at the mission.
"22 Nov. 12, 1770, Viceroy Croix writes to Fages that San Carlos mission is
to be established on the Rio Carmelo witha suflicient guard of soldiers. Prov.
St. Pap. , MS. 1, 70.
nae Cau. Vou. I, 12
178 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
ance. Back from San Antonio in August he again
went over to Carmelo to hasten the movements of
the workmen, who were proceeding very leisurely;
but it was several months before the palisade square
enclosing wooden chapel, dwelling, storehouse, guard-
house, and corrals could be completed; and it was the
end of December when the formal transfer took place,
the exact date being unknown. The two ministers
took up their permanent residence in their new home,
Juncosa and Cavaller assisting temporarily both at
mission and presidio.”
Events at San Diego during the year 1771 were by
no means exciting or important. Beyond the baptism
of a very few natives, the exact number being un-
known, no progress in mission work is recorded; but
Rivera with his force of fourteen men, in addition to
Ortega’s regular mission guard of eight, would seem
to have passed the time comfortably so far as work is
concerned. In April, when the San Antonio touched
at this port with her load of friars, the two ministers
were both disabled by scurvy, and Gomez went up to
Monterey, while Dumetz took his place. On July
14th the vessel returned with six padres besides
Gomez, who had leave of absence and was on his way
to Mexico. Parron retired at about the same time,
overland, to the missions of the peninsula. Captain,
Perez sailed the 21st.% Fages came down with the
priests, and the intention was to establish San Gabriel
at once; but local troubles caused delay. The day
after the vessel’s departure nine soldiers and a mule-
teer deserted. Padre Paterna was induced by Fages
to go with a few soldiers and a pardon signed in blank
to bring them back. His mission was successful, and
23'Vallejo and Alvarado, as I have already noted, insist on regarding this
as the veritable founding of the mission. Taylor, in Cal. Farmer, Apr. 20,
1860, says the transfer was in 1772 and that the mission became known as
San Carlos Borromeo del Carmelo de Monterey.
*4Serra, San Diego, Lib. de Mision, MS., 7, says however that Parron
went, apparently by land, to Baja California; and Palou, Vida, 129, says he
went with a party by land, of which party nothing further is known.
FOUNDING OF SAN GABRIEL. 179
after having availed themselves of the ‘ church asylum’
the deserters returned to duty. Again, the 6th of
August, a corporal and five soldiers deserted, return-
ing on the 24th to steal cattle from the mission. This
time Fages went out to bring them in by force, but
found them strongly fortified and resolved to die
rather than yield, and again, to save life, persuasion
was employed, and Dumetz brought back the fugi-
tives.” Respecting the real or pretended grievances
of the soldiers we know nothing, but it is evident
that some misunderstanding already existed between
Fages and the friars, and that Palou’s record is intended
to show the agency of the latter in its best light.
Early in the autumn there arrived from Guaymas
twelve Catalan volunteers. |
Meanwhile on August 6th Somera and Cambon
with a guard of ten soldiers and a supply-train of
mules under four muleteers and four soldiers, who
were to return, left San Diego to establish their new
mission, following the old route northward. It had
been the intention to place the mission on the River
Santa Ana, or Jesus de los Temblores, but as no suit-
able site was found there the party went farther and
chose a fertile, well wooded and watered spot near the
River San Miguel, so named on the return trip of the
first expedition three years before,” and since known
as the River San Gabriel. At first a large force of
natives presented themselves under two chieftains and
attempted by hostile demonstrations to prevent the
purpose of the Spaniards; but when one of the padres
held up a painting of the virgin, the savages instantly
_ threw down their arms and their two captains ran up
to lay their necklaces at the feet of the beautiful
queen, thus signifying their desire for peace.”
25 In a letter of Gov. Barri to Fages, dated Oct. 2, 1771, he advises the
commandant not to grieve over the desertion of two soldiers. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS.512°72.
26 Palou, Not., i. 477. The same author in his Vida, 129-30, implies that
the site selected was on the Rio de los Temblores. ,
27 Tt is only in his Vida, 129-30, that Palou tells this story.
180 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
The raising of the cross and regular ceremonial
routine which constituted the formal founding of San
Gabriel Arcdngel* took place on September 8th,
and the natives cheerfully assisted in the work of
bringing timber and constructing the stockade enclos-
ure with its tule-roofed buildings of wood, continuing
in the mean time their offerings of pine-nuts and acorns
to the image of Our Lady.” ‘Though friendly as
yet, the natives crowded into the camp in such num-
bers that ten soldiers were not deemed a sufficient
cuard; and Padre Somera went down to San Diego
the Ist of October, returning on the 9th with a reén-
forcement of two men. Next day a crowd of natives
attacked two soldiers who were guarding the horses.
The chief discharged an arrow at one of the soldiers,
who stopped it with his shield, and killed the chief-
tain with a musket-ball. Terrified by the destructive
effects of the gun the savages fled, and the soldiers,
cutting off the fallen warrior’s head, set it on a pole
*8 The Archangel Gabriel has a place in several religions. To the Israel-
ites he was the angel of death; according to the Talmud he was the prince of
fireand ruled the thunder. He set fire io the temple of Jerusalem; appeared
to Danieland Zacharias; announced to Mary the birth of Christ; and d:ctated
the Koran to Mahomet. The last-named prophet describes him very fully,
menvioning among other things 500 pairs of wings, the distance from one wing
to another being 500 years’ journey. His day in the church calendar is
March 18th. The mission was often called San Gabriel de los Temblores, the
latter word like Carmelo with San Carlos indicating simply locality. It had
been intended to mean San Gabriel on the River Temblores, but when another
site was selected the name was retained meaning ‘San Gabriel in the region of
Earthquakes,’ as ‘San Gabriel de San Miguel’ would have been awkward. Sce
Serra, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 118; S. Gabriel Lib. de Mision, MS. The
author of Los Angeles Hist., 5, isin error when he says that the San Gabriel
River was called Temblores. The mission was not moved to its present site
until several years later. Arch. Santa Barbara, MS.,i. 1381; Reid, Los Angeles
Co., Ind., No. 17. San Gabriel was the only mission at the founding of which
Serra had not assisted, and this was because Fages failed to notify him, as he
had promised. Serra, Repres., 21 de Mayo, MS., 118.
According to Hugo Reid, Los Angeles Co. Jnd., No. 16, who derived his
information from traditions, the natives were greatly terrified at the first sight
of the Spaniards; women hid; men put out the fires. They thought the stran-
gers gods when they saw them strike fire from a flint, but seeing them killa
bird, they put them down as human beings ‘of a nasty white color with ugly
blue eyes;’ and later, as no violence was done, they called them chichinabros,
or ‘reasonable beings.” Women used by the soldiers were obliged to undergo
a long purification, and for a long time every child with white blood in its
veins was strangled. Food given by the white men was buried in the woods,
Brown sugar was long regarued as the excrement ot the new-comers.
ee
Ss
———
TROUBLE AT SAN GABRIEL. 181
before the presidio gates. The fugitive assailants
came back after a few days to beg for their leader’s
head; but it was only very gradually that they were
induced to resume friendly relations with the friars,
and frequent the mission as before. There is little
doubt that their sudden hostility arose from outrages
by the soldiers on the native women.”
A few days after this affair Fages arrived from San
Diego with two friars, sixteen soldiers,” and four
muleteers in charge of a mule train, the force intended
for the establishing of San Buenaventura. In conse-
quence of the recent hostilities Faves decided to add
six men to the guard of San Gabriel, and to postpone
for the present the founding of a new mission. Pa-
terna and Cruzado also remained at San Gabriel where
they became the following year the regular ministers
on the retirement of Somera and Cambon by reason
of ill-health. Mission progress was extremely slow,
the first baptism having been that of a child on
November 27th, and the whole number during the
first two years only seventy-three. This want of
prosperity is attributed by Serra largely to the con-
duct of the soldiers, who refused to work, paid no
attention to the orders of their worthless corporal,
drove away the natives by their insolence, and even
pursued them to their rancherias, where they lassoed
30Palou, Not., i. 478-9, says a soldier had outraged a woman in one of the
rancherias. The same author in Vida, 130-2, tells us that the woman was the
wife of the slain chieftain and the guilty soldier the one attacked. Serra in
his Representacion, MS., of May 21, 1773, says that the first grievance of the
natives was an order from Fages that only 5 or 6 of them should be admitted
within the stockade at a time, followed by a secret order not to allow any
gentiles at all to enter. Serra says decidedly that if he had been there he
wou!d have ordered the padres to abandon the mission; for if they could have
no intercourse with gentiles for what were they in the country at all? One
day the so'diers went out to look for cattle, or more likely for women, and the
chief captain was killed, his head being brought to the mission. In Serra’s
eyes all misfortunes were chargeable to Fages.
31 Palou, Not., i. 479, says distinctly that he had, 26 soldiers, 12 volunteers
who had lately arrived from Baja California and 14 soldiers de cuera; but I
think the last item should be 4 instead of 14, which agrees exactly with the
available force at San Diego. Otherwise 10 cuera soldiers must have arrived
from the south of which there is no record, or Fages must have brought 10
with him from Monterey, which seems unlikely. A total of 16 also allows
San Buenaventura 10 men, the same guard as that sent originally to 8. Gabriel.
182 OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY.
women for their lust and killed such males as dared to
interfere.” Fages, probably with ten Catalan volun-
teers, continued his march to Monterey at the end of
1771. Rivera y Moncada does not appear at all in
the annals of this period. He probably remained but
a short time at San Diego before retiring to the penin-
sula. It is not unlikely that he was already preparing
the way by correspondence for the removal of Fages
in his own favor.®
52 Representacion de 21 de Mayo 1773, MS. Reform seems to have dated
from a change of corporals, which probably took place late in 1772.
33 In May 1771 he was at Santa Gertrudis. St. Pap. Mis. and Col., MS., i.
52. On the period covered by this chapter see Palou, Not., i. 98-107, 120-3,
424-80; Jd., Vida, 88-134.
CHAPTER VIIL
PROGRESS OF THE NEW ESTABLISHMENTS.
1772-1773.
Events or 1772—SEARCH FOR THE Port oF SAN FRANCISCO—CRESPI’s DIARY—
First EXPLORATION OF SANTA CLARA, ALAMEDA, AND CoNnTRA Costa
Counties—Faces Discovers San Paso Bay, CaRQUINES STRAIT, AND
San JOAQUIN RIVER— RELIEF SENT SoUTH—HARD TIMES AT MONTEREY—
Livine oN BEAR-MEAT—F AGES AND SERRA Go SoutH—FouUnDING or SAN
Luis Opispo—EVENTS ATSAN DiEGo—A QUARREL BETWEEN COMMANDANT
AND PRESIDENT—SERRA GOES TO MEx1co—CEssion oF Lower CALIFOR-
NIAN Misstons TO DoMINICANS—NEW PADRES FOR THE NORTHERN EStTaps-
LISHMENTS—PALOU’s JOURNEY TO SAN DIEGO AND MONTEREY IN 1773.
THE year 1772 was marked by an important explo-
ration of new territory in the north. It added a mis-
sion to the four already founded, brought three friars
to reénforce Serra’s band of workers, and saw arrange-
ments completed for a larger reénforcement through
the yielding-up of the peninsular missions to the exclu-
sive control of the Dominican order. Yet it was a
year of little progress and of much hardship; it was a
year of tardy supply-vessels, of unfortunate disagree-
ments between the Franciscans and the military chief—
disagreements which carried the president in person to
Mexico to plead for reforms before Viceroy Bucareli,
who had succeeded Croix in the preceding autumn.
The San Antonio on her last trip had brought
orders from the viceroy to Fages, requiring him to
explore by sea or land the port of San Francisco, and,
acting in accord with Serra, to establish a mission
there, with a view to secure the harbor from foreign
ageoression.*
1Dated Nov. 12, 1770, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 70. It was received by
Fages at Monterey in May 1771. Ne
( )
184 PROGRESS OF THE NEW ESTABLISHMENTS.
After the spring rains had ceased, the commandant
for the first time wag able to obey the order as to
exploration, but there were neither friars nor soldiers
for a mission, though the supplies were lying at San
Carlos.? Accordingly with Crespi, twelve soldiers, a
muleteer, and an Indian, Fages started from Monterey
on the 20th of March and crossed over to the river
Santa Delfina, now the Salinas. As the first explo-
ration by Europeans of a since important portion of
California, the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, and
Contra Costa, this trip, fully described by Crespi,’
deserves to be followed somewhat closely.
The second day’s march brings the party to the
San Benito stream, still so called, near what is now
Hollister; and on the 22d they cross San Pascual
plain into San Bernardino Valley and encamp a little ,
north of the present Gilroy. Thence they proceed
north-westward and enter the great plain of the
“Robles del Puerto de San Francisco,” in which
they have been before, in November 1769, that is,
the Santa Clara Valley. Their camp the 24th is
near the south-eastern point of the great “ brazo de
mar,’ near the mouth of what they call Encarnacion
Arroyo, now Penitencia Creek, on the boundary line
between Santa Clara and Alameda counties. The
peninsula to their left having been previously ex-
plored, and the object being to pass round the great
inlet and reach San Francisco under Point Reyes,
Fages continues to the right along the foot-hills be-
tween the shore and Coast Range.
His camp on Wednesday the 25th is beside a large
stream, called by him San Salvador de Horta, now
?Palou, Vida, 134-5, says that Serra proposed the exploration and Fages
consented. This is probably accurate enough in acertain sense; but the friars
had a noticeable habit of claiming for themselves all the credit for each move-
ment, and omitting any mention of secular orders and agencies—an omission
that evidently did not always result from forgetfulness.
3 Crespt, Diario que se formé en el registro que se hizo del puerto de Ntro.
P. San Francisco, in Palou, Not., i. 481-501. Palou says his consecrated hands alone were uninjured, preserved doubt-
less by God to show his innocence; but Fuster says nothing of this.
DESTRUCTION OF SAN DIEGO. 253
On the sixth, after letters from Verdugo and the
store-keeper, Pedro y Gil, had been sent by a courier
to recall the commandant, Fuster performed funeral
rites to the memory of his martyred associate, and
buried the body in the presidio chapel. He had died
without the last sacrament, but he had said mass
the day before his death, had confessed only a few
days before, and it could hardly be doubted that all
was well with him. The same day Arroyo's body
was buried. In the forenoon of the 8th Ortega
arrived, soon followed by Carrillo with the remainder
of the San Juan party. On the 10th the carpenter,
Urselino, was buried by Fuster, having died from the
effects of his wounds the day before, after receiving
the sacrament, and having left all the pay due him to
be used for the benefit of his murderers.
From investigations set on foot as soon as the presi-
dio had been put in a state of defence, some informa-
tion was brought to light repecting the revolt and its
attendant circumstances. Just after the baptism of
October 3d two brothers Francisco and Carlos, both
old neophytes,” and the latter chieftain of the San
Diego rancheria, had run away and had not returned
when Ortega went north to found San Juan. It was
learned that they had visited all the gentiles for leagues
around, inciting them to rise and kill the Spaniards.
No other cause is known than that a complaint of hav-
ing stolen fish from an old woman was pending against
them, and so far as could be learned they made no
charges against the friars except that they were going
to convert all the rancherfas, pointing to the late
baptism of sixty persons as an indication of that pur-
pose. Some rancherias refused to participate in the
plot; but most of them promised their aid,” and the
26 San Diego, Lib. de Mision, MS., 74-5. Arroyo’s widowed mother had
been buried here before. Her name was Petrona Garcia.
27 So Palou calls them, but I think there may be some doubt about this.
*8 Ortega in his Jnforme, MS., 5, names the Christian rancherias of San
Luis, Maiamé, Xamacha, Meti, Xana or Xanat, Abascal, Abuscal or Aguscal,
and Maytate or San Miguel; and the gentile rancherias of La Punta, Melejd,
254 NORTHERN EXPLORATION; SOUTHERN DISASTER.
assailants were estimated at from eight hundred to a
thousand. They were divided into two bodies and were |
to attack mission and presidio simultaneously; but the
mission party began operations prematurely, and the
others, seeing the light of the burning buildings,
which they supposed or feared would rouse the garri-
son, abandoned their part of the scheme.
At the mission the savages first went to the neo-
phyte’s huts and by threats and force, as the latter
claimed, or by a previous understanding, as many
Spaniards believed, insured their silence while they
proceeded first to plunder and then to burn. About
the part taken by the neophytes in this revolt there
is some disagreement among the authorities. All the
evidence goes to show that some renegade converts
were concerned in it; but Palou, reflecting doubtless
the opinions of the other friars,” accepts the plea of
those in the huts that they were kept quiet by force,
and that the mass of the Christians were faithful.
Others, however, and notably Anza, an intelligent and
unprejudiced man well acquainted with the facts, be-
lieved, as there was much testimony to prove, that it
was the neophytes who planned the rising, convoked
the gentiles, and acted treacherously throughout the
whole affair.”
Otai, Pocol, Cojuat, and El Corral, as among those involved in the movement.
Chilcacop, or Chocalcop, of the Xamacha rancheria, a Christian, is said to
have aided in the killing of Jaume, in connection with the pagans, Tuerto and
the chief of the Maramoydos, both of Tapanque rancheria. St. Pap. Sac.,
MS., ix. 72. Those who led the attack were Oroche, chief of Magtate or
Mactati, Miguel, Bernardino of Matamé, and two others. Zegotay, chief of
Matam6, testified that 9 rancherias were invited, and that among the leaders
were Francisco of Cuyamac, himself, and another. The southern rancherias
assembled at La Punta, the mountaineers at Meti. Chief Francisco plotted
the revolt, and he, Zegotay, had invited 10 rancherias. Arch. Cal., Prov. St.
Pap., MS., i. 228-32. Very little satisfactory information can be gathered
from the reports of these investigations. Rafael of Xanat and the chief of
Aguscal were also leaders, according to Ortega.
29 Lasuen, however, in his Informe de 1783, MS., says that most of the
neophytes took part in the revolt.
80 Anza, Diario, MS., 90-6. Anza, as we shall see, arrived early in the
next year. He calls attention to the cool lying of the neophytes with a view
to exonerate themselves, they even claiming that when liberated from their
confinement they had turned upon the gentile foes, driving them to the moun-
tains. There was evidence of some understanding between the natives of
San Diego and those of the Colorado River. Garcés on the Colorado in 1776
a
DEFENSIVE MEASURES. 255
To insure safety at the presidio a roof of earth was
rapidly added to the old friars’ dwelling, to which
families and stores were removed. The tule huts
were then destroyed and other precautions taken
against fire. Letters asking for aid were despatched
to Rivera’at Monterey, and to Anza approaching from
the Colorado region, and both, as we shall see, arrived
early the next year. Then parties of soldiers were
sent out in different directions to learn something of
the enemy’s plans, and several leaders were captured
and made to testify. Thus, in suspense and fear of
massacre, the little garrison of San Diego passed the
rest of the year.”
Serra at San Carlos received a letter announc-
ing the disaster the 13th of December. “God be
thanked,” exclaimed the writer, ‘now the soil is
watered; now will the reduction of the Dieguinos be
complete!” Next day the six friars paid funeral
honors to the memory of Jaume, whose lot, we are
told, all envied. They doubted not he had gone to
wear a crown of martyrdom; but to make the matter
sure, “‘si acaso su alma necesitase de nuestros sufra-
gios,” each promised to say twenty masses. Serra
wrote to the guardian that the missionaries were not
disheartened, but did not fail to present the late dis-
aster as an argument in favor of increased mission
guards.”
heard of the disaster, and from his intimate acquaintance with the tribes of
that region he believes that they would have joined the San Diego rancherias
in a war against the Spaniards later, had it not been for the favorable impres-
sion left by Anza. Garcés, Diario, 264-285.
31See also on the San Diego revolt Serra, Notas, in San Diego, Lib. de
Mision, MS., 4; Lasuen, Informe de 1783, MS.; Id., in Arch. Santa Barbara,
MS., ii. 197; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 16, 127; and investigations
of Ortega and Rivera in April to June 1776, in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS.,i.
22-3. Ortega credits privates Ignacio Vallejo, Anastasio Camacho, and Juan
de Ortega with great gallantry in these trying times, Informe, MS., 3; and
Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 83, goes so far as to say that Vallejo was the
chief cause of the Spanish triumph, thus becoming a great favorite among the
padres. Gleeson, Hist. Cath. Ch., ii. 68-76, is somewhat confused in his
account of this affair, making the natives destroy San Carlos and attack the
presidio in 1779.
82 Palou, Not., ii. 272-5; Id., Vida, 184-7. Dumetz now went to San
Antonio and Cambon and Pieras returned to San Carlos Dec. 23d.
256 NORTHERN EXPLORATION; SOUTHERN DISASTER.
Rivera set out for the south on the 16th of Decem-
ber, with thirteen men, one of whom was to be left at
San Antonio while two were to remain at San Luis.
In August there had been an alarm at San Antonio.
A. messenger came to the presidio on the 29th with
the news that the natives had attacked the mission,
and shot a catechumen about to be baptized. Rivera
sent a squad of men who found the wounded native
out of danger. They captured the culprits and held
them after a flogging, until the commandant ordered
them flogged again, when after a few days in the
stocks they were released.* .
83 Palou, Not., ii. 244-5.
CHAPTER, XIT.
EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
1775-1776.
ANZA AND HIS COLONY—PREPARATIONS IN MExiIco AND SonorA—Two Hon:
DRED IMMIGRANTS—ORIGINAL AUTHORITIES—MARCH TO THE Rio CoLoe
RADO—MISSIONARIES LEFT—ITINERARY—Map—A Terpiovus Marcu To
San GABRIEL—ANZA GOES TO THE RELIEF OF SAN DrEGO—RIVERA Ex-
COMMUNICATED-—ANZA BRINGS HIS ForcE TO MonTEREY—HIs ILLNESS—
Rivera Comes Noxtu. AND Anza Gors SoutH—A QuARREL—RIVERA
VERSUS ANZA AND THE FRIARS—STRANGE ACTIONS OF THE COMMANDANT—
His Marcu SouTHWARD—INSANITY OR JEALOUSY—ANZA’S RETURN TO
THE COLORADO AND TO SONORA—EXPLORATIONS BY GARCES—UP THE
CoLorapo—Across THE MosgaveE DrEsERT—INTO TULARE VALLEY—A
REMARKABLE J OURNEY—DOMINGUEZ AND ESCALANTE.
Captain Anza, returning from his first exploration
of an overland route to California, went to Mexico to
lay before the viceroy the results of his trip. Very
soon, by royal recommendation, the projects of estab-
lishing missions in the Colorado region and a new
presidio at San Francisco were taken into considera-
tion. In November 1774 the board of war and finance
determined to carry out or advance both projects by a
single expedition to California, by way of the Colo-
rado, under the command of ee This determina-
tion, as we have seen, was announced to Rivera and
Serra at Monterey by Bucareli in December and Jan-
uary. Anza was advanced to the rank of heutenant-
colonel and hastened homeward to raise the required
1 Anza states that the decree of the viceroy, under which he acted, was
dated Nov. 24th, Garcés says the expedition, or his part of it, was deter mined
on by the junta on Nov. 28th, was ordered by the viceroy by letter of Jan.
2d, and by the letters of the ‘guardian of Santa Cruz College Jan. 23th and
Feb. 17th,
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 17 ( 257 ).
258 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCZS.
foree of thirty soldiers with their families for Cali-
fornia.
Bucareli was very liberal with the king’s money
on this occasion; giving four mule trains and many
horses and cattle for the new establishment, and also
providing that families of settlers, like those of the
soldiers, were to be transported at government ex-
pense, recelving pay for two years and rations for
five. The expense of each family was about eight
hundred dollars. Anza took with him from Mexico
animals, arms, and clothing, and began his work im-
mediately by recruiting on the way. He clothed his
recruits, men, women, and children, from head to foot,
and allowed their pay and rations to begin with the
date of enlistment. At San Felipe de Sinaloa a regu-
lar recruiting-office was opened, Anza’s popularity,
with his liberal display of food and clothing, insuring
success both here and in the north, until in Septem-
ber 1775 most of the company were assembled at the
appointed rendezvous, San Miguel de Horcasitas.
They were ready the 29th of September, all being
united in time to start from the presidio of Tubac the
23d of October.’
The force that set out from Tubac consisted, first,
of Anza, commander, Pedro Font of the Querétaro
T’ranciscans as chaplain, ten soldiers of the Horcasi-
tas presidio, eight muleteers, four servants, and Ma-
riano Vidal, purveyor—twenty-five persons in all who
were to return to Sonora; second, Francisco Garcés
and Tomas Eixarch,’ destined to remain on the Rio
Colorado with three servants and three interpreters;
and third, Alférez José Joaquin Moraga, and Ser-
geant Juan Pablo Grijalva, twenty-eight soldiers,
eight from the presidio force and twenty new recruits;
twenty-nine women who were wives of soldiers; 136
2 Arricivita, Crdén. Serdf., 461, says they left Horcasitas on April 20th, and
Tubac Oct. 21st. The rendezvous of the friars connected with the expedition
was at the mission of Tumacacori near Tubac.
3So Font callshim. Garcés writes the name Eixarth; Arricivita, Eyzarch ;
and Anza, Esiare.
IMMIGRANTS FROM SONORA. 259
persons of both sexes belonging to the soldiers’ families
and to four extra families of colonists;* seven mule-
teers, two interpreters, and three vaqueros—alto-
gether 207 destined to remain in California,’ making
a grand total of 235, to say nothing of eight infants
born on the way. The live-stock of the expedition
consisted of 165 mules, 340 horses, and 320 head of
cattle.®
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Michael, and Saint
Francis of Assisi were selected as patrons of the ex-
pedition, and after the celebration of mass on Sun-
*Palou says there were 12 of these families and that the whole force for
California was 200 souls.
° There may be some slight inaccuracy respecting the vaqueros, muleteers,
and interpreters, the numbers given being those not otherwise disposed of
definitely in the diaries. The names are included in the list at end of this
volume. ‘There are no means of separating most of them from other parties.
8 Anza, Diario del Teniente Coronel Don Juan Bautista de Anza, Capitan del
Presidio de Tubac, Sonora, de su expedicion con familias desde dicho presidio, al
reconocimiento del puerto de San Francisco de Alta Cal’fornia; y de su vuelta,
desde este puerto al Presidio de San Miguel de ITorcasitas, MS., 232. Com-
pleted at Horcasitas on June Ist. This official journal kept by the comandante
from day to day throughout the whole expedition is of course the chief
authority on the subject. There is an occasional ambiguity of expression
which causes confusion, notably so at the beginning where the company is
described; but otherwise the diary leaves nothing to be desired. The author
was a man of great ability and force of character, besides being very popular
with his men. Another original authority is Lont, Journal made by Padre
Pedro Font, Apostolic Preacher of the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro,
taken from the minutes written by him on the road, during a journey that he
performed to Monterey and the Port of San Francisco, in company with Don
Juan Bautista de Anza, etc., MS., 52. Completed at Ures, Sonora, June 23d.
This translation was made from the original in the parochial archives of Guad-
alajara, or, more probably, from a copy of the same, apparently about 1850,
under circumstances of which I know nothing, but evidently with considerable
care. The original, which I have not seen, is cited in Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xiii. 206, among other documents as Diario que jirma el P. Font...con dos
mapas. A copy of the translation was obtained in California by Bartlett,
and is cited in that author’s Personal Narrative, ii. 78, 278-80. Another
copy, probably made from that in my possession, is preserved in the library
of the Territorial Pioneers in San Francisco, and an abridgment was pub-
lished by that society. Territorial Pioneers of Cal., First Annual, 81-107.
The maps are not copied in the translation, though there are a few rude pen
drawings, and though the numbers on one of the maps, representing days’
journeys, are given in the diary. Fortunately this map, a very interesting
and important one, has been found, and a lithographic copy of it—though
with many blunders in lettering—published in Hinton’s Hand- Book of Arizona,
of which book, recently printed, it is the sole meritorious feature so far as
history is concerned. I reproduce the map, or that part of it representing
California, in this chapter. Font’s diary, though less complete and extensive
than that of Anza, is still of very great value as an authority on this expedi-
tion. Still another original authority is Garcés, Diario y Derrotero que sigué
el M. R. P. Fr. Francisco Garcés en su viaje hecho desle Octubre de 1775 hasta 17
260 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
day, they began their march on Tuesday, the 23d of
October. Details of the route and march, through
Pimeria and the country since known as Arizona,
belong rather to the annals of those territories than
to those of California, but there is little to record
anywhere. ‘The route was by San Javier del Bac
and Tucson to the river Gila, and down that river
generally along the southern bank to the Colorado
junction, a route often travelled in the old Jesuit ere.
The march was not a difficult one. The natives were
uniformly hospitable, and ready both to receive trifling
gifts and to have the authority of their chieftains
confirmed by Spanish appointments. ‘The only mis-
fortunes were the death of a woman in childbirth,
the desertion of one or two muleteers brought back
by natives, and the loss of a few horses from bad
water and excessive cold. The only delays were
caused by an examination of the famous Casa Grande,
by an occasional halt for rest, and by other detentions
of a day or two by the birth of young immigrants.
They reached the Gila the last day of October and
were about a month on the march down to the Colo-
rado junction.
Crossing the Gila to the northern bank near its
mouth November 28th, Anza and his company were
given a hospitable and even enthusiastic welcome by
the Yuma chief, Palma, whose domain lay, it seems,
on both sides of the Colorado, and who had built a
large house of branches especially for the use of the
travellers.’ Four soldiers were met here, who had
been sent in advance, and had been searching during
the past six days, on the California side of the Colo-
de Septiembre de 1776, al Rio Colorado para reconocer las Naciones que habitan
sus mdryenes, y & los pueblos del Moqui del Nuevo- México, in Doc. Hist. Mex.,
serie li. tom. i. 225-348. This diary is nearly as complete as Anza’s, and more
so than Font’s, down to the time when Anza’s expedition left the Colorado
for the north-west. Other authorities are Palou, Not., ii. 218-15, 277-82;
Id., Vida, 204-5, 186-7; Arricivita, Cron. Serdf., 461-90, the last being a
very full account but with some errors respecting minor details.
‘P. Font’s map is incorrect in representing the ford of the Colorado as
below the Gila, while all three diaries say that it was a little way above.
ON THE COLORADO. 261
rado, for a more direct route than that followed the
year previous; but without success, as neither water
nor grass could be found. The first task, and by no
means an easy one, was to get the large company
with cattle and stores safely across the river. The
Yumas said the Colorado was not fordable, and must
be crossed by means of rafts, a slow and tedious proc-
ess, but one which Anza was inclined to think neces-
sary for the families and supplies at least. At seven
o clock in the morning of the 29th he went down
to the bank to reconnoitre. He ordered the neces-
sary timber for rafts, and then with a soldier and a
Yuma determined to make one final search for a ford,
which he found about half a mile up the river, where
the water was diverted by islands into three channels.
The afternoon was spent in opening a road through
the thickly wooded belt along the bank; and on the
30th before night all the families and most of the
supplies were landed on the western side, without
the use of rafts.
The travellers remained in camp on the right bank
for three days, partly on account of the dangerous
illness of two men, and also to make certain needful
preparations for the comfort and safety of the two
friars who were to remain here until Anza’s return.
Father Garcés was requested to select the place where
he would reside, and chose Palma’s rancherfa about a
league below the camp and about opposite the mouth
of the Gila. So earnest were Palma’s assurances of
friendship and protection that it was deemed safe to
leave the missionaries with their three servants and
three interpreters. Before starting Anza built a house,
and left provisions for over four months, and horses
for the use of the remaining party, whose purpose was
to explore the country, become acquainted with the
natives, and thus open the way for the establishing of
regular missions at an early date. I shall presently
have more to say of their travels in California. Set-
ting out December 4th from Palma’s rancheria, Anza
262 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
marched slowly down the river, the way made difficult
by the dense growth of trees and shrubs, by cold, and
by illness in the company. The first halt was at the
rancherias of San Pablo, or of Captain Pablo as Font
says; the second was at the lagoon of Coxas, or Cojat,
the southern limit of Yuma possessions and of Palma’s
jurisdiction; and the third, on the 6th of December,
was at the lagoon of Santa Olaya, the beginning of
Cajuenche territory, about twelve leagues below the
mouth of the Gila.®
During the stay at Santa Olaya Garcés overtook
the party, having already set out to explore the coun-
try toward the mouth of the Colorado. Anza divided
his force into three parties under the command of
himself, Grijalva, and Moraga, who started on the
9th, 10th, and 11th, respectively, and were reunited
December 17th at San Sebastian. I give some de-
tails of names and distances in a note.’? I also append
a copy of Font’s map, substituting names for numbers
in the case of important places and where space per-
mits. The route followed was nearly the same as
in Anza’s former trip, and substantially that of the
modern railroad through Coahuila Valley and San
Gorgonio Pass. The journey, every petty detail of
8 Font, Journal, MS., 16, 17, makes the distance 14 leagues with some
winding, and the latitude 32° 33’ which by the distances is very nearly accurate.
Garcés, Diario, 244, calls the lagoon Santa Eulalia. By Anza and Font the
name is written Olalla. See chap. x. for Anza’s trip of 1774.
® Route from Palma’s rancheria on the west bank of the Colorado near
mouth of the Gila to San Gabriel. The courses are from Jont’s Journal,
Anza’s agreeing with them generally but being less definitely expressed. The
distances in parentheses, differing widely from Anza’s, are from Font, whose
leagues were about 2 miles. The numbers refer to Font’s map: 42. Laguna
of San Pablo, or Capt. Pablo, 45 1. (5) w. $s. w.; 43. Laguna of Coxas, or
Cojat, 31, (4) s. w., Laguna of Santa Olalla, 32° 33’, 41. (5) s. w.; 45. Pozo
del Carrizal, or Alegria, 5 1. (7) w. nN. w.; 46. Dry Gulch, 5 1. (7) w. N.w.; 47.
Pozos de Santa Rosa de las Lajas, 101. (14) w.N. w., w., W. Ss. w.; 48. Dry Creek,
41. (3) N.; San Sebastian, 33° 8’, 541. (7) N. N. w.; 51. Pozo de San Gregorio,
74 1. (9)w. 4N. w.; 52. Arroyo of Santa Catalina del Vado, Sink, 41. nN. w.dw.;
53. Id., source, 141.(1)N. w. 4 w.; 54. Danzantes rancheria in same cafiada, 31.
(4) w. N. w.; San Carlos Pass (San Gorgonio?) 24 1. (3) N. N. w.; [123. Porte-
zuelo on return;] 56. San Patricio Cafiada, source of stream, 33° 37’; 57. San
José Arroyo, 61. (7) N. w. 4 w.; 58. Laguna of San Antonio Bucareli, down
San José Valley, 41. (5) w. Nn. w.; Santa Ana River, 91. (8) w. n. w.; 60. Arroyo
de los Alisos, 61. w. N. w.; 61. River San Gabriel, branch, 5 1. (6) w. N. w.,
San Gabriel, 34° 35’, 21. w. s. w.
FONT’S MAP
1776
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264 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCIS.
which is fully described in the commandant’s diary,
was a slow, tedious, and difficult one, requiring a
full month for its accomplishment; and the fact that
it was accomplished at all under the circumstances
speaks highly for Anza’s energy and ability. Long
stretches of country without water must be crossed,
and at first the company must be divided that all
should not arrive the same day at the same watering-
place. It was midwinter, the cold was intense, and
most of the company were not accustomed to a cold
climate. Storm followed storm of snow and hail and
rain, and an earthquake came to increase the terrors
of San Gorgonio pass. They were obliged to dig
wells, and then obtained only a small supply of water,
and the cattle were continually breaking away in
search of the last aguage. There was much sickness;
and yet, beyond the loss of some hundred head of
live-stock, there was no serious disaster, owing to the
skill and patience of Anza and his aids. On the
first day of 1776 the new pioneers of California and
San Francisco forded the River Santa Ana, and on
January 4th the expedition reached the mission of
_ San Gabriel.
Rivera had arrived from the north the day before,
on his way with ten or twelve men to afford protec-
tion to the threatened presidio of San Diego, and to
punish the Indians who had destroyed the mission.
The disaster and danger at San Diego seemed to
justify Anza in suspending his own expedition for
a time, especially as the season was not favorable
for the immediate exploration of San Francisco. At
the request of Rivera, therefore, he determined to
proceed with a part of his force to punish the south-
ern foe.
The company of immigrants was left to rest at San
Gabriel under the command of Moraga, and, after
religious ceremonies of gratitude for safe arrival cele-
brated on the 6th, Anza set out at noon on the 7th,
accompanied by Font and seventeen of his soldiers in
ANZA AT SAN DIEGO. 265
addition to Rivera’s force, for San Diego, where he
arrived the 11th.”
Naturally, the coming of reénforcements caused
great relief to Ortega and his little garrison, who
were in constant fear of an attack from the gentiles.
There seems to have been some foundation for these
fears besides the exaggerated rumors always preva-
lent on such occasions ; but, whatever may have been
the plans of the savages, their hostile purposes did
not long survive the arrival of new forces. One of
Rivera’s first acts was to send six soldiers to the
peninsula with communications for the viceroy and a
demand for reénforcements, in view of the recently
developed dangers threatening the permanency of the
Spanish establishments in California. Then followed
investigations respecting the late outbreak, lasting
the remainder of the year; they were imperfectly re-
corded, and of slight importance. Raids were made
to different rancherias; gentile chiefs were brought
in, made to testify, flogged, liberated, or imprisoned,
but nothing was learned in addition to what has been
already stated.”
It was not long before a difference of opinion arose
between the two commanders which later developed
into a quarrel. As we have scen Anza had consented
to postpone temporarily the special business the vice-
roy had intrusted to him, in view of the danger threat-
ening San Diego. He found the danger somewhat
less than had been represented. He had come to San
Diego for a brief, vigorous, and decisive campaign
against the savages, but he found Rivera disposed to
a policy of delay and inaction. Anza’s chief concern
10 Anza, Diario, MS., 89-90, says he took 17 men; Font, Journal, MS., 22,
says 20 men; Palou, Not., ii. 275-6, makes it 18 men ; and the same author,
Vida, 186-7, implies that there were 40 men. The route from San Gabricl
was: 63. River Santa Ana 61. (10 according to Font); Arroyo de Santa Maria
Magdalena, or La Quema, 11 1. (14); River San Juan Capistrano, 111. (14); La
Soledad rancheria, via San Dieguillo and 68 Agua Hedionda, 9 1. (12); San
Diego, 3 1. (4).
4 Anza, Diario, MS., 97-100, 104, 106; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., i.
22-3; Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 215-32.
266 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
was naturally the founding of San Francisco, while m
Rivera’s mind the protection of San Diego was the
only subject at present to be thought of. Anza at
first yielded to the captain’s views, realizing that as
ruler of the province he naturally felt for its safety,
but at last tidings came from San Gabriel which turned
Anza’s attention again to his own affairs. Five men
arrived February 3d with a despatch from Moraga and
the purveyor Vidal, to the effect that the mission
could no longer furnish food for the immigrants ex-
cept to the injury of its own neophytes, Father Paterna
having distributed rations for eight days and given
notice that these would be the last.
On receipt of this intelligence Anza resolved to take
his military colony without delay up to Monterey.
He agreed, however, with Rivera, to leave ten of his
soldiers at San Gabriel, thus relieving a portion of
the old guard at that mission for service at San Diego
if needed,” and with the other seven, having sent in
advance a mule train laden with maize and beans, he
set out on the 9th, still accompanied by Font, and
arrived at San Gabriel on the 12th. Only one event
occurring at San Diego after Anza’s departure re-
quires notice in this connection. Carlos, an old neo-
phyte but a ringleader in the late revolt, returned in
real or assumed penitence, and, prompted doubtless by
the missionaries, took refuge in the church. Rivera
sent a summons to Fuster to deliver the culprit on the
plea that the right of church asylum did not protect
such a criminal, and moreover that the edifice was not
a church but a warehouse used temporarily for wor-
ship. luster by the advice of his comrades of the
cloth refused, and warned the commandant to use no
force. Rivera then entered the church sword in hand
with a squad of soldiers and took the Indian out, pay-
ing no heed to the expostulations of the three padres,
12 Anza, Diario, MS., 108. He did leave 12 instead of 10. Palou, Not., ii.
275-6; Vila, 186-7, implies that the 12 men were left at San Diego instead
of San Gabriel.
ani an
SAN GABRIEL TO MONTEREY. 267
Fuster, Lasuen, and Amurrio. The priests proceeded
to excommunicate the commander and the soldiers
who had aided him, and ordered them to leave the
church before beginning service on the next day of
mass. The friars reported to Serra, sending the report
up to Monterey by Rivera himself.*
Arriving at San Gabriel on February 12th Anza
found that the night before three of his muleteers and
a servant with a mission soldier had deserted, taking
twenty-five horses and other property, part of which
belonged to the mission and part to the expedition.
The colonists proper, however, seemed content and
showed no disposition to desert. Moraga was sent
with ten men to capture the fugitives, and before his
return Anza resolved to set out for the north. Leav-
ing twelve men and their families under Grijalva to
reénforce the mission guard, and ordering Moraga on
his arrival to follow with eight men, the commandant
started on the 21st with seventeen men, the same
number of families,‘ the mule train, and the live-stock.
Heavy rains had swollen the streams and rendered
many parts of the route well nigh impassable. Ob-
servations respecting the natives of Channel rancherias
are omitted by Anza as having been given in the diary
of his former trip, a diary which unfortunately is no
longer in its entirety extant. Font gives merely an
outline of distances and directions.” With no other
138 Palou, Not., ii. 292-5.
4 The full division of the forces was as follows on Anza’s departure: At
San Gabriel, 8 California soldiers, 12 families, Sergeant Grijalva, and 4 soldiers
of Anza’s guard waiting for Moraga; with Moraga, 8 California soldiers (2 of the
10 having returned before Anza started); with Anza, 11 California soldiers, 17
families, and 6 of Anza’s men—total 29 out of the 30 soldiers who were to
remain in California, one not being accounted for. This explanation is neces-
sary on account of the confused statements of Anza, who had no head, or pen
at least, for figures.
15 The route was as follows; the earlier part to the sea-shore being appar-
ently further south than that followed by the first Spanish explorers in 1769,
and Anza’s distances being as before considerably less than Font’s. The num-
bers refer to Font’s map, q. v.: San Gabriel; 119. Rio Porciuncula, 21.; 72.
Portezuelo, 61.; 73. Agua Escondida, 71. (10); 74. Rio Santa Clara, 91. (15);
75. Rincon or Rinconado rancheria, past Carpinteria, 61. (9); [117.] Assumpta
tiver]; 76. Mescaltitlan rancheria, 71. (9); Rancheria Nueva, 81. (9); 78. Cojo
rancheria, 71. (10); 79. River Santa Rosa, past Pt Concepcion, rancherias of
268 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
notable occurrence than an occasional miring of the
train, in the midst of which it became necessary to
unload the animals, the women meanwhile being com-
pelled to walk,” the immigrants were welcomed
March 2d at San Luis Obispo, where next day, as
shown by the mission records, Anza stood as god-
father to several native children baptized by Font.”
From this place they passed directly north by the
modern stage route to the Salinas River, or Rio de
Monterey as they called it, reaching San Antonio on
the 6th, and feasting on two fat hogs magnanimnously
killed for their use by order of the friars. Moreover,
they were delighted to receive intelligence from the
south, having been in great anxiety since they heard
of the late disaster. Here Moraga came up, having
captured the deserters near the Colorado River, and
having left them tied at San Gabriel. On the 10th
all arrived safely at Monterey.*
Next morning Padre Junipero came over from San
Carlos to congratulate Anza on the safe termination
of his march, and to assist with his three companions
at the religious ceremonial of thanksgiving, on which
occasion Hather Font delivered an address of encour-
agement with advice to the newly arrived company.
Anza and Font went over to the mission by invita-
tion of the president, where the commandant was con-
fined to his bed for more than a week by a painful
illness. On the 18th eight of the presidio soldiers
were sent south to reénforce Rivera at San Diego,
with a request to that officer to take immediate steps
Pedernales and Espada, 931. (12); 81. Buchon rancherfa, 91. (13); San Luis
Obispo, 35° 174’, 31. (4); over mountains and down Rio Santa Margarita to
(83) Ascencion on Rio de Monterey (Salinas), 71. (10); 84. First ford of Rio San
Antonio, 81. (10); [111]. Cafiada de Robles]; San Antonio, 36° 24’, 81. (10); 86.
Los Ositos, on Rio de Monterey, past Roble Caido (in Cafiada de S. Bernabé)
71. (9); 87. Los Correos, on the river, 81. (10); [109. 8S. Bernabé Cafiada; 108.
Buena Vista;|] Monterey, 7 1. (10).
16 Hundreds of travellers over the coast stage route in winter, myself among
the number, have no difficulty in identifying this place near San Luis.
"San Luis Obispo, Lib. de Mision, MS., 31.
18On the journey to Monterey see Anza’s Diario, MS., 112-34; Font’s
Journal, MS., 25-9.
RIVERA’S STRANGE ACTIONS. 269
for the founding of San Francisco. On the 23d,
against the surgeon’s advice, Anza insisted on mount-
ing his horse and setting out to explore San Francisco
Bay, returning April 8th from this exploration, which
may be most conveniently described in connection
with other San Francisco matters in the next chapter.
Back at Monterey the commandant was disap-
pointed in finding neither Rivera in person nor any
message from him. He accordingly sent Sergeant
Gongora with four men™ south with letters requesting
Rivera to meet him at San Gabriel on the 25th or
26th for consultation respecting important matters.
Two days later, on the 14th of April, having turned
over his company and all connected with the San
Francisco establishment to Moraga, he began his re-
turn march with Font, Vidal, seven soldiers of his
escort, six muleteers, two vaqueros, and four servants.
The parting with the soldiers and their families, whom
he had recruited in Sonora and brought to their new
home, is described by Anza as the saddest event of
the expedition. All came out as their leader mounted
to leave the presidio, and with tearful embraces bade
him god-speed. Font affirms that according to the
list, which he consulted just before starting, there were
one hundred and ninety-three souls of the new colony
left at Monterey.
Next day between Buena Vista and San Bernabé,
less than twenty miles from Monterey, they met
Géngora, who announced that Rivera was close behind
him, and revealed certain strange actions of this
officer. He had met Rivera between San Antonio and -
San Luis, and in reply to questions had told his busi-
ness and presented Anza’s and Moraga’s letters, which
the captain refused to take, simply saying ‘“ Well,
well; retire!” Géngora followed his superior officer
north, keeping at a little distance, and a day or two
later Rivera suddenly called for the letters, received
19 Two of the men were of Anza’s guard, and the others of the Californian
troops. Palou, Vol., 288-90, says that Gongora had but twomen. »
270 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
them without breaking the seals, and gave in return
two letters for Anza which the sergeant was to deliver
in all haste. As Géngora called Anza aside and
delivered the letters he stated his belief that Rivera
was mad. The letters contained a simple refusal to
effect or permit the establishing of San Francisco.
Gongora was ordered to go on to Monterey, and after
proceeding another league Anza met Rivera on the
road, saluted him, and asked about his health. Rivera
said his leg troubled lim, heard Anza’s expressions of
regret, and started on, as if it were a casual meeting,
with a simple adios. ‘Your reply to my letter may
be sent to Mexico or wherever you like;” called out
Anza, and Rivera answered, ‘It is well.” Calling on
the friars who accompanied him,” to witness what had
occurred, Anza, considerably offended by actions which
seemed to him attr'butable to impoliteness and a
“great reserve’ rather than madness, went on his way,
ariving at Sau Luis Obispo the 19th of April.
In the mean time Rivera went on to Monterey,
arriving on the 15th, and sending word to Serra to
come over from the mission for his letters, which he
wished to deliver in person and was too unwell to visit
lim. Serra came, and thought Rivera’s illness, which
was a slight pain in the leg, greatly exaggerated.
He found his letters likewise broken open, though
Rivera assured him it was accidental and they had
not been read. He then told the president of his
excommunication at San Diego, and Serra, after con-
sultation with the San Carlos friars, approved what
Fuster had done, refusing to grant the captain’s re-
quest for absolution, until he should give satisfaction
20 Pieras was returning in his company to San Antonio. Anza, Diario,
MS., 185, says he took a written certi. cate from the padres. Font, Journal,
MS., 43, says: ‘We supposed that he had returned to speak with Capt. Anza
before his departure and treat about the affairs of the expedition, and that
we should probably have to return to Monterey or at least stay where we
were; but we soon found that his arrival did not cause us any detention what-
ever, for when we fell in with Capt. Rivera, a short time afterward, the two
captains saluted each other on passing, and without stopping to speak about
anything Capt. Rivera immediately went on to Monterey, and we continued
our journey toward Sonora.’
ANZA AND RIVERA. 271
to the church by returning the Indian Carlos to the
sanctuary, on which condition the San Diego minis-
ters could grant absolution without necessity of Ser-
ra’s interference. He also wrote the guardian about
the matter, and after much difficulty in getting an
escort from Rivera, who put him off with frivolous
pretexts, he sent Cambon with the letter to overtake
Anza. The next day, April 19th, Rivera himself
started south again, refusing Serra’s request to go
with him on the plea of very great haste.”
Cambon overtook Anza at San Luis on the 19th,
bringing besides the president’s letters for Mexico
one in which he announced his purpose to come down
with Rivera if possible, and asked Anza to wait a
little; another from Moraga telling of Rivera’s arrival
at Monterey, and volunteering the opinion that the
commandant was insane; and still another from Rivera
himself announcing his immediate departure, asking
for a delay and consultation, and apologizing for past
discourtesy on the plea of ill-health.” On the after-
noon of the 21st some soldiers came in saying that
Rivera had encamped for the night but a little way
off. Anza at once sent a message that he would con-
sult with him on matters affecting the service, but
that all communication must be in writing. Next day
came back a letter naming San Gabriel as the place
of consultation. Anza was there on the 29th,” and
21 Palou, Not., ii. 291-7. Another serious cause of trouble between Rivera
and Serra was the action of the former respecting the mules which were
sent for mission use. One hundred mules were sent via Baja California,
and 89 were sent up by Gov. Barri to Rivera, who, knowing that they
belonged exclusively to the missions, distributed them all the same among
his soldiers, except 40 which he brought to Monterey, admitting when ques-
tioned that the mules were not his, but pleading military service. Subse-
quently, a letter came to Serra for Rivera ordering the distribution of the
mules. The letter was open, and was sealed and delivered after being read,
but Rivera never mentioned the matter again. /d., 209-11.
22 Palou, Not., ii. 297-300, says that Anza was induced by the padres to
read the letter, but would not answer it. According to this author Rivera’s
apology was in the subsequent letter.
23'This is Anza’s own version, Diario, MS., 189-97. Font, Jowrnal, MS.,
44, tells us that Rivera came to San Luis on the 22d, and after staying a
while without seeing Anza started for San Gabriel. Palou also says that
Rivera came to San Luis, got angry because Anza refused to communicate
272 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
found that Rivera had arrived two days before him.
Here the two commandants had no personal interview,
but exchanged several letters, Anza sending to Rivera
a description and map showing his survey of San
Francisco, and giving him three days in which to
prepare such reports or other communications as he
might wish to forward to the viceroy. When the
time had passed Rivera was offered more time, but
replied that no more was needed and that his de-
spatches would soon overtake Anza.“ The latter
finally set out for Sonora May 2d, with the same
company he had brought from Monterey and the re-
mainder of his ten soldiers.
Next day there came from Rivera, not his report
to the viceroy on matters connected with his com-
mand, but a private letter to Anza in which he said
that he “lacked a paper bearing upon a criminal who
took refuge in the place where mass is said at San
Diego,” and asked Anza to present his excuses to the
viceroy. He also enclosed a letter to the guardian of
San Fernando. Anza sent back both letters to the
writer, and went on to the Colorado; while Rivera
went immediately down to San Diego. The quarrel
is certainly a curious item in the annals of California,
being a subject which it is difficult fully to compre-
hend. Rivera was evidently a weak man. Whether
he was insane, or influenced solely by a spirit of child-
ish jealousy, of which we have seen manifestations in
a previous quarrel with Fages, is a question. Both
officers were subsequently reprimanded by Bucareli
except in writing, and went on to San Gabriel followed by Anza. Here may
be mentioned a tradition of the natives recorded by Anza as having been
told to P. Figuer, of the arrival and wreck, 23 years before, of a vessel bear-
ing 12 white men like the Spaniards, who before their death in the wreck had
landed and gave the Indians beads and other articles, including the knives
found by the Spaniards in 1769. ‘ Qué gente seria esta queda al discurso de
quien est’ mas instruido que yo,’ writes Anza, and I can do no better than
follow his discreet example.
4 Palou says that Anza did not stop at the mission but encamped at a little
distance, fearing a controversy with Rivera; and that he subsequently sent
back Rivera’s letters with the message that ‘he was not the mail.’ The cor-
respondence between the two was sent by Anza to the viceroy but has not, so
far as I know, been preserved.
WANDERINGS OF GARCES. 273
for allowing a quarrel in matters of etiquette to inter-
fere with the public service; but Rivera’s early re-
moval to Lower California put an end to the matter,
as it did to his quarrel with the friars.
The return march of Anza’s party to the Colorado
presents nothing of importance. They followed the
same route as before, except between San Sebastian
and Santa Olaya, where they kept more to the north,
and arrived May 11th at the Portezuelo de la Con-
cepcion, just below Palma’s rancherfa, and nearly if
not exactly identical with the site of the modern Fort
Yuma. Here they found Padre Eixarch in safety and
added him to the company; but of Garcés nothing
could be learned except that he had gone up the river
to the country of the Jalchedunes, whither a letter
was sent ordering him to return. Palma with three
other natives also joined the party, being allowed at
the earnest solicitation of himself and nation to go
with Anza to Mexico to present his petition for mis-
sionaries. They crossed the swollen river on rafts
just below the Gila, followed the banks of the latter
stream for two days, and then, turning to the right,
returned to Horcasitas by way of Sonoita, Caborca,
and Altar, arriving the Ist of June.”
I have now to narrate briefly the Californian wan-
derings of Father Francisco Garcés, whom Coloncl
Anza had left on the 4th of December 1775 at
Palma’s rancheria opposite the mouth of the Gila,
and whom he had subsequently seen at Santa Olaya
on the 9th, the friar being already on his way to ex-
plore the country and learn the disposition of the
natives toward the Christians. This first trip lasted
till January 3d, and in it the friar wandered with
2% Anza, Diario, MS., 198-232; Font’s Journal, MS., 45-52; Arrieivita,
Cron. Serdf., 464-8, 490. The last author affirms that Palma was well received
at Mexico, but there was some hesitation about sending missionaries, as he
was chief of one rancheria only. I should add that one of the deserting mule-
teers condemned hy Anza to remain in California escaped from San Diego and
crossed the country eastward alone and uninclested, jounng Ana on the
Colorado. _The name of this first explorer on this route is not recorded,
Hisr. Car., Vou. 1. 18
274 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
three Indian interpreters in all directions over the
country between Santa Olaya and the mouth of the
Colorado,* everywhere kindly received, everywhere
showing his banner with a picture of the virgin on
one side and of a lost soul on the other. The natives
invariably looked with pleasure on the former paint-
ing, pronouncing it muy buena, but turned with horror
from the latter as something very bad, to the un-
ceasing delight of Garcés, who regarded ‘their prefer-
ance as a token of predestination to salvation. The
diary contains much useful information respecting the
aboriginal tribes.
On the return of Garcés early in January the two
padres moved their residence from Palma’s rancheria
to what they called the Puerto, or Portezuelo, de
Concepcion, the site, as already stated, of the modern
Fort Yuma. They also examined the rancheria, or
puerto, of San Pablo below on the river, and pro-
nounced it a suitable site for a mission. Visitors
came in from different nations, and among others
from those dwelling in the mountains toward San
Diego. The people called Quemeyabs announced that
those on the coast had already killed a priest and
burned his house, that war was expected, and that in
case It came all the nations would combine against
the Spaniards, asking the Colorado tribes to remain
neutral. Garcés paid, however, very little attention
to this story, knowing of course nothing about the
massacre at San Diego; yet he lost no opportunity
to insist on the necessity of maintaining the most
friendly relations with these tribes, in order to insure
the safety of the coast establishments and communi-
cation with them.
On February 14th Garcés started up the river,
always to the west of it, with two or three interpret-
ers to visit the Yamajabs, as the Mojaves were orig-
6 The general route is indicated by dotted lines on Font’s map, but must
have been added after the diary was finished, for then Font had heard noth-
‘ing of Garcés. This part of the padre’s wanderings might, indeed, have been
reported by Eixarch, but not his northern travels, also shown on the map.
FROM MOJAVE TO SAN GABRIEL. 275
inally called, arriving on the 28th in their country, or
rather opposite, for they lived on the east of the river,
between what are now the Needles and Fort Mojave.”
During his short stay two thousand natives came
across the Colorado to visit the first white man who
had ever been in that region. Here the adventurous
friar conceived the idea of crossing the country west-
ward to visit the friars who lived near the sea, and
was encouraged by the natives, who had traded with
the coast tribes and said they knew the way. Leav-
ing some of his not very bulky effects and one of his
interpreters, he started with the rest and a few Yam-
ajabs March 1st and arrived on the 24th at San
Gabriel.* The route was substantially that of the
modern road from Los Angeles to Mojave, up the
Mojave River and through the Cajon Pass; and the
journey was without incident requiring special mention.
Garcés was warmly welcomed by the priests at San
Gabriel, where it will be remembered he had been with
Anza in 1774, finding that establishment ‘muy adel-
antada en lo espiritual y temporal,” and remaining for
27 This being the first exploration of most of this region, or of all west of
the river, I give the route in full. See also Font’s map route marked —-—-— ‘
Puerto de la Concepcion, 63 1. N. w.; 21. w. N. w. through pass in Sierra de
San Pablo to San Marcelo watering-place; 51. N. w. in sight of Cabeza del
Gigante in the east, Grande Medanal, and vicinity of San Sebastian, passing
near Pefion de la Campana; 81. N. and N. N. w. through pass in the sierra on
north of the Medanal to San José watering-place 33° 28’; 341. N.N. w. and E.N.
E., across sicrra to a valley; 61. N. N. w. and E. N. £.; 6]. EB. N.E. and N. into
Sierra of Santa Margarita to banks of Colorado, across valley to watering-place
in 33° 25/(?); 141. w.; Gor 111. N. w. and w. N. w. to Tinajas del Tezquien, one
day’s journey from river; 8 1. (or 61.) N. N. w. and N, across a sierra, to Santo
Angel springs 34° 31’ (in Chemehueves country); 61. N. E. and N. w.; 71. N.N.
E. across a sierra to Yamajab nation, whose rancherias, La Pasion, were across
the river. (35° on Font’s map.)
28 The full route over a country which Garcés was the first, as also for many
years the last, to traverse is worth recording as follows. (See also map): 3 1.
N. w. to rancherias of Santa Isabel; 31. N. w. and E. N. w. (sic) to San Pedre
de los Yamajabs in 35° 1’, still near the river; 241. s. w. to San Casimiro wells;
81. w. 4 w. s. w. to wells; 51. w., 31. w.s. w. to Sierra de Santa Coleta; 41.
Ww. N. W. across sierra (Providence Mts.) to Cafiada de Santo Tomas; 61. w.
s. w. to wells of San Juan de Dios, where the country of the Befiemés begins;
51. to Pinta Pass and Arroyo de los Martires (Rio Mojave); 1241]. w. s. w. on
same stream; 21. w. N. w., and 21. s. w. and s. 34° 37’; 51. s. w. up the
stream; 841. up the stream; 31.8. w. and s. to San Benito rancheria; 31.8. s.
Ww. across sierra (Cajon Pass?) in sight of sea, and 31. E. s. E. to Arroyo de los
ue 231. w. s. w. into Anza’s trail, and 81. w. N. w.; 21. w. N. w. to San
abriel,
276 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
over two weeks.” It had been his intention to reach
San Luis instead of San Gabriel, but the natives had
refused to guide him in that direction. He now de-
termined to go up to San Luis by the highway, and
thence to return eastward to the Colorado across the
tulares. He applied to the corporal of the mission
guard for an escort and supplies for the trip, and was
refused, being subsequently refused also by Rivera to
whom he wrote at San Diego. The commandant soon
arrived, however, on his way to Monterey, and a dis-
cussion ensued on the matter, which finally elicited
from Rivera, after various excuses, the declaration
that he was not in favor of anycommunication between
the natives of the Colorado and those of the missions,
having already taken some measures to prevent it by
ordering the arrest of eastern Indians coming to the
missions to trade. Gareés deemed Rivera’s views
erroneous, but he was obliged to submit, receiving,
however, from the missionaries supplies which enabled
him to partially carry out his plans, though he did not
venture along the Channel shores.
Setting out on the 9th of April, the padre crossed
the San Fernando Valley—I use here for convenience
modern names, referring to a note for those applied
at the time®—and the Santa Clara River; entered
29Tt appears by the mission record that Garcés on April 6th baptized an
Indian of 20 years named Miguel Garcés, Sergeant Grijalva being godfather.
San Gabriel, Lib. de Mision, MS., 10. It is very strange that neither Anza
nor Font in their diaries mention Garcés’ visit to San Gabriel, though the
route is indicated on the latter’s map, which, as I have said, must have been
made after the completion of the diary.
30 See also Font’s map. San Gabriel; 141. N. w. and w. N. w.; 541. N. w.
at foot of sierra; 241. N. w. to rancheria in 34° 13’ (vicinity of San Fernando
mission); 21. N, to Santa Clara Valley and 141. w. N. w. toa ciénega; 91. w.
and N. across (?) the Sierra Grande; $1. N. E. to a lake where Fages had been
(Elizabeth Lake?); 51. across valley to Sierra de San Marcos; 241. x. and 3$1.
w. across the Sierra to San Pascual rancheria of the Cuabajay nation (in
edge of Tulare Valley, but this nation farther west on map); 141. w. N. w. to
rancheria in 35° 9’; 81. nN. to Arroyo de Santa Catarina in country of the
Noches; 1 1. nN. w. to a great river Sun Felipe flowing with rapid current from
eastern mountains (Kern River above Bakersfield?) and 31. nN. w. and n. to
smaller stream Santiago (Posa Creek?); 45 1. N.; 24 1. N. to River Santa Cruz
(White River?); 1 1. £. to rancheria. Back to San Miguel at junction of two
branches of River San Felipe; back to San Pascual rancheria; 21. F, and N. E.
in sierra to lagoon of San Venancio; 351. N. w. ands. E.; 141. s. £. to Arroyo
EXPLORATION OF THE TULARES. 277
the great Tulare Valley by way of Turner’s and Tejon
_passes; crossed Kern River, which he called San
Felipe, near Bakersfield; went up nearly to the lati-
tude of Tulare Lake, which he did not see, being too
far to the east; left the valley, probably by the Teha-
chepi Pass but possibly by Kelso Valley; and thence
went across to the Mojave, and back by nearly his
original route to the starting-point on the Colorado.
Thus he had been the first to explore this broad
region, the first to pass over the southern Pacific
railway route of the thirty-fifth parallel. His petty
adventures with the ever friendly natives in the Tulare
Valley are interesting, but cannot be sufficiently con-
densed for insertion here. Seven days’ journey north
of the limit of his trip he heard of another great
river which joined the San Felipe, and which Gar-
cés thought might be that flowing into San Fran-
cisco Bay, the San Joaquin, as it doubtless was. At
one place the priest was greeted by a native who
asked him in Spanish for paper to make cigarritos, who
said he came from the west, and who was, doubtless,
a runaway neophyte from San Ciirlos or San Antonio.
Everywhere the natives were careful to inquire of
the guides whether the friar was a Spaniard of the
west or of the east, the latter bearing a much better
reputation than the former.
On the Colorado Garcés received Anza’s letter
requiring his return if he wished to accompany the
party to Sonora. But it was already too late; there
was much to be done in his favorite work of making
peace between hostile tribes, the Indians desired him
to stay, and there were other regions to explore.
Consequently, although he had once started down the
river, he suddenly changed his mind and decided to
visit the Moqui towns. Parting from his last inter-
de la Asuncion; 64 1. s. s. w. out of mountains and over plains; 71. 8. s. w.
to Rio Martires at old station in 34° 37’; back to San Juan de Dios by old
route; 21. FE. N. E. to Médano; 441. £. s. E. across Sierra of Santa Coleta; 31.
E. N. E. to well of San Felipe Neri; 51. n. £.; 141. N. E. to Trinidad; 1$1.N. E.;
91. &. ani s. E. to San Casimiro; 21. E. s. w. (sic) to starting-point.
278 EXPEDITIONS OF ANZA, FONT, AND GARCES.
preter he crossed the river and started June 4th with
a party of Hualapais for the north-east, reaching the
Mogqui towns the 2d of July. Here his good-fortune
deserted him. The Mogquis did not harm him, but
would not receive him in their houses, would not re-
ceive his gifts, looked with indifference on his paint-
ings of hell and heaven, and refused to kiss the
Christ. Having passed two nights in a corner of the
court-yard, and having written a letter to the min-
ister at Zufii, Garceés turned sorrowfully back and
retraced his steps to the country of the Yamajabs,
where he arrived on the 25th. He was a month in
going down the river to the Yuma country, and reach-
ing San Javier del Bac, on the 17th of September.”
The expedition of Dominguez and Escalante may
be alluded to here as an unsuccessful attempt to reach
California. They went in 1776 from Santa Fé, New
Mexico, to Utah Lake. But winter was near, food
became scarce, reports of the natives were not en-
couraging, and they soon gave up their plan of reach-
ing Monterey, returning to Santa I’é by way of the
Moqui towns.”
31 Garcés, Diario, 246-348., Signed at Tubutama Jan. 30, 1777. Forbes,
Hist. Cal., 157-62, saw this diary in MS., at Guadalajara. Journey men-
tioned in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 47-8; vi. 59. Palou, Noé., ii. 281-2, mentions
rumors that Garcés had been killed by savages.
32 Dominguez and Escalante, Diario y Derrotero, 1776. In his Carta de 28
de Octubre 1775, MS., Escalante favors a route from Monterey to the Moquis
and to Santa Fé. He has heard of some light-colored natives somewhere on
the route, who had probably reached the interior from Monterey, by the great
rivers.
CHAPTER XIII.
FOUNDING OF THE PRESIDIO AND MISSION OF SAN
FRANCISCO.
1776-1777.
Aw‘za’s EXPLORATION OF THE PENINSULA OF SAN FRANCISCO—ITINERARY—
THE Camp on Mountain LAKE—SURVEY OF THE PENINSULA—ARROYC
DE LOS DoLORES—TRIP TO THE GREAT RIVER—BLUNDERS OF Font IN
CoRRECTING CRESPI—RETURN TO MonTEREY—ORDERS FOR THE FouNDA-
TION—A HiT AT THE PADRES—ARRIVAL OF THE TRANSPORT VESSELS—
Moraca Leaps tHE CoLtony To THE PENINSULA—CaAMP oN LAKE
DoLorES—CoMING 07 THE ‘SAN CARLOS’—-THE PRxESIDIO FooNvDED —
New EXpLoraATIon OF Rounp Bay AND RIO DE SAN FRANCISCO—F LIGHT
OF THE NATIVES—FORMAL DEDICATION OF THE Miss1oN—DIScUSSION OF
Datr, Location, AND NAME—EarRty PRoGRESS—ANNALS OF 1777—
VISITS OF GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENT AND COMMANDANT.
THE expedition of Anza, described in the preceding
chapter, was planned and executed with almost exclu-
sive reference to the establishment of a presidio at
San Francisco, and of one or two missions in the same
region under its protection. Though I have not found
the text of Bucareli’s instructions to Anza, it was
probably the intention that the foundation should be
accomplished during, that officer’s stay in California,
and to a certain extent under his supervision. The
expedition, however, for various reasons, did not reach
California so early as had been intended. The matter
was delayed by the critical state of things at San
Diego, and still farther delayed by Rivera’s idiosyn-
crasies; and Anza was obliged to leave the country
before his colonists had been settled in their new
home. Yet he did not go until he had made every
poszible effort to forward the scheme by repeatedly
(279 |
280 FOUNDING OF SAN FRANCISCO.
urging its importance upon the dilatory and obstinate
commandant, and by making in person a new exam-
ination of the San Francisco region. This examina-
tion, minutely described in the original records,’ was
omitted from its chronological place as a part of
Anza’s expedition, and must now receive attention.
With Moraga, Font, a corporal, and two soldiers
from the presidio, eight of his own men, and provisions
for twenty days, Anza left Monterey for San Fran-
cisco the 23d of March 1776, having been but two
days from his sick-bed at San Carlos.” The party
followed the route of Rivera and Palou in their jour-
ney of December 1774,’ to the Arroyo de San Fran-
cisco, now known as San Francisquito Creek, at
a spot where the Spaniards had first encamped in
December 1769, and which Palou had selected two
years previously as a desirable site for the mission of
San Francisco. The cross set up in token of this
sclection was still standing, but intermediate explora-
tion, as Anza tells us, referring presumably to Heceta’s
trip of the year before, had shown a lack of water in
the dry season, very unfortunately, as in respect of
soil, timber, and gentilidad the place was well adapted
for a mission.
Instead of entering the cafiada of San Andrés Anza
seems to have kept nearer the bay shore—though
neither he nor I’ont states that the bay was kept in
sight; but after crossing the Arroyo de San Mateo,
so called at the time and since, there are but slight
data, save the general course, between north-west
1 Anza, Diario, MS., 139-78; Font’s Journal, MS., 80-43.
2 Palou, Not., 285-7, says the start was March 22d, and the total number of
soldiers 10. Anza wished Palou to go with him, but Serra objected. Two of
the soldiers, however, had been over the route before.
3See chap. x. of this volume. The itinerary, with Font’s distances in
parentheses, was as follows: From Monterey, 741. (7) to Asuncion or Nativi-
dad across the River Monterey or Santa Delfina: 81. (12) to Valley of San
Eernarcino or Arroyo de las Llagas (still called Llagas Creek) across Arroyo
de San Benito and Pajaro River (7); 81. (12) to Arroyo de San José Cupertino
(93 on Font’s map) in sight of bay; 41. (6?) to Arroyo de San Francisco. At
one place on the way the poles used to support the altar on a previous visit
of the Spaniards were found decorated with offerings of arrows, feathers, food,
etc., recalling the similar occurrence at Monterey in 1770.
; MAP OF EXPLORATIONS. 281
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PENINSULA OF SAN FRANCISCO.
282 FOUNDING OF SAN FRANCISCO.
and north, from which to determine the exact route,‘
until, on March 27th, he encamped at about 11 a. M.
on a lake near the “mouth of the port,” out of which
was flowing water enough, as the writer says, for a
mill. This was what is now Mountain Lake, to which
the Spaniards at this time gave no name,’ though
they called the outlet Arroyo del Puerto, now known
as Lobos Creek. As soon as the camp was pitched
Anza set out exploring toward the west and south,
spending the afternoon, and finding water, pasturage,
and wood, in fact all that was required for his pro-
posed fort except timber.
Next morning he went with the priests to what is
now Fort Point, “ where nobody had been,” and there
erected a cross, at the foot of which he buried an ac-
count of his explorations.° Here upon the table-land
terminating in this pomt Anza determined to estab-
lish the presidio. Font presently returned to canip,’
while Anza and Moraga continued their explorations
toward the east and south-east, where they found, in
addition to previous discoveries, a plentiful supply of
oak timber which, though much bent by the north-
west winds, would serve to some extent for building
purposes. About half a league east of the camp they
‘From the topography of the region, and from the fact that no mention is
made of seeing or being near either the bay or Lake Merced, it is most likely
that Anza followed the route of the present county road and railroad from
San Bruno to the vicinity of Islais Creek, thence turning to the left past the
present Almshouse tract.
5The lake is called Laguna:del Presidio on La Pérouse’s map of 1786.
That the lake on which this party encamped was Mountain Lake, an identity
that no previous writer has noticed, is proved not only by Anza’s subsequent
movements, but by the following in Font’s Journal, MS., 31: ‘The coast of
the mouth (of San Francisco Bay) on this side runs from N. E. to 8. w., not
straight, but forming a bend, on the beach of which a stream, which flows
from the lagoon where we halted, empties itself, and we called it the Arroyo
del Puerto.’ No other part of the shore corresponds at all to this statement.
6 Misled, perhaps, by this mention of the cross, Palou, Not., ii. 286, says
that Anza followed his, Palou’s, route of 1774 until he reached the cross
planted at that time.
7 Font in his diary gives a long and accurate description of San Francisco
Bay. He clearly mentions Alcatraz Island, though without applying any
name. It is to be noted that he mentions Punta de Almejas, or Mussel Point, .
still so called; but this was not the original Mussel Point of 1769, though
Font very likely thought so.
ANZA’S VISIT. 283
found another large lagoon, from which was flowing
considerable water, and which, with some artificial im-
provements, they thought would furnish a permanent
supply for garden irrigation. This was the present
Washerwoman’s Bay, corner of Greenwich and Octa-
via streets. About a league and a half south-east of
the camp there was a tract of irrigable land, and a
flowing spring, or ojo de agua, which would easily
supply the required water. Anza found some well
disposed natives also, and he came back at 5 p. m. very
much pleased, as Font tells us, with the result of his
day’s search.
Next morning, the 29th, they broke camp, half the
inen with the pack animals returning by the way they
had come, to San Mateo Creek, and the commander
with Font and five men taking a circuitous route by
the bay shore. Arriving at the spring and rivulet dis-
covered the day before, they named it from the day,
the last Friday in lent, Arroyo de los Dolores.®
Thence passing round the hills they reached and
crossed the former trail, and went over westward into
the Cafiada de San Andrés in search of timber, of
which they found an abundance. They followed the
olen some distance beyond where the San Mateo
creek flows out into the plain, killed a large bear,
crossed the low hills, and returned northward to join
their companions on the San Mateo.
The next objective point was the great River San
Francisco, which had in 1772 prevented Fages from
8It is to be noted that Anza calls it simply an ‘ojo de agua 6 fuente’ and
Font an ‘arroyo,’ but neither mentions any lagoon. Palou, however, says,
‘on reaching the beach of the bay which the sailors called De los Llorones
(that is Mission Bay, called Llorones by Ayala’s men on account of two weep-
ing natives, see chap. xi.), he crossed an arroyo by which empties a great
lagoon which he named Dolores, and it seemed to him a good site for the mis-
sion,’ etc. This may be punctuated so as to apply the name to the stream
rather than the lagoon ; but I suspect that the lagoon—subsequently known
as The Willows—with its stream was entirely distinct from Anza’s stream of
Dolores. Of this more in note 26 of this chapter. Font from an eminence
noted the bearing of the head of the bay E. s. E., and of an immense spruce,
or redwood, afterwards found it to be 150 feet high and 16 feet in circumfer-
‘ence, on the Arroyo de San Francisco, 8. E.
284 FOUNDING OF SAN FRANCISCO.
reaching Point Reyes? Save that in going round
the head of the bay they named Guadalupe and
Coyote streams, and further on the Arroyo de San
Salvador, or Harina, there is nothing of value or
interest in the diaries until April 2d when the ex-
plorers reached the mouth of ‘the fresh water port
held hitherto to be a great river,’ that is, to the
strait of Carquines and Suisun Bay. The water was
somewhat salt; there was no current; this great
River San Francisco was apparently no river at all,
but an extension of the bay. The matter seems to
have troubled them greatly, and their observations
were chiefly directed to learning the true status of
this body of water. There was no reason for it,
but they were confused. Crespi’s diary of the for-
mer trip had described the body of water accu-
rately enough, and had not at all confounded the
strait and bay with the River San Francisco, or San
Joaquin; but, possibly, Fages had also written a
diary in which he expressed “the matter less clear hep
The camp on the 2d was on a stream supposed to
be identical with the Santa Angela de Fulgino™ of
Fages. Onthe 3d they continued eastward past the
low range of hills, from the summit of which, near
Willow Pass, like Fages and Crespi before them, they
had a fine view of a broad country, which they describe
more fully, but not more accurately, than their prede-
cessors.” The long descriptions are interesting, but
they form no part of history and are omitted, strange
as it may seem, on account of their very accuracy, as
is also true regarding Font’s description of San Fran-
cisco Bay. They described the country as it was and
®TIt is noticeable that Anza several times implies that more than one ex-
ploration had been made in this direction, but only one, that of Fages, is
recorded.
10See account of Fages’ trip in chapter viii. According to Arvicivita,
Créx. Serdf., 465-7, Font named the body of water Puerto Dulce.
No. 100 of Font’s map.
™ See also Font’s map in preceding chapter, on which ‘a’ is ‘the hill to
which Fages arrived;’ ‘b’ a ‘rancheria at edge of the water;’ “G: a ‘hill from
which we saw the tulares;’ ‘d’ the ‘summit of the sierra;’ and ‘e’ some ‘min-
eral hills.’
=, Se oe
MOUTH OF THE SAN JOAQUIN. 285
is; it is only with the annals of their trip and such
errors in their observations as had or might have
had an effect on subsequent explorations that I have
to deal. There are, however, errors and confusion to
be noted. It is evident that for some reason they had
an imperfect idea of Fages’ trip. On the strait they
had labored hard to prove it not a river, as it certainly
was not, and as it had never been supposed to be, so
far as can be known. Now that they had reached the
river and were looking out over the broad valleys of
the San Joaquin and Sacramento from the hills back
of Antioch, they still flattered themselves that they
were correcting errors of Crespf and Fages, and they
still labored to prove that the broad rivers were not
rivers, but ‘fresh water ports’ extending far to the
north and south, possibly connecting by tulares in the
former direction with Bodega Bay. In all this, how-
ever, Anza was not so positive; but in correcting .an
error Crespi never made respecting the Strait of Car-
quines, Font was singularly enough led into real error
left on record for others to correct.
Like Fages, Anza descended the hills and advanced
some leagues over the plain to the water’s edge,”
but instead of turning back and entering the hills by
the San Ramon Cafada, as Fages had done, after
some rather ineffectual attempts to follow the miry
river-banks, he kept on over the foot-hills, noting vast
herds of elk, or jackass deer, passed to the left of
what is now Mount Diablo, mid crossed the moun-
18 Font in one place calls the hill the terminus of Fages’ exploration, and
says: ‘From said hill which may be about a league from the water, Captain
Fages and P. Crespi saw its extent and that it was divided into arms which
formed islands of low land; and as they had previously tasted the water
on the road further back and found it to be fresh, they supposed without
doubt that it must be some great river which divided itself here into three
branches,..without noticing whether it had any current or not, which was
not easy for them to do from said hill at such a distance.’ Font counted
seven islands. Anza, Diario, MS., 168, says of the body of water ‘nos pareciéd
ser mas una gran laguna que rio, "and 172, ‘Me hizo esta noticia (the state-
ment of two soldiers that the tulares were "impassable even in the dry season)
y lo que yo observaba acabarme de conceptuar que lo que se ha tenido por rio
es puramenie una gran laguna.’ San Ricardo was the name given to the
rancheria in the Ancioch region.
286 FOUNDING OF SAN FRANCISCO.
tains by a difficult route not easy to locate, on which
he named the Cafiada de San Vicente and the Sierra
del Chasco, finding also indications of silver ore.
April 6th the party encamped on Arroyo del Coy-
ote,“ and on the 8th arrived at Monterey. As before
related, Anza started south on the 14th, and his final
exhortation to Rivera on the importance of prompt
action in the San Francisco matter was accompanied
by a diary and map of the exploration just described.”
With the arrival of the colony at Monterey from
the south, there had come instructions from Rivera
to build houses for the people, since there would be
at least a year’s delay before the presidio could be
founded.*® And such were the orders in force, not-
withstanding Anza’s protest, when that officer turned
over the command to Moraga,” and left the country.
But Rivera, coming to his senses perhaps after a litile
reflection, or fearing the results of Anza’s reports in
Mexico, or really taking some interest in the new
foundation now that the object of his jealousy had
departed, changed his policy, and the day after his
arrival in San Diego, on May 8th, despatched an order
to Moraga to proceed and establish the fort on the
site selected by Anza. He could not, however, neg-
lect the opportunity to annoy the priests by saying
that the founding of the missions was for the present
suspended, as Moraga was instructed to inform the
president. Truly the latter had not gained much in
the change from Fages to his rival. At the same
time Rivera sent an order to Grijalva at San Gabriel
to rejoin the rest of the colony at Monterey with the
14No. 104 of the map.
19 The route of Anza’s trip is shown, but of course in a general way, on
Font’s map. See chapter xii. The natives had been as usual friendly in every
rancheria visited.
16 Palou, Not., ii. 283. From the viceroy Rivera had permission dated
Jan. 20th, to delay the exploration only until Anza’s arrival. Prov. St. Pap.,
nee i. 193-4. But of course the viceroy knew nothing yet of the San Diego
affair.
"Feb. 4th, Rivera orders Moraga to take command of the expedition
after Anza’s departure. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 19.
PREPARATIONS. 287
twelve soldiers and their families. Anza’s departure
had, it seems, greatly lessened the danger at San
Diego. | |
Gongora brought the order to San Gabriel, and
Grijalva, setting out at once with his company, carried
it to Moraga at Monterey. It was resolved to start
north in the middle of June, and though the mission
must wait, Serra thought it best that Palou and
Cambon, the friars destined for San Francisco, shoul These were probably Fuster, the survivor of San Diego, and Lasuen and
Amurrio destined for San Juan. Their petition to retire was simply a protest
oe Rivera’s inaction, and not improbably had been suggested by Serra
imself,
WORK AT SAN DIEGO. 301
work. The president at once made an arrangement
with Captain Choquet of the San Antonio, who of-
fered to furnish sailors to work on the mission, and
go in person to direct their labors. Then Rivera,
asked in writing for a guard, could not refuse, at
detailed six men for the service. On August 22d
the three friars, Choquet with his mate and _ boat-
swain and twenty sailors, a company of neophytes,
and the six soldiers went up the river to the old site
and began work in earnest, digging foundations, col-
lecting stones, and making adobes. The plan was to
erect first an adobe wall for defence and then build
a church and other structures within the enclosure.
Good progress was made for fifteen days, so that it
was expected to complete the wall in two weeks and
the buildings before the sailing of the transport, with
time enough left to put in a crop. But an Indian
went to Rivera with a report that the savages were
preparing arrows for a new attack, and though a ser-
geant sent to investigate reported, as the friars claim,
that the report had no foundation’ the commandant
was frightened, and on September 8th withdrew the
guard, advising the withdrawal of the sailors. Cho-
quet, though protesting, was obliged to yield to save
his own responsibility, and the work had to be aban-
doned, to the sorrow and indignation of the mission-
aries.
About this time a native reported that Corporal
Carrillo was at Velicaté with soldiers en route for
San Diego. Serra was sure they were the soldiers
promised him for mission guards, and Rivera equally
positive that they were destined to reénforce the pre-
sidio; but he refused to send a courier to learn the
truth until a letter came from Carrillo on the 25th.
6Lasuen in his report of 1783, in Bandint, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., 2, states
that the mission was retstablished in June 1776. There may, however, be
an error of the copyist.
‘The governor in a later report says that investigations had proved a
second convocation of 21 rancherias for hostile operations. Prov. Rec., MS.,
i. 60-1. It is not certain however that the allusion is to this occasion.
302 MISSION PROGRESS AND PUEBLO BEGINNINGS.
Three days later the viceroy’s despatches arrived and
proved favorable to Serra’s claims, directing the
troops, which arrived on the 29th, to be used for the
restoration of the missions. The president celebrated
his triumph by a mass and the ringing of bells. Rive-
ra was obliged to modify his plans, assigning twelve
of the twenty-five men to the mission, ten to San
Juan, two to San Gabriel, and the remainder to the
presidio. He also released the Indian captives whom
he had intended to exile to San Blas.2 On the 11th
he started north to establish the missions near San
Francisco, learning on the way, as we have seen, that
one of them had already been founded in spite of his
orders to the contrary.?
Work was at once resumed at the mission, and the
buildings were soon ready for occupation. Three friars,
Fuster, Lasuen, and probably Santa Maria, moved
into their new quarters and under the protection of
an increased escort renewed their labors, the date bein
apparently the 17th of October.” Already the lost
mission registers of baptism, marriages, and deaths
had been replaced with new ones in which the miss-
ing entries were restored, so far as possible, from
the memory of priests, neophytes, and soldiers, by
Serra himself, who added some valuable notes on the
past history of the mission, at various dates from
August 14th to October 25th; Fuster also added an
interesting narrative of the tragedy of November 5,
1775. These records, which I have had occasion to
8 But this release would seem not to have been immediate, for the gov-
ernor in a letter of Feb. 27, 1777, says that there were still 13 prisoners at
San Diego implicated in the revolt. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 143. Ina letter of
June 3d he states that on receipt of the viceroy’s orders of Feb. 2d, the troops
were drawn up, the prisoners called out and harangued on the enormity of
their offence meriting death, warned that if they abused the present clem-
ency they must expect the severest penalty, and then they were dismissed
with an exhortation by the priests, both soldiers and criminals uniting in a
cheer, and a salute from two cannons celebrating this termination of a pain-
ful matter. Jd., 60-1. One of the prisoners had strangled himself on Aug,
15th, the anniversary of the day when six years before he had attempted te
kill Father Serra in the first attack on the mission. Palou, Vida, 87.
® Palou, Not. ii, 825-37; Id., Vida, 191-3, 196-7.
10 Ortega to Rivera, Dec. 3d, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 151.
FOUNDING OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. 303
use freely in the preceding chapters, are among the
most valuable original authorities on the early history
of California.“ Palou asserts that progress in the
work of conversion was rapid from the first, whole
rancherias coming in from far away to ask for baptism.
The only additional record for the year at San Diego
is in letters of Ortega to Rivera complaining of some
minor matters of the presidio routine, among others
of want of clothing and tortillas.”
In the last days of October, leaving San Diego
affairs in a satisfactory condition, Serra started north-
ward with Gregorio Amurrio and the escort of ten
soldiers*® to establish the new mission of San Juan
Capistrano,“ on the site abandoned the year previous.
The buried bells were dug up to be hung and chimed;
mass was said by the president, and thus the seventh
mission was founded the Ist of November” on or near
the site where stood the ruins of a later structure
a century after, near a small bay which offered good
anchorage and protection from all but south winds, and
which long served as the port for mission cargoes. La-
suen, originally assigned to this mission, had remained
1 Serra, Notas, MS.; Fuster, Registro de Defunciones, MS.
12 Ortega to Rivera, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 152-3.
13The mission guard under Corporal Nicolés Carabanas included the
soldiers Jacinto Gloria, José Antonio Pefia, Francisco Pefia, Pio Quinto
Zufiiga, Nicol4s Gomez, Matias Vega, José Dolores Dominguez, Julian Ace-
bedo, and José Joaquin Armenta. It is to be noted that many early -Cali-
fornians wrote their names ‘Joseph’ rather than José.
14The patron saint of this mission was born at Capistrano in the kingdom
of Naples in 1385, was educated as a lawyer, became a judge, and in 1415
took the habit of St Francis. He was noted thereafter for his austere life and
his zeal against heretics, occupying high positions in the Inquisition. He also
travelled extensively in Europe on diplomatic business for the pope. He took
part in the crusades, and hated Jews and Turks no less than heretics. He was
prominent in the siege and Christian victory of Belgrade in 1456, and died in
October of that year, to be canonized in 1690. He was the author of many
ecclesiastical works, and his festival is celebrated by the church the 3lst of
October. -
15,8. Juan Capistrano, Lib. de Mision, MS., title-page; Ortega, in Prov. St.
haps MS. alk ie
16 According to Los Angeles, Hist., 5, the first mission was located some
miles north-easterly from the present location, at the foot of the mountain,
the place being still known as Mision Vieja; but this can hardly agree with
Palou’s statement, Vida, 197-200, that the mission stood half a league from
the bay, on a stream running into it, and in sight of it as at present,
304 MISSION PROGRESS AND PUEBLO BEGINNINGS.
in Jaume’s place at San Diego, and Pablo Mugértegui,
appointed in his place, soon came down from San Luis.
A. few days after the founding Serra made a trip to
San Gabriel. While returning in company with a
pack-train and a drove of cattle he went a little in
advance with a soldier and a neophyte, and was met
on the Trabuco stream by a horde of painted and
armed savages who approached with shouts and
hostile gestures, but were induced to desist by a few
judicious falsehoods applied by the San Gabriel neo-
phyte, who affirmed that there was a large body of
soldiers close behind who would take terrible vengeance
for any harm done to the friar.” There were no further
demonstrations of the kind. The natives near the
mission were not averse to christianity, and Amurrio
administered baptism December 15th, and Mugéartegui
again on Christmas, the whole number during the year
being four, and during the next year forty. The
native name of the mission site was Sajirit.*
As soon as Rivera arrived from the south in the
autumn of 1776, he gave his attention to the two
new missions which the viceroy in his late communi-
zations had spoken of as already founded, and which
the commandant now realized to have been too long
neglected. One of them had indeed been established ;
Tomas de la Pefia and José Murguia had long since
been assigned to the other; mission guard, church para-
phernalia, and all needed supplies were ready; and
Peiia had already been over the northern country and
Nov. 12th Corporal Beltran reports the hostile demonstrations against
Serra and the soldier Pefia, and adds that the natives are at the mission ready to
fight. Nov. 15th Ortega reports having sent Mariano Carrillo to investigate.
He adds that two soldiers and a servant have deserted from the new mission.
Nov. 23d Carrillo reports that all is quiet since the original demonstration; all
round the mission were peaceable, and two pagan chiefs had come to ask per-
mission to settle at San Juan. One chief complains that a soldier has taken
his wife, but the soldier will be sent to San Diego. St. Pap. Sac., MS., vii.
5-13.
18 San Juan Capistrano, Lib. de Mision, MS. In several of the mission
registers the aboriginal name was written Quanis-Savit, which was, in all but
one, erased and Sajirit substituted.
FOUNDING OF SANTA CLARA. 305
made up his mind about the most desirable site. Set-
ting out in November to inspect the establishments
at San Francisco, and accompanied by Petia, Rivera
visited on the way the proposed site near the banks of
the Guadalupe River in the broad San Bernardino
plain, since known as Santa Clara Valley.” Subse-
quently Friar Tomas was left at San Francisco with
the understanding that Rivera on his return to Mon-
terey should send up the men and supplies, with the
other priest, and orders to proceed at once to the
founding. On account of the alarm at San Luis
Obispo already noticed, these orders were delayed, but
they came late in December, and on the 6th of Janu-
ary 1777, Moraga with Peta and a company of sol-
diers” started southward.
A cross having been erected and an enramada pre-
pared, Father Tomas said the first mass on January
12th, dedicating the new mission to Santa Clara,”.
virgin, on the site called aboriginally Thamien, among
the natives known as Tares, who had four ranchertas
in the vicinity.” In respect of agricultural advantages
this valley was thought to be hardly inferior to the
country of San Gabriel, but it was feared, and with
reason as it proved, that the mission site might be
liable to occasional inundations.” The work of build-
19Palou, Not., ii. 341-3, implies that the site was formally selected by
Moraga later; but this is not probable; at any rate the site had doubtless been
long before fixed upon more or less definitely by the priests.
20 The soldiers destined for the new mission were the remaining ten of
Anza’s company who had been all this time at Monterey. Palou, Vida, 218-
20, implies that these soldiers with their families came up to San Francisco;
which may be true, but it seems more likely that they met Moraga at the head
of the bay, the latter taking with him a few men from his own presidio.
21 Santa Clara was the daughter of a rich and noble family of Assisi, Italy,
born in 1193, and wholly devoted to the fashionable frivolities of her class,
until at the age of 17 she was converted by the preaching of Saint Francis,
retired to the convent of Porcitincula, and became as famous for the austerity
and piety of her life as she had been for her wit and beauty. She founded an
order of religiosas named for herself, died: in 1253, and was canonized in 1255.
Her day is celebrated on the 12th of August.
22 Pefia’s Report of Dec. 30th, in Arch. Santa Barbara, MS., ix. 505-9.
Tares was the native word for men. A newspaper scrap says the place was
called Socoisuka from the abundance of laurels. The governor on Feb. 25th
writes that the mission was located on Jan. 4th. Prov. Iec., MS., 1. 141.
23Tn January and February 1779 the mission was twice flooded. Several
Hist. Cat., Vou. I. 20
306 MISSION PROGRESS AND PUEBLO BEGINNINGS
ing was at once begun within a square of seventy
yards. Father Murguia arrived with cattle and other
mission property on the 21st, and Moraga went back
to San Francisco. The latter however was soon
recalled, for the natives, though friendly at first, soon
developed a taste for beef, which flogging and even
the killing of three of their number did not entirely
eradicate.* In May an epidemic carried off many
irae ren, most of whom were baptized, and missionary
work proper was thus begun.”
According to the minister’s report at the end of the
year there had been sixty-seven baptisms, including
eight adults, and twenty-five deaths. Thirteen Chris-
tians and ten catechumens were living at the mission,
and the rest at the rancherfas with their parents. In
the way of material improvements the new estab-
lishment could show a church of six by twenty
varas, two dwellings of six by twenty-two and five by
thirty-one varas respectively, divided into the neces-
sary apartments, all of timber plastered with clay and
roofed with earth. There were likewise two corrals
and a bridge across the stream.”
Since March 1775 Felipe de Neve had been ruling
at Loreto as governor of the Californias, though his
authority over Upper California had been merely
nominal, the commandant of the new establishments
houses fell and all had to be moved to higher ground. Governor's report of
April 4th, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 125-6.
“4 Gov. Neve ina report of Sept. 19, 1777, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 19-20.
% Santa Clara, Lib. de Mision, MS. The first baptism of a child de razon
on July 3lst was that of an illegitimate son of José Antonio Gonzalez and
of a woman whose marriage with another man the next year is the first
recorded. The first death was that of José Antonio Garcia in Jan. 1778.
Both Ramon Bojorges and Gabriel Peralta are named as corporals of the
mission guard during the first year. Prov. St. Pap., Den. Mil., MS., i. 11.
26 Murguia and Peta, Informe de Santa Clara, Wi 7, MS. The sirvientes
of the mission—not all ‘servants’ as we use the word, but including mechanics,
vaqueros, ete. —were Francisco Ibarra, Cristobal Armenta, Agustin Soberanes,
Antonio Romero (Ist and 2d), Joaquin Sanchez, Manuel Antonio, Joaquin
Puga, Cirilo Gonzalez. Moraga, in Prov. St. Pap. Ben., MS., i. 9, and Gleeson,
fist. Cath. Ch., ii. 80-2, say the founders reached Santa Clara Jan. Ist. Shea,
Cath. Miss., 100, tells us the mission was founded Jan. 6th. For account of
founding from Palou, see Hall’s Hist. San José, 416-18; The Owl, Jan. 1871.
ae
THE GOVERNOR TO LIVE AT MONTEREY. 307
being directly responsible to the viceroy and subordi-
nate to the governor only in being required to report
fully to that official. Soon however a change was
ordered, due largely it is believed to the influence of
José de Galvez, now in Spain and filling the high posi-
tion of minister of state for the Indies. The 16th of
August 1775 the king issues a royal order that Gov-
ernor Neve is to reside at Monterey as capital of the
province, while Rivera is to go to Loreto and rule
Baja California as lieutenant-governor. At the same
time, perhaps, Neve’s commission as governor is for-
warded, for his office down to this time had been
merely provisional under appointment of the viceroy
_requiring the king’s approval. A second royal order
of April 19, 1776, directed the change to be made
immediately.” It is difficult to ascertain in thebsence
of original instructions of king and viceroy exactly
what effect the change of residence had on the respec-
tive powers of Neve and Rivera, especially those of
the latter. But it is evident that while Rivera’s. au-
thority as heutenant-governor on the peninsula was
less absolute and his subordination to the governor
reater than in Upper California as commandant,
Rave's authority in the north was practically the
same as Rivera’s had been; that is, in California the
only change in government was in the title of the
ruler. The new establishments were recognized by
Carlos III. as more important than the old. In six
years the child had outgrown its parent. Monterey
was to be capital of the Californias as it had always
been of California Setentrional.*
27 The order of Aug. 16th is merely referred to ina list of documents in Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xxii. 3, and may possibly be an error. The order of April 19th
is referred to in a letter of the viceroy in Jd., i. 203. Neve’s commission as
governor was forwarded to him by the viceroy on Dec. 20, 1775. Prov. Kec.,
MS., i. 39.
28 The formation of the Provincias Internas de Occidente under Teodoro de
Croix as commandant general with viceregal powers was nearly simultaneous
with the change in California; and to this new official Gov. Neve became
responsible instead of to the viceroy as Rivera had been. March 8, 1777,
Croix writes to Neve that Art. 20 of royal instructions requires the governor
and officials of California to render individual reports of acts and events to
308 MISSION PROGRESS AND PUEBLO BEGINNINGS.
For the first time so far as the record shows, Vice-
roy Bucareli transmitted the king’s orders to Neve
at Loreto the 20th of July 1776. During this month
and the next a correspondence took place between the
two officials,” which, from its fragmentary nature as
preserved, 1s unsatisfactory, but from which it appears
that Bucareli was desirous that Neve should start as
soon as possible, that orders to Rivera were enclosed
to the governor, that a herd of live-stock was to be
taken from the peninsula, and that twenty-five sol-
diers were sent by the Concepcion to Loreto to accom-
pany Neve northward. Though Bucareli had nothing
to do with the change in rulers and capitals, he could
not fail to be well pleased with the order received from
Spain, since it came just in time to relieve him from
the undesirable task of deciding several quarrels.
Rivera’s troubles with the Franciscans and with Anza
are fresh in the reader’s mind, and Neve’s relations
with the Dominicanswere but little Jess uncomfortable.
Complaints to the viceroy were frequent, and it was
an easy reply to say that the impending change would
probably remove ail reason for dissatisfaction and pre-
vent the necessity for any specific measures.** Had
Rivera’s peculiar conduct been known in Spain it is
not lkely that he would have been retained in office;
but the viceroy hoped that in a new field he might
succeed better.
The troops referred to in the viceroy’s communica-
tions were probably those whose arrival at. San Diego
in September 1777 has been already noticed, since there
him. Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 245. Dec. 25, 1776, the viceroy notified Neve of
the appointment of Croix, to whom he is to report directly on occurrences in
California; but for supplies, etc., he is still to communicate with the viceroy.
Prov. Rec., MS., i. 66-7. Neve had written to the viceroy for certain instruc-
tions, which were transmitted to Croix. The latter writes to Neve Aug. 15,
1777, that his duties in other provinces will prevent his attention to California,
and he has therefore turned the whole matter over to the viceroy for the
present. He, however, asks for Neve’s suggestions respecting reforms, etc.,
for a new reglamento for California. Prov. St. Pap:, MS., 1. 262-3.
2 Prov: Si. Pap. ls; ait 20Ge7,
*° Bucareli wrote on Dec. 25, 1776, to Serra, announcing the change ordered.
Palou, Vida, 194-5. '
NEVE IN CALIFORNIA. 309
is no record of any soldiers having come up with Neve
except an escort of six who returned with Rivera.*
Indeed, respecting Neve’s journey to California noth-
ing is known beyond the facts that it was made by
Jand wa San Diego; that he made close observations,
as shown by his later reports, of the condition and
needs of each establishment on the way; and that he
arrived at Monterey February 3, 1777." His first act
after a review of the troops and a consultation with
Serra, was to send to Mexico a report on February
25th that the new presidio and the four new missions,
including San Diego, had been successfully founded
and were in a condition more or less satisfactory.”
In March Rivera started for Baja California. Then
in April Neve made a tour in the north, visiting San
Francisco and Santa Clara. It had been proposed by
Rivera to move the presidio of Monterey to the river
since called Salinas, chiefly because of the insufficient
supply of water at the original site. The viceroy
approved the measure; but the royal orders to Neve
expressly forbade the removal, declaring that the pre-
sidio must be maintained where it was at any cost, for
the protection of the port. Still another matter had
been intrusted to the patriotic zeal of the new ruler,
though one that did not prove a very severe tax on
either ability or time. He had an order from the king
to be on the watch for Captain Cook’s two vessels
that had been despatched from England on a voyage
of discovery in the South Sea, and by no means to
31 According to a communication of some official on Feb. 10, 1776, in Prov.
Rec., MS., i. 139, the cattle from the old missions amounted to 1,209, and
were to be sent up to the frontier, with 80 mules and 36 horses for the 25 San
Diego recruits.
32 Letter of Neve to viceroy,# Feb. 26th, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 139-40, in
which he notes the bad condition in which he found the San Diego force in
respect of clothing, arms, and horses. March 2d he writes, Jd., i. 59, that he
has given Rivera full instructions, and the latter will depart to-morrow. Rivera
writes Feb. 6th, that Neve has arrived, and that he is about to retire to Loreto.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 20. See also Palou, Not., ii. 344-5.
33 Neve, Informe de 25 de Feb. 1777, MS., in Prov. Rec., i. 140-2. There
are several other minor communications of the governor written about this
ime..
34 Letter of Jan. 2, 1775, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 169.
310 MISSION PROGRESS.AND PUEBLO BEGINNINGS.
permit that navigator to enter any Californian port.*
The transports of 1777 were the San Antonio and
the Santiago. The former under Francisco Villaroel,
with Serra as chaplain, arrived at San Diego in May
with supplies for the south, and having unloaded sailed
at once for San Blas. The latter, whose arrival at
San Francisco has already been noted, came down to
Monterey and sailed for San Blas the 8th of June.
By her Neve sent a report on the Santa Barbara
Channel and its tribes, giving his views of what was
necessary to be done in that region to control and
convert.a large native population, that might in the
future become troublesome by cutting off land com-
munication between the north and south, which from
the peculiar nature and situation of their country they
could easily do. His plan included a mission of San
Buenaventura at Asuncion at the southern extremity
of the channel, another of Purisima near Point Con-
cepcion at the northern extremity, and a third of
Santa Bdrbara with also a presidio in the central
region near Mescaltitlan. The military force required
for the three establishments would be a lieutenant
and sixty-seven soldiers. This report was dated June
3d, and next day the governor wrote asking permis-
sion to resign and join his family in Seville “whom he
had not seen since 17 64, being also in ill-health grow-
ing out of seven years’ service in administering the
colleges of Zacatecas.”
The shipment of grain from San Blas for the mili-
tary establishments of the Californias was a very
expensive and uncertain method of supply, and ofli-
cials had been instructed from the first to suggest
some practicable means of home production to be
35 Royal order, July 14, 1776; sent by viceroy Oct. 23d. Prov. Rec., MS., i.
13; Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 213. The governor acknowledges receipt of the
order on June 6th. Prov. Ree., DESce lis
86 There are 22 communications of Neve to Bucareli, written during the
first half of 1777, preserved in Prov. fec., MS., i.59-79. His correspondence
for the last six months has for the most part been lost.
FOUNDING OF SAN JOSE. 311
introduced as soon as possible. In June 1776, before
leaving Loreto, Neve in a communication to the
viceroy proposed an experimental sowing for account
of government on some fertile lands of the northern
frontier, both to supply the usual deficiency on the
peninsula, and especially to furnish grain at reduced
cost for the new establishments. Bucareli in August
approved the proposition in a general way, but stated
that in view of the proposed change in the governor’s
residence it would be impossible for Neve to attend
personally to the matter, and suggested that the
scheme might be carried out with even better chances
of success in the fertile lands of New California,
referring also to Anza’s favorable report on the Colo-
rado River region as a source of grain supply in case
of special need.*”
Accordingly Neve kept the matter in view during
his trip northward, closely examining the different
regions traversed to find land suited to his purpose.
The result of his observations was that there were
two spots eminently fitted for agricultural operations,
one being on the Rio de Porcitincula in the south,
and the other on the Rio de Guadalupe in the north;
and he also made up his mind that the only way to
utilize the advantages offered was to found two pueblos
on the rivers. ‘To this end he asked for four laborers
and some other necessary assistance. Without wait-
ing, however, for a reply to this communication, and
possibly having received additional instructions from
Mexico, the governor resolved to go on and make a
37 Neve’s letter of June 21st is not extant, but is referred to with a résumé
of its contents in the viceroy’s letter of August, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., i.
205-6.
38 Neve’s letter is missing as before, but is alluded to in a subsequent letter
of April 1778, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 7-9. In another letter of June 4th, the
day after the first, Neve says that he has made no formal distribution of
lands to either settlers or soldiers, except to one soldier (Butron?) to whom
Rivera in past years had given a title to a lot of land near San Carlos mission.
Also that as there are no suitable lands near the presidio he cannot for the
present carry out the sowing order. Jd.,i. 68. From this it would seem
likely that he had received some more direct order from Bucareli to sow near
the presidio.
312 MISSION PROGRESS AND PUEBLO BEGINNINGS.
beginning of the northernmost of the two pueblos.
He selected for this purpose nine of the presidio
soldiers of Monterey and San Francisco, whe knew
something of farming, and five settlers, who had come
to California with Anza,” and the fourteen with their
families, sixty-six persons in all, started on November
7th from San Francisco under Moraga for their new
home. Prov. St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 21-8; duplicate in /d., xv. 5-10. Neve
acknowledged the receipt of the documents of Nov. 15th, on March 2, 1782,
also that of the subsequent orders of Jan. 2d. Prov. Liec., MS., ii. 56.
FINAL CAMPAIGN. 369
should offer of striking a decisive blow. The gov-
ernor was instructed to take all the available troops in
California, suspending the Channel foundations tem-
porarily for the purpose, and to begin the campaign
by the 1st of April.”
ages seems to have arrived at San Gabriel late in
March and a messenger soon brought Neve back from
the Channel, where he had gone to superintend the
new foundations.” Receiving the despatches brought
by Fages the governor decided that it was too early
in the season for effective operations on the Colorado,
by reason of high water, and postponed the campaign
until September, when the river would be fordable,
and when the Yuma harvest would be desirable spoils
for native ales: ages was sent to the Colorado to
give the corresponding instructions to Fueros, who
was to proceed to Sonora and wait, while Tages re-
turned to wait in California. Croix seems to have
approved the change of plan, and on May 16th the
council met once more at Arizpe to issue thirteen
resolutions respecting the fall campaign, the substance
of which was that about one hundred and sixty men
were to be on the east bank of the Colorado on the
morning of September 15th to meet ‘the Californian
troops and show the rebellious Yumas the power of
Spanish arms.”
The orcas were to a certain extent carried into
effect, but about the result there is little to be said.
26 Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 236-9. Croix communicated the plan to Neve
Jan. 3d and Jan. Gth. Id., 236, 182-3. Neve acknowledged receipt March 2d.
Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 57. March 18th Croix announces that Fages is on the
march. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 185. April 30th, Neve wrote to Croix that
Fages had arrived at ‘San Gabriel and that the Yumas had left their own
country and retired to that of the Yamajabs. /d., 233. And still earlier on
March 29th he had written in answer to Croix’s letters of January, announc-
ee a postponement of the campaign until September. Jd., 198; Prov. Rec.,
li. 53.
21 Palou, Not., ii. 383, says that the messenger overtook Neve March 26th,
the same day he had left San Gabriel to found San Buenaventura.
28 Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 198-207, including a letter of Croix of May
18th, communicating to Neve the junta’s action, and another letter an-
nouncing the sending of 200 horses and 40 mules to mount the Californian
troops.
te Hist. Cau., Vout, I. 24
370 PUEBLO-MISSIONS ON THE RIO COLORADO.
Captain José Antonio Romeu™ with a force of one
hundred and eight men reached the seat of proposed
war at the specified time. Neve, having intrusted his
adjutant inspector, Nicolas Soler, with the temporary
government of California, departed from San Gabriel
August 21st,” with Fages and sixty men. Some
three days’ journey before reaching Concepcion a mes-
senger met the party with despatches for Fages which
caused him to return and assume the governorship of
California,** while Neve proceeded and joined Romeu
on the 16th, not returning to San Gabriel, but going
to Sonora after the campaign to assume his new
office of inspector general of the Provincias Internas.
About the campaign we know little save that it was
a failure, since the Yumas were not subdued, peace
was not made, and the rebel chiefs Palma and the
rest were not captured. Yet there was some fight-
ing in which a few Yumas were killed.” The nation
remained independent of all Spanish control, and was
always more or less hostile. Neither presidio, mission,
#9? Romeu, afterwards governor of California, had been with Fueros on the
Colorado earlier in the year, and had written a diary of that expedition, which
by resolution of the junta was sent to Neve for his instruction.
30 Neve’s instructions to Soler, July 12, 1782. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 120.
Neve to Croix, Aug. 3, 1782, receipt of letter announcing approval by the
junta of the suspension of Yuma campaign. Prov. Rec., MS., 11. 65-6. Neve
to Croix, Aug. 12, 1782, announcing march of troops on Aug. 21st, and his
own departure on Aug. 25th or 26th. /d., 47.
51 Palou, Not., ii. 390-2. More of this change of governors in a later
chapter.
“In Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 205-6, there is mentioned as existing in
Mexico in 1795 a Diario de las marchas 4 y ocurrencias...desde 21 de Agosto
1782, which my search of the archives has not brought to light. A short let-
ter of Neve to Croix dated Sonoita Oct. 16th—Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 53—is the
only original accountextant. He says he sent an alférez with 8 men to recon-
noitre, heard firing, and hurried up to support the alférez, but the enemy fled.
Then Romeu attacked a Yumarancheria and inflicted some loss, having 4 sol-
diers wounded. He vaguely states that he should have subdued the Yumas
and left communication by that route secure, had it not been for distrust
caused partly by the imprudent actions of preceding expeditions, Arricivita,
Crén. Serdf, 514, says 108 natives were killed, 85 taken prisoners, 10 Christians
freed from captivity, and 1,048 horses recovered, but all without pacifying
the foe. Palou states that after receiving his appointment as inspector, Neve
did not care to march against the Yumas. The enemy, however, came out
boldly to taunt and challenge the Spaniards until one of the Sonora captaius
(Romeu) could endure it no longer, and obtained Neve’s permission to punish
the Yuma insolence, which he did in three days’ fighting in which many
natives fell,
THE FIELD ABANDONED. 371
nor pueblo was ever again established on the Colo-
rado; and communication by this route never ceased
to be attended with danger. Truly, as the Franciscan
chroniclers do not fail to point out, the old way was
best; the innovations of Croix had led to nothing but
disaster; the nuevo modo de conquistar was a failure.
baer ay bee novel LT:
FOUNDING OF SAN BUENAVENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA
PRESIDIO—FAGES GOVERNOR.
1782.
READY TO BeGiIn—MISSIONARIES EXPECTED—NEVE’S INSTRUCTIONS TO OR-
TEGA— PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DisasTER—INDIAN PoLicy— RADICAL
CHANGES IN Mission SySTEM—SAN BUENAVENTURA ESTABLISHED—PRE-
SIDIO OF SANTA BARBARA—VISIT OF FAGES—ARRIVAL OF THE TRANS-
PoRTS—NeEws FROM Mrxico—No Mission Supptirs—No Prizsts—
VICEROY AND GUARDIAN—SIX FRIARS REFUSE TO SERVE—C JNTROL OF
TEMPORALITIES—FALSE CHARGES AGAINST NEvVE—CHANGES iN MISSION-
ARIES—F'AGES APPOINTED GOVERNOR—NEVE INSPECTOR GENERAL—IN-
STRUCTIONS—FUGITIVE NEOPHYTES—LocAL EVENTS—DEATH OF MARI-
ANO CARRILLO—DEATH OF JUAN CRESPI.
Tue new establishments of the Channel, of which
so much has been said, were not yet founded. The
required force had arrived late in the summer of 1781,
but it was deemed best to delay until the rainy season
had passed, and moreover the disaster on the Colorado
had resulted in orders to suspend all operations and
settlements that might interfere with measures against
the Yumas. The forces had therefore remained in
camp at San Gabriel, where some slight barracks had
been erected for their accommodation,’ under Ortega
who had been chosen to command the new presidio,
Lieutenant Zufiiga taking his old command at San
Diego.
1Oct. 29, 1781, Neve writes to Croix that he has taken a corporal and 7
men from Monterey and the same number from San Diego to form a basis for
the Santa Barbara company, and also that he has built 40 small huts to shelter
the men and their families during the rainy season. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 89,
91. Reviews during the winter show a lieutenant, Ortega, an alférez, Argii-
ello, 3 sergeants, 2 corpvrals, and 49 or 50 soldiers. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii.
261, 264; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 104.
( 372 )
PRESIDIO INSTRUCTIONS. 373
In the spring of 1782 it seemed to the governor
that he might proceed in the matter without prejudice
to other interests, and accordingly in February he
wrote to President Serra, announcing his intention
and asking for two friars, for San Buenaventura and
Santa Barbara respectively. Serra had but two super-
numerary friars in all California, one of whom was
needed at San Carlos during his own occasional
absence. But he was extremely desirous that the
new missions should be established, and he expected
six new friars by this year’s transport; so he went
south himself, administering confirmation en route at
San Antonio and San Luis, reaching Angeles on
March 18th, and San Gabriel the next day. Here he
he met Father Cambon, who at his order had come up
from San Diego, and the two agreed. to attend to the
spiritual needs of the two new establishments till the
coming of the six missionary recruits.’
Meanwhile on March 6th Governor Neve had issued
his instructions to Ortega, indicating the line of policy
to be followed at the new presidio and the missions
under its protection and jurisdiction.® Like all the
productions of Neve’s mind these instructions were
models of good sense in substance, though diffuse as
usual. The first duty urged was that of vigilance
and precaution. Late events on the Colorado would
have suggested extraordinary vigilance anywhere;
but the comparatively dense native population in the
Channel country rendered it especially necessary there.
The erection of defensive works must be the com-
mandant’s first care, and beyond a few temporary
shelters of brushwood for the families, and a ware-
house for the supplies, no structures could be built
2 Palou, Not., ii. 380-9; Id., Vida, 243-7. February 8, 1782, Minister
Galvez communicated to Croix, who forwarded it on July 24th, the royal
order approving Neve’s acts and propositions respecting the three new founda-
tions as made known to him in letter and documents of February 23, 1780. S¢.
Pap. Sac., MS., iv. 30-1.
3 Neve, Instruccion que ha de gobernar al Comandante del presidio de Santa
Barbara, 1782, MS. This document was examined by I’ages at Santa Barbara
on October Ist, and’ Ortega was ordered anew by him to obey its requirements.
374 FOUNDATIONS; FAGES GOVERNOR.
until the square was safely enclosed by a line of
earthworks and palisades. The natives were not to
be allowed within the lines except in small numbers
and unarmed. The utmost efforts were to be made
to win and retain the respect and friendship of the
native chiefs, and to this end a policy of kindness and
strict justice must be observed. Soldiers must be
restrained by the strictest discipline from all outrage,
oppression, or even intermeddling. They were not
to visit the rancherfas under severe penalties, such
as fifteen consecutive days of guard duty wearing four
cueras, unless sent with definite orders to escort a
friar or on other necessary duty.
The natives were to: be interfered with in their
rancherfa life and government as little as was possi-
ble. They were to be.civilized by example and pre-
cept and thus gradually led to become vassals of the
king; but they were not to be christianized by force.
Any outrages they might commit must be punished
firmly by imprisonment and flogging with full ex-
planation to the chiefs; but to remove the strongest
temptation to Indian nature, the soldiers could at
the beginning own no cattle. Trade with the na-
tives was to be encouraged by fair treatment and fair
prices. In a word they were to be treated as human
beings having rights to be respected. In that part
of Neve’s instructions relating to the friars and the
missions, however, there appeared a palpable trace of
the policy inaugurated by Croix on the Colorado,
with the most dangerous features omitted. In fact
I am inclined to think that the Colorado experiment,
so far as it affected the relations between padres and
the temporalities, was largely inspired by Neve, an
intimate friend, whose advice had great weight with
the general. In the Channel missions the priests
were to be virtually deprived of the temporal man-
agement, because there were to be no temporal inter-
ests to manage. They were to attend exclusively to
the instruction and conversion of the natives, and to
b
Mi
y
a toe:
~ = pen eal ae ‘
‘NEW MISSION REGULATIONS. 375
this end were to be afforded every facility by the mil-
itary; but the natives must not be taken from their
rancherias or required to live in mission communities,
except a few at a time, who might be persuaded to
live temporarily with the missionaries for instruction.
. The reasons given for these regulations were the
small area of tillable land in proportion to the num-
ber of inhabitants, rendering agricultural mission
communities impracticable, and the great danger that
would be incurred by any attempt to break up or re-
arrange the numerous and densely populated native
towns or rancherias along the Channel. Without
doubt also another motive, quite as powerful, was a
desire on the part of the governor to put a curb on
missionary authority. The new system which it was
now proposed to introduce was a good one in many
respects, and was at least worth a trial; but it was
nevertheless a complete overthrow of the old mission
system in one of its most important features, and the
wonder is that it did not provoke a general and im-
mediate outburst of Franciscan indignation through-
out the whole province. No such demonstration,
however, is recorded, though much was written on
the subject later. It is probable that the friars, at-
tributing the proposed innovations to the local au-
thorities, strong in the result of recent experiments
on the Colorado, and believing they could interpose
such obstacles as would prevent any very brilliant
success of the new experiment, determined that quiet
and prolonged effort would be more effective than
open denunciation, trusting to their influence in Mex-
ico and Spain to restore the old state of affairs. Their
practical success was rapid and not very difficult, as
we shall see.‘
All being ready the company® set out from San
‘There are three copies of these instructions, in one of which they are
preceded by some preliminary remarks of a general nature respecting past
intercourse with the Channel tribes, their intertribal quarrels which will
favor the Spanish settlement, and the general policy to be followed.
5Palou, Vida, 245, says it was the largest expedition ever seen in Cali-
376 FOUNDATIONS; FAGES GOVERNOR.
Gabriel the 26th of March. At the first encampment
Fages’ courier arrived with orders for Neve, who was
obliged to return with his escort; but the company
continued and arrived on the 29th at the first ran-
cheria of the channel, named Asuncion, or Asumpta,
by Portola’s party in 1769. This had long ago been
selected as a suitable locality for one of the three mis-
sions. A site was chosen near the beach and adjoin-
ing the native town with its neat conical huts of tule
and straw, and here next day a cross was raised with
the required shelter of boughs for the altar. With
the usual ceremonies, including a sermon from Serra,
on the 31st of March the mission was founded and
dedicated to the ‘seraphic doctor’ San Buenaventura,’
in the presence of a large attendance both of Spaniards
and of natives, the latter expressing much pleasure at
what had been done, and cheerfully aiding in the work
of building.
About the middle of April Neve came up from
San Gabriel and expressed his satisfaction with the
progress made.’ Cambon remained in charge of the
new mission until the coming of Dumetz and Santa
Maria, assigned to San Buenaventura as regular
fornia, including besides officers 70 soldiers with their families, to say nothing
of Neve’s escort of 10 meu from Monterey. ‘The 70 should however include
the 10.
6 Sun Buenaventura, Lib. de Mision, MS. On the day of foundation Serra
writes to Lasuen expressing his joy at witnessing the foundation. Arch. Sta.
Barbara, MS., ix. 288. Gen. Crcix congratulates Serra in letter of July 22,
1782. Id., i. 261-2. April 24th, Neve writes to Croix that by April 12th the
enclosure of 40 by 50 varas, of palisades 4 varas high with two ravelins, a
gate, and a small warehouse had been completed. Facilities were good for
irrigation and for obtaining building material. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. G1.
Giovanni di Fidanza was born at Bagnarea in Tuscany in 1221. St Francis
of Assisi, meeting him one day and foreseeing his future greatness, exclaimed
‘O buona ventura!’ and the name, Buenaventura in Spanish, clung to him.
He became bishop, minister-general of the Franciscan order, and cardinal.
His title of seraphic doctor was tounded on his skill in mystic theology, to
which a large part of his numerous writings was devoted. He died in 1274.
His day is July 14th.
7Palou, Vida, 254-5, says that the mission had been «stablished on the old
footing though Neve had entertained the idea and had teen instructed, as
it afterward proved, to found it on the Colorado plan; but late events had
changed his mind and he made no objection. Thissounds somewhat strange,
in connection with the instructions already noted. Possibly the nature cf the
instructions was not made public at first, and thts accounts for the quiet of
the priests.
FOUNDING OF SANTA BARBARA. 377
ministers in May. Only two adults received the
rite of baptism in 1782.8
About the middle of April the governor, president,
commandant, and the whole company of soldiers,
except a sergeant and fourteen men left as a guard
for the mission just founded, started up the coast to
establish the presidio of Santa Bdrbara. The site
chosen was on the shore of a small bay affording toler-
ably secure anchorage, at a place said to have been
called San Joaquin de la Laguna in the first expedi-
tion of 1769,° and near a large native town, which,
like its temz, or chief, was called Yanonalit. Near
the lagoon were found springs of a peculiar water,
and an eminence suitable for the fort. The formal
establishing was on April 21st, when Serra said mass
and chanted an alabado. The natives were more
friendly than had been anticipated, and Yanonalit was
willing to exchange présents. Work was at once
begun and oak timber felled for the requisite shelters,
and particularly for the palisade enclosure, sixty varas
square, which was later to be replaced by a solid wall
enclosing an area of eighty yards square.” The natives
were hired to work and were paid in articles of food
and clothing. Yanonalit had authority over some
thirteen rancherias, and his friendship proved a great
advantage.
Affairs progressed favorably, and Ortega even
found time to construct irrigation works and pre-
pare for farming on a small scale. Serra, on ascer-
taining that there was no immediate prospect of
founding another mission, wrote to Fuster at San
Juan Capistrano to come up for temporary service at
8In December 1782 a Frenchman, Pierre Roy, was a sirviente at the mis-
sion. S. Buenaventura, Lib. Mision, MS., 2.
®The original diary gave no such name. See chap. vi. of this volume.
But the place was called Pueblo de la Laguna and Concepcion Laguna.
10Qn foundation of Santa Barbara presidio see letter of Neve to Croix
April 24, 1782, in Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 61-2, 64; Serra, April 29, 1782, in
Arch. Santa Barbara, MS., ix. 293-4; baptismal book of presidio in J/d.,
vii. 832-3; Croix to Neve, July 22, 1782, approving foundation, in Prov. St.
Pap., MS., iii. 202-8; Jd., iii. 128-9; iv. 88; vi. 172-3; Neve to Fages August
20; 1783, in St. Pap., Sac., \iS8:, xv. 18.
378 FOUNDATIONS; FAGES GOVERNOR.
Santa Barbara," and himself returned to Monterey.
During the months of May and June Lieutenant-
colonel Fages made a tour of unofficial inspection
from San Diego to San Francisco, including in his
route the new presidio of Santa Barbara.”
Just before Serra reached Monterey from the south,
May 13th, the transports Favorita and Princesa, under
captains Echeverria and Martinez,” brought full car-
goes of supplies for the three presidios and also for
the old missions, together with Cambon’s gift for San
T*rancisco, purchased in China, as already related,
with his earnings as chaplain on the San Carlos.
There also came by these vessels many items interest-
ing to the friars, with other unrecorded news doubt-
less of equal interest to other Californians. There
came the report that Antonio Reyes of the Querétaro
college had been made bishop of Sonora and Cali-
fornia; that Rafael Verger, the ex-guardian of San
Fernando, had been also made a bishop in Spain; and
that 1t was again proposed to divide the Franciscan
missions into four independent custodias, a measure
that was never carried out.”
What the transports of 1782 did not bring, greatly
1 Palou, Vida, 255-6. The same author says, Wot., ii. 388-9, that Cambon
was to come to the presidio while Fuster was to take his place at San Buena-
ventura. It is not certain that Fuster ever came.
122 Palou, Noticias, ii. 390-1.
13 The officers of the Favorita were Agustin de Echeverria, captain; José
Tobar, second; and José Villaverde, a clergyman, as chaplain. Those of the
Princesa were Estévan Martinez, captain; Juan Pantoja, second; and Miguel
Davalos, also a clérigo, as chaplain. Both vessels had left San Blas the same
day, and, though they anchored the same day at Monterey, had not seen
each other after the first few days of the trip. Palou, Not., ii. 386-9. The
two.vessels were at Sta. Barbara Aug. 4. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., iii. 17.
1 Verger was bishop of Nuevo Leon in 1785-7. Letters in Pinart, Col.
Doc. Mex., MS., 153-5.
15 Bishop Reyes was consecrated at Tacubaya on Sept. 15, 1782. He re-
mained for some time at the two colleges, where there was much discussion
about his future plans and considerable opposition on the part of the colleges
to giving up the missions to custodios. The bishop finally proceeded north to
establish the custodia of San Carlos de Sonora, and proposed later to go over
and establish that of San Gabriel de California. In connection with this
movement the Dominicans were to give up Lower California. Such was the
news that came to California in June 1783. Palou, Not., ii. 394-5. Bishop
Reyes was vicar general of the Californian troops. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 183;
Prov. St. Pap., MS., iv. 121,
CONTROVERSY IN MEXICO. 379
to the surprise of all, was the six expected friars, and
supplies for the missions of Santa Barbara and Puris-
ima. ‘The reason of their non-arrival came, however,
and that carries us back to an interesting dispute and
correspondence in Mexico. Viceroy Mayorga at the
request of General Croix, December 7, 1780, called
on the college of San Fernando for six friars to serve
in the three Channel missions about to be established.
Four of the number should be sent to San Blas to go
by sea, while two should proceed to Sonora to accom-
pany Rivera by the Colorado River route. The vice-
roy announced his readiness to furnish such aid as
might be required.
The guardian, Francisco Pangua, replied December
18th by stating that the aid required for the new
missions was the same as that furnished the old ones,
that is, a full complement of church vestments and
utensils including bells; a proper supply of live-stock
and seed grain; an outfit of implements for house,
shop, and field; and one thousand dollars to be ex-
pended in clothes and various articles useful in attract-
ing the good-will of the natives. A full list of the
articles needed was annexed.
t
Tm
CHURCH VERSUS STATE. 399
were left still some grounds on which to base a quar-
rel. Fages on assuming command and during his
whole term of office seems to have made an earnest
effort to conciliate the priests and prevent a reopening
of the old troubles. Considering his rather irritable
nature and the bitterness of the old feud with Serra,
he was not altogether unsuccessful; still he was the
successor of the hated Neve, the originator of the
reglamento, largely committed to Neve’s policy, and
responsible to the king for the execution of the laws.
Perfect accord was impossible, and causes of complaint
on one side or the other were not infrequent.”
Postal charges and especially the franking privilege
of the friars furnished occasional matter for dispute.
17 «Ks ya declarada la oposicion del P. Serra 4 toda providencia guberna-
tiva, significdda no solo en palabras sino con obras y por escrito,’ says Fages to
the inspector general on March 1, 1783. He charges the president with too
great severity not only toward Indians but the padres. Prov. Rec., MS., iii.,
87. On Sept. 15, Jd. 124-5, he says that Serra ‘tramples upon the measures
of the government and bears himself with much despotiquez and total indif-
ference.’ The padres commit many abuses in opposition to the government,
Id., ii. 128. Sept. 26, 1785, Fages writes to the bishop on the padres’ neglect
of chaplain service, and avers that they cannot be spoken to on the most
trivial matters without showing disdain. Jd.,ii.109. On the same day to
the viceroy he protests against the fatal consequences of the missionary policy,
which is diametrically opposed to the reglamento. Jd., 11. 95. Dec. 7, 1785,
Fages complains to Cambon of Palou’s sullen and cold behavior, and of the
padres at San Carlos who have twice received him (the governor) with dis-
respectful cries and stamping of feet. Yet he has been so devoted to the
padres as to have drawn upon himself the name of frailero. Several friars
have told him to his face that they doubted his word, forgetting the respect
due him as governor. Letters are written him without proper politeness,
He will no longer endure this, even if he be termed a persecutor of friars;
yet he will never cease to venerate them. /d., iii. 60-3. July 9th and 10th, Fages
gives orders forbidding public murmurs against the padres and orders the ar-
rest of soldiers who make public comments on their conduct. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., vi. 160; xxii. 24. Aug. 16, 1786, the guardian informs the president
that projects for the weal of California have been presented to the viceroy,
and the opinion of the fiscal and his agent is that the proposals should be
carried out and the governor restrained. Fages is warned that he must have
a care and that on the least complaint of the padres he will lose his position
and honors. Arch. Santa Barbara, MS., xii. 37-40, Aug. 23, 1787. Fages to
Lasuen, regrets that he can make no provision without being suspected, ‘que
no se haga misteriosa.’ Prov. Rec., MS., ili. 64-5. Nov. 19, 1790, Lasuen
to the padres, a secret letter referring vaguely to a bando which the padres
must obey because they can’t help themselves, though he has representado on
the subject. Arch. Arzobispado, MS.,i. 15, 16. May 28, 1791, Fages recounts
the troubles to his successor. He says quarrels with the Fernandinos have
been frequent, since they are very much opposed—opwestisimos—to the max-
ims of the reglamento, wishing to be wholly independent. At San Buena-
ventura it even came to blows with Padre Santa Maria. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
x. 149-50.
400 RULE OF FAGES—GENERAL RECORD.
One of the privileges obtained by Serra for the mis-
sionaries in 1773 was that of sending letters to the
college free of cost, and certain other letters to and
from the president were also exempt from postage as
official communications. The friars were inclined to
include much private correspondence in the privileged
mail matter, and not much attention was given to the
subject ordinarily. In these later years, however,
officials by the governor’s orders became more strict,
imposing on the missionaries what was deemed by
them a heavy and unjust burden. Hence much dis-
cussion without practical result, since the law was
clear enough, and was not changed, the strictness of
its enforcement depending on the disposition of the
local officials. As a rule the friars gained nothing by
agitating the subject, though in some instances they
obtained a decision in their favor from Mexico or
Arizpe.* In real or affected pity for the natives, the
governor complained of excessive severity on the part
of the missionaries toward their neophytes. Doubt-
less there were instances of cruelty, but not many
could be cited in these early years.”
18 January 12, 1783, Fages writes to Sal that Serra’s claim for free sending
of his letters to college and to the padres cannot be granted, referring to royal
cédula of October 25, 1777, and viceroy’s instructions of April 26, 1780.
Serra pleaded poverty and told Sal to keep his letters if he would not forward
them free. Subsequently, however, Fages consented to have the letters for-
warded, and an account kept of them until superior instructions could be
received. The expense seems to have been finally charged to the government.
Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 80-1, 88, 163; St. Pap. Sac., MS., i. 128-9, 184; Prov.
St. Pap., MS., iv. 32, 122-3. August 16, 1786, the guardian says the junta
real has allowed letters between padres and the college to pass free. They
must be in a separate package and directed ‘Contador General de Correos.’
Arch. Santa Barbara, MS., xii. 37. July 22, 1791, President Lasuen issues
a circular stating that last year the formalities were not observed, and the
result was a cost of $18 for postage. Jd., ix. 314. October 22, 1795, he issues
another circular to the effect that private letters had been sent.in the padres’
package, and this must be stopped, for there is a danger of losing the franking
privilege. Jd., ix. 325-6. See also /d., xi. 194; xii. 19-24; Palow, Not., 1.
032.
19 Putting neophytes in irons and forced labor very frequent in all the
missions, and particularly at San Carlos. Fages, 1783, in Prov. Rec., MS.,
iii. 87. June 11, 1785, Fages writes to Noriega that the natives accuse him
of beating them with chains for trifling faults, charges which he has investi-
gated and found to be true. Implores him in the name of humanity and of
the king to change his course. /d., iii. 51. Lieutenant Zuiiiga complained in
1788 that the natives of San Diego were overworked and too severely pun-
CONTROVERSY WITH THE FRIARS. » 401
Fages sent a document to the viceroy the 26th of
September 1785, in which he made a formal complaint
against the priests for their opposition to the law, an
opposition which was injurious to the royal service
and to the spiritual good of the troops. He enumer-
ated five grounds of complaint which I shall notice
presently.” By the government the matter was re-
ferred to the college of San Fernando, and a report
was made by Guardian Palou, who denied all the
allegations and presented counter-charges in behalf
of the missionaries.” The audiencia was puzzled by
contradictory evidence. A. few recommendations were
made on different points, and on January 12, 1787,
the expediente was sent to Commandant General
Ugarte y Loyola with instructions to make further
investigations and pacify the contending parties as
best he could.” General Ugarte wrote on April 22d
to President Lasuen, ordering compliance with the
suggestions of the audiencia and calling for a full re-
port on the disputed points, which was rendered on
the 25th of October.”
From the documents just mentioned we learn the
foundation of the controversy. I*ages’ first charge
was that the presidio of San Francisco had been de-
prived of mass for three years notwithstanding the
obligation of the friars to serve as chaplains. Palou’s
reply was a denial that the friars were required to
serve gratuitously as chaplains; a claim that such
service if rendered was to be voluntary; and that the
article treating this point, also reducing the number
ished. Jd., iii. 67. Fages has seen P. Pefia draw blood by pulling a boy’s
ear, and the natives accuse him of having killed one of their number. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., «. 167. An unsigned scrap of 1785 speaks of irregular con-
duct of a padre and objects to mode of chastisement. Jd., v. 256.
20 Fages, Representacion contra los Frailes, 26 de Set. 1785, MS.; alluded to
with general statement of its purport in Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 95.
41 Palou, Informe sobre Quejas del Gobernador, 1786, MS.
22 Tapediente sobre rectprocas quejas del Gobernador de Californias y Relig-
iosos misioneros, 1787, MS. Addressed to Gen. Ugarte on Jan. 12, 1787, by
José Antonio de Urizar and other oidores.
25 Lasuen, Informe y satisfaccion al Sr. Comandante Gencral sobre quejas del
Gobernador, 25 de Oct. 1787, MS.
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 26
402 RULE OF FAGES—GENERAL RECORD.
of priests, had been annulled by royal order. Lasuen
states that the padres have never refused or hesitated
to attend to the spiritual welfare of the soldiers; that
he personally served the presidio of San Diego when
a minister of that mission, though six miles distant;
that at Santa Barbara the missionaries of San Buena-
ventura served though eight leagues distant; and that
the lack of service at San Francisco was because
there was until recently no decent place for it, and the
mission was so near that the soldiers could easily go
there for spiritual care.. The friars, however, were
offended because the soldiers insolently claimed their
service as regular chaplains, when it was really a mat-
ter of voluntary charity. The viceroy’s order on this
subject was that a proper allowance be made to the
friars for their services at presidios.™
The governor’s second charge was that the padres
refused to recognize the government in matters per-
taining to property and the patronaio. Lasuen states
that the friars manage the mission temporalities by
order of the king, though the management was at
first reluctantly assumed; that the vice regio patronato
has little or no application in a country like California,
but that they will gladly observe any rules that may
be prescribed. Palou charged the governor with a
disposition to interfere illegally and despotically in
the management of temporalities, and declared that
24Tn a correspondence between Gen. Ugarte and Lasuen in March 1786,
the latter makes the same reply on the San Francisco matter as in his
informe. Arch. Santa Barbara, MS., i. 285-7. March 5, 1783, the padres of
San Francisco to Fages excuse themselves for failure to say mass on the plea
that the place is unhealthy, there are no proper implements, the soldiers have
no regard for the missionaries, and stigmatize their friends as frai/eros. The
corporal had even ordered that no soldier must approach the padres’ house.
Fages directs the commandant to be indifferent until orders come from the
general. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 91-2. Several communications respecting fail-
ure to say mass at San Francisco in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 192; iii. 24, 166, 209,
all written. by Fages. Orders from commandant that the reglamento must be
enforced. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 115; Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., viii. 132;
xi. 875-6. In these orders it is charged that fees are being collected by the
friars; and Fages makes the same statement. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 87. The
governor also complains on several occasions that the other presidios are
negleeted, and the pueblo of San José, where P. Pefia has refused confession.
Id., ii. 109; iii. 171; St. Pap. Sac., MS., ix. 83-4.
ee ee a ee
1
Fe a
*
ii oon
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a
5
CHARGES AND COUNTERCHARGES,. 403
he had no proper understanding of the patronato,
claiming the right to require or permit work on days
of festival.
Thirdly the padres were accused of refusing to sell
mission produce at the prices fixed by the govern-
ment. Palou claims that there is no proof that the
tariff rates have ever been approved by the king;
that those prices ought to be regulated by scarcity
or abundance; and that the president should have a
voice in the matter. Lasuen, however, knows of no
instance where the missionaries have refused to sell
at the prescribed prices when they had grain to sell
at all; though during several years of scarcity the
prices have been kept down to a figure barely endur-
able in years of plentiful harvests.” The next cause
of complaint was the refusal of the friars to furnish
inventories of property, yearly increase, and the dis-
position made of mission products. Lasuen in reply
says that the reports furnished to the governor are
exactly the same as those rendered by the padres to
the president, and by the latter to the college; that
until now these reports have been satisfactory to all;
and finally that there are no laws requiring the mis-
sionaries, who are not mere treasury officials, to render
itemized accounts of what has been done with each
bushel of maize.”
> Lasuen admits that P. Pefia suggested an increase in price, for which he
was duly reproved; and he says that the governor himself increased the price of
corn, which is shown to be true by a letter of Fages in Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
vi. 160-1, in which Sal is ordered to pay two reales extra for maize from S.
Carlos, Sta. Clara, and San José. Also Jan. 2, 1787, Fages modities the tariff
prices. Id., vii. 168-9; and July 20, 1787, he asks Lasuen for harvest returns
that he may regulate prices. Arch. Sta. Buirbara, MS., vi. 19. Fages com-
plains of Pefia’s refusal to furnish grain on November 8, 1785, and March 27,
1786. Arch, Sta. Barbara, MS., x. 25-39. Lasuen’s replies being that he is
sorry and has reproved P. Pefia or will write to him. Fages also says on Sept.
26, 1785, that a mule train was sent back from San Carlos without maize.
Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 128-9.
6 May 2, 1786, Fages complains to the general that the padres are reluc-
tant to show their inventories, do not make them out according to rule, and
omit the register of inhabitants. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 136. Feb. 7th he com-
plains to the president that P. Peiia refused his aid and the mission books for
a census. The president explains that the commandant had not asked ina
proper manner. He has requested all padres to give the required aid. Arch.
Sta. Barbara, MS., xi.
404 RULE OF FAGES—GENERAL RECORD.
Finally it was alleged that in defiance of the law
the Franciscans insisted on retiring to their college
without obtaining permission from the governor.
Palou replies that by an order of the viceroy dated
March 29, 1780, afriar had only to show the governor
a licensé from his prelate. Lasuen goes more fully
into the subject. In Neve’s time, he says, a priest
retired with his prelate’s license and the viceroy de-
cided that there was no law to prevent it. Palou
departed in the presence of F'ages, who is responsible
for any irregularity in the proceeding. The next year .
Fages on being consulted made no objection to the
departure of Rioboo; but finally there came a decree
of Viceroy Galvez, forbidding the entry or departure
of any friar without his license. This order has been
obeyed in the case of Noriega, and it will be obeyed;
but the president goes on to argue earnestly against
the justice and policy of such a requirement, sub-
jected to which the friars will serve only with reluc-
tance.”.
Fages had also found fault, though apparently not
in his formal complaint, because neophytes were allowed
to ride too much, the policy of the government being
opposed to this, in fear that like the Apaches the Cal-
ifornians might become skilful warriors. The friars
admitted the danger, declared that their interest was
identical with that of the government, but claimed
27 The viceroy’s communications of Mar. 29, 1780, which are given in Arch.
Sta. Barbara, MS., vi. 272-6, xi. 25-6, are not correctly cited by Palou. The
‘viceroy, while approving the claims of the college, turns the matter over to
the commandant general, who he says may have had good reasons for his
orders. The decree requiring the viceroy’s permission for any padre to come
or go was dated Dec. 7, 1786. Prov. St. Pap., MS8., vi. 202-3. In April 1787
the fiscal of the royal treasury explained that as the movements of the padres
were paid from the missionary fund, their going to California if not needed or
retiring for a mere whim would cause useless expense; therefore, the govern-
ment had a right to know the reasons. April 23d the audiencia decreed in
conformity to the fiscal’s opinion; May 21st the archbishop communicated the
decision to Palou; and June 22d and 23d Fages gave corresponding orders, |
though the president of Baja California protested that this was contrary to
royal orders. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 8,9; Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xi. 53.
July 9, 1788, the viceroy informs the governor that the viceregal authorities
and not the general will determine the scnding and recalling of friars even if
the command becomes independent of Mexico. Prov. St, Pap., MS., viii. 1-3. .
VIEWS OF FATHER LASUEN. 405
that there were none but natives to serve as vaqueros,
and that the work could only be done on horseback.
Having replied to the governor's specific charges,
Lasuen proceeds to lay before the government certain
complaints on the part of the missionaries, namely:
that the soldiers, being occupied largely with matters
outside of their proper duty—that of affording pro-
tection to the friars in their work of christianizing
the natives—neglected that duty; that in consequence
of a long peace they were becoming careless and neg-
lecting precautions against disaster; that an insufti-
cient guard was given to the missions, the most useless
and the worst equipped soldiers being detailed for that
duty, and only one soldier being allowed to escort the
friars on long journeys;* that the soldiers of the
guards kept much live-stock to the prejudice of mission
interests; that Indians were condemned to work as
*8This subject of mission guards and their duties was really one of the
most serious in the whole controversy. The padres wished entire control of
the soldiers to use as they deemed best, and particularly in pursuing runaway
converts. Neve had opposed the employment of soldiers to hunt fugitives in
ordinary cases, because he deemed other means better fitted for the purpose,
and because men enough could not be spared for effective and safe service.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 123-4. The French voyager La Pérouse praises
Neve highly for his position on this point. La Pérouse, Voy., ii. 297-8. In his
instructions to Fages, Sept. 7, 1782, Neve advised that not more than two
soldiers should accompany a padre to confess, etc., at a rancheria, and that
they should not be absent overnight. The Indians must not learn to fight
with and kill soldiers. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 138-9. Yet Fages did not rely
entirely on persuasion to bring back fugitives, but favored a resort to arms
only after all other means had failed, such as persuasions’ by padres, sending
of neophytes, appeal to chiefs, offer of presents to gentiles, etc. See Fages’
instructions to‘soldiers sent after runaways in Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 151-2. In
1784 Fages repeats the order forbidding an escort of more than two soldiers,
who must not be absent over night. The safety of the mission demands the
presence of all, and the king has confirmed orders to that effect. Prov. Rec.,
MS., iii. 47-8. The latest orders do not permit him to let the troops pursue
cimarrones except in extreme cases. Fages to Dumetz, Jan. 5, 1785, in Prov.
Rec., MS., ii. 103-4. Oct. 17, 1785, Fages to Sal. No escort to be given to
padres except when they go to say mass at presidios, or to confess or baptize.
St. Pap., Sac., MS.,ii.51. Escoltas refused, except as above, at San Antonio
and Santa Barbara. Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 142, 167. P. Dumetz at Sa
Buenaventura being refused an escort to go to San Gabriel says, Feb. 4, 1786,
in substance: ‘Very well, since we are to be thus restricted to our missions we
can no longer visit the presidio, which is beyond our jurisdiction.’ Prov. St.
Pap., MS., vi. 45-6. March 3, 1786, however, Fages orders an escort to be
furnished when the padres of San Buenaventura wish to visit San Gabriel ani
Santa Barbara. /d., vi. 72. Aug. 16, 1788, in a long letter to Lasuen Fagea
explains the policy of the government respecting escorts, and the forcible cap
ture of cimarrones. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., i. 167-73.
406 RULE OF FAGES—GENERAL RECORD.
peons at the presidios for stealing cattle and for other
offences, the punishment of which should rest exclu-
sively with the friars, the sole object being to get free
laborers;” that the settlers of San José employed
pagans to do their work, demoralized them by bad-
example, and even persuaded them to avoid Chris-
tianity and its attendant slavery; that the disposition
to make mission alcaldes independent of the friars in
punishing offences greatly impaired their usefulness,
the law having been intended only for curates and not
for missionaries; that illegal and unequal measures
were used for mission produce; that the raising of
cattle by the presidios and the preference given to the
pueblos in buying supplies would soon deprive the
missions of all means to procure needed articles for
the neophytes, especially as the articles most needed
were often refused by the habilitados, or prices made
too high in proportion to those of mission products,
and yet the padres would submit humbly to the deci-
sions of the commandant general.
Palou in addition to the preceding charges, declares
that the regulation was never proclaimed in California
until September 1784, and was not really in force,
that of Echeveste being much better adapted to the
needs of the country. He says that the regulation
was not carried out, the articles on the inspection of
presidios and on pueblo management being notably
disregarded, and that not only were the pueblos in a
sad state of ‘decadence, but that San José, on the rapid
road to ruin, was by its aggressions under the QOV-
ernor’s policy dragging the mission of Santa Clara to
ruin with it. Finally, the governor, instead of obey-
ing the law, had not given the missions the Man)
29 The secular authorities, in the light of past experience in other provinces,
seem to have regarded the stealing of cattle as a much more serious offence,
and one much more dangerous to Spanish domination in California, than did
the padres. It was by no means one of the trivial faults in which the friars
had exclusive jurisdiction. Fages has something to say on this subject in the
letter last alluded to. Still there is no doubt the military authorities did
abuse their power in this direction with a view to get workmen free of cost.
GENERAL REPORTS. 407
encouragement or aid either in spiritual or temporal
affairs. |
The reader who has followed this and preceding
quarrels between the political and missionary author-
Sea oM.Sta.Clara
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Patovu’s Map, 1787.
ities in California, will have noted that they were
often petty in all their phases, and such as might
easily have been avoided by slight mutual concessions
and efforts to promote harmony. It is not necessary
to decide on the merits of the respective parties in
each dispute, even if it were possible; yet it is appar-
ent that the friars were determined not to yield a
single point of their claimed prerogatives until forced
to do so, and then to yield only to the highest author-
ities, to the king if possible, or to the viceroy, but
408 RULE OF FAGES—GENERAL RECORD.
never to so insignificant an official as the governor,
whose presence they regarded as an outrage if he had
a will of his own, and whose authority they practically
disregarded in a way very hard to bear. Yet in his
Aa i"
general report on missions rendered in 1787, Govy-
ernor Fages speaks in the highest terms of the zeal
and efficiency of the missionaries, and his personal re-
lations with them were for the most part pleasant.
It was only as governor and president, as representa-
tives of Carlos III. and St Francis, that they quar-
relled, save in the case of a few individuals or in the
ruler’s irritable moods. One of the friars, however,
in an interesting report on the missions in 1789 could
not deny himself the satisfaction of stating that while
the king’s provisions had been all that they could
desire, there had been great and even culpable remiss-
ness on the part of the royal representatives, or
agents, in California.”
3° Fages, Informe General de Misiones, 1787, MS. This is an excellent
résumé of the past progress and present condition of the Californian establish-
ments, containing a separate notice of each mission and some general sug-
gestions of needs, but with no reference to current controversies. A statistical
presentation of the subject seems to have accompanied the original, which
was made in answer to an order of the general of December 1, 1786. The date
in 1787 is not given, and it may have been after the receipt of the king’s order
of March 21, requiring governors to render such reports every two or three
years. Of this cédula I have an original in print with autograph signatures
in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS.,aveed1-3.
31 Informe de lo mas peculiar de la Nueva California, 1789, MS. This
report was probably directed to the bishop or archbishop, but there is noth-
ing, in my copy at least, to indicate the author. The document contains
general information about the Indians and the mission system, without much
of chronological annals.
fs ee
niet
CHAPTER XX.
RULE OF FAGES, DEATH OF SERRA, AND MISSION PROGRESS.
1783-1790.
PRESIDENT SERRA’S LASt TouRS—ILLNESS AND DEATH—BURIAL AND FUNERAL
Honors—His Lire anpD CHARACTER—SUCCESSION OF PALOU AND LASUEY
—MuGARTEGUI AS VICE-PRESIDENT—CONFIRMATION—NOTICE OF PALOU’S
HistorRicaL WorRKS—VIDA DE JUNIPERO—NOTICIAS DE CALIFORNIA—
Mar—PrRoposED ERECTION OF THE MISSIONS INTO A CusToDIA—NEW
Missions—FounDING OF SANTA BARBARA—INNOVATIONS DEFEATED—
Five YEARS’ PRrogRESS—Mission oF La Purisima ConcEPCcION FoUNDED
—EARLY ANNALS.
In 1784 the Californian missionaries were called
upon to lose their well beloved master. President
Junipero Serra died at San Cdrlos on the 28th
of August. In January he had returned from his
last tour of confirmation in the south, during which
he visited every mission from San Diego to San
Antonio. In June he came home from a last visit to
the northern missions of San Francisco and Santa
Clara. He left Monterey by sea for the south so ill
that all, including himself, deemed his return doubtful.
He was near death at San Gabriel, and when he left
Santa Clara it was with the avowed intention to pre-
pare for the final change. He had long been a suf-
ferer from an affection of the chest and ulcers on the
legs, both aggravated if not caused by self-inflicted
hardship and a pious neglect of his body. The death
of his old companion Crespf had been a heavy blow;
his sorrow had been deep at partial failure in his
efforts to place California exclusively under mission-
ary control, and to revive under better auspices the
Jesuit epoch of the peninsula. The return of Fages
( 409 )
410 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
to power was not encouraging to his plans and hopes.
His license to confirm, under which he had adminis-
tered the sacrament to over five thousand persons,
expired in July, and discouraging news came at the
same time from Mexico about the prospect of obtain-
ing new friars. The death of Father Mureuia broke
another link that bound him to this world, and the
venerable apostle felt that his work was done, his
reward was near at hand. To all the Franciscans was
despatched a letter of eternal farewell, in every word
of which seemed distilled, drop by drop, the very soul
of the dying man, while from each of the nearer mis-
sions a padre was summoned to take leave in person.
Palou from San Francisco, the only one who arrived
before Father Junfpero’s death, was obliged to say on
August 19th the regular monthly mass in honor of
St Joseph, California’s great patron, but in other
religious services the saintly sufferer insisted on taking
his usual part. Irritants were applied to his chest by
the presidial surgeon on the 23d without any bene-
ficial effect. On the 26th he made a general confes-
sion, and next day walked to church to receive the last
sacrament in the presence of friars, officers, troops,
and natives, having ordered the carpenter to make his
coffin. The night was passed by the dying man on his
knees, or a part of the time reclining in the arms of
his neophytes. Having been anointed, and recited
with the others the litany, toward morning he re-
ceived absolution and the plenary indulgence of his
order. In the morning of the 28th he was visited by
Captain Cafiizares and other officers of the vessel in
port, and he asked that the bells might be tolled in
honor of their visit. Then he conversed with his old
friend Palou, requested to be buried in the church
near-Crespf, and promised to pray for California when
he should come into the presence of the trinity. At
one moment a fear seemed to oppress his mind, but
soon all was calm, and he went out of doors to gaze
for the last time upon the face of nature. Returning
.
;
4
BURIAL OF FATHER JUNIPERO. 411
at one p.m. he lay down after prayers to rest, and was
thought to be sleeping, but within an hour Palou
found that he was dead. The bells announced the
mournful intelligence. Clad in the friar’s simple robe
in which he died and which was the only garment he
ever wore, save when travelling, the body was placed
in the coffin, with six candles beside it, and the weep-
ing neophytes came to cover the remains of their
beloved master with flowers, and touch with their
medals and rosaries the lifeless form. Every article
of clothing save the one that served as a shroud was
distributed in small fragments as precious relics among
the people, and notwithstanding all vigilance a part
of the robe was taken also. On Sunday, the 29th,
the body was buried in the mission church by Palou in
the presence of all the inhabitants of Monterey, and
with all possible ceremonial display, including military
honors and the booming of guns from the fort and
Caftizares’ vessel at anchor in the bay.’
The life of Father Junipero Serra is so closely
1A full account of Serra’s sickness, death, and burial, much longer and
more detailed than I have space to reproduce, is given in Palou, Vida, 261-
305. Another good authority, including a sketch of Serra’s life is Palou,
Defuncion del R. P. Fr. Juntpero Serra, MS.; translation in Arch. Misiones, i.
73-6. There are some slight differences in the two accounts not worth noticing
here, except perhaps the statement in the latter that Serra died just before
4p.mM. Gov. Fages was not present at the funeral, being absent from Mon-
terey. Capt. Soler was the highest official who took part in the ceremonies.
Palou was aided by PP. Sitjar and Noriega, and by Diaz the chaplain of the
San Carlos. On Sept. 4th there was a renewal of funeral honors with the
same crowded attendance as before, and with the additional assistance of P.
Paterna of San Luis. Now the relics were blessed. The crew of the paquebot
secured Serra’s tunic which was made into scapularies; the small clothes were
distributed by lot among the troops and others; and the surgeon obtained a
handkerchief, which cured a sailor of a headache, as did a girdle cure P.
Paterna of the colic. P. Serra’s body was buried in the presbytery of the
church on the epistle side before the altar of our lady of Dolores. When the
new church was built the remains of both Serra and Crespi were probably
transferred, but so far as I know there is no record of such transfer or of the
place where they finally remained. Taylor, in Hutchings’ Mag., May 1860,
and in Cal. Farmer, Nov. 28, 1862, says that the body lies near the altar
covered by the débris of the roof, which fell in 1852. The parish priest made
an unsuccessful search for it in 1855. Vischer, A/isstons of Cal., pp. i.-ii.,
says the remains are supposed to have been taken to Spain, shortly aftcr 1784;
and that the priest in his ‘antiquarian mania’ found the remains of another
friar which believers seized upon as precious relics. There is no doubt the
bodies still rest at San Carlos, and in 1882 they were identified to the satis-
faction of the parish curate.
412 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
blended with the first fifteen years of California mis-
sion history that any attempt to present it here would
result in an unnecessary résumé of the preceding
chapters. I subjoin however in a note? for convenient
2 Miguel José Serra, son of Antonio Serra and Margarita Ferrer, was born
at Petra oa the island of Mallorca Nov. 24, 1713, took the Franciscan habit
at Palma Sept. 14, 1730, and made his profession Sept. 15, 17381, on which
occasion he assumed the name Junipero. In early boyhood he served as
chorister and acolyte in the parish church greatly to the dc.ight of his parents,
a God-fearing couple of lowly station. The lives of the saints were his favorite
reading, and his fondest ambition was to devote his life to religious work.
He was an earnest and wonderfully proficient student, and taught philosophy
for a year before his ordination in the chief convent of Palma, then obtaining
a degree of 8. T. D. from the famous Lullian University with an appointment
to the John Scotus chair of philosophy which he held with great success until
he left Spain. He was also noted for his doctrinal learning and still more so
as a sensational preacher. He was wont to imitate San Francisco Solano and
often bared his shoulders and scourged himself with an iron chain, extin-
guished lighted candles on his flesh, or pounded his breast with a large stone
as he exhorted his hearers to penitence. Thus he is represented in the
engraving which Palou has attached to his life, but which has probably little
or no merit as a portrait.
March 30, 1749, after repeated applications he obtained his patente to join
the college of San Fernando and devote himself to missionary work in
America. With Palou he left his convent April 13th and sailed via Malaga
to Cadiz where he arrived May 7th. On the way to Malaga he maintained
a continuous disputation on dogmatic theology with the heretic master of the
vessel and would not yield even to the somewhat forcible though heterodox
arguments of a dagger at his throat and repeated threats to throw him over-
board. Sailing from Cadiz Aug. 28th, he touched at Puerto Rico where he
spent 15 days in preaching, anchored at Vera Cruz Dec. 6th, and walked to
Mexico, reaching the college Jan. 1, 1750. Assigned the same year to the
Sierra Gorda missions of Querétaro and San Luis Potosi, he made the journey
on foot and reached Santiago de Jalpan on June 16th. for nine years he served
here, part of the time as president, devoting himself most earnestly and suc-
cessfully to the conversion and instruction of the Pames. In 1759 or 1760 he
was recalled and appointed to the so-called Apache missions of the Rio San
Saba in Texas; but the plans being changed he was retained by the college
and employed for seven years in preaching in Mexico and the surrounding
hishoprics, in college service, and in performing the duties of his office of
comisario of the inquisition held since 1752. °
July 14, 1767, Serra was named president of the Baja Californian missions,
arrived at Tepic Aug. 21st, sailed from San Blas March 12, 1768, and reached
Loreto April lst. March 28, 1769, he started—always on foot—for the
north, founded San Fernando de Velicaté on May 14th, reached San Diego
July 1st, and founded the first California mission July 16th. April 16, 1770,
he sailed for the north, reached Monterey May 31st, and founded San Carlos
June 3d. July 14, 1771, he founded San Antonio. Aug. 20, 1772, he
started south by land, founded San Luis Sept. Ist, and reached San Diego
Sept. 16th. On Oct. 20th he sailed from San Diego, reached San Blas Nov. 4,
and Mexico Feb. 6, 1773. Leaving Mexico in September, he sailed from San
Blas Jan. 24, 1774, arrived at San Diego March 13th, and went up to Mon-
terey by land, arriving May llth. From June 30, 1776, to Jan. 1, 1777, he
was absent from San Carlos, going down to San Diego by water, returning bv
land, and founding San Juan Capistrano on Noy. lst. In September and
October 1777 he visited San Francisco and Santa Clara. From Sept. 15,
1778, to Jan. 5, 1779, he made another trip south, confirming at all the mis-
*
LITE OF JUNIPERO SERRA. 413
reference an outline of dates with some items illus-
trative of his character and habits taken from his
sions on his way back; and in October and November he visited Santa Clara
and San Francisco on the same business. In September and October 1781 he
again visited San Antonio, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. In March 1782
he went to Los Angeles and San Gabriel, founded San Buenaventura March
3]}st, was present at the founding of Santa Barbara presidio in April, and
returned to San Carlos via San Luis and San Antonio about the middle of
June. In August 1783 he sailed for San Diego, arriving in September, return-
ing by land, visiting all the establishments, and arriving at home in January.
Between the end of April and the early part of June 1784 he visited San
I'rancisco and Santa Clara.
In the last chapter of his biography Palou recapitulates ‘the virtues which
were especially brilliant in the servant of God, Fr. Junipero,’ declaring that
‘his laborious and exemplary life is nothing but a beautiful field decked with
every class of flowers of excellent virtues.’ First in the list was his profound
humility, as shown by his use of sandals and his abnegation of self. He always
deemed himself a useless servant; deemed other missionaries more successful
than himself; and rejoiced in their success. He avoided all honors not actually
forced upon him, shunned notice and praise, sought the lowest tasks, kissed
the feet of all even to the lowest novice on leaving Spain and Mexico, ran
away from the office of guardian, and was in constant fear of honors from his
order or from the church or king. Then came the cardinal virtues of pru-
dence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, resting ike columns on his humil-
ity as a base, and supporting the ‘sumptuous fabric of Christian perfection.’
His prudence was shown in his management as president of the missions,
though he was always modest and ready to consult with the lowest about
him; his justice was shown by his kindness and charity to all, his exact obedi-
ence to the commands of superiors, and his patience with enemies as exempli-
fied particularly in his writing a letter in favor of Fages to the viceroy; and
only four days before his death he gave a blanket to an old woman who at the
founding of San Cérlos had induced a boy to kill the friar’s only chickens.
His fortitude appeared in his resistance to physical pain and constant refusal
of medical treatment,.in his self-restraint, in his steadfast adherence to his
purposes, in his resolution to remain at San Diego alone if need be when it
was proposed to abandon the conquest, in his conflict with the indifference or
opposition of the military authorities, and in his courage in the presence of
hostile Indians—for he only feared death or ran from danger because of the
vengeance that would be taken on the poor Indians; and finally his temper-
ance was such that he had no other passion than that for the propagation of
the faith, and constantly mortified the flesh by fasting, vigils, and scourging.
On these columns rested a superstructure of theological virtues, faith, charity,
and religion, of which a mention must suffice. The author, however, does not
claim for his hero the gifts of contemplation, of tongues, revelation, prophecy,
miracles ‘and all that apparatus of the gracias gratis datas which make admir-
able and striking the saintliness of some servants of God,’ but which are not
essential to holiness.
During his novitiate Padre Junipero was small and sickly, but he says,
‘with the profession I gained health and strength and grew to medium
stature.’ Of one of his sermons an able critic said: ‘It is worthy of being
printed in letters of gold.’ A woman endemoniaa shouted during one of
his sermons, ‘thou shalt not finish the lenten season,’ and then the padre
was exceeding glad, for of course the father of lies could inspire no truth.
Suffering from want of water on the voyage to Mexico he said to complainers,
‘the best way to prevent thirst is to eat little and talk less so as not to waste
the saliva.’ Ina mutiny and a storm threatening death to all he was perfectly
calm, and the storm ceased instantly when a saint chosen by lot had been ad-
dressed in prayer. On the way from Vera Cruz to Mexico several miracles :
414 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
biography by Padre Palou, and his letters in the
mission archives.°
Serra doubtless owes much of his fame to his posi-
tion as first president of the California missions and
to the publication of a biography by a warm personal
friend. But it did not require Palou’s eulogistic pen
were wrought in his favor. Coming to a swollen stream by a town in a dark
night there was a man on the other bank to show the ford and guide him toa
lodging. A man, perhaps the same, met Junipero and his companion next
day and gave them a pomegranate which had a refreshing effect, and still
later a man gave them a bit of corn-bread of excellent savor. It was on this
journey that his legs first became swollen, from the effects of mosquito-bites
as was supposed, resulting in ulcers that lasted all his life. ‘Oh, for a forest
of Junipers!’ exclaimed a friar at the college when Serra arrived. In one of
his revival meetings in Huasteca he was beating himself with a chain, when
a man took the chain from him and with it beat himself to death as a miser-
able sinner in presence of the crowd. Sixty persons who neglected to attend
his meetings were killed by an epidemic which did not cease until religious
duties were generally attended to. On his way back from Huasteca he was
well lodged and entertained in a cottage by the way; but later he learned
that there was no such cottage on the road; and of course concluded that his
entertainers were Joseph, Mary, and Jesus—in fact he had noticed an extra-
ordinary air of neatness about the place. Poisoned once in taking the com-
munion he refused the antidote and was cured by a simple dose of oil, perhaps
miraculously as he thought. It was at Velicata in May 1769 that he first
saw and baptized pagans.
3 Serra, Correspondencia, 1777-82, MS.., is a collection of his letters to dif-
ferent missionaries and officials. It is impossible by means of extracts to
give any proper idea of these long, rambling, and peculiar epistles. Palou
has selected the very best of his letters for publication, if indeed he has not
changed and improved them. Large portions of some of them are utterly
unintelligible and were apparently intended to be so for the ordinary reader.
Sea todo por Dios and similar pious expressions are used in great profusion
whether the subject be important or trivial. To Pieras he gives the most
minute directions how to answer the governor’s letter and how to make out
mission reports and inventories, leaving nothing in manner or matter to the
padre’s judgment. He wishes all made ready for signatures because the
most serious part of it is to feed the governor’s agents while doing the business.
He expresses deep pity for some condemned criminals, and directs a padre to
attend to their spiritual needs. ‘It will be some work, but very holy and
meritorious.’ To Lasuen, announcing the governor’s refusal to increase an
escort, he says, ‘and this the result of all my efforts and all a viceroy’s rec-
ommendations, and in response to an affectionate and humble suggestion made
with all the honey my mouth would hold. Believe me, of all the draughts
I have to swallow none is so bitter.’ ‘I and your Reverences—for this once
Iname myself first.’ In the matter of escoltas, however, he directs the padres
to ‘go on as if they had a legion of soldiers; punish whoever merits chas-
tisement; and if in the exact performance of the holy ministry trouble
arises not to be repressed with the force at hand, then retire to the presidio,
write me the facts in detail; then dirdn y dirémos.’ He writes a long letter
to induce Figuer to give up his intention of retiring, reminding him that
‘patience and suffering are the inheritance of the elect, the coin with which
heaven is bought.’ He begins by an anecdote of a friar at matins who
wished to retire to his cell not feeling in a good-humor, and to whom the
prelate replied that if such an excuse were admitted all would retire, ‘and I
among the first.’ Then he compares San Diego life with that at other mis-
SERRA’S CHARACTER. 415
to prove him a great and a remarkable man. Few
who came to California during the missionary rég:me
were his equal in devotion to and success in his work.
All his energy and enthusiasm were directed to the
performance of his missionary duties as outlined in
the regulations of his order and the instructions of his
superiors. Limping from mission to mission with a
lame foot that must never be cured, fasting much and
passing sleepless nights, depriving himself of comfort-
able clothing and nutritious food, he felt that he was
imitating the saints and martyrs who were the ideals
of his sickly boyhood, and in the recompense of absti-
nence was happy. He was kind-hearted and charitable
to all, but most strict in his enforcement of religious
duties. It never occurred to him to doubt his abso-
lute right to flog his neophytes for any slight negligence
in matters of the faith. Huis holy desires trembled
within him like earthquake throbs; in his eyes there
was but one object worth living for, the performance
of religious duty, and but one way of accomplishing
that object, a strict and literal compliance with Fran-
ciscan rules; he could never understand that there
was anything beyond his narrow field of vision’ In
an eminent degree he possessed the faculty of apply-
ing spiritual enthusiasm to the practical affairs of life.
Because he was so grand a missionary he was none the
less money-maker and civilizer, yet money-making and
civilizing must ever be subordinate to missionary
work, and all not for his glory, but the glory of God.
A St Augustine in his religion, he was a Juvenal in his
philosophy. He managed wisely the mission interests
both spiritual and temporal; and his greatest sorrow
was that the military and political authorities were
sions, showing that each has its advantages and disadvantages. He suggests
the question which is worse ‘to be hungry and have nothing to eat or plenty
to eat and no appetite.’ When San Francisco and Santa Clara had nothing
to eat they attributed to this want ‘el no hacer prodigios de conversiones;’
but now that there is food there is nobody to eat it. ‘Therefore, my brother,
let us go on with our matins to the sancto sanctore.’ ‘Adonde ira el buey
que no are? sino va 4 Campeche?’ Some who have gone away would perhaps
gladly take what they left.
416 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
not so easily managed as padres and neophytes. In
his controversies with the governors he sometimes
pushed diplomacy to the very verge of inconsistency,
but all apparently without any intention of injuring
them, though he knew he was dealing with men who
cast obstacles in the way of his great work. His let-
ters were long, verbose, and rambling, but left no
minute detail of the subject untouched. The loss of
a sheep from a mission flock evoked a communication
of the same style and length, with the same expres-
sions of trust in heaven, as the conversion or destruc-
tion of a whole tribe; and it is to be noted that in
writing to his friars, especially about his political
quarrels, he adopted a peculiar and mysterious style
wholly unintelligible, as 1t was doubtless intended to
be, to all but the initiated. On the whole the pre-
ceding remarks fail to do him justice; for he was
a well meaning, industrious, enthusiastic, and kind-
hearted old man; his faults were those of his cloth,
and he was not much more fanatical than others of ~
his time, being like most of his Californian compan-
ions a brilliant exception in point of morality to friars
of some other lands and times.* |
At the death of Serra the presidency of the mis-
sions naturally fell temporarily to Palou as the senior
friar in California, who had also held the position
* Nearly all the books that have been written about California have some-
thing to say of Junipero Serra, and it is not necessary to refer to the long
list. Itis somewhat remarkable, however, that there are very few if any
official communications respecting his death preserved in the archives either
secular or missionary. Hittell, Hist. 8. F., 33-9, gives a very good account of
the padre’s life, concluding that ‘his cowl covered neither creed, guile,
hypocrisy, nor pride. He had no quarrels and made no enemies. Hesought
to be a simple friar, and he was one in sincerity. Probably few have ap-
proached nearer to the ideal perfection of a monkish life than he.’ I have
his autograph signatures in S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, 9, 13,17. Seea poem by
M. A. Fitzgerald on his death in Hayes’ Miss. Book, 152. Palou’s Vida con-
tains a portrait more likely to be like the original than any other extant.
Gleeson, Hist. Caéh. Ch., ii. frontisp., has one copied from a painting in the
library of the California pioneers, about the authenticity of which nothing is
known. Dr Taylor, Discov. and Founders, ii. 41, claims to have obtained in
1853 a photograph from an original painting at the college of San Fernando,
of which a caricature was published in Hutchings’ Mag. in 1860.
PRESIDENTS PALOU AND LASUEN. 417
before in Serra’s absence. Palou at first declined to
act as president, partly from real or affected modesty.
but chiefly because he desired to leave the country as
soon as possible. He had, however, to yield to the
unanimous wish of his companions, who claimed that
a vacancy would prove injurious to mission interests,
and reluctantly assumed the duties until a successor
could be appointed.? The choice of the college fell
on Fermin Francisco Lasuen of San Diego; his pat-
ent was forwarded February 6, 1785; and he took
possession of the office probably in September. I'a-
ther Mugdartegui was named to succeed Lasuen in
case of accident, and August 16, 1786, was appointed
vice-president of the southern missions.® By a later
patent of March 13, 1787, issued in accordance with
a decree of the sacred congregation at Rome, March
4, 1785, which extended the power to administer the
rite of confirmation for ten years, Lasuen received the
same powers that Serra had held; but he did not ob-
tain the document until July 13, 1790, and had con-
sequently less than five years for the exercise of his
privilege. During that time, however, he eG
10,139 persons.’
In connection with the departure of Palou, the
completion of his historical writings on California
deserves notice as a prominent and important event
in the country’s annals. The notice however need
not be long, because the reader of the preceding chap-
ters is already familiar by constant reference with the
° The records are very meagre on Palou’s term and I find no official act by
him as president. Payeras, writing in 1818, gives substantially the version
of my text. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xii, 453, Ronee writes March
8, 1785, that Palou declined to serve. Doc. Hist. Cal , MS., iv..29) May 29,
1785, Fages urges Palou to accept for the good of the country, regretting
his ill-health. Prov. Rec. .. MS., ili. 50. See biography of Palou in next
chapter.
6 Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., ix. 306-9; xii. 35-6, containing the patents of
Lasuen and Mugartegui. lLasuen’s first record as president was Jan. 27,
1786; but he seems to have served from Palou’s departure, which was prob-
ably in September or a little later. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 180, ii. 128-9.
1S. Carlos, Lib. Mision, MS., 66-8; S. Diego, Lib. Mision, MS., 45. March
2, 1790, Gen. Ugarte orders Fages to interpose no obstacles. Prov. St. Pap.;
MS., ix. 350.
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 27
418 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
scope and contents of this author’s literary works.
There was no man so well qualified by opportunities
and ability to write the early history of California as
Palou, and he made excellent use of his advantages.
As early as 1778, and probably before that date, he
began the accumulation of material by copying orig-
inal documents and recording current events, without
any definite idea, as it would seem, of publication.
He continued this labor of preparing careful historical
notes down to 1783, devoting to it such time as could
be spared from his missionary duties at San Fran-
cisco. During the years 1784-5, having apparently
suspended work on his notes, he gave his attention to
the preparation of a life of Serra, his prelate, former
instructor, and life-long friend. This work he com-
pleted in February 1785 and carried it to Mexico
later in the same year, where it was published in
1787. It was extensively circulated for a book of
that epoch, though since considered rare, and it has
been practically the source of all that has ever been
written on California mission history down to 1784.
Very few of modern writers have, however, consulted
the original, most contenting themselves with a weak
solution of its contents at second hand; hence the
numerous errors extant in books, pamphlets, and news-
papers. The manuscript of the historical notes after
lying for some years in the college vaults, was copied
into the Mexican archives and finally printed in 1857,
though it was utterly unknown to writers on Califor-
nia until 1874, since which date it has been as care-
lessly and superficially used as was the life of Padre
Junipero before. The Noticias is far the more exten-
sive and complete work of the two,* though both cover
8 Palou, Relacion Histérica de la Vida y Apostdlicas Tareas del Venerable
Padre Fray Juntpero Serra y de las Misiones que fundé en la California Sep-
tentrional, y nuevos establecimientos de Monterey. LEscrita por el R. P. L. Ir.
francisco Palou, Guardian actual del Colegio Apostolico de S. Fernando de
México, y Disctpulo del Venerable Fundador: dirigida d su Santa Provincia de
la Regular Observancia de .Nro. S. P. S. Francisco de la Isla de Mallorca. A
expensas de Don Miguel Gonzales Calderon, Sindico de dicho Apostélico Cole-
gio. Mexico, 1787, 8vo 141. 344 pages, with map and portrait. The author’s
PALOU’S HISTORICAL WORKS. 419
substantially the same ground. While my researches
among original manuscript authorities have brought
to light a large amount of material not given by Pa-
lou, yet his writings contain a few diaries which I
have not found elsewhere. I have sometimes been
dedicatory letter and protesta is dated San Francisco, Feb. 28, 1785. The
license of the audiencia to print is dated Dec. 7, 1786; and the latest of the
various approvals of Franciscan authorities on March 12, 1787. In his pro-
logue the author, after explaining that the work, written for the province of
Mallorca, is published at the urgent request of certain friends of Serra who
bear the expense, goes on to say: ‘I well know that some who read new
things expect the historian to indulge in theories and to clear up ail diffi-
culiies. ‘This method although tolerated and even applauded in profane his-
tories, in those of saints and servants of God written for edification and to ex-
cite imitation, is deemed by the best historians a fault, the which I have
aimed io avoid. As the soul of history is simple truth, thou canst have the
assurance that almost all I relate I have witnessed, and the rest has been told
me by other padres worthy of faith.’ On Aug. 16, 1786, Palou writes to
Lasuen, Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xii. 41-2, that everything is going well with
the book, which he is told will circulate all over Europe, where all are curious
to learn about California. He thinks it has been heard of at court, will send
some copies to California, and asks Lasuen to pray for its success. It was,
sent to California, where each mission library had a copy. The work has be-
come less rare and costly of late years than formerly. I have three copies,
the most expensive of which cost less than $25. I have also the edition of
Mexico, 1852, in which it was published with Clavigero’s history of Lower
California in a volume of the Biblioteca Nacional y Hstrangera. It was also
reprinted in a newspaper of southern California and in the form of scraps is
found in //ayes’ Mission Book, i.
Palou, Noticias de la (Antiqua y) Nueva California. LEscritas por el h. P.
Fr. F. Palou (tom. i. ii.), in Doc. Hist. Mex., serie iv. tom. vi.-vii. Mexico,
1857, 8vo, 688, 396 pp. The latest date mentioned is in July 1783, about which
time it was doubtless concluded. A passage in tom. i. 269, shows that chap.
v. of part ii. was written as early as 1773 at Monterey. It is evident that
the author collected material from his first arrival, and wrote up the record
to date at intervals as allowed by his duties. The original manuscript in the
college of San Fernando has disappeared; but by royal order of 1790 a copy
was made under the direction of P. Francisco Garcia Figueroa, who certified
to its accuracy December 3 and 4, 1792. This copy, a duplicate of which was
sent to Spain, has since been preserved in Mexico with other documents
copied under the same order, which form the first 32 volumes of the Archivo
General, an invaluable collection, all the volumes of which (except tom. 1.,
which has been lost from the archives) are in my Library, some in print,
others copied for the Maximilian Imperial Library, and the rest copied
expressly for my collection. Palou’s work formed tomes xxii.-iil. of the col-
lection. In 1857 (not 1846 as Doyle says), it was printed in the form of a
folletin of the Diario Oficial, forming the last two of a set of 20 volumes of
Documents for the History of Mexico printed in the same way and selected
largely from the same source. This collection, though badly printed, is the
most important source of information extant on the history of Sonora, Chi-
huahua, and New Mexico, as well as California; but it is very rarely to be
found complete, and has been utterly unknown to modern writers on history.
Palou’s work is divided into four parts. Part I. includes the annals of Baja
California, under the Franciscans from 1768 to 1773, and extends over 245
pages of the first volume in 40 chapters; Part II. describes the expeditions to
Monterey and the foundation of the first five missions, extending from page
420 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
tempted to entertain a selfish regret that Palou wrote,
or that his writings were ever printed, yet all the
same he must be regarded as the best original au-
thority for the earliest period of mission history.
I have copied his map of Upper California.?
The missions had a narrow escape from ruin or from
what the friars believed would result in ruin, in the
form of their erection into a custody. Sonora and the
Californias had been formed into a bishopric in 1779,
and Bishop Reyes came in 1783, with full authority
247 to 688, in 50 chapters, and covering the period from 1769 to 1773; Part
III. is a collection of original documents on events of 1773-4, not arranged in
chapters, and filling 211 pages of tom. ii.; and Part IV. continues the narra-
tive in 41 chapters, pages 213-396, from 1775 to 1783. At the beginning of
tom. i. the author gives the following prefatory notice: ‘Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph. Summary (of the annals) of Old California during the time that
those missions were administered by the missionaries of the Regular Ohserv-
ance of Our Seraphic Father San Francisco of the Apostolic College of San
Fernando in Mexico—and of the new missions which the said missionaries
founded in the new establishments of San Diego and Monterey, written by
the least (the most unworthy) of said missionaries, who worked in Old Cali-
fornia from the time it was intrusted to said College down to its delivery to
the reverend fathers of the sacred religion of Our ‘‘ Cherubic” Father Santo
Domingo, and who later with other missionaries of the same College of San
Fernando went up to Monterey, having no other aim in this material work
which I undertake than that allowed me by the apostolic ministry, which is
to leave on record all that has happened and may happen while God gives me
life and health to work in this new vineyard of the Lord, so that when the
chronicler of our apostolic colleges may demand from that of San Fernando
notes of its apostolic labors I may have them compiled in a volume, or more
should there be enough to note, leaving it to the skill of the chronicler to put
them in the style for publication, and to his prudence and ‘‘ religiosity” to
leave to the secrecy of the archives those which are written only because they
may be needed to shut the mouth of those rivals in the apostolic ministry who
are never lacking in new conversions, so that if they should talk some day of
missionary achievements there may be had in readiness all the events as they
really occurred in California, both old and new, all of which with all sincerity
and truth I will narrate in this summary, divided into four parts,’ ete. This
gives an idea of the author’s purpose, but hardly of his style, which was tol-
erably good. The book has many typographical defects, but few or none
which may not be corrected in substance from the archives. . I have referred
constantly to this original edition, using for convenience tom. i. and li., instead
the tom. vi.—vli. of the Collection. In 1874-5, Mr John T. Doyle issued in
San Francisco a reprint of Palou’s Noticias in four Svo volumes, one volume
to each part, well printed on good paper, and with a few corrections of typo-
graphical errors. The prefatory notice just quoted is omitted in ihe reprint;
there is a transfer of a diary from one part to another; some photographs of
mission buildings and other Californian scenes are added; and the whole is
prefaced by a long and ably written note by Mr Doyle on Palou’s life, the mis-
sion system, the pious fund, etc.
*Californias. Antiquay Nueva. ..Longitude reckoned from San Blas. Diego
Francisco, sc., Mexico, 1787. Many strange inaccuracies will be noticed,
especially in the location of Santa Clara, San Antonio, and the Colorado
missions. For map see p. 408, this vol.
CUSTODIES PROPOSED. 421
from the king and the Franciscan commissary general
to make the change, which though it was to leave the
friars in control and give the bishop but little if any
increased authority, was doubtless intended as a step
toward secularization. By it the connection between
missions and the colleges was to cease; the missions
were to become hospices and pueblos de visita, the
president would be replaced by a custodian, who with
his council of definidores took the place also, in a cer-
tain sense, of the college guardian and discretorio; and
the system was to be supported largely by the beg-
ging of alms. The colleges naturally protested against
the change, claiming that new friars would have to be
brought from Spain at great expense, since the old
missionaries would not sever their connection with their
colleges; that the new system made no provision for
new conversions; that, in California particularly, there
were none to give alms; and that there were many
of the custody regulations which it would be absolutely
impossible to enforce in these provinces. These pro-
tests were of no avail so far as Sonora was con-
cerned, where the custody of San Carlos was formed
in October 1783; but the college of San Fernando
succeeded in postponing action in the erection of San
Gabriel de California until the practical result else-
where could be known. As the system proved to work
very badly in Sonora, California escaped the experi-
ment which would almost certainly have proved de-
structive of mission prosperity. I hear nothing of
the scheme in California aiter 1787.’
For a full account of the experiment in Sonora sce Arricivita, Cron.
Serdf., 564-75. The royal order in favor of custodies was dated May 20, 1782.
Aug. 17, 1792, after numerous petitions, the king, on advice of general, gov-
ernor, bishop, and audiencia, issued an order which restored the old sysicm,
Jan. 8, 1783, the guardian sends to Serra the brief and laws for custodies with
the remark that they contain many falsehoods and impossibilities, saying, ‘we
work here with all our might to overthrow these projects in the begiuning, real-
izing that merely to attempt them will cause great mischief.’ The bishop will
try the experiment in Sonora, and we shall be left in peace for a while at any
rate. If you get orders from the bishop you must reply that your superior is to
be consulted. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xii. 156-8. Feb. 3, 1783, the guardian
of San Jernando and agents of Santa Cruz and Guadalupe colleges unice in a
protest to the viceroy. /d., xii. 212-138. Jan. 14, 1784, Galvez informs the
422 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
Not only did the missions escape separation from
the control of San Fernando, but their number was
increased by the founding of two new establishments,
Santa Barbara and Purisima, the long-talked of mis-
sions of the Channel. In 1782 these establishments
had been suspended as will be remembered because of
a plan of the secular authorities to break up the old
system and take from the friars the management of
temporalities, and the consequent refusal of the friars
to serve. The matter was referred to the king, but
I find no record of definite action thereon. The guar-
dian instructed President Serra and his successor
Lasuen not to allow any new establishments except
on the old basis;" a good excuse was accordingly ready
whenever any suggestion was made by governor or
general; and finally by the tacit agreement of their
opponents the friars were allowed to have their own
way. In April 1786 the guardian informed the pres-
ident that friars will come to California this year, and
Santa Barbara may be founded, if the old system be
allowed, but not otherwise.”
viceroy that notwithstanding the opposition it is the king’s will that the cus-
todies be promoted. April 12, 1785, guardian informs Lasuen that there is
nothing for it but to be silent and cautious. /d., 214-15. It seems that gen-
eral Neve had favored the custody in California. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vii.
13-14. March 21, 1787, the king ordered that if there were not enough friars of
San Iernando for the California missions, others might be taken from Michoa-
ean. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., x. 287; Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 32.
1 April 1, 1784, the general wrote to Fages authorizing the founding of a
mission at Montecito near the presidio of Santa Barbara. The governor notified
Pres. Serra on July 27th from San Francisco. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., vi.
194, xi. 5. No notice seems to have been taken of this. March 9, 1785, Gen.
Rengel, presuming that the padres sent for have arrived, orders Fages to pro-
ceed at once to found a mission at Montecito. Instructions have been given
to pay the $1,000 allowed each new mission. St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 34-5.
Sept. 30th Fages notifies Lasuen that in company with P. Santa Maria he has
explored the Montecito site three fourths of a league from the presidio and
found it suitable for a mission. He has informed the general who orders an
immediate foundation. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 55. The same day Fages also
writes to Lasuen that as the two padres (Noboa and Rioboo) have arrived, he
hopes he will proceed at once to found the mission. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS.,
xi. 386-7. Lasuen replies that the padres are destined elsewhere and there
can be no foundation yet. Id., 389-90. PP. Mariner and Giribet came in 1785,
but still nothing was done.
22 Guardian to Lasuen April 1, 1786, in Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., viii. 133-
4; xi. 214. On the same date he forwarded instructions, not extant, and directs
Lasuen to show them to the governor if necessary, but on no account to allow
FOUNDING OF SANTA BARBARA. 423
President Lasuen went down to the presidio at the
end of October with two of the newly arrived friars,
and superintended active preparations for the new
mission which was to be formally dedicated the 4th
of December.” On that day the cross was raised and
blessed, and that day, the festival of Santa Bdrbara
Virgen y Martyr,” is regarded as the day of the mis-
sion’s regular foundation, though the ceremonies were
not completed on account of the governors absence
and his order to suspend operations until his arrival.
Possibly Fages had some thought of insisting on the
innovations which had caused so much controversy,
but if so he changed his mind, for after his arrival on
December 14th the friars were allowed to go on in
their own way. - On the 16th the first mass was said
by Father Paterna, a sermon was preached by La-
suen, and thus the foundation was completed.”
Fathers Antonio Paterna from San Luis, and Cris-
tébal Ordmas, one of the new-comers, were the minis-
tros fundadores, the latter being replaced in 1790 by
José de Miguel.” The rainy season did not permit
any infringement on the old system, or any experiments like those on the
Colorado River, which he fears are still intended. Jd., xii. 24-5. April 9th
he communicates the royal orders that older missions are to contribute stock
and grain for Santa Barbara. /d., xi. 6. The new padres, six in number, were
Arenaza, Arroita, Ordémas, Santiago, Sola, and Torrente.
18 Oct. 27, 1786, the commandant writes to Fages asking him to be present
at the ceremony, and stating that the president and padres are about to arrive.
Noy. 13th, he writes that timber has been cut and preparations have been
made for sowing. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 51, 58.
14 Santa Barbara, the virgin and martyr, is a saint whose existence is tra-
ditionary and very doubtfully authenticated. She was the daughter of one
Dioscoro who lived once upon a time in Asia Minor, a cruel idolater who gave
his daughter to be tortured for her adherence to Christianity, and cut off her
head with his own hand after she had borne unflinchingly the most cruel tor-
ments. She was and still is the patron saint of artillerymen in the Spanish
army, and the powder-magazine on men-of-war often bears her name.
> Title-pages of mission-books signed by Lasuen in Sta. Barbara, Lib. de
Mision, MS., 48; Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xii. 3, 4, 15-17. In the first
annual report of the mission the date of the first mass is given as Dec. 15th,
and the site is called Pedragoso, one fourth of a league from the presidio. /d.,
v. 3, 4. Dec. 11th Lasuen writes to the general about the governor’s order
suspending the foundation. Jd., xi. 7. April 11th the general acknowledges
receipt of news of founding, and in June of progress. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
vii. 43, 58-9.
16 See lists of padres at Santa Barbara from the beginning, compiled from
the records by E. F, Murray, in Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., vii. 8-10, 25-9,
39-43, 68-70, 75-7.
424 DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
the erection of buildings at first, and the first bap-
tism on December 31st was administered at the pre-
sidio. On account of the proximity of the presidio
only the ordinary guard of six men was allowed.”
By the end of 1787 there had been 188 baptisms,
‘ which number was increased to 520 in 1790, with 102
deaths, leaving 438 existing neophytes. At this time
large stock numbered 296 and small stock 503 head,
while products of the soil amounted to about t,500
bushels. A church 18 by 90 feet was completed in
1789, and by the end of 1790 other mission buildings
of adobes with tile roofs were sufficiently numerous
and in good condition.*
Respecting the founding of the third Channel mis-
sion little material is preserved in the archives. Company rosters, containing the names of all officers and men, were
made out monthly for each presidio. In the early years only a few of these
rosters for each year have been preserved; but in later times they are nearly
complete. The reglamento gave San Diego $13,000 per year; but the aver-
age annual expense as shown by the company accounts was about $16,000.
The average pay-rolls were $12,000); Mexico memorias, $8,000; and San Blas,
$3,500. In 1786 supplies to the amount of $3,653 were bought of the mis-
sions. Between $400 and $500 were retained from soldiers’ pay each year for
the fondo de retencion. Military accounts in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS.,
i. 21; ili. 14; vi. 4; v. 9; viii. 3-5; xx. 6,7; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS.,
i. 169-70; Monterey Co. Arch., MS., vii. 6. For lists of arms and ammuni-
tion see St, Pap., Sac., MS., ii. 26-7, v. 25; Prov. Si. Pap., MS., v. 17C-9.
BUILDINGS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS. 453
Respecting the presidio buildings during this period
the records are silent; but in view of Governor Neve’s
efforts in this direction, of the fact that the work of
collecting foundation stones was begun as early as
1778, and especially because the correspondence of
the next decade speaks of extensive repairs rather
than original construction, I suppose that the pali-
sades were at least replaced by an adobe wall enclos-
ing the necessary buildings, public and private. Here
on the hill lived about one hundred and twenty-five
persons, men, women, and children. Hach year in
summer or early autumn one of the transport vessels
entered the harbor and landed a year’s supplies at the
embarcadero several miles down the bay, to be brought
up by the presidio mules. Every week or two small
parties of soldier-couriers arrived from Loreto in the
south or Monterey in the north with ponderous de-
spatches for officials here and to the north, and with
items of news for all. Hach day of festival a friar
came over from the mission to say mass and otherwise
care for the spiritual interests of soldiers and their
families; and thus the time dragged on from day to
day and year to year, with hardly a ripple on the sea
of monotony.
There was an occasional rumor of intended hostili-
ties by the natives, but none resulted in anything
serious, most of the trouble occurring south of the
line in Baja Californian territory and requiring some
attention from Fages during his southern trip in the
spring of 1783. Here in the south, as in fact through-
out the country, the natives were remarkably quiet
and peaceful during Fages’ rule. This is shown by
tlie meagre records on the subject in connection with
the well known tendency of the Spaniards to indulge
in long correspondence on any occurrence that can
possibly be made to a#pear like an Indian campaign.°
6 June 30, 1783, Fages to Padre Sales, in Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 218, says
that he has ordered a sally against the Colorado Indians; and Oct. 26, /d.,
201, he orders Sergt. Arce with a guard of 4 or 5 men to watch those Indians,
454 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
Neve’s instructions on leaving California had included
a recommendation to open a new and safer route from
San Diego to the peninsula. The exploration seems
to have been made, and the result, saving ten or
twelve leagues of distance and avoiding some danger-
ous bands of coast natives, was approved by General
Rengel in 1786.’ At the end of May 1783 Alférez
Velasquez made a reconnoissance eastward from San
Diego with a view to examine a new route to the
Colorado River recommended by Lasuen. He went
no farther than the summit of the mountains, found
_ the route impracticable, and returned by another way
after an absence of four days.* In October of the
same year Velasquez had instructions from Fages to
visit the Colorado, to examine a ford said by the
natives to exist near the mouth, to recover as many
horses as possible without using force, and to keep a
full diary of the trip;? but it seems that no such ex-
ploration was made. In 1785, however, Fages in
person made a similar reconnoissance accompanied by
Velasquez, whose diary has been preserved.” This
trip was made from the frontier where Fages had
been searching for a mission site, the outward march
being in what is now Lower California, but a portion
the guard to be relieved every 15 days. Aug. 21st, Zufiiga to Fages stateg
that the Serranos have killed a neophyte and threaten to attack the mission.
He has taken steps to keep them in check. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iv. 77.
Nov. 15, 1784, governor to general, that a deserter, Hermenegildo Flores (an
Indian probably) has been killed by the Indians. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 181-2.
Oct. 7, 1786, Zuniga to Fages, that he has sent 7 men to reconnoitre Tomga-
yavit. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 88. Dec. 21, 1788, the soldier Mateo Rubio
seriously injured while loading a gun. Jd., viii. 68.
7 Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 131-3; Jd., Ben. Mil., MS., iv. 18; vi. 113-14.
Some details respecting the new route are given.
8 Velasquez, Diarioy Mapa de un Reconocimiento desde 8. Diego, 1783, MS.,
with a rude sketch of the route, which although the earliest map of this
region extant, I do not deem worth reproducing.
® Prov. Rec., MS.., iii. 188-90.
10 Velasquez, Relacion del Viaje que hizo el Gobernador Fages, 1785, MS. A
continuation of the title explains the document: ‘Diary made by order of
Gov. Fages of the exploration made by hinf& in person from the frontier,
crossing the sierra, wandering from the mouth of the Colorado River to the
gulf of California, passing through the country of the Camillares, Cucupaes,
Guyecamaes, Cajuenches, and Yumas; and his return across said sierra to
this presidio.’ Dated San Diego, April 27,1785. The trip lasted from April
7th to 20th.
SAN DIEGO MISSION. 455
of the return north of the line across the sierra to
San Diego. There was one fight in which the natives
were punished for having killed a horse as well as for
previous offences with which they were charged. The
narrative is long and filled with petty details, without
value for the most part, but which might be of some
geographical interest if presented in full and studied
in connection with an accurate topographical map, did
such a thing exist. It may be noted here that Fages
in 1782 had crossed directly from the Colorado to San
Diego, the first recorded trip over that route. I ap-
pend a chart made by Juan Pantoja in 1782, which
was copied by La Pérouse in substance.”
At the mission six miles up the river there was a
total change in the missionary force about the middle
of the decade, caused by the death of one of the
ministers and promotion of another. Juan Figuer
after seven years of service in this field died Decem-
ber 18, 1784," and was buried in the mission church
next day. For about a year Fermin Francisco de
Lasuen served alone, until in November 1785 the
duties of his new position as president called him to
San Carlos, and his place was taken by Juan Mariner.
Juan Antonio Garcia Rioboo was associate until Oc-
tober 1786, and was then succeeded by Hilario Tor-
1 Sutil y Mexicana, Viage, Atlas; La Pérouse, Voy., Atlas. I omit the
soundings.
“San Diego, Lib. de Mision, MS., 80, containing his partida de entierro
signed by Lasuen. Figuer was a native of Anento in Aragon, and became a
Franciscan at Zaragoza. Of his coming to America and to San Fernando col-
lege I have found no record. With 29 companion friars for the Californias
he arrived at Tepic from Mexico at the end of 1770, and with about 19 of the
number sailed for Loreto in February 1771. The vessel was driven down to
Acapulco and in returning was grounded at Manzanillo. Most of the padres
returned to Sinaloa by land, but Figuer and Serra intrusted themselves again
to the sea, when the San Cdrlos was got off, and after a tedious voyage
reached Loreto in August 1771. Figuer was assigned to the Baja Californian
mission of San Francisco de Borja. In November 1772 he was sent up to
San Diego by Palou in company with Usson, both being intended for the
proposed mission of San Buenaventura; but that foundation being postponed
Figuer became minister of San Gabriel in May 1773. He served at San
Gabriel 1773-4; at San Luis Obispo Oct. 1774 toJune 1777; and at San Diego
until his death in Dec. 1784. He was buried in the mission church on Dec.
19th, by his associate Lasuen. In 1804 his remains, with those of the martyr
Jaume and of Mariner, were transferred with all due solemnity to a new sep-
ulchre under an arch between the aitars of the new church.
456 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
rens. The three last named friars were new-comers,
Rioboo having been sent up by the guardian in the
vessel of 1783 at Serra’s request for supernumeraries,
and the other two having arrived in 1785 and 1786,
Mission de.S8.Diego é
‘2 Ro.y Pancheria de las
=—- Choyas
=) P.Sn.Agustin
— ra
—
==
===
ae
x
e(
\
=
0.
4 72)
de 2.
da 2B,” ,
% ;
Pa.de Arena
Map or San Drieco, 1782.
doing their first work at San Diego. Rioboo is not
heard of after he left this mission, and I suppose him
to have retired to his college at the end of 1786.”
% Juan Antonio Garcia Rioboo, who should properly be spoken of as
Garcia-Rioboo, whose last name should perhaps be written Riobd, and of
LASUEN’S REPORT. 457
In June 1783 Lasuen sent to Serra a report on the
mission of San Diego, which included an outline of its
past history, already utilized in the preceding chap-
ters, and a statistical statement of agricultural prog-
ress, intended to show that the place was wholly unfit
for a mission, although the spiritual interests of the
converts made it necessary to keep up the establish-
ment, there being no better site available. A de-
scription of the mission buildings then in existence
accompanied the other papers.“ There were at this
_ time 740 neophytes under missionary care, and Lasuen
estimated the gentiles within a radius of six or eight
leagues at a somewhat larger number. In 1790 the
converts had increased to 856, of this number 486
having been baptized and 278 having died. Large
stock had increased from 654 to 1,729 head, small
stock from 1,391 to 2,116, and the harvest of 1790
had aggregated about 1,500 bushels. In his general
report of 1787 on the state of the missions Fages,
repeating the substance of Lasuen’s earlier statements
respecting the sterility of the soil, affirms that only
about one half of the neophytes live in the mission,
since they cannot be fed there, that the gentiles are
whose early life I know nothing, came from San Fernando college to Tepic
probably in the same company as Figuer (see note 12), in October 1770. He
crossed over to the peninsula with Gov. Barri in January 1771, and was put
in charge of the two pueblos near Cape San Liicas. In May 1773 he sailed
from Loreto on his way to his college. We hear nothing more of him until
he was assigned to the Santa Barbara Channel missions, but refused to serve
under the new system proposed. Later, however, he was sent up with Noboa
as supernumerary, arriving at San Francisco June 2, 1783, and spending his
time at San Francisco, San Juan, and San Gabriel until he came to San
Diego in 1785. It is probable that even here he was not regular minister.
14 Lasuen, Informe de 1783, MS.; Hayes’ Mission Book, 89-98. The report
was first dated May 10th, but Serra having ordered it kept back—probably
in the fear that he might have to show it to the secular authorities—the
author made some additions under date of June 2lst. The buildings were:
Church, 30 x 5.5 varas; granary, 25 x 5.5 varas; storehouse, 8 varas; house
for sick women, 6 varas; house for men, 6 varas; shed for wood and oven; 2
padres’ houses, 5.5 varas; larder, 8 varas; guest-room; ato; kitchen. These
were of adobe and from 8 to 5.5 varas high. With the soldiers’ barracks
these buildings filled three sides of a square of 55 varas, and the fourth side
was an adobe wall 3 varas high, with a ravelin a little higher. Outside, a
fountain for tanning, 2 adobe corrals for sheep, etc., and one corral for cows.
Most of the stock was kept in San Luis Valley 2 leagues away, protected by
palisade corrals,
458 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
numerous and dangerous, and that it is only by the
unremitting toil and sacrifice of the padres in connec-
tion with the vigilance of governor and commandant
that this mission has managed to maintain a preca-
rious existence. He adds, however, that notwith-
standing all difficulties San Diego was the first mission
to register a thousand baptisms.”
Of San Juan Capistrano there is little to be said
beyond naming its ministers and presenting a few
statistics of conversion and of industrial progress.
Lands were fertile, ministers faithful and zealous,
natives well disposed, and progress in all respects, sat-
isfactory. F ages in his report of 1787 alludes briefly
to this establishment as in a thoroughly prosperous con-
dition. ‘The number of converts was nearly doubled
prior to 1790, and an occasional scarcity of water was
the only drawback, apparently not a serious one, to
agricultural operations.“ Of the original ministers
who served at San Juan from the founding in 1776,
Gregorio Amurrio had left the mission and probably
the country in the autumn of 1779,” and had been suc-
ceeded by Vicente Fuster, who at the end of 1787
was transferred to Purisima, his place being filled by
Juan José Norberto de Santiago, who had come from
Mexico the year before and from Spain in 1785.
1 Fages, Informe General sobre Misiones, 1787, MS. Owing to peculiar traits
of the San Diego Indians they were left more completely under missionary
control than at other missions, there being no alcaldes. Id., 77-8.
16Converts in 1783, 383; in 1790, 741; new baptisms, 569; deaths, 140.
Large stock had increased from 473 to 2,473; and small stock from 1,175 to
5,500. Agricultural products for 1790 were over 3,000 bushels.
1 Amurrio was one of the party who with Figuer (see note 12) was wrecked
at Manzanillo in attempting to cross from San Blas to Loretoin 1771. He
came back to Sinaloa by land, reached Loreto in November, and served at Santa
Gertrudis during the brief occupation of the peninsula by the Franciscans.
At the cession he came with Palou to San Diego in August 1773. Here he
remained until April 1774, when he sailed for Monterey, subsequently serving
most of the time as supernumerary at San Luis Obispo until the attempted
foundation of San Juan in October 1775. The next year he spent chiefly at
San Diego, was present as minister at the successful foundation of San Juan on
Nov. 1, 1776; and his last entry in the books of that mission was in September
of 1779. I think he sailed in the transport of that year for San Blas, retiring
on account of impaired health.
ANNALS OF SAN GABRIEL. 459
Pablo de Mugértegui, the other founder, left Cali-
fornia at the end of 1789, Fuster having returned in
September to serve with Santiago during the last year
of the decade.”
At San Gabriel, the third mission of the San Diego
military jurisdiction, Antonio Cruzado and Miguel
Sanchez served together throughout this decade as in
the next anda large part of the preceding, the former
having begun his service in 1771 and the latter in
1775, while both died at their posts after 1800. They
had José Antonio Calzada as a supernumerary asso-
ciate from 1788 to 1790. They baptized on an average
a hundred converts each year, half of whom soon
died. In neophyte numbers San Gabriel was second
only to San Antonio, while in live-stock and farm
products this mission had in 1790 far outstripped all
the rest.>. The governor alludes to it as having often
relieved the necessities of other establishments in both
Californias, and as having enabled the government to
carry out important undertakings that without such
aid would have been impracticable. Prosperity did
not however carry in its train much excitement in the
way of local events, and the calm of this mission of
18 Pablo de Mugartegui came to California with Serra on that friar’s return
from Mexico, arriving at San Diego March 13,1774. Being in poor health he
remained for some time unattached to any mission, first serving as super-
numerary at San Antonio from January to July 1775. He was minister at
San Luis Obispo from August 1775 until November 1776, and at San Juan as
we have seen from November 1776 until November 1789. He writes to Lasuen
on Jan. 30, 1794, from the college, that he had been very ill but was now out
of danger. From Aug. 16, 1786, he held the office of vice-president of the
California missions, having charge of the southern district. Taylor, in Cal.
Farmer, July 24, 1863, says, erroneonsly I suppose, that he died on March 6,
1805, at San Buenaventura,
19 Much of the information respecting the friars in charge I have obtained .
from San Juan Capistrano, Lib. de Mision, MS. Among the visiting padres
who officiated here during the period and before were Serra, Oct. 1778; Figuer,
June 1780; Miguel Sanchez, May 1782; Lasuen, Oct. 1783; Rioboo, Feb. 1784;
Mariner, Oct. 1785; José Arroita, Dec. 1786; José Antonio Calzada, April 1788;
Torrens, Cct. 1788; and Cristébal Ordmas, Dec. 1788 to Jan. 1789. Thus we
see that San Juan for some not very clear reason was much less_ isolated in
respect of visitors than San Diego.
20 Neophytes in 1783, 638; in 1790, 1,040. Baptisms during period, 818;
deaths, 466. Increase of large stock, 860 to 4,221; small stock, 3,070 to
6,018. Harvest in 1790, 6,150 bushels.
460 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
the great archangel on the river of earthquakes was
disturbed only by one or two slight troubles, or rumors
of trouble, with the natives. In October 1785 the
neophytes and gentiles were tempted by a woman, so
at least said the men, into a plan to attack the mis-
sion and kill the friars. ‘The corporal in command
prevented the success of the scheme without blood-
shed, and captured some twenty of the conspirators.
Fages hurried south from the capital, put the four
ringleaders in prison to await the decision of the
commandant general, and released the rest with fifteen
or twenty lashes each. Two years later came General
Ugarte’s order condemning one native, Nicolas, to six
years of work at the presidio followed by exile to a
distant mission. ‘The woman was sent into perpetual
exile, and the other two were dismissed with the two
years’ imprisonment already suffered.” Again in July
1786 a gentile chieftain was arrested on a charge pre-
sented by the chief of another rancheria that he had
threatened hostilities, but the accusation proved to
have little or no foundation.”
The annals of the adjoining pueblo, Our Lady,
Queen, or Saint Mary, of the Angels on the Rio de
Porciincula have already been brought down in a
general way to the distribution of lands in the autumn
of 1786.% By the end of the decade the number of
settlers had been recruited, chiefly from soldiers who
had served out their time, from nine to twenty-eight,
who with their families made up a total population of
one hundred and thirty-nine.* All of the original
pobladores who received a formal grant of their lands
in 1786 remained except Rosas.” Sebastian Alvitre
"1 Fages to Gen. Ugarte Dec. 5, 30, 1785, in Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 131-2;
Ugarte to Fages, Dec. 14, 1787, in Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., vi. 116-17.
2 Zuniga to Fages, Aug. 15, 1786, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 35-6.
23 See chapter xvi., this volume,
4 An estado of August 17, 1790, makes the total 141. Males, 75; females,
66. Unmarried, 91; married, 44; widowed, 6. Under 7 years, 47; 7 to 16
years, 33; 16 to 29 years, 12; 29 to 40 years, 27; 40 to 90 years, 13; over
90 years, 9. Europeans, 1; Spaniards, 72; Indians, 7; mulattoes,22; mestizos,
39. Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix. 152.
* The 20 new settlers were: Domingo Aruz, Juan Alvarez, Joaquin Ar-
HAPPENINGS AT LOS ANGELES. 461
had proved unmanageable at San José and after four
or five years of convict life at the presidio had been
sent to Angeles for reform. The settlers were not a
very orderly community, but they seem to haVe given
some attention to their fields, since the pueblo pro-
duced in 1790 more grain than ‘any of the missions
except San Gabriel, its neighbor. Their dwellings,
twenty-nine In number, were of adobes, like the public
town hall, barrack, uard- house, and granaries; and
all were enclosed within an adobe wall, there being
also a few buildings outside the wall.”
Vicente Félix was at first corporal of the pueblo
guard furnished by the San Diego presidio; but he
soon developed special ability and interest in general
management and was made a kind of director before
1784. Though some complaints were made against
him by the settlers, and Zufiga at one time favored his
removal, the governor’s confidence was not shaken,
and he finally made him comisionado, intrusting to
him the management not only of the pueblo but of
its alcalde and regidores,” he being responsible to the
governor through the commandant of Santa Barbara
for any failure of those officials to attend properly to
their duties. Fages’ instructions to Félix were dated
Jan. 13, 1787, and required the latter to see that the
menta, Juan Ramirez Arellano, Sebastian Alvitre, Roque Cota, Faustino José
Cruz, Juan José Dominguez, Manuel Figueroa, Felipe Santiago Garcia,
Joaquin Higuera, Juan José Lobo, José Ontiveros, Santiago de la Cruz Pico,
Francisco Reyes, Martin Reyes, Pedro José Romero, Efigenio Ruiz, Mariano
Verdugo, José Villa, besides Vicente Félix, corporal and comisionado, In
1789 there had been 5 additional names: José Silvas, Rejis Soto, Francisco
Lugo, Melecio Valdés, and Rafael Sepulveda, or at least lands were ordered to
be granted to these men. Nine only drew pay and rations in 1789. Prov. Sé.
Pap., MS., v. 29-36; ix. 120, 159-63; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., x. 2-6;
St. Pap., Miss., i. 66-72, Large stock had increased from 340 to 2, 980 head;
small stock from 210 to 438; and the crops of 1790 amounted to 4, 500 bushels,
26 Prov, St. Pap., Miss., MS., i. 68, 71. Aug. 10, 1785, 35 pounds powder
and 800 bullets sent to Angeles as reserve ammunition for settlers. Prov. Rec.,
MS., ii. 7. Nov. 9, 1786, Goycoechea to Fages, will take steps to stop ex-
cesses. Prov. St. Pap. by MS., vi. 57. May 8, 1787, commandant general con-
gratulates Fages on progress "reported, Id., vii. 41. Pueblo called Santa Maria
de los Angeles. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 125.
27 Prov. Rec., MS., i. 163-4; Prov. St. Pap., Vv. 180; ix. 105, 119-20, 225-6.
José Vanegas. was the first alealde:i in 1788; Tose Sinova the secontl in 1789,
with Felipe ¢ rarcia and Manuel Camero as regidores; and Mariano Verdugo
the third in 1790.
462 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS,
settlers performed all the duties, complied with all
the conditions, and enjoyed all the privileges enjoined
by the regulation; to watch and instruct and codperate
with the“alcalde in his efforts to insure good order and
justice and morality; and to attend to the carrying-
out of some very judicious regulations which are
included in the document respecting the treatment
of the natives and their employment as laborers.”
At the Channel presidio of Santa Barbara the force
maintained was from fifty to fifty-four privates, two
corporals, two or three sergeants, an alférez, and a
lieutenant. Of this force fifteen men at first and
later ten were stationed at San Buenaventura, fifteen
at Purisima, and from three to six at Santa Bdrbara
after those missions were founded, and two generally
at Los Angeles. The so-called white population of this
presidial district was about two hundred and twenty,
or three hundred and sixty with Los Angeles.”
Lieutenant José Francisco Ortega, the original
commandant, retained his position together with that
of habilitado, until January 1784, when he was sent
to the peninsula frontier and Lieutenant Felipe de
Goycoechea came up to take his place, which he held
until 1804. Ortega was removed by the general at
the request of Soler, who alone found fault with the
lheutenant, and who as we know was a chronic fault-
finder. Soler subsequently complained of the new
commandant’s lack of application, and wished to put
in the place Zufiiga with a stupid habilitado or Ortega
28 Fages, Instruccion para el cabo de la Escolta del pueblo de Los Angeles como
Comisionado por el gobierno para dirigir al alcalde y & los regidores, 1787, MS.
The Santa Barbara sitwado by the reglamento was $14,472; average pay-
roll, $13,500; average memorias of supplies, $12,500; average total of habili-
tado’s accounts, $26,000, of which about $6,000 was a balance of goods on
hand; fondo de gratificacion, $2,000, and fondo de retencion, $1,000 in 1784;
Jondo de invdlidos and Montepio, $427 in 1782. Company accounts in Prov. St.
Pap., Presidios, MS., i. 2, 90; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., ii. 1, 8, 20-2,
38-9; iii. 18; iv. 22; vi. 3; viii. 13; ix. 3, 4; xiv. 6, 7. Inventories of arma-
ment in Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 96-9; vii. 86; St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 6, 7.
A list of inhabitants with families, age, etc., showing 67 male heads of fami-
lies, dated Dec. 31, 1785, in St. Pap., Miss., MS., i. 4-9.
SANTA BARBARA PRESIDIO. 463
with an able one, but Fages could not spare Zuiliga
from San Diego. In 1786, however, in consequence
of the vacancy caused by the death of Moraga at San
Francisco, the governor offered Ortega his choice of
the presidios, and he at first chose Santa Barbara, but
finally took command of Monterey. José Argiiello
was company alférez from the beginning down to
April 1787, when he was promoted to the command
of San Francisco, leaving a vacancy not filled until
after 1790. The sergeants were Pablo Antonio Cota
and Ignacio Olivera, with Raimundo Carrillo after
1781,” perhaps from 1788.
Work on the presidio buildings was. pushed for-
ward, in the Hispano-Californian sense, throughout
the period, and the commandant’s communications to
Fages on plans and progress, on delays and accidents,
on the making of adobes and tiles or the receipt of
beams, on laborers and their wages, and on other
matters connected with the structure were very nu-
merous.” The building material was chiefly adobe,
though mortar, or cement, was used in some build-
ings, and the outer or main wall stood on a founda-
tion of stone. Roofs were for the most part of tiles,
supported by timbers which were brought down by
the transports from the north. The laborers were
30Ortega appointed commandant of Sta. Barbara Sept. 8, 1781. Prov. St.
Pap., Presidios, MS., i. 1, 2. Ortega removed for incompetency, not under-
standing his own accounts. Soler, June 7, 1787, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., vii.
115. Ortega and Goycoechea ordered to change places. Soler to Fages, May
14, 1783, in Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 120-1, 182. Goycoechea’s commission sent to
him Jan. 17, 1783. 7d., iii. 55. Goycoechea arrived at San Diego en route
north Aug. 24, 1783. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iv. 78. Ortega gave up command
Jan. 25, 1784. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 162; ii. 4. Ortega thanks Fages for offer
of any presidio, and selects Santa Barbara Jan. 3, 1787. Prov. St. Pap., MS..,
vii. 175. Soler’s complaints against Goycoechea and suggestion of changes
March and June, 1787. Jd., 114-15, 185. Argiiello left for San Francisco in
April, 1787. There was some correspondence about Goycoechea giving up the
habilitacion. Id., 59, 67. Ugarte to Fages Oct. 25, 1787. The viceroy will
fill the vacant place of alférez. Id., 31. Hermenegildo Sal was one of the
sergeants at the foundation but left ‘the company very soon. Prov. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS. It would serve no useful purpose to refer here to the hun-
dreds of company rosters and similar documents scattered through different
archives and which have afforded me much information.
31 Prov. St. Pap., MS., iv. 143-44; v. 155, 167; vi. 48, 50, 55, 59, 62-3, 68,
72; vii. 6, 7; vill. 90, 114; ix. 108, 168, 173; xii, 60-1.
464 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
the soldiers themselves, some thirty sailors obtained
at different times from the San Blas vessels, and na-
tives who were paid for their work in wheat. The
soldiers and officers contributed about $1,200 for the
work from 1786 to 1790, an amount which seems
however to have been returned to them later as a
¢
q b 19]
Ream -
Ee a es ee Ee aracs TIC
Ch PLAZA bt
4 330 Feet Square
one ot |
| Bide Pet Tt Meee et
LR eee
PLAN oF Santa BARBARA PRESIDIO, 1788.
oratuity. The best description of the result is the
annexed plan which was sent by Goycoechea to Fages
in September 1788. At that time the western line of
houses were not roofed and the outer walls were not
yet begun; but before the end of 1790 at least three
sides of the main wall had been built. The natives
321, chief entrance, 12 ft.; 2, storehouses, 16 x 61 ft.; 3, 18 family houses,
15 x 24 ft.; 4, false door, roofed, 9 ft.; 5, church 24x 60 ft.; 6, sacristy, 12 x
a
EVENTS AT SANTA BARBARA, 465
as hired laborers worked well, and the grain raised at
the presidio to be dealt out in wages was so abundant
that in 1785 orders came from the general not to sow
any that year.*
The discovery of a so-called volcano in 1784 was
the source of some local excitement, and was duly
reported to Mexico and Arizpe. The volcano was a
league and a half west of the presidio at a bend or
break in the shore line, and about a thousand varas
in circumference. The ground was so hot that the
centre could not be approached; fire issued from thirty
different places with a strong fume of sulphur; and
the heat of the rocks caused the water to boil when
the spot was covered at high tide. There was no
crater proper, or rather it was covered up with frag-
ments of rock and with ashes. Fages went in person
to examine the sulphurous phenomenon and learned
from the natives that the volcano had been long in
operation.”
The aborigines in this district gave the Spaniards
very little trouble beyond the occasional theft of a
cow or sheep from the mission herds, engaging in
hostilities among themselves, or rarely committing
outrages on neophytes which called for Spanish inter-
ference. In August 1790 Sergeant Olivera with eight
men went in search of an Indian deserter, and were
« instructed also to prospect for mines. While the force
was scattered somewhat in the search for minerals,
they were attacked by a large number of Indians
of the Tenoqui rancheria and driven away with
the loss of two soldiers killed, Espinosa and Car-
lon. Goycoechea was blamed by Fages for having
15 ft.; 7, alférez’ suite, 3 rooms; 8, commandant’s suite, 4 rooms; 9, 15 family
houses, 15 x 27 ft.; 10 chaplain’s 2 rooms; 11, sergeant’s. house, 16 x 45 ft.;
12, quarters and guard-room; 13, corrals, kitchen, and dispensa of alférez;
14, corrals, kitchen, and dispensa of commandant; 15, chaplain’s corral; 16,
western bastion; 17, eastern bastion; 18, corrals,
83 Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 244; Prov. Rec., MS., i, 171, 185. In 1787,
however, the wheat crop was destroyed by rain and snow, which caused the
seedl to rot. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vii. 65,
§4 Prov. Ree., MS., i. 181; ii. 119-20; St. Pap.,. Sac., MS., xv. 19.
Hist. CaL., VOL. 1. 30
466 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
engaged in mining operations at the risk of his sol-
diers’ lives.*
At San Buenaventura, the southernmost of the
Channel missions, Dumetz and Santa Marfa, the first
regular ministers, served with much zeal and success
throughout the decade, increasing the list of neophytes
from 22 to 388, baptizing 498, and losing 115 by death.
Large stock increased from 103 to 961; small stock
from 44 to 1,503; and the crops of 1790 were over
3,000 bushels. The surrounding gentiles were always
friendly, but on account of their large numbers a
larger guard was stationed there than at other mis-
sions, 15 men at first, and later only 10. Sergeant
Pablo Antonio Cota commanded until the end of 1788,
when on complaint of the padres Sergeant Raimundo
Carillo was put in his place.®
The missions of Santa Barbara and Purisima, be-
longing to this military district, as new establishments
have been disposed of in the preceding chapter.
The regulation called for a presidial force at
Monterey of fifty-two men under a lieutenant and
35Goycoechea to Fages, Sept. 2, 1790, in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS..,
ix. 6-8; Fages to Romeu, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 148. Sept. 17, 1783,
Attack on Conejo and Escorpion rancherias, who have stolen cattle, to be
deferred. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 130. Indian Captain Chico killed by captain ,
of Najalayegui rancheria and others May 27, 1785. Prov. St. Pap., MS., v.
157. July 1787, Four neophytes fled and with pagans attacked a rancheria,
killing 5 in retaliation for the killing of 13 of their kinsmen. Jd., vii. 92.
July 26th, Playanos have killed some cattle at Angeles, but sickness in the
company prevents chastisement at present. Jd., 68. Oct. 30th, When Lieut.
Gonzalez passed through Espada rancheria a woman was cut in pieces—or
perhaps in several places—for refusing to yield to the wishes of a soldier. Jd.,
70-1, 91. In August 1787 there was an expedition to punish pagans for out-
rages on neophytes. Several arrests were made and some fugitives brought
in. The Calahuasat rancheria was the principal one involved. /d., 76-7.
Jan. 1788, Sergt. Cota went to the Tachicos rancheria in the mountains to
catch a neophyte thief, but was attacked and had to kill 3 and wound 8. Jd.,
Viti. iz.
6 Pages in his report of 1787 refers to San Buenaventura as having
made very satisfactory progress in all respects except that the church is a very
poor affair. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 133-5. Seven houses for
families completed by May 12, 1788. Prov. St. Pap., MS., viii., 109. Olivera
replaced by Carillo, Oct. 1788. Id. 118, 122. See 8. Buenaventura, Lib. de
Mision, MS., for names of soldiers, children, etc.
®
ANNALS OF MONTEREY. 467
alférez, and the number during this decade never fell
below fifty, though, including invalids, it was sometimes
as high as sixty-two; and there were, besides, a surgeon
and two or three mechanics. A guard of six men
was kept at each of the three missions of San Carlos,
San Antonio, and San Luis Obispo; and four men
were furnished for San José pueblo beyond the limits
of the district, which had in 1790 a population of
gente de razon numbering two hundred. At the same
time the presidio herds numbered four thousand head
of live-stock great and small.*”
Lieutenant Diego Gonzalez, like Zuifiga one of the
new officers who came under the regulation of 1781,
was commandant until July 1785, when he was sent
to San Francisco. The commandant at Monterey
played a less prominent part in history, or at least in
the records, by reason of the governor’s presence, and
little is known of Gonzalez’ acts here save that he
was arrested at the governor’s orders for insubordina-
tion, gambling, and smuggling; but we shall hear of
him again. The alférez of the company, and also
habilitado, was Hermenegildo Sal, who had come to
California as a private with Anza in 1776. Sal became
acting commandant on the departure of Gonzalez, and
held that position until 1787. He would probably
have kept the command had it not been for his quarrels
already alluded to with Captain Soler, whose ill-will
he incurred and who claimed to have discovered a
serious deficit in his accounts. It was in August 1787
that the charge was made, and Sal was placed under .
arrest by order of the governor, his property being
attached and two thirds of his pay being kept back
at first, and later all but two reals per day. Corre-
spondence on this matter was quite extensive, and
37 Situado allowed by reglamento, $17,792; pay-roll, about $13,000; total
of habilitado’s yearly accounts, $35,000. Company accounts in Arch. Cal.,
passim.
38 Letters of Sal, Soler, and Fages in Prov. Sit. Pap., MS., vii. 60-1, 120,
130, 143, 167-8; viii. 41-2, 54-5; ix. 140-1; x. 162-3; Prov. St. Pap., Ben.
Mil., MS., x. 10, 11; iii. 9; Prov. Rec., MS., i. 33-4.
468 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATIS'TICS.
shows that though Sal was personally somewhat
involved in debt, the charge of defalcation in con-
nection with the company accounts was unfounded.
Instead of owing the company $3,000, the company
owed him about $600. It required three years to set
Don Hermenegildo right, and in the mean time Ortega,
whom it had been intended to restore to his old pre-
sidio of Santa Barbara, came to take the command
and the office of habilitado at Monterey instead, from
September 1787.% The sergeant of the company was
Mariano Verdugo until 1787, succeeded by Manuel
Vargas. The surgeon was José Davila.”
Beyond matters connected with the government,
with the visit of La Pérouse, and with other events
of general interest recorded in preceding chapters
there is nothing to be said of this presidio except to
note a conflagration that occurred August 11, 1789.
In firing a salute to the San Cérlos on her arrival in
port the wad of the cannon set fire to the tule roofing,
and about one half of the buildings within the square
were destroyed. Repairs were far advanced by the
end of 1790."
At the three missions of this presidial district, San
Carlos, San Antonio, and San Luis Obispo, there is
nothing in the way of local events to be noted during
the period covered by this chapter; but the statistics
Ortega gave up his command on the frontier to Gonzalez May 34, left
San Miguel in May, was at San Diego on June 5th, arrived at Santa Barbara
June 27th, and started north Aug. 2]st. Prov. St. Pap., MS., vii. 71, 76, 78,
81, 105-6. After his accounts were settled Sal did not resume the place of
habilitado at Monterey, but was sent to San Francisco in April 1791, Argiiello
coming to the capital.
40Surgeon Davila came to San Diego in July 1774 and to Monterey in
December. As early as 1781 Gov. Neve favored granting his petition for leave
to quit the country as being incompetent and captious. Prov. Rec., MS., ii.
68. The exact date of his departure does not appear, but it was before Decem-
ber 1783. Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 57-8. Davila’s first wife, Josefa Carbajal,
died at San Francisco in November 1780. San Francisco, Lib. de Mision, MS.,
12, 64, and in January 1782 he married Maria Encarnacion Castro, a daughter
of Isidoro Castro, Sta. Clara, Lib. de Mision, MS., 40.
*t Prov. St: Pap,, MS.) 1x1) 2) xo 1606p. 191s xxii. 87; Wid Ben, AGL,
i. 9. The old presidio chapel stood in the middle of the square, and April 14,
1789, Fages had ordered adobes male for a new one.
MISSIONS OF MONTEREY DISTRICT. 469
as given in connection with other missions are as
follows: At San Carlos Junipero Serra and Matias
Antonio de Santa Catarina y Noriega served until
August 1784, when the former having died, the latter
served till October 1787,” and José Francisco de
Paula Sefian from that time on, having Pascual Mar-
tinez de Arenaza as associate from 1789, and Lasuen
as president from 1790. The friars named were the
regular ministers so far as the records show, but other
priests arriving by sea from San Blas or coming in
from other missions often spent some time here, so
that there were nearly always two and often more.“
At San Antonio de Pddua the founders of 1771,
Miguel Pieras and Buenaventura Sitjar, served
throughout this decade, having at its close 1,076 neo-
phytes under their charge—the largest mission coin-
munity in California.“ At San Luis Obispo José
Cavaller served continuously from the foundation in
1772 to his death on December 9, 1789.* His asso-
ciate was Antonio Paterna until December 1786,
when he went to found Santa Barbara, and Miguel
Giribet came in December 1787. Between the two
I find that Faustino Sola had charge of the mission
42 Matias Antonio de Santa Catarina (written also Catharina and Catalina)
y Noriega, who was best known by the name Noriega, came up as chaplain on
the transport of 1779, and took Cambon’s place at San Francisco. He re-
mained there until 1781, and then served at San Carlos until 1787, when he
retired to his college.
48 Increase of converts 1783 to 1790, 614 to 733; baptisms, 639; deaths,
425; large stock, 628 to 1,378; small stock, 245 to 1,253. Cropsin 1790, 3,775
bushels. Fages in his general report of 1787 alludes to the climate with its
sudden changes of heat and cold, as having something to do with the great
mortality. Crops have been good, though arrangements for irrigation have
not yet been completed. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 139-40.
*4 Increase in neophytes, 585 to 1,076; baptisms, 773; deaths, 333; large
stock, 429 to 2,232; small stock, 466 to 1,984; crops in 1790 onty 1,450 bushels.
Fages says the soil is tolerably good though irrigation is difficult, and the
mission has raised enough for her own use andasurplus for sale. San Antonio
had the best church in California excepting, perhaps, Santa Clara. St. Pap.,
Miss. and Colon., i. MS., 145-7.
5 José Cavaller was a native of the town of Falcet in Catalonia. He left
the college in Mexico in October 1770, sailed from San Blas in January 1771,
reached San Diego in March and Monterey in May, remaining there as super-
numerary until he went to found San Luis in Sept. 1772. His remains were
buried in the mission church, and he left the reputation of a zealous and suc-
cessful missionary. S. Luis Obispo, Lib. de Mision, MS., 38; autograph in S.
Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 4.
470 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
for a few months, but am unable to completely fill the
vacancy even with one padre.”
Lieutenant José Moraga was commandant and
habilitado of San Francisco until his death, which
occurred on July 18, 1785, from which date Gon-
zalez, transferred from Monterey, became comman-
dant for two years, and José Ramon Lasso de la
Vega, the alférez, served as habilitado. Durmg the
two years there was trouble with both these officials.
Before leaving Monterey Gonzalez had once been put
under arrest for insubordination, gambling, failing to
prevent gambling, and for trading with the galleon.
At San Francisco his irregular conduct continued in
spite of warnings and re-arrest; and in 1787 the gov-
ernor was obliged to send him to the frontier. He
never returned to California.
*6Tncrease in neophytes, 492 to 605; baptisms, 332; deaths, 130; large
stock, 815 to 3,810; small stock, 960 to 3,725; crops for 1790, 2,840 bushels.
Want of water was the chief drawback according to Fages’ report.
7Of José Joaquin Moraga, or as he always signed his name, Josseph
Moraga, little is known beyond what has been told in the text. He came
with Anza in 1776, and was commandant of San Francisco from the first,
founding the presidio, the two missions, and the pueblo of San José. He
was godfather of the tirst neophyte at San Francisco, who received his name;
and he was secular sponsor at the laying of the corner-stone of the mission
church still standing, as also at the dedication of the Santa Clara church.
His record as an officer was an honorable and stainless one. His wife was
Maria del Pilar de Leon y Barcelé, who died in October 1808 and was interred
in the San Francisco cemetery, her husband’s remains resting in the church.
He brought a son Gabriel to California who afterwards became a lieutenant,
a famous Indian fighter, and the ancestor of a family still surviving. Don
José’s niece, Maria [gnacia, was the wife of José Argiiello. The commandant
is described as having been 5 ft. 2 inches and 2 lines in height; but there is
reason to suppose that the pié del rey used in measuring the height of soldiers
was bea than the ordinary Spanish foot, which was 8 per cent shorter than
our foot.
‘8 Gonzalez’ arrest at Monterey in August 1784. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 186; ii.
102-3; Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 41. Soler alludes to his mucha ridicules
Nov. 14, 1786, and proposes Argiiello as a successor. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
vi. 198; vii. 114-16. Gonzalez arrested at San Francisco by Lasso at Soler’s
order Feb. 4, 1787, and sent south to meet Fages March 18th. Jd., vii. 93-9;
Piov. Rec., MS., iii. 39. Fages tells the story to his successor, Romeu, Feb.
26, 1791. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 162-3. General approves measures against
Gonzalez. Jd., vii. 50. Gonzalez was born at Ceste del Campo in Spain, and
enlisted as a private at about the age of 26 in 1762. He served 3 years as a
private, 2as corporal, 10 as sergeant, and a little over one year as alférez.
Having seen much service in Indian campaigns in the Provincias Internas, he
was promoted to be lieutenant for California service in December 1779. //oja de
Servicios, in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., ii. 12-18; iv. 15. Fages says of
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICIALS. 471
Lasso the habilitado was a stupid fellow, though
neither dishonest nor dissipated, always in trouble
with his accounts, and always recommended to the
executive clemency. During his first brief term in
1781-2 he managed to leave a deficit of about $800;
and early in 1787 Captain Soler discovered a still more _
serious and inexcusable defalcation. His usual excuses
of forgetfulness, stealing by soldiers and convicts, and
the melting-away of sugar during transportation would
no longer save him; he was suspended from office,
_ placed under arrest, and obliged to live on twenty-five
cents a day, the rest of his pay as alférez being reserved
to make up the deficit in his accounts. This state of
things continued for over four years, and then, the
amount having been in great part repaid, he was dis-
missed from the service; but the king subsequently
granted him retirement and half-pay.” José Argiiello
was taken from Santa Barbara and promoted to be
him after he was sent to the frontier ‘no tiene narizes ni asiento.’ Prov. St.
Pap., MS., x. 148. In Nov. 1791 the king’s permission was,sent to the gov-
ernor to put Gonzalez on the retired list. /d., 94. He retired as invdlido to
Rosario in Sonora, and his name was dropped from the company rolls after
Jan. 1, 1793. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 157.
#9 On Lasso’s San Francisco troubles see correspondence in Prov. Rec., MS.,
li. 136-9; iii. 35-7; Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 93-4; vil. 114-17, 121-3, 128,
141-2; viii. 7-9; xi. 179; xxi. 157; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiii. 10.
Sept. 16, 1786, Fages speaks of the appointment of Sergt. José Perez Fernan-
dez as alférez of San Francisco; but it was not done before 1790. On same date
he orders the deficit charged to the company. July 6, 1787, Fages blames Soler
for not having been more strict in Lasso’s case. Soler went up to straighten
out Lasso’s accounts, but himself made a blunder, probably in 1782. Aug. 9,
1788, the general orders Lasso’s dismissal when the deficit is paid. Dec. 1,
1791, Gov. Romeu suspends him from rank and pay. Lasso was commissioned
alférez Feb. 10, 1780. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., iv. 14-15. In 1790 he
was 34 years old and single. St. Pap. Miss., MS., 1. 84, though he had wanted
. to marry in 1781, and Gov. Neve had been ordered to dismiss him from the
service if he persisted in his intention. Prov. Rec., MS., ii., 84. Again in
1787 in the midst of his troubles he wished to take a wife, but his petition for-
warded by Lasuen was refused. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xii. 8364-5. The royal
order of retirement was forwarded by the viceroy, applied for in 1794, viceroy
to Fages in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 179, April 11, 1795, and by the governor
Aug. 24th. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 105; Prov. Rec.. MS., v. 61; and Aug.
27th the governor writes to Arrillaga ‘our poor Lasso has received his retirement
with halt-pay as alférez, as petitioned by you, for which may God reward you.’
Prov. Rec., MS., v. 320-1. Though ‘quiso la naturaleza negarle una precisa
parte de espiritu’-—Prov. St. Pap., MS., vii. 114—yet by birth he was enti-
tled to be called ‘Don.’ He was of Spanish blood and anative of Chihuahua.
He was school-master at San José in 1795-6, as late as Aug. 19, 1797, is urged
to pay a balance still due, Prov. I’ec., MS., v. 266, and he died Nov. 30, 1821,
at the age of 64, Leing buricd at San Lafael, Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 965.
472 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
lieutenant from June 1787, taking charge at the same
time of the accounts.” Juan Pablo Grijalva was the
company’s sergeant until 1787, when he was sent as
alférez to San Diego, and Pedro Amador was promoted
to fill his place.
The presidial force was thirty-four men besides the
officers, from fifteen to twenty of whom served in the
garrison while the rest did guard duty at the mission,
at Santa Clara, and at San José. With their families
they amounted to a population of about one hundred
and thirty. Of the presidio buildings there is noth-
ing to be said beyond the fact that from want of tim-
ber, bad quality of adobes, and lack of skilful workmen
no permanent progress was made during the decade.
Some portion of the walls was generally in ruins, and
the soldiers in some cases had to erect the old-fash-
ioned palisade structures to shelter their families.*
Local events as recorded were neither numerous nor
very exciting. The natives gave no trouble save by
the rare theft of a horse or cow, for which offence
they were chastised once or twice in 1783; and in
1786 neophytes were arrested and flogged for ravages
among the soldiers’ cattle.” These cattle became so
numerous as to be troublesome, and slaughter was
begun as early as 1784 to reduce the number to eight
or nine hundred.* Captain Soler complained much
of the bad climate of the place, and even advocated,
as we have seen, its abandonment; but in the eyes of
higher officials the importance of the location on San
Francisco Bay, and the duty of protecting the mission,
outweighed the peculiarities of the peninsula climate.”
50 Argiiello’s commission was forwarded by the general Feb..9, 1787. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., vii. 45. He left Santa Barbara April 12th. Jd., 67. Took
possession of office at San Francisco June 12th.
51 Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 166; xi. 53. In January 1784 the corner of the
presidio was blown down in a gale. Jd., v. 69.
6? Prov, St. Pap. MS.j ives 21) 30 fF aeenec,, MS. . 41, 134.
8 Sergeant Grijalva had over 50 head, and was ordered to remove the sur-
plus where they would not interfere with the mission herds. Prov. Rec., MS.,
1.173, 181. January 23, 1788, Fages says that he will send men to build a
corral at San Mateo and there to gather stock from San Bruno to Santa Clara
if pasturage grows scarce. /d., iii. 40.
54 Prov. St. Pap.) MS., vii. 117; v. 4, 5.
AFFAIRS AT SAN FRANCISCO. 473
There was some trouble about the performance of a
chaplain’s duties at the presidio, and for over two
years the soldiers heard no mass unless at the mis-
sion; but in February a chapel was completed, aftcr
which time the friars made occasional visits. San
Francisco was honored by several visits from the gov-
ernor, and in August 1784 was the birthplace of his
daughter. A sailor from the Princesa, who had
served out his time, remained at San Francisco in
1784, intending to establish a school; but it does not
appear that he succeeded.”
The mission of San Francisco in respect of neophytes
was the smallest of the old establishments, having
increased in the eight years from 215 to 438. Bap-
tisms had been 551, and deaths 205. The increase
of herds was, of large stock from 554 to 2,000, and of
small from 284 to 1,700. Notwithstanding the small
area and barren nature of the soil, which, as Tages
states in his general report, had yielded but small
crops, we find that the yield in 1790 was 3,700 bushels,
excelled by only four in the list of missions. It ap-
pears, however, that the sowing was done mostly
at a spot ten or twelve miles distant down the penin-
sila.”
In the ministry Pedro Benito Cambon, the founder,
served throughout the whole period; and Francisco
Palou, also a founder, until 1785, when he retired to
his college at a ripe old age.” Miguel Giribet was
55 Prov. St. Pap., MS., vii. 99; Prov. Rec., MS., i. 192.
56S. Francisco, Lib. de Mision, MS., 20-1.
57 Prov. Rec., MS., i. 183.
58TIn 1784 the governor reports it also as having one of the poorest churches.
St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 145-7.
599¢. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 148.
6° Francisco Palou, sometimes written with an accent Palovi, without any
good reason so far as I know, was born at Palma in the Island of Mallorca,
probably in 1722. Mr Doyle in his introduction to the reprint of Palou, Noti-
cias, 1. ili., infers that the date was about 1719; butin a letter dated 1783,
Ifist. Mag., iv. 67-8, the padre calls himself 61 years of age. Taking the
habit of San Francisco he entered the principal convent of the city, and in
1740 became a disciple of Junipero Serra, with whom and with Juan Crespi of
the saine convent he contracted a life-long friendship. With his master he
volunteered for the American missions in 1749, left Palma in April, Cadiz in
August, and landed at Vera Cruz in December. Joining the college of San
474 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
stationed here in 1785-7; Santiago in 1786-7; Sola
and Garcia in 1787-90; and Danti from 1790.
Before leaving San Francisco I present a map which
belongs to the period under consideration, being a
copy of a Spanish chart published in La Pérouse’s
atlas and probably obtained by that voyager at Mon-
terey in 1786.
At Santa Clara Mission the new adobe church was
dedicated on Sunday, May 15, 1784, by Serra, Palou,
and Peiia, in the presence of Fages and Moraga, the
Fernando, he was assigned to the Sierra Gorda missions, where he served from
1750 to 1759, subsequently living at the college for 8 years. Appointed to
Baja California he arrived at Loreto in April 1768, took charge of San Francisco
Javier; and in 1769 after Serra’s departure for the north became acting presi-
dent. In May 1773 he surrendered the missions to the Dominicans and
soon started north, arriving at San Diego at the end of August and at Mon-
terey in November of the same year, sending in the first annual report on the
missions, and acting as president until Serra’s return at the beginning of
1774. For two years and a half he served at San Carlos, and in June 1776
went to found the San Francisco establishments, having previously visited
the peninsula twice, in Nov. 1774 and Sept. 1776. His first entry in the
mission registers bears date of Aug. 10, 1776, before the mission was form-
ally founded, and his last was on July 25, 1785, and not July 20, 1784, as
Doyle says. See S. Francisco, Lib. de Mision, MS., 2. There is another
entry of July 13, 1785. About 1780, by reason of ill-health, he asked leave
to retire, which was granted; but which he could not profit by at first for
want of transportation, then for want of a substitute, and finally on account
of new instructions connected with the foundation of a custody; but in 1783,
fearing by longer delay to be incapacitated for so long a voyage, he wrote to
Don José de Galvez to obtain from the king new permission to retire. Letter
of Aug. 15, 1783, in Hist. Mag., iv. 67-9. The result was a royal order of
Oct. 5, 1784, and a corresponding decree of the audiencia of Feb. 18, 1785,
that Palou return to his college. /d., 69. Meanwhile Serra died in Aug.
1784 and Palou as senior missionary was obliged against his own wishes to
serve as acting president, residing part of the time at San Carlos, but chiefly
at San Francisco engaged in writing his Life of Serra, until Lasuen received
the appointment in Sept. 1785. Palou was now free to go, and sailed, I sup-
pose, on the Yavorita late in September, which touched at Santa Barbara
with a load of lumber, Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 166, and arrived at San Blas
on Nov. 14. Gaceta de Mex.,i. There is, however, a difficulty; for the Favo-
rita touched at Santa Barbara Oct. 1st, and Fages in Monterey wrote on Oct.
od, wishing the padre a pleasant voyage. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 55. There may
be an error in one of these dates, or else possibly Palou departed in the
Manila galleon San José which touched at Monterey in November. Prov. Rec.,
MS., ii. 95. In any case he reached the college on Feb. 21, 1786. Arch. Sta. .
Barbara, MS., xii. 29; and on July 1st was elected guardian. /d., xi. 214-15.
Sometime before Jan. 12, 1787, he presented a report to the government on the
state of affairs in California. Id., viii. 39. Nothing further is known of him,
but he seems to have lived only a few years. I think he died before 1790.
The guardian in 1798, mentioning the death of Viceroy Galvez, which occurred
in Nov. 1786, says that Palou died ‘a little later,’ and implies that it was
before Romeu’s rule which began in 1790. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS.,
i. 48. The earliest communication that I have seen signed by his srecessor
as guardian is dated November 1792, though it is of course possible that
SAN FRANCISCO AND VICINITY.
7
La PrRovse’s Map or SAN FRANCISCO.
476 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
former serving as padrino, with all the solemnities
prescribed by the Roman ritual.”
This church was the finest yet erected in California;
yet its dedication was a sad occasion, since under the
edifice lay the body of its architect and builder, the
founder of the mission, Father Murguia, who had died
only four days before, a missionary well beloved and
mourned by all.” His companion founder, Tomas de
la Pena, served until 1794, although there were com-
plaints against him for cruelty to the neophytes under
his charge.* Murguia was succeeded by Diego de
Noboa, and President Lasuen seems to have resided
Palou resigned. Taylor, Discov. and Founders, ii. No. 28, 171, says he seems
to have died about 1796. For a sample of his handwriting with autograph
signature see S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 13.
It is chiefly through his writings, the Vida de Juntpero Serra and the
Joticias de Califoruia, both of which have been noticed fully in a preceding
chapter, that Palou’s fame will live; yet as a missionary and as a man he
deserves a very high place among the Californian friars. I regard him as
but little inferior to Serra in executive ability and in devotion to his work,
while in every other respect, save possibly in theological and dogmatic learn-
ing, he was fully his equal. His views as expressed in his writings are nota-
bly broad, practical, and liberal. Palou, Serra, and Crespi presented three
good types of the missionary. Their friendship did not result from similarity
of character, but rather from opposite qualities; and ‘their reciprocal confi-
dence and zeal for a common object,’ as Doyle remarks, ‘could not fail to
prove most beneficial to the enterprise in which they all felt the greatest
interest.’
1 Santa Clara, Arch. Parrog., MS.,12. Roof of beams ‘labradas y curiosa
lo posible.’ Fages to general, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 172; Hall’s Hist. S. José,
418-20; Levett’s Scrap Book. The date has been incorrectly givenas May 16th.
2 Joseph Antonio de Jesus Maria de Murguia was born Dec. 10, 1715, at
Domayguia, Alava, Spain. He came to America as a layman, but became a
Franciscan at San Fernando college June 29, 1736; was ordained as a priest
in 1744; and was assigned to the Pame missions of the Sierra Gorda in 1748.
Here he toiled for 19 years and built the first masonry church in the district;
that of San Miguel. Transferred in 1767 to Baja California he reached Loreto
April 1, 1768, and was assigned to Santiago mission, where he served until
March 1769. In June he was at San José del Cabo waiting to embark for Cal-
ifornia; but sickness saved his life by preventing him from sailing on the ill-
fated Sun José. He subsequently served at San Javier, but in July 1773
joined Palou at Santa Maria and accompanied him to San Diego, arriving Aug.
30th. Residing for a while as supernumerary at San Antonio, he became
minister of San Luis Obispo in October 1773, and in January 1777 founded
Santa Clara where he served continuously until his death. He died while pre-
paring for dedication the church on which he had worked so hard as architect,
director, and even laborer. He was buried on May 12th in the presbytery of
the new edifice by Palou, Santa Clara, Lib. de Mision, MS., 33-4, Ly whom as
by Serra and others he had been regarded as a model friar. Palou, Vida, 265-6.
°§ Fages ina report to the general in 1786 speaks of these complaints, stating
that one or two Indians have died from the effects of his severity, and that he
will be retired to his college. Prov. St. Pap., MS., ii. 136.
PUEBLO PROGRESS AT SAN JOSE. 477
here much of the time from 1786 to 1789. There
were no serious troubles with the natives, though the
neophytes were sometimes inclined to take part in the
petty wars of the gentiles.“ In agricultural advan-
tages Santa Clara was deemed superior to any other
mission except San Gabriel, and crops of grain and
fruit were usually large, although in 1790 the harvest
of 2,875 bushels was less than that of San Francisco.
Large stock had increased since 1783 from 400 to
2,817, and small stock from 554 to 836 head. Baptisms
had been 1,279, many more than elsewhere, but deaths
had been 639, a proportionally large figure; yet with
an increase from 338 to 927, Santa Clara stood third
in the list in respect of the number of converts.
Of the nine settlers of San José to whom lands
were formally distributed in 1783, but who had be-
come settlers in 1780 or earlier, the term of the last
one, Claudio Alvires, expired in August 1785, and no
rations were subsequently supplied by the govern-
ment. Sebastian Alvitre had been expelled for bad
conduct; but in 1786 eight of the original nine re-
mained, and ten new names had been added as sol-
diers or agregados. ‘Ten more were added before
1790. This latter class was composed of discharged
soldiers who became settlers, differing from the pobla-
dores in receiving no pay or rations. The soldiers of
the guard were practically settlers from the first, men
being selected for the duty usually whose time of dis-
charge was near, and who intended to remain perma-
nently at the pueblo. In 1790 the total population
6! Two or three neophytes were chastised by the padres for being present
at a gentile fight, and Sergt. Amador was sent to warn the pagans not to tempt
the converts. A pagan laborer of San José was flogged and imprisoned for
inciting hostilities. This in 1786. Argiiello to Fages, in Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
viii. 76-7. Sergt. Cota ordered to explore from Santa Clara to Santa Rosa on
the other side of the sierra, May 2, 1785. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 7.
6 The ten names of 1786 were: Manuel Butron, Ignacio Castro, Manuel
Higuera, Ignacio Linares, Seferino Lugo, Hilario Mesa, Nasario Saez, Ignacio
Soto, Felipe Tapia, Atanasio Vazquez. Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 24-5, 27-8.
Four received rations during the year, doubtless as invalids. See also Sé,
Pap., Sac., MS., i. 36. Manuel Valencia was a settler who died in 1788. Prov.
478 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
was about eighty. Agricultural products amounted to
about 2,250 bushels; while large stock had increased
from 417 to 980, and sheep had decreased from 800
to 600.
San José was less prosperous than Los Angeles, at
least during the first half of the decade. Several
causes contributed to this result, one of which was
inefficient management and local government. The
regulation allowed the governor to appoint alcaldes
the first three years, after which time they were to be
elected by the people. Fages, however, permitted an
election, Ignacio Archuleta was chosen for 1783, and
Mesa, corporal of the guard, was removed in Septem-
ber of that year for inharmonious relations with the
alcalde. Who held the position of alcalde in 1784 the
records fail to show; but by reason of irregularities
and slow progress the governor was obliged to resume
the power of appointment, naming Manuel Gonzalez
as alealde for 1785 with Romero and Alvires as
regidores, and also appointing a comisionado to man-
age these officials. Corporal José Dominguez, the
successor of Mesa, was at first made comisionado but
died probably before the appointment reached him.”
Ionacio Vallejo, who had been sent to San José in
January to make a survey for a new dam or reservoir,
remained as corporal to succeed Dominguez, and in
May was appointed comisionado by Fages, with duties
St. Pap., MS., viii. 71. Mesa, Tapia, Higuera, and Lugo were soldiers in
1784 and the question came up whether they ought like the original settlers
to be exempt from tithes since they cultivated lands like the rest. Prov. Rec.,
MS., i. 163-4. July 30, 1788, Argiiello reports having gone to San José to
put Ignacio Castro and Seferino Lugo in possession of lands, but did not do
so because they claimed pay and rations, only allowed to the original settlers.
St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 50-1. In the list of 1790 the name of
Tapia disappears and there appear those of Joaquin Castro, Antonio Alegre,
Antonio Aceves, Ignacio Higuera, and Pedro Cayuelas, agregados; Gabriel
Peralta, Ramon Bojorges, and Juan Antonio Amézquita, invdlidos; and
Macario Castro, corporal of the guard. Argiiello’s report in St. Pap., Miss.,
MS., i. 18, 60-3.
6 Fages to general Feb. 1, 1785, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 187-8. He
announces the changes mentioned in my text, and asks if he cannot reappoint
Gonzalez the next year. The records do not show if this was permitted, the
next alcalde mentioned being Antonio Romero in 1790. Dominguez died on
Jan. 31st, the day before the date of Fages’ letter. Sta. Clara, Lib. de
Mision, MS., 35.
OFFICIALS AND EVENTS AT SAN J OSE. 479
like those of Vicente Félix at Angeles.” Vallejo had
some special fitness for directing agricultural opera-
tions, was allowed to cultivate vacant lands on his own
account, and held his position for seven years though
not without opposition. To him, or rather to the wise |
instructions given him, Fages attributed the pueblo’s
later prosperity.®
The ‘pueblo did not make much advance in the
matter of buildings, since nothing but palisade struct-
ures with roofs of earth were erected; but there was
good reason for this. The site at first selected for
the house-lots proved to be too low, and exposed to
inundation in wet seasons. There was a proposition
in 1785 to move the town a short distance to a higher
spot. In 1787 General Ugarte authorized the trans-
fer, and it was made soon after, certainly before 1791,
the slight nature of the buildings making the opera-
tion an easy one.®
One of Fages ae acts on taking command was to
march in January 1783 against the gentiles of the
San José region who had stolen some horses from
67 'Vallejo’s appointment dated July 18,1785. Instructions in Prov. Pec.,
MS., ii. 121-5. Jan. 24th, Vallejo named to make explorations for the reser-
voir. Dept. St. Pap., 8S. José, MS., i. 2.
6 Faces to Romeu, Feb. 26, 1791, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 153. In
October 1787 Capt. Soler went to San José to investigate certain charges of
the people against the comisionado. All that the fault-finding inspector could
find against Vallejo, in his official capacity at least, was a mando instpido,
whatever that may be. He recommended that he be put to personal labor in
the fields; but nothing was done in the matter. Jd., vii. 132.
eo Hall, Hist. San José, 46-50, erroneously states that there wasa long cor-
respondence on the subject i in 1797, and that the removal was effected in that
year; but the quarrel of that year was about boundaries between mission and
pueblo, and in the correspondence the site of the ‘old town’ is mentioned;
moreover Fages in his instructions of 1791 to Romeu speaks of the change
as already effected. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 152. Vallejo first urged the
removal on Feb. 20, 1785, in a communication to Moraga. The latter found
it dificult to decide because the land on the proposed site had already been
distributed to settlers. He accordingly addressed Fages on April Ist. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., v. 26. On March 9th Fages writes to Vallejo approving the
scheme. "Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 25; and on July 7th he assures the
people of San José that they shall be at no expense in the removal, and that
the pueblo shall lose no land—for it seems there was a fear that to move the
pueblo would also move the boundary between the pueblo and mission lands.
Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 30-1. Fages refers the matter to Ugarte on Aug. Sth,
Ld., ii. 126; and that official on June 21, 1787, grants the petition of the
settlers, and orders that there be no change i in the boundary lines. St. Pap.,
Miss. and Colo... wp DL das 2a.
480 LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
the settlers. The warlike governor killed two of the
enemy, frightened the rest into complete submission,
and for years after attributed to this campaign the
prevailing quiet among gentiles. But again in 1788
it was necessary to place fifteen natives, including
three chiefs, at work in the presidio, for hone
stealing.” There is little more to be said of local
happenings at San José for this period. Some of
the settlers were imprisoned and put in irons for
refusing to work on a house for the town council,
Tonacio Archuleta, ex-alcalde, being ringleader. The
river broke through the old dam and the governor
resolved to build a new one of masonry. Two boys
drowned an Indian to amuse themselves, but in con-
sideration of their tender years were dismissed with
twenty-five lashes administered in presence of the
natives. All this in 1784; the tithes for which year
amounted to $428.7
7 Palou, Not., ii. 392; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 98; 7d., iii. 98, 170. Thirty-
five lbs. powder, 800 bullets, and 100 flints sent to San José as reserve ammu-
nition in August 1785. Id., iii. 31.
11 Prov. ec., MS., i. 168, 172; iii. 22-3. A wooden granary had been
completed in December 1782. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 166-7. A settler put
in the stocks in 1788 for assaulting his corporal, and corporal reprimanded
for his violence. /d., vii. 134.
CHAPTER XXIII.
RULE OF ROMEDU.
1791-1792.
RESIGNATION OF PEDRO FAGES—TRANSFER OF THE OFFICE AT LORETO—
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEW GOVERNOR—LAST AcTS oF FaGEs—LIFE AND
CHARACTER—ARRIVAL OF RoMEU—FAILING HEALTH—J OURNEY TO Mon-
TEREY—POoLicy WITH THE F'RIARS-—RomMEv’s DEATH—VIsIT OF MALAS-
PINA IN THE ‘DESCUBIERTA’ AND ‘ATREVIDA’—THE Frrst AMERICAN IN
CALIFORNIA—PREPARATIONS FOR NEw Misstons—LASUEN’s Errorts—
EsTABLISHING OF ‘SANTA CrRUZ—ANNALS OF First DEcADE—INDIAN
TROUBLES—STATISTICS—CHURCH DeEDICATED—FLovRING Mit~t—Muis-
FORTUNE—QUARRELSOME PapRES—ALONSO IstpDRO SALAZAR—BALDO-
MERO LoPEZ—MANUEL FERNANDEZ—FOUNDING AND EARLY ANNALS OF
SoLEDAD Miss1on—ImMMorAL FrRIARS—MARIANO RvuBi—STArTISTICs.
Prpro Fagess, worn down by work, and more by
the anxieties imposed on a nervous temperament
growing out of the responsibilities of his position as
governor, asked to be relieved of the office and to be
eranted leave of absence that he might revisit Spain.
In May 1790 his resignation was accepted by Viceroy
Revilla Gigedo, and he was ordered to Mexico to
receive twelve months’ advance pay as colonel with
which to defray his expenses in Spain; José Antonio
Romeu was named as his successor. This informa-
tion reached Fages at Monterey in September, and
was all the more agreeable from the fact that Romeu
was his personal friend. In February 1791 Fages,
who had awaited letters announcing his successor’s
coming to Monterey, received orders from the viceroy
by which, after setting the commandants and_habili-
tados at work upon their respective presidio accounts,
he was to proceed to Loreto and there make formal
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 31 (481 )
482 RULE OF ROMEU.
delivery of his office to Romeu; or, if not able to do
this, he was to send orders to Arrillaga, the command-
ant at Loreto, to surrender the office in the governor’s
name. As the state of Fages’ health would not per-
mit a journey overland to the peninsula, he forwarded
the necessary orders to Arrillaga, lieutenant governor
of the Californias, who accordingly transferred the
command to Romeu at Loreto on April 16, 1791,
which is therefore the date when Fages ceased to
rule.?
With his orders to Arrillaga under date of Febru-
ary 26th, Fages transmitted the instructions which
it was customary for a retiring governor to prepare
for the use of his successor, outlining the country’s
past history and present condition, and embodying the
results of his own experience in recommendations re-
specting future policy. The historical portions of this
important document have already been utilized largely
in the preceding chapters; but a brief consideration
of the paper as a whole, will throw light on the con-
dition of affairs at the time of Romeu’s accession.
The development of the two pueblos, says the retir-
ing governor, and the settlement in them of retired
soldiers, has received and still merits the deepest
attention. ‘Their products are purchased by the pre-
sidios and paid for in goods and drafts. The distribu-
1 The viceroy’s order granting Fages’ request and appointing Romeu, dated
May 16, 1790. Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 8-10. May 27th seems to have
been the date of the viceroy’s communication to king; but of the king’s
approval and confirmation of Romeu we only know that it reached Mexico
before May 18, 1791. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 139. September 1, 10, 13,
1790, the viceroy instructs Fages about the transfer. IJd., ix. 308, 346-7.
September 14, 1790, Fages to Romeu, expressing his pleasure at the latter’s
appointment, describing the presidio, saying something of the condition of the
country, and saying: ‘ You will find in this casa real, which is sufficiently
capacious, the necessary furniture; a sufficient. stock of goats and sheep which
I have raised; and near by a garden which I have made at my own expense,
from which you will have fine vegetables all the year, and will enjoy the fruits
of the trees which I have planted.’ He asks for information as to when and
by what route Romeu will come. Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS.,i. 8-10. Romeu takes
possession April 16, 1791. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 124; St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
v. 86-7; Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xi. 414-15. February 26, 1791, Fages
notifies Romeu that he has ordered Arrillaga to make the transfer, and has
directed presidial accounts, etc., to be made ready. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x.
144-5,
FAGES’ FINAL INSTRUCTIONS. 483
tion of lands has been made in due form, and—together
with certain changes at San José rendered necessary
by the moving of the houses—approved by the superior
authorities. It was intended at first to remove the
pueblo guards after two years, but they are to be
maintained as long as necessary. In the first years,
on account of bad management, San José made little
progress; but the appointment of a comisionado as at
Angeles and the subjection of the alcalde to him, have
restored prosperity; and these measures were approved
in 1785-6.
In the missions great care must be taken to guard
against the increase of veneral diseases which are
causing such ravages in the peninsula. The sending
of soldiers for escaped neophytes is extremely dan-
gerous, and should be avoided, being resorted to only
after other means—the best being for the friars to
send other natives with flattery and trifling gifts to
enlist the-services of chiefs—have failed, and then
with every possible precaution. The granting of
escorts whenever asked for has also proved dangerous
and inconvenient, since only two men could be spared,
leaving the mission exposed and the friar only slightly
protected. It has therefore been restricted, and the
soldiers are not allowed to pass the night away from
the mission. This policy, notwithstanding protests,
and in consequence of Neve’s confidential reports, has
been approved by superiors and by the king.
In the case of mail-carriers and escorts passing from
one presidio to another, careful orders have been given
to prevent disaster and at the same time to insure
humane treatment of the gentiles. Each presidio has
in its archives properly indexed the orders that have
been issued for its government and the prevention of
all disorder. The abundance of products in proportion
to consumers has led to a reduction of some of the
prices affixed by Neve to grain and meat. Cattle
belonging to the crown are kept from excessive in-
crease and consequent running wild by annual slaugh-
484. RULE OF ROMEU.
ters for the supply of presidios and vessels with beef.
The breeding of horses and mules, just beginning to
prosper, should be encouraged. The friars often wish
to buy these animals, but have been uniformly refused.
All trade with the Manila ship is strictly prohibited;
but trade with San Blas is free for five years from
October 1786, and subject to only half duties for five
years more—a trade which is bad in its effects, lead-
ing to ‘immoderate luxury,’ for the inhabitants can
buy all they really need at cost prices from the memo-
vias. To provide the wasting of clothing and other
useful articles in barter with the sailors, Fages has
forbidden the opening of the bales ufitil the vessel
leaves the port.
In articles 21-3 of his papel, Fages tells the tale
of three or four incorrigible rogues, Alvitre and Na-
varro of Angeles, Avila of San Jose, and Pedraza, a
deserter from the galleon, whose scandalous conduct
no executive measure has been able to reform. Arti-
cles 24-7 are devoted to past troubles between Cap-
tain Soler and the habilitados, with which the reader
is already familiar; and finally, after devoting some
attention to the condition of the different presidios,
the author closes by alluding to the charges of cruelty
pending against Father Pefia of Santa Clara, and to
the orchard of six hundred fruit-trees, besides shrubs
and grape-vines, to which since 1783 he has given
much of his attention.’
? Fages, Papel de varios puntos concernientes al Gobierno de la Pentnsula de
California é Inspeccion de T'ropas, que recopila el Coronel D. Pedro Fages al
Teniente Coronel D. José Antonio Romeu, 26 de Febrero 1791, MS. On May
28th Fages wrote again to Romeu a most interesting letter in which he gives
his opinion of various persons with whom his successor will come in contact.
He speaks very highly of Arrillaga, Zuniga, and Argiiello, deems Goycoechea
somewhat prone to carelessness, says nothing of Ortega, and pronounces
Gonzalez fit only for his present position on the frontier. None of the ser-
geants are suitable for habilitados, though Vargas is faithful and can write.
With the Dominicans there has been no serious trouble, and President Gomez
is disposed to sustain harmonious relations; but with the Fernandinos quar-
rels have been frequent, since they are ‘opuestésimos 4 las mdximas del regla-
mento y gobierno’ and insist on being independent and absolute each in his
own mission. Fages doubts that Romeu will be able to endure their inde-
pendent way of proceeding. The priests at San Francisco and Santa Clara
are forming separate establishments at some distance from the mission, which
Pal dad
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF FAGES. 485
Don Pedro sent his wife and children southward in
advance of his own departure, probably on board the
San Carlos, or Princesa, which left Monterey for San
Blas in the autumn of 1790.° He remained at Mon-
terey, though he made a visit to San Francisco in
May,* and still exercised by common consent a kind
of superintendence over the actions of his former sub-
ordinates, though now addressed as colonel instead of
governor. There are letters of his in the archives
dated at Monterey July 13th.° His intention was to
remain until October or November, and I suppose he
embarked on the San Carlos for San Blas November
9, 1791, though possibly his departure was a month
earlier.© In 1793 he made a report on the California
presidios, and in October 1794 was still residing in
Mexico. Of Pedro Fages before he came to Califor-
nia in 1769 and after his departure in 1791 we know
little; with his career in the province the reader is
familiar,’ and will part with the honest Catalan, as I
do, reluctantly.
matter needs looking after. Mission stock is increasing too much, and the
neophytes are becoming too skilful riders and acquiring ‘ Apache insolence.’
Some advice is given about the journey north. A promise is made of more
letters, and Fages closes by making a present of his famous orchard, well
pleased that the fruits of his labors and expenditures are to be enjoyed by
his friend. ages, Informes Particulares al Gobr. Romeu 28 de Mayo 1791,
MS. On May Ist he had written to Romeu that he was permitted to take
away with him six mules and as many horses if the commander of the vessel
had no objections. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 147. There are also communica-
tions of Fages to Romeu on matters of trifling importance dated May 26th,
30th, June Ist, July 4th, 13th. /d., 141-70.
3 In his letter of May 28, 1791, Fages expresses his pleasure that Romeu on
his journey—probably at San Blas or between there and Mexico—had met his
family. He states his intention of staying at Monterey until October or
November. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 148, 150.
Ffd.; x, 44.
5 Jd., x. 142-3, 169. In one of the letters he says that, suffering in his foot,
he is unable to review the troops at Santa Barbara.
6 Sailing of the San Carlos Nov. 19th. St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 91. Accord-
ing toa letterin Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 184, however, the schooner Saturnina
from Nootka was at Monterey on Oct. 14th and ready to sail for San Blas, so
that Fages may have sailed in her; yet if there is no error it is strange that
while the arrival of the San Carlos was announced to Gen. Nava on Nov. 30th,
that of the Saturnina was not announced until Dec. 22d. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
iv. 3.
7 Pedro Fages, a native of Catalonia, and first lieutenant of a company of
the 1st battalion, 2d regiment, of the Catalan Volunteer Light Infantry, probably
left Spain with his battalion in May 1767, and soon after his arrival in Mexico
486 RULE OF ROMEU.
He was a peculiar man; industrious, energetic, and
brave, a skilful hunter and dashing horseman, fond of
children, who were wont to crowd round him and
rarely failed to find his pockets stored with dulces.
Of fair education and executive abilities, hot-tempered
was sent with Col. Elizondo’s expedition against the Sonora Indians. In the
autumn of 1768 by order of the visitador general, Galvez, he was sent over from
Guaymas to La Paz by Elizondo with 25 men of his compania franca for the
California expedition. In January 1769 he embarked with his men on the San
Carlos and arrived at San Diego May Ist. Fages was military chief of the sea
branch of the expedition, and commandant on shore from May Ist to June
29th, thus being California’s first ruler. After Portola’s arrival on June 29th,
he was second in command and Capt. Rivera’s superior. With seven of his
men, all that the scurvy had not killed or disabled, he accompanied the first
land expedition from San Diego to Monterey and San Francisco from July 14,
1769, to Jan. 24, 1770. He started north again April 17th with Portola and
reached Monterey May 24th. When Portola left Monterey July 9th, Fages
was left as commandant of the Californian establishments, a position which
he held until May 25, 1774. His commission as captain was dated May 4,
1771, and in the same year he went down to San Diego by water, returning
by land. In March and April 1772 he led an exploring expedition up to what
are now Oakland, San Pablo Bay, Carquines Strait, and the mouth of the San
Joaquin. In May 1772 he proceeded to the San Luis region and spent some
three months hunting bears to supply the Monterey garrison with meat.
Perhaps it was here that he gained the sobriquet of El Oso often applied to
him in later years, though there is a tradition that the name Old Bear was
given him for other reasons. He went to San Diego in August, and there:
incurred Padre Serra’s displeasure by refusing a guard for the founding of a
new mission. The object of Serra’s journey to Mexico was chiefly Fages’ re-
moval. The friar represented him as a man hated by all the soldiers, incom-
petent to command, and a deadly foe to all mission progress. The charges
were largely false, but they served Serra’s purpose whether believed or not,
for the government could not afford at the time a quarrel with the mission-
aries; and Rivera was sent to supersede Fages, taking command on May 25,
1774. Subsequently Serra wrote a letter to the viceroy in which he expressed .
regret at Fages’ removal, commendation of his services, and a desire that he
be favored by the government. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xi. 379-80. The
friars regarded this as a praiseworthy return of good for evil; others might
apply a different name.
Fages sailed from San Diego Aug. 4, 1774, on the San Antonio with orders
to join his regiment at Pachuca. On the way to Mexico at Irapuato, Guana-
juato, he was robbed of a box containing his money, by his own servants as it
seems. Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 190. He reached Mexico before the end of
1774 in poor health. He dated in Mexico, Nov. 30, 1775, a report on Cali-
fornia, addressed to the viceroy, and devoted chiefly to a description of the
province, its natives, animals, and plants; but also giving a tolerably complete
sketch of the first expeditions and the condition of the missions at the author’s
departure. This document, of great importance and interest, was translated
from the original in the library of M. Ternaux-Compans and published as
ages, Voyage en Californie, in Nouv. Ann. des Voy., ci. 145-82, 311-47. At
the beginning the author says: ‘Ayant été chargé du commandement militaire
du poste de Monterey, depuis le commencement de l’année 1769, et mon chef
don Diego Portola qui s’embarqua le 9 de Juillet & bord du paquebot le San
Antonio, m’ayant fortement recommandé de m/’occuper des établissements
situés dans la partie septentrionale de la Californie, je m’y suis livré pendant
plus de quatre ans. J’ai rassemblé le plus de renseignements qu’il m’a été
THE OLD AND NEW GOVERNOR. 487
and inclined to storm over trifles, always ready to
quarrel with anybody from his wife to the padre pres-
idente, he was withal kind-hearted, never feeling and
rarely exciting deep-seated animosities. He was
thoroughly devoted to the royal service and attended
with rare conscientiousness to every petty detail of
his official duty; yet his house, his horse, and above
all his garden were hardly second in importance to his
office, his province, and his nation. He possessed less
breadth of mind, less culture, and especially less dig-
nity of manner and character than Felipe de Neve,
but he was by no means less honest and patriotic.
The early rulers of California were by no means
the characterless figure-heads and pompous nonenti-
ties that modern writers have painted them, and
among them all there is no more original and attrac-
tive character than the bluff Catalan soldier Pedro
Fages. j
José Antonio Romeu, a native of Valencia, Spain,
had served in the Sonora Indian wars with Fages in
and before 1782 as captain. As we have seen, he
took part in the campaigns following the Colorado
possible sur ces provinces ¢loignées, sur les nations qui les habitent, la nature
de leur territoire, ses productions, les moeurs et coutumes de la population,
et beaucoup d’autres sujets dont je traiterai dans le cours de cette relation.’
Capt. Fages was in garrison with his company at Guadalajara, when he
was ordered, perhaps in 1777, to the Sonora frontier; and there he served in
the wars against Apaches and other savages for five years, receiving in the
mean time a lieut. colonel’s commission. In 1781-2 he made several expedi-
tions from Sonora to the Colorado to avenge the death of his former rival,
Rivera; and visited California twice in 1782 before he came as governor, mak-
ing the first trip from the Colorado direct to San Diego. He was in the Colo-
rado region when on Sept. 10th, by an appointment of July 12, 1782, he
took possession of his office as governor, and reached Monterey in November.
1783 was spent chiefly in a journey to Loreto whence he brought his wife,
Doiia Eulalia de Callis, and son to the capital. He had at least two children
born in California, In 1785 he had trouble with his wife, which does not
seem however to have outlasted the year. From August 1786, by Gen.
Ugarte’s order of Feb. 12th, Fages became inspector of presidios. His com-
mission as colonel was dated Feb. 7, 1789. His governorship ended April 16,
1791, and he sailed from Monterey in the autumn of the same year. ‘Taylor,
Discov, and Founders, ii. 179, says he died in Mexico before 1796, but it is by
no means certain that he had any authority for the statement. Aug. 12,
1793, he makes a report on Monterey Presidio buildings at Mexico. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xiii. 191; and in Oct. 1794 he resided in the city of Mexico. Cos-
tansdé, Informe, MS. :
488 RULE OF ROMEU.
disaster. In May 1790, when appointed governor he
was major of the Espatia dragoon regiment, also hold-
ing the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was probably i in
Mexico at the time of his appointment and proceeded
to his province by way of San Blas, since he met the
family of his predecessor and friend on their way
from California. Accompanied by his wife, Josefa de
Sandoval, and daughters Romeu arrived March 17,
1791, at Loreto by the schooner Santa Gertrudis. On
April 16, as already stated, he took formal possession
of the governorship, Captain Arrillaga representing
Fages in the transfer of the necessary papers.* The
reason why the new governor was ordered to assume
his office at Loreto instead of proceeding directly to
the capital was that he might attend to his duties as
inspector of presidios in the south, thus avoiding a
useless repetition of the journey, and that he might
make certain investigations of presidial accounts.
These Californian accounts had been in some confusion
since 1769. Details it is undesirable as well as im-
possible to explain; but many men had unsettled ac-
counts running back to the earliest period of Spanish
occupation. The treasury officials in Mexico, attrib-
uting the prevalent confusion to the incompetence
of habilitados, were themselves greatly puzzled,’ and
Romeu seems to have been selected with a special
view to his fitness for unravelling past financial com-
plications and effecting a final adjustment.
Whatever may have been his abilities in this special
direction, he had very slight opportunity to show
them; for from the moment of embarking on the
Santa Gertrudis his health failed; indigestion, sleep
less nights, and an oppressive pain in the chest left
8 See references in note 1 of this chapter. Also letter of Arrillaga to
Fages March 21,1791, announcing Romeu’s arrival. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 38.
* The Informe sobre los ajustes de Pobladores de la Reina de Los Angeles y
demas de las Provincias de Californias, MS., a report of the contador mayor
dated Mexico, Dec: 30, 1789, and filling above 60 pages, is a specimen of the
many wordy communications on the subject which are extant in the archives.
I have made no attempt to reach the bottom of this financial puzzle. Vice-
roy’s orders to Romeu on this subject Sept. 1, 1790. Prov. St. Pap., ix. 313-19.
tie.
DEATH OF ROMEU. 489
him but little opportunity of attending to public
duties. Yet he did not lose courage, and late in
the summer, after communicating his instructions to
presidal officers and satisfying himself of Arrillaga’s
entire competence, he proceeded north, reached San
Diego in August," and arrived at Monterey October
13th, doubtless before the departure of his prede-
cessor.” Through the winter his ill-health continued,
and he was barely able to attend to the routine duties
of his office. His official communications in the
archives are few, brief, and unimportant. His cor-
respondence with President Lasuen both at Loreto
and Monterey, though containing httle more than
the formal expressions required by courtesy, indicate
a desire on his part, such as most rulers entertained
when they first came to California, to preserve har-
monious relations with the missionaries. In fact
either by natural disposition or by reason of feeble
health he was evidently more fraiero than Fages or
Neve. On December 1st he received the royal con-
firmation of his appointment as governor.”
Late in March 1792 Romeu’s condition became
critical, and after a series of convulsions it became
evident that he had but a few days to live. The sur-
geon, Pablo Soler, made a written report to this effect
on April 5th, and the last rites of religion were ad-
ministered by the friars in attendance. He died at
Monterey April 9th and was buried at San Carlos
10 Romeu,Carta al Virrey, 21 de Nov. 1791, MS., in St. Pap., Sac., v. 91-2.
1 He was at San Diego from Aug. 20th to 31st if not longer. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., x. 40-3.
12Nov. 28, 1791, the viceroy acknowledges the receipt of his letter of Oct.
14th, announcing his arrival on the 13th. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 184.
13 Romeu, Cortas al Presidente Lasuen, 1791, MS. On July 16th from Ro-
sario he writes: ‘Aunque mi caudal de mérito no es otro que el tener unos
buenos y constantes deseos de llenar el cumplimiento de mi obligacion, y ser
Util y sin embargo de carecer de aquellas apreciables circunstancias condu-
centes 4 su logro de que la bondad de V. R. me supone acompafado, espero
merecerlo de la piedad del Altisimo al verme auxiliado de las fervientes oraci-
ones de V. R. y de esos RR. PP. misioneros 4 los que de nuevo me en-
comiendo correspondiendo con iguales 4 las expresiones finas conque me
honran.’
14 St. Pap., Sac., MS. v. 92. The confirmation was dated Feb. 15th.
490 RULE OF ROMED.
the day following. By his will the widow was made
executrix of his estate and guardian of their daugh-
ters. Dota Josefa embarked for San Blas in Octo-
ber. Alférez Sal in a letter says that California was
not worthy of a governor like Romeu. At his funeral
all who knew him displayed deep grief.”
Local annals as well as certain general topics of
commercial, industrial, and mission development, I
shall treat collectively for the decade from 1791 to
1800, in subsequent chapters. Besides such topics
the visit of a scientific exploring expedition and the
founding of two new missions are to be noted during
Romeu’s short rule. The expedition referred to was
that of Alejandro Malaspina in command of the royal
corvettes Descubierta and Atrevida,” the latter being
S
under the immediate command of José de Bustamante
'y Guerra, and the scientific corps including Bauza
and Espinosa.” Malaspina sailed from Cadiz in July
1789, for a tour round the world, and after making
explorations on both coasts of South America, and
from Panama to Acapulco, left the latter port in May
1791 for the Northwest Coast, which he struck a little
above 60° and carefully explored southward, sighting
15 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 7-9, 14; x. 139; xxi. 71, 89; St. Pap., Sac.,
MS., vi., 76; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 152; San Carlos, Lib. de Mision, MS.; Tay-
lor’s Discov. and Founders, ii. 179; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 96-7.
16 The vessels had, like nearly all in the Spanish navy, each a double name,
being called respectively Santa Justa and Santa Rujina. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
v. 96.
1 A full list of officers made at Monterey, is as follows: Captains Alejan-
dro Malaspina and José de Bustamante y Guerra; lieutenants Dionisio Gali-
ano,* José Espinosa, Cayetano Valdés, Manuel Novales,* Fernando Quintano,
Juan Bernaci, Secundino Salamanca, Antonio de Tova, Juan Concha, José
Robredo, Areaco Zeballos, Francisco Viana, and Arcadio Lineda;* alféreces
Martin Olavide,* Felipe Bauzd4, Flavio Aleponzoni, and Jacobo Murphy; con-
tadores Rafael Rodriguez de Arias and Manuel Esquerra; chaplains José de
Mesa and Francisco de Paula Afiino; surgeons Francisco Flores and Pedro
Gonzalez; pilotos Juan Diaz Maqueda, José Sanchez, Gerdénimo Delgado, Juan
Inciarte y Portu, and Joaquin Hurtado; apothecary Luis Nee* and Tadeo
Haenek; pintor de perspectiva Tomas Suria; disecador y dibujante de plantas
José de Guio.* The names marked with a star remained behind in Mexico.
Malaspina, Nota de Oficiales de Guerra y Mayores, Naturalistas, Botdnicos,
Dibujantes, y Disecadores, que tienen destino en las corbetas de S. M. nombra-
das Descubierta y Atrevida, que dan vuelta al Globo...que salieron de Cadiz en
30 de Julio de 1789, MS.
MALASPINA’S EXPEDITION. 491
Cape Mendocino September 6th, being off San Fran-
cisco the 10th,” and anchoring the 13th at Monterey,
where his vessels remained till the 25th, thence con-
tinuing the survey down to Cape San Liicas, San
Blas, Acapulco, and returning to Spain by the Phil-
ippines and Cape Good Hope.”
Of the stay at Monterey, of scientific observations
there, of Malaspina’s impressions of California and
its people we know little. The archives contain only
the merest mention of the arrival and of courtesies
exchanged between the visitors and Lasuen, who
aided in gathering specimens,” Malaspina seems
entitled to the honor of having brought to Cali-
fornia the first American who ever visited the
country, and he came to remain, his burial being
recorded on the mission register under date of Sep-
tember 13th, and name of John Groem, probably
Graham, son of John and Catherine Groem, Presby-
terians, of Boston. He had shipped as gunner at
Cadiz.2 The reports of this expedition were never
published. The commander was imprisoned for cer-.
tain crimes or irregularities, and it 1s only through
Navarrete’s brief résumé, and an abridged narrative
by one of the officers, that anything is known of
results.”
As early as 1789 it was determined to found two
new missions, in honor of ‘our lady of solitude’ and
18 At least 4 or 5 shots were heard from a fog-hidden vessel on that date.
Bustamante, in Cavo, T’res Siglos, iii. 106-7, says he left Nootka August 25th,
and anchored at Monterey September 11th.
19For account of Malaspina’s explorations in the north, see Hist. N. W.
Coast, i. 249; and Hist. Alaska, this series.
20 Sept. 21, 1791, Malaspina and Bustamante to Lasuen thanking him for
aid. Lasuen in reply gives thanks for presents. The letters are full of flat-
tering expressions, and the voyagers promise to make the king and the world
acquainted with their favorable impressions of California and with the suc-
cess and zeal of the padres. Malaspina and Bustamante—Carta al P. Lasuen
y respuesta de dicho Padre, Sept. 1791, MS. March 27, 1792, Gen. Nava has
learned of Malaspina’s visit. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 19.
7 4 Taylor, in Pacific Monthly, xi. 649-50, from San Carlos, Lib. de
ision.
22 Navarrete, Viages Apdcrifos, 94-8, 268-70, 313-20; Id., in Sutil y Mexi-
cana, Viaye, Introd., cxxii.-iii. Taylor, in Pacific Monthly, xi. 649, and L. Cal.,
492 RULE OF ROMEU.
of the holy cross. The necessary preliminaries were
arranged by correspondence between president, guar-
dian, and viceroy, and four new friars were selected
to take charge, or enable others to do so, of the new
establishments.” The information reached California
at the end of July 1790 together with the friars,
Danti, Miguel, Rubi, and Tapis; and all the necessary
effects except the church vestments and utensils.
This omission caused delay, for the priests were not
disposed to take anything on trust in dealing with
the government, and it was not until July 1791 that
a positive assurance came from the viceroy that the
sacred utensils would be sent, together with an order
to proceed at once, borrowing the needed articles from
the other establishments.* Subsequent preliminary
work is best described in the words of Lasuen, who
writes the 29th of September: “In view of the
superior order of his excellency I at once named the
missionaries. J asked and obtained from the com-
mandant of this presidio the necessary aid for explor-
Ing anew the region of Soledad, and there was chosen
a site having some advantages over the two previously
considered. I applied to the missions for vestments
‘and sacred vessels; and as soon as the commander of
the Aranzazu furnished the sirvientes allowed for the
new establishments I proceeded to Santa Clara in
order to examine anew in person the site of Santa
Cruz. I crossed the sierra by a long and rough way,
41, says that Malaspina, through the jealousy of Godoy, was imprisoned for
14 years and finally liberated when Marshal Soult took Corufia in 1809.
*s Guardian Noriega to viceroy, Sept. 22, 1789; viceroy to guardian, Oct.
31; guardian to Lasuen, Dec. 10, in Arch. Sta. Bérbara, MS., vi. 280-2.
Two thousand eight hundred dollars was to be paid to the sindico, $1,000 for
each mission, and $200 for travelling expenses of each friar. April 1, 1790,
the sindico, Fr. Gerénimo de Sampelayo, sends provisions and tools for Santa
Cruz to value of $1,021. Sta. Cruz, Lib. de Mision, MS., 3.
74 Aug. 3, 1790, Lasuen to Fages, announces arrival of padres; nothing
lacking but for the government to deliver the sacred vessels; he is ready.
Arch. Arzobispado, MS.,i. 10; Jan. 20, 1791. Viceroy to Lasuen and to gov-
ernor, orvamentos, etc., will be sent; let the old missions lend. July 15th,
Lasuen replies: all right. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xi. 8-10; Prov. St. Pap.,
Ms., x. 1388. July 22, 1791, Lasuen issues a circular to the padres making
known viceroy’s orders; let each padre mark on the margin the articles that
he can lend. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., ix. 316-17.
PREPARATIONS FOR MISSIONS. 493
and I found in the site the same excellent fitness that
had been reported to me. I found, besides, a stream
of water very near, copious, and important. On the
day of San Agustin, August 28th, I said mass, and a
cross was raised in the spot where the establishment
is to be. Many gentiles came, large and small, of
both sexes, and showed that they would gladly enlist
under that sacred standard, thank God! I returned
to Santa Clara by another way, rougher but shorter
and more direct. I had the Indians improve the road
and was perfectly successful, because for this as for
everything else the commandant of San Francisco, Don
Hermenegildo Sal, has furnished with the greatest
activity and promptness all the aid I have asked for.
I ordered some little huts made, and I suppose that
by this time the missionaries are there. I found here
in Monterey the two corvettes of the Spanish expedi-
tion, and the commander’s power of pleasing obliged
me to await their departure. I endeavored to induce
them to transport the Santa Cruz supplies by water,
but it could not be accomplished. Day before yester-
day, however, some were sent there by land, and with
them a man from the schooner which came from
Nootka under Don Juan Carrasco.* The plan is to
see if there is any shelter for a vessel on the coast
near Santa Cruz, and there to transport what is left.
To-morrow a report is expected: This means is
sought because we lack animals. To-day eleven Ind-
ians have departed from here with tools to construct
a shelter at Soledad for the padres and’ the supplies.
I and the other padres are making preparations, and
my departure thither will be, by the favor of God, the
day after San Francisco, October 8th, at latest.”
The preliminaries having been thus arranged Alférez
Sal started from San Francisco September 22d with
25 This schooner was the Horcasitas, which under Narvaez had taken part
in Elisa’s northern explorations. See //ist. N. W. Coast, i. 244-250. The
Aranzazu had also made a trip to the north, under Matute.
' 26 Lasuen, Carta al Sr. Gobernador Romeu, sobre fundacion de Misiones,
29 de Sept. 1791, MS. :
494 RULE OF ROMEDU.
Corporal Luis Peralta and two privates, arriving at
Santa Clara in the afternoon.” Next morning he
proceeded to Santa Cruz, his force being increased by
fathers Alonso Salazar and Baldomero Lopez, while
the rest of the mission guard with six or seven servants
were left to bring supplies and cattle. On the 24th
some Christian Indians of Santa Clara were set at
work cutting timber and building a hut for the friars,
who busied themselves seeking a spot for sowing
twenty-five fanegas of wheat. A fine plain was found
well adapted for the purpose, capable of irrigation
from a small stream called by the explorers of 1769
Arroyo de San Pedro Regalado. The mission site
was about five hundred yards from the Rio San
Lorenzo, also named in 1769. The chief Sugert came
in with a few of his followers, and promised to become
the first Christian of his tribe, Sal agreeing to be
godfather. On Sunday, September 25th, as soon as
the soldiers and horses arrived from Santa Clara,
Sugert and his people having been fortified by assur-
ances against the noise of exploding gunpowder, and
the friars having donned their robes, Don Hermene-
gildo took formal possession as he says, “in such words
as my moderate talent dictated,” and at the conclusion
the guns were discharged. Five more salutes were
fired while the padres said mass and chanted a te
27 Sept. 17, 1791, Sal to Romeu, excusing himself for sending, without
having awaited Romeu’s arrival or orders, at Lasuen’s request, a guard and
mule train for the new mission. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 18-20. The corporal
of the mission guard was fully instructed respecting his duties under date of
Sept. 17th. Sal, Instruccion al Cabo Luis Peralta al cargo de la Escolta de la
Mision de Santa Cruz, 1791, MS. The general purport was, constant pre-
cautions, kindness to gentiles, harmony with padres, strict performance of
religious duties, and the details of routine. The details were much the same
in all missions. It is to be noticed, however, that in the matter of escorting
the priests the soldiers were strictly limited, and were not allowed to pass
the night away from the mission. If a priest desired to go to a distant mis-
sion, word must be sent to San Francisco and a guard obtained from the
presidio. On the 29th or 30th of each month a report to Sal must be sent by
two soldiers to Santa Clara, where the two must wait till two Santa Clara
men carried the despatch to San Francisco and returned. As the rainy season
was drawing near, the gentiles. might be induced to work on the warehouse
ng guard-house by presents of food, etc., even against the wishes of the
padres.
FOUNDING OF SANTA CRUZ. 495
deum, and thus the mission of Santa Cruz was
founded.”
Local annals of Santa Cruz to 1800 are best pre-
sented here and may be briefly recorded. Often there
were apprehensions of trouble with the natives, but
the fears of the friars rested for the most part on
nothing more solid than rumor, the occasional flight
of a neophyte, or the loss of an animal. To keep the
soldiers of the guard on the alert they were once
ordered to hunt bears for target practice.” The neo-
phytes numbered 84 at the end of the year 1791.
They had increased to 224 in another year; in 1796
the number was 523, the highest ever reached, and in
1800 they were 492. There had been 949, according
to the registers, baptized, 271 couples married, and 477
_buried. Large stock increased during the decade from
202 to 2,354 head; small stock from 174 to 2,088.
Agricultural products in 1792 were about 650 bushels;
Sal, Diario del Reconocimiento de la Mision de Santa Cruz, 1791, MS.
Certificate on foundation of the mission, dated Sept. 25th, and signed by Sal,
Corp. Peralta, and soldier Salvador Higuera. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ii. 187. Sal
returned to Santa Clara Sept. 26th, and San Francisco Sept. 27th. Sept. 25th,
the padres announce the foundation to-day in a letter to Romeu; site fine and
prospects flattering. Lopez and Salazar, Carta de los Padres de Santa Cruz
al Gobernador, 1791, MS. Title-pages of mission registers. Santa Cruz, Lib.
de Mision, MS., 28. Santa Clara furnished for Santa Cruz 64 cattle, 22
horses, 76 fanegas of grain, and 26 loaves of bread; San Francisco, 5 yoke of
oxen, 70 sheep, and 2 bushels of barley; San Carlos, 7 mules and 8 horses,
The guard furnished the padres $42.50 worth of provisions, to be repaid. A
list of the church vestments and sacred vessels is also given. Copy from
mission records in Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 102-3. See also
Willey’s Centennial Sketch of Santa Cruz, 11, 12. Santa Cruz Sentinel, Aug.
12, 1865. Another record makes the contribution of Santa Clara 151 cattle,
19 horses, 18 fanegas of grain; San Francisco, 6 yoke of oxen, 100 hogs, 12
mules; and other missions 8 beasts of burden. Salazar, Condicion actual de
California, 1796, MS.
29'This was in 1797. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 106. Jan. 1794, Mission guard
increased to 8 men, but reduced to 5 before May 1795. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xiii, 231; xii. 77, April 1798, 90 fugitives gathered in by Corp. Mesa. Zd.,
xxii. 101. Road from Monterey threatened; a soldier nearly attacked in 1792,
St. Pap., Sac., MS. vi: 70-1. Feb. 1793, 9 neophytes brought in 9 pagans.
Mountain Indians said to be making arrows. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 152-3.
Dec. 1793, the corporal and a soldier wounded; two parties sent from San
Francisco to punish the natives. Jd., xxi. 176. Jan. 1795, Sergt. Amador
sent to capture 2 Indians who were making trouble on the Rio Pajaro. Prov,
St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., i. 47. March 7, 1796, P. Sanchez asks for aid.
Indians threatening, St. Pap., Sac., MS., viii. 3. Feb. 29th, Amador sent to
investigate a rumor that the Indians would rise and kill the padres. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xiv. 18.
496 RULE OF ROMEU.
3,400 in 1796, and 800 in 1799; in 1800 were 4,300
bushels; total yield of the decade, 17,590 bushels.
The church, whose corner-stone had been laid with
due ceremony on February 27th of the preceding
year, was formally dedicated to its holy use the 10th
of May 1794, by Father Pefia from Santa Clara, with
the aid of Gili and Sanchez, besides the ministers of
the mission. Alférez Sal was present and as godfather
of the church received its keys. All the ceremonies
prescribed by the Roman ritual were solemnly per-
formed in presence of neophytes, servants, and troops,
and next day a mass was celebrated in the new edi-
fice.’ The church was about thirty by one hundred
and twelve feet and twenty-five feet high. The
foundation walls to the height of three feet were
of stone, the front was of masonry, and the rest of
adobes.*° ‘There is some evidence that the site of the
mission had been slightly changed in 1792 to avoid
danger from inundation.** About the mission build-
ings but little is recorded except that the last two
sides of the square were completed in 1795; and a
flouring-mill was built and began to run in the au-
tumn of 1796, but was badly damaged by the rains of
30 A full account of the ceremony and of the building, signed by the six
persons named and by Francisco Gomez, José Maria Lopez, Ignacio Chuma-
zero, and José Antonio Sanchez, is given in Sta. Cruz, Lib. de Mision, MS.,
38-40. Mr Willey, Centennial Sketch Sta. Cruz, 12, gives the date as March
10th, and this may possibly be correct, as it is often difficult to distinguish in
old Spanish manuscript Marzo from Mayo. Progress made on church in 1793,
and it was finished in 1794. St. Pap., Miss., MS., i. 122; ii. 17. Being dam-
aged by rains in 1797. Id., ii. 122. Account of dedication in Sta. Cruz Sen-
tinel, Aug. 12, 1865. According to a scrap in Hayes’ Mission Book, i. 130,
some coins and relics deposited in the corner-stone gave rise to rumors of
treasure for which search was made when the building fell in 1856; but not
even the stone was found.
31 Sept. 12, 1792. Letter of the governor in Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 139.
Inhabitants in 1795: Corporal José Antonio Sanchez; soldiers Joaquin Bernal,
José Acéves (whose marriage with a neophyte woman was the first recorded
at Santa Cruz on March 3, 1794, Sta. Cruz, Lib. de Mision, MS., 29), Ramon
Linares, Joaquin Mesa, and José Vizcarra; sailor sirvientes, Lopez, Carrillo,
Arroyo, Barajas, Rodriguez, and Soto; and the artisan Antonio Henriquez.
All but the sailors had families. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 234. Nov. 1, 1794,
the padres complain that the sailor laborers know nothing of their work and
should be transferred to the presidio. Jd., xii. 40. Supplies to presidios in
1795-6, about $2,000. Id., xvi. 203, 206; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 76. Due from
presidio to mission in 1800, $183. Sta. Cruz, Lib. de Mision, MS., 19.
EARLIEST ANNALS OF SANTA CRUZ. 497
December.” The annual election of mission alcaldes,
which was required by the regulation, but had been
for a long time neglected here as elsewhere, began by
Borica’s orders in 1797."
In these later years the mission prospects were far
from encouraging, if we may judge from the tone of
missionary correspondence. At the beginning of 1798
Fernandez writes that everything is in a bad way. A
hundred and thirty-eight neophytes have deserted,
leaving only thirty or forty to work, while the land is
overflowed and the planting not half done. The
church has been damaged by the flood; the live-stock
is dying; and a dead whale on the beach has attracted
an unusual multitude of wolves and bears. The es-
tablishing of Banciforte across the river, of which I
shall speak in another chapter, had much to do with
the friars’ despondency. |
The missionary founders, Lopez and Salazar, served
here, the latter till July 1795 and the former to July
1796, at or about which dates they departed from the
country to seek the retirement of their college.®
82 In March artisans were sent to build the mill and instruct the natives.
In August a smith and miller were sent to start the mill. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.
224, 232; v. 50, 58, 65-6, 98, 115; vi. 68; Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., ii. 78; St.
Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 30. Four millstones were ordered made at Santa Cruz
for San Carlos. A house for the mill was also built; and in 1793 a granary of
two stories and a house for looms had been finished. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii.
BY, 75.
33 Santa Cruz, Parroquia, MS., 15, 16.
3t Fernandez, Carta del Padre Ministro sobre la condicion de Santa Oruz,
1798, MS. Aug. 1, 1798, Engineer Cérdoba reports that Santa Cruz has
3,435,600 sq. varas of irrigable lands of which 1,120,000 are sin abrir. Pas-
tures 1.5x8 or 9 leagues with seven permanent streams. Prov. Rec., MS.,
vi. 99.
3>Of Alonso Isidro Salazar we know nothing till he became minister of
Santa Cruz in Sept. 1791, having probably arrived from Mexico a little earlier
in the same year. He and Lopez did not get along amicably together, and
the archives contain an order of the guardian to the president to send Salazar
to some other mission since he and his confrére would not ‘listen to reason,’
and in order ‘ to reduce their pride.’ Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xi. 251-2. He
never served at any other mission, and his license to retire, dated by the vice-
roy Jan. 23, 1795, reached him before June 10th of the same year. Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 47. St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 50. Noreason for his retirement is given.
He doubtless sailed in the transport of that autumn; and on May 11, 1796,
he wrote at the college of San Fernando a long report on California, of which
T shall have something to say elsewhere. Condicion Actual de Cal., MS.
Baldomero Lopez, like Salazar, came to California in 1791, like him served
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 32
498 — RULE OF ROMEU.
They were succeeded by Manuel Fernandez and José
de la Cruz Espi, the latter being replaced in May
1797 by Francisco Gonzalez, while the former left the
country in October 1798 and was replaced by Domingo
Carranza.
We come finally to the other new mission of 1791,
Lia Soledad. True to the condition expressed in the
name, ‘Our Lady of Solitude’ has left but a meagre
record either of foundation or subsequent career. As
we have seen, Lasuen had personally selected a site.
The 29th of September a party of natives departed
from San Carlos to erect a shelter.’ The friar, delayed
by Malaspina’s visit, intended to go to Soledad again
by October 9th at the latest.” He did go on that
date or perhaps the day before, for on the 9th with the
aid of Sitjar and Garcia, and in the presence of Lieu-
tenant José Arguello, the guard, and various natives,
he sprinkled holy water on the site, blessed and raised
the cross which all adored, and performed all the nec-
essary rites by which the mission of Nuestra Senora
de la Soledad was ushered into existence. The site
was called by the natives Chuttusgelis,and the region
only at Santa Cruz, and like him was ill-tempered to such an extent that his
constant bickerings with his companion received the reproof of his superiors.
His temper was, “however, largely the result of ill-health. He was the vic
tim of hypochondria which unfitied him for missionary duties and he retired
in August 1796. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., vi. 228, xi. 56-7; Prov. Rec., MS.,
vi. 163. In Mexico it seems his health was restored, for on Aug. 8, 1818, he
was elected guardian of San Fernando.
36 P, Manuel Fernandez was a native of Tuy in Galicia, Spain, born in
1767, who became a Franciscan at Compostela in 1784, and joined the college
of San Fernando in 1793, being sent to California in 1794. Arch. Sta. Barbara,
MS., xi. 248. He was one of five priests who came recommended by Mugiar-
tegui as of a different kind from several who had exhausted Lasuen’s patience,
these being in fact model missionaries. Mugdrtegui, Carta al P. Lasuen 30 de
Enero 1794, MS. An original letter. He was impetuous, violent, cruel, and
a bad manager of neophytes. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 103; or at least over-zeal-
ous in converting pagans, and was admonished by the ‘president to moderate
his zeal. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 125-32. This was at Santa Clara where he
served in 1794. He was much at San Francisco in the early part of 1795.
During his service at Santa Cruz in 1795-8 we hear no complaint against him,
and in October 1798 he obtained license to retire on account of sickness. Arch.
Arzobispado, MS., i. 52.
37 See p. 493, this volume. 2
ae
FOUNDING OF SOLEDAD. 499
had been known to the Spaniards as Soledad since
the first occupation of the country.”
Beyond the names of officiating missionaries and
the usual statistics Soledad has no recorded history
for this first decade. One entry in the mission books
however deserves mention, by which it appears that
on May 19, 1793, there was baptized a Nootka Indian,
twenty years of age, ‘“Iquina, son of a gentile father,
named 'Taguasmiki, who in the year 1789 was killed
by the American Gret (Gray) captain of the vessel
called Washington belonging to the Congress of Bos-
ton.” *°
Fathers Diego Garcia and Mariano Rubi were the |
first ministers of Soledad, the former being present at
the founding and the latter arriving shortly after.
Rubi left the mission in January and the country in
February or March 1793. Garcia left Soledad in
February 1792, but he returned, serving there from
December 1792 to March 1796, when he was trans-
ferred to San Francisco. These two were of the
class alluded to by Mugdrtecui as having exhausted
the president’s patience. They were even worse than
Salazar and Lopez at Santa Cruz, for Rubi was an
immoral man, while Garcia, if not partially insane,
was unpopular and disobedient.” After the terms of
38 Soledad, Lib. Mision, MS., 1, 2. Narrative signed by Lasuen. Romeu
to viceroy Dec. 1, 1791, in St. Pap. Sac., MS., v. 93. The first baptism of an
aboriginal was on Nov. 23d. The following names from the mission records
are those of the soldiers and sirvientes during the decade: Soldiers, Macario
Castro, corporal in 1792, Ignacio Vallejo, corporal in 1793, José Dionisio Ber-
nal, Leocadio Cibrian, Teodoro Gomez, José Ignacio Mesa, Antonio Buelna,
Marcos Villela, Manuel Mendoza, Salvador Espinosa, Miguel Espinosa, Ca-
yetano Espinosa, Marcos Briones, Bartolomé Mateo Martinez, José Maria
Soberanes, Juan Maria Pinto, and Manuel Rodriguez. Servants: Antonio
Santos, Leocadio Martinez, Matias Solas, Pedro Bautista Leonardo, José
Bernardino Flores.
39 Soledad, Lib. Mision, MS., 4.
*°Mariano Rubi was one of the four padres who arrived in California in
July 1790 sent expressly for the new establishments. He served at San
Antonio 1790 to Sept. 1791, and from Oct. 1791 to Jan. 1793. He retired
under a provisional license, being in ill-health. Arch. Arzobispado, MS.., i. 33;
Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 160. In Oct. 1793 and again in Feb. 1794 the guardian
wrote to the president asking for detailed reports on Rubi’s conduct and
excesses, and an official certificate on the nature of his disease, which was
doubtless venereal. He was to be expelled for the honor of the college. Arch.
500 RULE OF ROMEU.
these first ministers the following missionaries served
for brief periods: Father Gili, like Rubi more muge-
riego than was well for his reputation and health, ir
1793, Espi in 1794-5, Martiarena in 1795-7, and Car-
nicer in 1797-8. At the end of the decade the min-
isters were Antonio Jaime and Mariano Payeras, since
March 1796 and November 1798 respectively. In
neophyte population Soledad counted eleven converts
only at the end of 1791, but 493 in 1800, the baptisms
having aggregated 704, deaths 224, and marriages 164.
Large stock gained from 194 to 1,383 head; small
stock from 213 to 3,024. Agriculture yielded 525
bushels in 1792; 350 in 1794; 2,000 in 1797, and
2,600 in 1800. Total yield of decade 14,800 bushels.
In 1797 this mission possessed an adobe church with
roof of straw.*
Sta. Barbara, MS., xi. 229-31, 255. Of Garcia’s shortcomings I shall have
more to say hereafter. At Soledad he once neglected to sow grain on some
frivolous pretext, and the neophytes were near starving in consequence.
“1 St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 120. Supplies to the presidio in 1796 $418.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 203.
2m
CHAPTER XXIV.
RULE OF ARRILLAGA—VANCOUVER’S VISITS.
1792-1794.
Counci, AT MonTEREY TO APPOINT A TEMPORARY GOVERNOR—ARRILLAGA’S
ACCESSION—ARRIVAL AT MOoONTEREY—CALIFORNIA SEPARATED FROM
Provincias INTERNAS—ARRILLAGA’S Poticy AND AcTts—THE JORDAN
CoLony—MARITIME AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN RELATIONS—NORTHERN Ex-
PLORATIONS—SPANISH PoLicy—THE NooTKA QUESTION— VOYAGE OF THE
‘SuTIL’ AND ‘ MExIcCANA’—BOUNDARY COMMISSION—VANCOUVER’S First
VisIT—RECEPTION AT SAN FRANCISCO, SANTA CLARA, AND MonTEREY—
EneGuisH DESERTERS—THE GOVERNOR IN A DILEMMA—PRECAUTIONS
AGAINST FOREIGN VESSELS—REVILLA GIGEDO’S REPORT—ATTEMPTED
OccUPATION OF BODEGA—VANCOUVER’S SECOND VIsIT—A DisGustED ENG-
LISHMAN—SUSPICIONS OF ARRILLAGA—HOSPITALITIES IN THE SoUTH—
END OF THE NooTKA SETTLEMENT—VANCOUVER’S Last VisIt—His Os-
SERVATIONS ON CALIFORNIA.
In view of the governor’s illness a council was held
at Monterey April 5, 1792, by call of Lieutenant
Argiiello,’ to decide on whom the command should
fall in the event of Romeu’s death, which Surgeon
Pablo Soler pronounced to be near. The council con-
sisted of Argiiello, Ortega, Goycoechea, and Alférez
Sal. The decision was that according to the regula-
tion the governorship ad interim would belong to
Captain José Joaquin de Arrillaga, commandant at
Loreto and lieutenant-governor of the Californias;
that the provincial archives should be kept tempo-
rarily by the council, and that Arrillaga should be
notified at once of the state of affairs. Goycoechea
and Sal should return to their presidios, and Ortega
? Argiiello had succeeded Ortega in the spring of 1791, and Alférez Sal had
been put in command at San Francisco,
( 501 )
502 RULE OF ARRILLAGA.
on Romev’s death should proceed directly to Loreto.?
This decision was communicated on the same day to
Arrillaga and to the commandants not present at the
council. The date of Arrillaga’s accession may there-
fore be considered as identical with that of Romeu’s
death the 9th of April. On May 4th Arrillaga an-
nounced his succession to the viceroy, and on the 7th
to the officials in California, who acknowledged the
receipt in June.®
Arrillaga chose to take a modest view of his own
abilities and a rather exalted one of his new duties,
asking for counsel and suggestions from his subordi-
nates. “From this moment I unload my conscience
upon each,and hold him responsible for results,” writes
the new ruler, “since an officer must be directed in
his acts more by his own honor then by fear of
authority.” Viceregal authority for his exercise of
the chief command bore date of the 8th of July. It
was his intention to remain at Loreto; but on Sep-
tember 28th he was ordered to Monterey, where he
arrived early in July 1793, soon visiting San Fran-
cisco and returning to the capital the 17th of Sep-
tember.*
Arrillaga’s attention was given almost exclusively,
during this first term of office and long after, to the
inspection of the presidios and to the adjustment of the
old presidial accounts in continuation of the task that
had been intrusted to Romeu. He worked diligently
2 Junta de & de Abril de 1791 en Monterey, MS. Argiiello’s letters to com-
mandants Zuiiga and Gonzales, same date. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 138-15.
3 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 4, 7, 8. May 4th, Arrillaga to viceroy. Jd.,
xxi. 71. May 7th, Id., to Goycoechea and Argiiello. Jd., xi. 25; St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., i. 115. May 7th, Jd., to Lasuen, and the padre’s congratulations
on June 25th. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 27-8. May 10th Gen. Nava sends
to the governor a copy of Neve’s previous instructions to Fages; but this
document was probably intended for Romeu since Nava first announces knowl-
edge of Romeu’s death on June 17th. St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 72-3; Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xi. 59.
‘June 8, 1792, Arrillaga to commandants in St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 76-8.
Viceroy to governor, July 8, 1792, in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xx. 3.
Sept. 28, 1792, Arrillaga ordered to Monterey. Jb. At San Diego in March
1793; at Monterey, before July 8th; went to San Francisco July 27th;
returned Sept. 17th. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi, 92-3, 101, 109, 116. His last
communication from Loreto is dated Dec. 29th.
i es
a
A NEW GOVERNOR. . 603
at the complicated task and with much success, though
many years passed before it was completed. Beyond
the details of this adjustment, and the ordinary routine
of official correspondence with commandants, general,
or viceroy—for early in 1793 California became by
royal order separated from the Provincias Internas
and subordinate directly to the viceroy°—the archives
contain but little on this administration, which con-
tinued until 1794.
Arrillaga carried out conscientiously the imstruc-
tions of general and viceroy on the strengthening of
coast defences and assistance to north-coast establish-
ments. He met the English navigator Vancouver on
his second visit to Monterey, leaving a not very favor-
able impression on the mind of his visitor, and urged
the viceroy to put the presidios under captains, who
should have nothing to do with the financial accounts.°
He granted lands provisionally to three or four men
in the Monterey region,’ issued in the interests of
agriculture a proclamation forbidding the natives to
kindle fires in the fields, and in the direction of public
works opened a new road and ford at the Pajaro River.
By Arrillaga’s advice the proposition of the clergy-
man, Alejandro Jordan, to found a colony in Califor-
nia for the supply of San Blas with products at cheaper
rates, was declined by the king in 1794.° Besides
’ The king resolved in council of Sept. 7, 1792, on making the Provincias
Internas independent of the viceroy; but the Californias and some eastern
provinces were excepted in military and political matters. Revilla Gigedo,
Bandos, 63. Feb. 12, 1793, viceroy gives corresponding orders to the gov-
ernor. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 106.
6 July 18,1792. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 108-9. In 1791 the office of habili-
tado general of the Californian Presidios had been created with Manuel Car-
caba as first incumbent. Jd., x. 136-7.
7 Arrillaga says that his predecessors had not granted any lands, he favors
it and has granted ranches to several invalids on the river 3 or 4 leagues from
Monterey. Prov. St. Pap., xii. 45-7, 189; xxi. 132. It was in his rule, 1793,
that General Nava’s order, allowing commandants of presidios to grant lands
within 4 leagues, was approved by the viceroy. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon.,
MS., i. 320-1, 341-2.
8 Arrillaga to viceroy, November 8, 1792, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 85-6.
Jordan is said to have spent 8 months in Alta California at some previous
time, and to have caused some dissatisfaction by his intrigues, though I find
no other record of his presence than Arrillaga’s statement. Jordan asked for
504 RULE OF ARRILLAGA.
ordering the appropriate manifestations of rejoicing at
the queen’s happy delivery in 1793, the governor con-
tinued the collection of alms for the Capuchin nuns of
Granada authorized before his accession, and in 1794
had the pleasure of forwarding California’s contribu-
tion of $154 for so pious an object.?
From what has been said it will be apparent to the
reader that little occurred to distract Arrillaga’s atten-
tion from his figures. ‘The period was one of quiet
prosperity for the missions, and no new establishments
were founded. The governor was liked by the friars,
with whose management he made no attempt to inter-
fere. He had no quarrels; introduced no reforms; met
with no disasters, but regarding himself as merely an
accidental and temporary ruler he was content with
the performance of routine duties until a successor
could be selected. We shall hear more of him later.
Local events during this and the preceding and _ fol-
lowing administrations I shall group into the annals
of a decade. General topics of provincial progress I
shall group practically in the same way by attaching
the little that belongs to Romeu and Arrillaga to the
much that is to be said of Borica’s time.
Maritime affairs and foreign relations, or the dread
of foreign relations and consequent precautions, form
the only general topic of Arrillaga’s term which de-
mands extended notice. The subject is somewhat
closely connected with the annals of the Northwest
Coast, fully recorded in another volume of this work,
$4,000 salary, 18 men, and a supply of implements. Arrillaga thought that
the expense of a colony would outweigh its advantages, since the supply-
ships might take south produce obtained from the settlers. August 7, 1794,
the viceroy communicates to the governor the king’s decision against the pro-
posal, on the ground that free trade with San Blas would of itself accomplish
quite as satisfactory results. Jd., xi. 192-3; Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 145. The
king’s order was dated March 7, 1794. Nueva Espafia, Acuerdos, MS., 179.
*May 8, 1793, order for te deum on queen’s delivery. Prov. Rec., MS.,
i. 210; Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 34. December 1, 1791, authorization of
Capuchin collection by general. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 23. June 6, 1794,
viceroy acknowledges receipt of $154 collected at Monterey and San Fran-
cisco. /d., xi. 172-3; $32 at San Francisco. Jd., x. 14, 40; xxi. 116, 132, 164;
Prov Rec., MS., i. 213.
THE NORTHWEST COAST. 505
and therefore briefly referred to here.’? Spain no
longer attached the same importance as in former
years to her exclusive claims in the far north, now
that the geographical relations of America and Asia
were approximately known, and the occupation of Cal-
ifornia had furnished suitable ports for the Philippine
trade. After the explorations of 1774—9 to latitude
60° nothing was done for a decade. Had it not been
for the possible existence of an interoceanic strait and
the ever present fear of foreign encroachment from
the north, the Spaniards would have given no more
thought to these far-off coasts. New rumors came,
however, that the Russians were advancing south-
ward, rumors proved to be of no serious importance
by the expedition of 1788; but this expedition brought
the more alarming report of a British plan to occupy
Nootka. Therefore Martinez was sent in 1789 to pre-
vent this step and establish a Spanish post at that place.
In the execution of his duty Martinez seized several
Iinglish vessels as prizes. This led to complications
between the two nations which nearly: plunged Europe
in war, but were settled by a treaty of 1790. By this
treaty Spain virtually relinquished all her claims to
exclusive sovereignty on the Northwest Coast, the
right of navigation, fishery, and settlement being made
common to both nations. |
The establishment at Nootka was kept up, however,
from the spring of 1790, before the date of the treaty,
and was regularly supplied from San Blas by the Cal-
ifornia transports which often went direct to the
northern post and touched at Monterey on the return.
Nootka was simply an extension of the Californian
establishments. Spain had, as already explained, no
desire for northern possessions, but she maintained
the post for five years for two reasons—first, because
if astrait or an inlet leading to New Mexico could be
found it would be important to hold it, and to that
end exploration was zealously prosecuted; and second,
10See Hist. Northwest Coast, i. chap. v.-ix.
506 “RULE OF ARRILLAGA.
because if there were no strait the position could be
used in diplomatic negotiations to secure a favorable
boundary further south, such as the strait of Fuca,
the main object being to secure a broad frontier be-
tween San Francisco and the first foreign post. It is
only certain voyages connected with the explorations
and negotiations referred to that have a bearing on
California history. The touching on the coast of
several Nootka vessels connected with the expedi-
tions of Elisa, Fidalgo, Quimper, Saavedra, Matute,
and Malaspina in 1790-1 has already been noticed.
In the spring of 1792 three vessels sailed from San
Blas for Nootka, one of them bearing Juan Francisco
de la Bodega y Cuadra as Spanish commissioner to
settle certain questions still pending with England.
At Nootka he met Vancouver, the British commis-
sioner. By the treaty Spain had agreed to restore all
lands of which England had been dispossessed. Cuadra
claimed, as was indeed the fact, that there were no
such lands and therefore proposed to fix a boundary,
offering to give up-Nootka and make Fuca Strait the
line. Vancouver demanded the unconditional surren-
der of the port, and declined to treat on the boundary
question at all. The commissioners not being able to
agree, left the matter to be settled by their respective
governments, and soon all the vessels, Spanish and
English, sailed for the south. ;
The Sutil and Mexicana had been sent from Aca-
pulco in March under captains Dionisio Galiano and
Cayetano Valdés to explore the strait of Juan de
Fuca and:the coast to the south. After exploring the
sound in company with Vancouver's fleet the two ves-
sels returned to Monterey" where they arrived Sep-
tember 22d and remained till the 26th of October.
For northern explorations see Hist. N. W. Coast, i. 270, etc. Previous
arrivals of 1792 had been the Concepcion, Captain Elisa, from Nootka, leaving
supplies at Monterey July 9th, at Santa Barbara, Sept. 8th, and at San Diego,
Oct. Sth; the Santa Gertrudis, Capt. Torres, from Nootka, touching at Monterey
Aug. 11th to Oct. 26th, en route for San Blas; and the Saturnina, which arrived
from San Blas at San Francisco Sept. 10th and at Monterey Oct. 17th. For arri-
‘SUTIL’ AND ‘MEXICANA.’ 507
The author of the diary devotes two chapters to Cal-
ifornia, which contain a description of Monterey and
its surroundings, a somewhat extended account of
aboriginal manners and customs, and a superficial but
not inaccurate view of the provincial establishments,
including a table of mission statistics. He speaks
highly of the country and of the missionaries; but
there is nothing in his observations on California that
possesses any special value as throwing new light on
her condition or institutions. He presents, however,
the following not very well founded complaint: “These
deserving soldiers, and not less useful colonists, live
with the affliction that when with failing strength they
can no longer support the fatigues of their profession,
they are not permitted to settle there and devote
themselves to agricultural occupations. This prohi-
bition of building houses and tilling lands near the
presidio seems directly opposed to all the purposes of
utility, security, and prosperity of those establish-
ments, and contrary perhaps to what good policy
should dictate. Were the soldiers permitted while in
the service to employ their savings and moments of
leisure in forming a hacienda and raising cattle, both
for their families’ convenience and as a resource
against poverty...it is very likely that within a few
years there would be planted a flourishing colony most
useful for its inhabitants and of great service to Span-
ish navigators.” After leaving Monterey Galiano and
Valdés sailed’ down the coast, making some obser-
vations without anchoring, and communicating with
the transport Concepcion as they passed San Diego.
Most of their stay in California had been spent in—
preparing their reports and charts of northern re-
gions.” I reproduce the general map of the Califor-
nia coast.
vals and departures of vessels see Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 75-6, 88-9, 159,
162-3; St. Pap., Sac., MS., iii. 17; vi. 68, 72; ix. 82-3; Prov. Ree., MS. oul:
141, 157; Nawarrete, Introd., xxiii. -xxxi, There is some confusion respect-
ing duties.
2 Sutil y Mexicana, Relacion del Viage hecho por las goletas Sutil y Mexicana
en el ato de 1792 para reconocer el Estrecho de Fuca; con una Introduccion,
508 RULE OF ARRILLAGA.
Co. Perpetua
fPo.de Sidman
PC.Redondo
=} C,Toledo
———
<? Dec. 3, 1794, governor says that Vancouver left on the shore $505 worth
of iron-ware. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 32. He left well supplied and contented.
Id:, vi. 31.. Dee. Ist, Argiiello certifies a list of goods including 24 blankets
left in spite of governor’s excuses. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxi. 5.’
Dec. 1794 and Feb. 1795, some not very clear communications of the com-
mandant of Santa Barbara about the gifts made. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii.
87; xill. 23. Dec. Ist, gov. to Sal, repeats the old orders forbidding intercourse
with foreign vessels. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 26-7. Feb. 23, 1795, viceroy to gov.,
approving “the restrictions imposed. ‘Vancouver should regard his admission
as a special favor. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 11, April Lia 1795, viceroy for-
wards royal decree commending the governor’ s acts in not allowing Vancouver
to examine the country or to take breeding cattle for English colonies. Van-
couver is alluded to as having visited Santa Barbara and San Diego ‘under
pretence’ of wanting wood and water. Jd., xiii. 103-4. ~°
VANCOUVER’S OBSERVATIONS. 527
iess extensive in California than in the far north, need
no further attention here.® His persistence in ignoring
the name California and extending New Albion down
beyond San Diego by virtue of Drake’s so-called ‘dis-
covery isan amusing and harmless idiosyncrasy. His
ignorance of the Spanish language and the peculiarly
delicate position in which he was placed on account
of international jealousies led him into many errors
respecting matters with which he became acquainted
by conversation with the Spaniards, his narrative in
this respect presenting a marked contrast with that of
La Pérouse; yet his errors are mostly confined to
names and dates and minor details, and his general
statements are more accurate and comprehensive than
might have been expected. With the natural advan-
tages of the country he was favorably impressed, and
of them he left a fair record. Of the Spanish people
with whom he came in contact, always excepting
Arrillaga with whom he was unjustly but naturally
offended, he speaks in kind and flattering terms,
though criticising their inactivity and indisposition
to take advantage of the possibilities by which they
were surrounded. The natives, except some in the
Santa Barbara Channel, seemed to be a race of the
most miserable beings ever seen possessing the faculty
of human reason, and little if any advantages had
attended their conversion. Yet he testified to their
affectionate attachment to their missionary benefac-
tors, whose aims and methods, without attempting a
discussion of the mission system, he approves, look-
ing for gradual success in laying foundations for civil
society. For the friars personally he had nothing but
enthusiastic praise.
What was needed to stimulate true progress in
California was a friendly commercial intercourse with
foreigners, to create new wants, introduce new com-
53Vancouver’s atlas contains a carefully prepared map on a large scale,
better than any of earlier date, of the whole California coast, which I repro-
duce. There are charts of Trinidad Bay, San Diego, and the entrance to San
Francisco, and seven views of points along the coast. .
é
528 - RULE OF ARRILLAGA.
pore
2 |
i
—————— =PieAne Sao aa
= = Baie dEaMirrer Si eieion
Png, Presidio
: I .
E Sa Sn. Antonio
==
UAT
i
I
|
i
i
t
HA
!
!
TTT TTT HE
VANCOUVER’S Map, 1794.
&
AN ENGLISH VIEW OF CALIFORNIA. 529
forts, give an impetus to industries and a value to
Jancs and produce; this and a proper degree of atten-
tion from the court of Madrid. For with California
considered as a Spanish possession the English navi-
gator was greatly disappointed. The actual condition
of the people “ill accorded with the ideas we had con-
ceived of the sumptuous manner in which the Spaniards
live on this side of the globe.” “Instead of finding a
country tolerably well inhabited and far advanced in
cultivation, if we except its natural pastures, flocks
of sheep, and herds of cattle, there is net an object to
indicate the most remote connection with any Euro-
pean or other civilized nation.” At the weakness of
Californian defenses Vancouver was particularly sur-
prised. ‘The Spanish monarchy retains this extent
of country under its authority by a force that, had we
not been eye-witnesses of its insignificance in many
instances, we should hardly have given credit to the
possibility of so small a body of men keeping in awe
and under subjection the natives of this country; with-
out resorting to harsh or unjustifiable measures.”
The soldiers “are totally incapable of making any
resistance against a foreign invasion, an event which
is by no means improbable.” “Why such an extent
of territory should have been thus subjugated, and
after all the expense and labour that has been bestowed
on its colonization turned to no account whatever, is
a mystery in the science of state policy not easily to
be explained.” I shall chronicle in the succeeding
chapters a series of efforts, not very brilliantly, or at
least permanently, successful, to remedy the evils
complained of by Vancouver.
54 For general remarks, in addition to those scattered through the narra-
tive, see Voyage, ii. 486-504.
Hist. Car., VoL. I. 34
CHAPTER XXV.
RULE OF BORICA, FOREIGN RELATIONS, AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
1794-1800.
DiEGo DE Bor1cA—ARRIVAL AT LORETO—BRANCIFORTE VICEROY—BORICA’S °*
JOURNEY TO MONTEREY—ARRILLAGA’S INSTRUCTIONS—CHARMS OF CaLI-
FORNIA—RESUME OF Events IN Borica’s TERM OF OFFICE—COAST
DEFENCES— PROMISED REENFORCEMENTS—F'RENCH WAR CONTRIBUTION
—ForREIGN VESSELS — PRECAUTIONS—THE ‘ PH@NIx’— BROUGHTON’S
Visir—TuHeE ‘OTTER’ oF BostonN—A YANKEE TRICK—ARRIVAL OF
ALBERNI AND THE CATALAN VOLUNTEERS—ENGINEER CORDOBA’S SUR-
VEYS—WAR WITH ENGLAND—COASTING VESSELS—W AR CONTRIBUTION—
DISTRIBUTION OF ForcES—Map oF CALIFORNIA—THE ‘ ELIzA’—THE
‘Betsy’—Wak WITH RusstA—INDIAN AFFAIRS—MINoR HostTILITIES—
CAMPAIGNS OF AMADOR, CASTRO, AND MorRaGaA.
“THE new governor whom his Majesty is to ap-
point in place of the deceased Lieutenant-colonel Don
José Romeu must have the advantages of good talent,
military skill, and experience, robust health for the
oreatest hardships, prudent conduct, disinterestedness,
energy, and a true zeal for the service; since all these .
he needs in order to traverse frequently the broad ter-
ritories of the peninsula, strengthen defences, regulate
the presidial troops, prevail by skill, or if that suffice
not by force, over the ideas and aims and prejudicial
introduction of the English, and contribute to the
advancement of pueblos and missions.” Such were the —
views of Viceroy Revilla Gigedo;’ such were the qual-
ities sought in Romeu’s successor, and believed with
much reason to have been found in Lieutenant-colonel
Don Diego de Borica, adjutant-inspector of presidios
in Chihuahua, who early in 1794 was appointed gov-
1 Revilla Gigedo, Informe de 12 de Abril 1793, 152-3. rok
(
COMING OF THE GOVERNOR. 531
ernor, political and military, and commandant-inspector
of the Californias, He took possession of his office
at Loreto the 14th of May, having arrived two days
before by sea from San Blas accompanied by his wife
and daughter. On the same day he communicated his
accession to officials in Alta California and sent Arri-
llaga instructions to continue acting as governor until
he should arrive at Monterey.? Shortly after Borica
assumed office his friend the viceroy, to whom proba-
bly he owed the appointment, was replaced by the
Conde de Branciforte, who on July 12th took posses-
sion of the office. His succession was announced in
California in November.’
Borica remained two months and more at Loreto,
attending as may be supposed to affairs of state, but in
the mean time by no means neglecting the friends left
in Mexico, to whom he wrote long epistles narrating
in a witty and jocose vein, for he .was “a fellow of
infinite jest,” the details of his journey to California
with its attendant sea-sickness, which had rendered
the mere mention of the ocean a terror to the ladies.
At Loreto, where the governor represented himself
as “haciendo en esta Barataria mas alcaldadas que
Sancho Panza en la suya,” health was regained and all
went well. The Ist of July he sent to the king a
petition for a colonel’s commission, which he received in
the autumn of 1795.4 [twas his intention as announced
in several letters to complete the journey to Monterey
by land, but as the ladies regained their health and
? Letters of Borica in May 1794 to various persons in Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xxl. 196, 198-205; xii. 174; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 115-16; vi. 23. There seems
to be little or no doubt about May 14th as the date of taking possession; but the
day of arrival is given by Borica himself in different letters as May 11th, 12th,
and 13th. May 31st, Lasuen from Santa Barbara congratulates the new gov-
ernor. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 36. July 31st, Commandant of San Diego
has received the announcement and proclaimed it in his district. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xii. 20. Arrillaga to.same effect Aug. 4th. /d., xxi. 196. Vice-
roy has received the news Aug. 5th. fd., xi. 190-1. Aug. 2d, Argiiello orders
Borica proclaimed as governor at San José. San José, Arch., MS., iii. 23.
3 July 5, 1794, Revilla Gigedo announces the arrival of his successor. He
will be glad to keep up a private correspondence with Borica. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xi. 183. July 12th, Branciforte announces his accession. Id., xi. 189.
* Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi: 197; xiii. 553;)xiv. 29; Prov. Ree., MS., v. 71);
Wi 26; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii. 2.
532 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
courage, and were made acquainted with the prospec-
tive difficulties of the peninsula route in time of
drought, the plan was changed. All went on board
the Saturnina, July 20th, and four days later set sail
for San Luis Bay far up the gulf. The winds and
other circumstances seem to have been unfavorable, for
on the 28th the governor decided to land at Santa
Ana and make his way to San Fernando and across
the frontier by land.© With the exception of some
correspondence about the furnishing of escorts and
animals by the different commandants along the way
we know nothing of the journey until he reached San
Juan Capistrano in the middle of October.®
Here he met Arrillaga, who had left Monterey in
September, and spent four days in consultation with
that officer, starting northward the 17th of October.’
Here I suppose were delivered by Arrillaga the
instructions left by each retiring governor for the
guidance of his successor, though the document as
preserved bears no date. It was intended to acquaint
the new ruler with the condition of affairs in the
province; but it is devoted almost entirely to local
and minor details, containing nothing of general in-
terest with which the reader is not already acquainted,
5 On embarkation and voyage, see Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 75; Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 134. July 10th, governor writes to viceroy on the difficulties of the
land journey. Jd., vi. 26. I think the name Santa Ana may be an error, or
that there may have been a locality of that name north of Loreto; for it seems
hardly probable that the vessel was ‘driven far south, or that Borica visited
Loreto again on his way north. Vancouver, Voyage, iii. 330-1, tells us that
Borica had come all the way from Mexico on horseback.
6 July 28th, Borica to P. Calvo, asks for 24 mules and 24 natives, for his
journey to San Fernando. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 184. August 6th, Grajera to
Borica, Has sent 29 mules, 35 horses with 8 soldiers under Corporal Olivera
from San Diego. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 19. Sept. 8th, ‘N.’ from San Fer-
nando to commandant at Sta Barbara, asks for 10 men and 54 animals to be
sent at once; similar demand enclosed for commandant at Monterey for escort
to be sent to San Luis. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 1. Sept. 15th, Goycoechea
wishes a pleasant journey and a safe arriyal to Borica and his wife and
daughter. ‘C. P. B.’ Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 102. Oct. Ist and 2d, Ar-
giello to Borica and to Arrillaga, Has sent 60 animals with 10 men to San
Luis. Id., xii. 147.
’ Arrillaga was at Monterey Sept. 16th, and left before Sept. 22d. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xii. 152-8. Oct. 16th, Borica to viceroy announcing conference
with Arrillaga and intention to start next day. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 28. Dec.
17th, viceroy’s acknowledgment of above. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 207.
A CONVIVIAL RULER. 533
therefore I do not deem it necessary to reproduce it
here even en résumé.’ - Arrillaga proceeded to Loreto
to resume his duties as lieutenant-governor; while
Borica continued his journey northward to the capital
where he arrived the 9th of November.2 With Mon-
terey the new ruler was delighted, deluging his
friends and relatives with letters in praise of the
country immediately on his arrival. “To wvir mucho
and without care come to Monterey,” he tells them.
“This is a great country; climate healthful, between
cold and temperate; good bread, excellent meat,
tolerable fish; and bon humeur which is worth all the
rest. Plenty to eat, but the most astounding is the
general fecundity, both of rationals and irrationals.
The climate is so good that all are getting to look
like Englishmen. This is the most peaceful and quiet
country in the world; one lives better here than in
the most cultured court of Europe.” He was busy
with routine duties at first, but he found time for
convivial pleasures with Vancouver, Puget, Alava, and
Fidalgo, all jolly good fellows, and not one of whom
was more than a match for Borica ‘before a dozen of
Rhine wine, port, or Madeira.””°
The Spanish authorities were now somewhat aroused
to the importance, of strengthening Californian coast
defences, and this subject was therefore still more
prominent in Borica’s term of office than it had been
during Arrillaga’s administration. ‘To compensate
the soldiers for labor begun on the presidio buildings
in Fages’ time an appropriation of $5,200 had been
made from the royal treasury to be expended in sup-
plies." In the middle of 1793 some guns:and work-
8 Arrillaga, Papel de Puntos para conocimiento del Gobernador de la
Peninsula, 1794. MS.
®In three letters Borica says he arrived on Nov. 9th. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xxi. 207-8; but Vancouver, Voyage, iii. 330-1, affirms it was on the llth. It
is difficult to understand how either could mistake.
10 Borica’s Letters in Nov.—Dec. 1794. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 207-12.
1 Oct. 26, 1791, viceroy to governor, Has ordered the $5,200 paid to the
habilitado general; $1,600 for Monterey, and $1,200 for each of the other
534 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
men had been brought up from San Blas, and at
Borica’s arrival in the autumn of 1794 work had been
going on for over a year on the San Francisco defences,
besides some slight preparations at Monterey and San
Diego. Details of progress at the different presidios
may be more appropriately given in connection with
local annals in another chapter, and it is only in a
general way that I propose to treat the subject here.”
Viceroy Revilla Gigedo earnestly recommended
the fortification of the coast in his instructions of
1794 to his successor Branciforte,” who called upon
Colonel Costansé, the same who had visited Califor-
nia with the first expedition of 1769, for a report on
the subject. Costansdé’s report was rendered Octo-
ber 17th of the same year, and was to the effect that
the difficulties in the way of adcquate fortification
were insuperable. The author had no faith in forts
situated in-a distant province without home resources.
The only way to protect the country was to encourage
settlement and commerce.“ In this report, however,
presidios. Jan. 15, 1792, V.R. to gov., Gen. Carcaba says that $5,200 is not
enough, since Fages had estimated $12,000 for three presidios.. The V. R.,
however, claims that Fages’ estimate was on the basis of 150 per cent advance
on goods, or $5,200 without that advance; though Fages later raised the esti-
mate to $12,000, but this had no approval of general and king. He therefore
refuses to give more than the $5,200 with $400 for package and freight. St.
Pap., Sac., MS., i. 46-7; Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 112. Some details about
the distribution of the amount among the presidios, Id,, xi. 54, 57; xii. 57-9;
Prov. Rec., iv. 3, 4.
12 Beginning of work at San Francisco announced in August 1793. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xxi. 113. March 18, 1793, commandant of San Blas writes
that he has ordered fortification of Bodega and the presidios (except Sta Bar-
bara, supposed to be already in good condition). The vessels will bring the
needed aid and the work is to begin at San Francisco. July 8th, governor has
heard of the viceroy’s approval and order for vessels to carry material. Prov.
St. Pup., MS., xxi. 106-7 Jan. 22, 1794, V. R. to gov., says the Junta
Superior, after consulting the fiscal determined on Dec. 28, 1793, to conclude’
the presidio works, the cost to be paid from the tobacco revenue. The gov-
ernor must form estimates and finish the work as solidly and economically as _
possible. Jd., xii. 180-1. The document of Dec. 28th, in Nueva Lspaia, Acu-
erdos, MS., 13, 14. June 9th, V. R. to gov., has ordered supply-vessels to
transport timber from Monterey for the southern defences. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xi. 175-6. Arrillaga, Papel de Puntos, MS., 192, explained his plan that
the workmen at San Francisco should come to Monterey to prepare timber ©
for that place and for the south.
8 Revilla Gigedo, Instruccion, MS. i. 530.
14 Costansd, Informe sobre el Prot yeclo de fortificar los Presidios de ea Nueva
Calijornia, 1794, MS. This officer seems to have been prominent in his pro.
7
J
Me
, on
COAST DEFENCES. 535
and in another of July 1795 made by a committee
composed of Costansé, Fidalgo, and Sanchez, bat-
teries of eight twelve-pounders were recommended
with eighty gunners for the ports, with a view solely
to protection against corsairs. Defence against a hos-
tile squadron was pronounced impracticable, and in case
of attack nothing was to be done but to withdraw the
people and live-stock to the interior. Vessels should,
however, be furnished for coasting service, for which
purpose three very small ones were available at San
Blas.” As we shall see it was decided to send reén-
forcements.
During 1795 while some shght progress was being
made with the fortifications, the war in France was
inciting the government in Spain and Mexico to still.
further measures of defence. Borica had asked early in
this year for armorers, guns, and munitions for the bat-
teries being constructed; and on July 25th the viceroy
replied, promising not only what had been asked but
also a strong reénforcement of troops. He announced
that a company of seventy-two Catalan volunteers
under Lieutenant-colonel Pedro Alberni would soon
embark from San Blas, picked men, robust, well
behaved, and for the most part married, with the
best arms and outfit obtainable. With this compania
Jranca there were to be sent seventeen or eighteen
artillerymen and three armorers. The commandant
general had orders to furnish needed aid from Sonora
and the commandant of San Blas to send up the re-
quired armament. Moreover two small vessels were
to run up and down the coast to bring news every six
months. The viceroy concluded by a repetition of the
old orders respecting foreign vessels visiting the coast,
English ships to be treated more hospitably than
fession. I have before me several original reports on government works in
different parts of Mexico from 1788 to 1800. He is mentioned by Viceroy
Azanza. Ynstruecion, MS., 159. He reported on the fortifications of Vera
Cruz as late as 1811. A/exico, Mem. Guerra, 1840, 26.
% Sanchez, Fidalqo, and Costansé, Informe sobre ausxilios que se propone
enviar d la Cu ijoruia, Ld Julio, L795, MS.
536 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
others, but none to be permitted a long stay or any
inspection of the country.”
The news that war had been declared between
Spain and France came to California in October 1793,
with a decree of the viceroy calling on faithful sub-
jects of Carlos IV. for a contribution. The decree
being duly published the Californians responded with
$740, as was announced by Borica in March 1794;
but the amount was declined with thanks by the
viceroy in June, and thereupon redistributed to the
donors.” In April 1795, however, things in Europe
assuming a darker aspect for Spain, Branciforte again
changed his mind and indicated his willingness to
accept the Californian donation, and even urged in
June a special effort on the governor's part to increase
its amount. Borica published the appeal, and calling
on officers, friars, soldiers, and neophytes to assist,
headed the list himself with $1,000. The missionaries
still professed their inability to give any but spiritual
aid; but other classes responded generously, and con-
tributions reached $3,881. In the early spring of
1797 the return of peace was made known in Cali-
fornia.”
16 Branciforte d Borica sobre fortalecer las Batertas de San Francisco, Monte-
rey, etc., 1795, MS. Onsame date, July 25th, viceroy to governor, of same pur-
port, mentioning the sending of an engineer, and also declaring it impossible
to fortify and defend the whole coast against superior forces. In emergen-
cies aid must be sought from Sonora. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 53-4. The
actual force in California was 225 men; Arrillaga’s plan called for 271; and
Borica’s, 335. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. ALil., MS., xix. 3, 4. Sept. 22, 1795, the
V. R. announces that the company of volunteers was inspected at Mexico on
Sept. llth by Col. Salcedo, and found in good condition. Prov. St. Pap.,
xiii. 83; Nov. 11th, he speaks of the artillerymen, and says the royal treasury
at Vera Cruz pays the expense to the end of 1795. Jd., xiii. 74; St. Pap., Sac.,
MS., vii. 44-5.
17 June 22, 1793, viceroy’s decree. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 129. Oct. 9th,
Arrillaga to commandant of Monterey, mentioning decree of June 19th. St.
Pap., Sac., MS., i. 113. Oct. 28th, Lasuen says the padres will contribute
what they can—that is their prayers. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 36. Dec.
7th, decree has been published in Loreto. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 149.
March 4, 1794, Gov. to V. R. announces $740 as the amount. Jd., xxi. 133;
xii. £38; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 31; Gaceta de Mex., vi. 578. June 26th, V. R.
declines with thanks in the king’s name. Jd., xii. 35; xi. 180, 182; Prov.
Rec., MS., viii. 144. Nov. 11th, Gov. announces the restitution. Prov. Rec.,
MS., iv. 120.
8 April 4, 1795, viceroy to governor, accepting the donation. Proy. St.
Pap., MS., xiii. 114-15. June 17th, V. R. to gov. and other later corre-
THE ‘PHGiINIX,’ CAPTAIN MOORE. 537
The orders respecting precautions against foreign
vesscls were duly promulgated ;” but opportunities for
carrying them into execution were rare in 1795. The
visit of the English merchant vessel Phanix, Cap-
tain Moore—if that may be taken as a satisfactory
average from the Mor, Mayor, Moor, Murr, and Morr
of the archives—was the only sensation of the year,
and was indeed a mild ene. She touched at Santa
Barbara in August from Bengal for supplies, affording
the provincial authorities an excellent opportunity to
repeat the old orders, and the local powers to carry
out the hospitable but strict policy in such cases pre-
scribed. They were fortified with the treaty of 1790
and other formidable material for a discussion on inter-
national obligations; but the Phenix was content to
receive a few needed supplies and sail away. Moore
left with Goycoechea a Boston lad who desired to re-
main in the country and ‘become a Christian;’ but he
was sent to San Blas afew months later.” Six letters
spondence on subject. St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 99-105. July 19th, Oct. 12th,
16th, Gov. to commandants and padres. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 830-1, 135, 137; vi.
151. Oct. 18th, Lasuen to gov. explaining the poverty of the padres, the great
services they are rendering the king, and their inability, with the best wishes,
to give anything but their prayers for the victory of Spanish arms. Arch. Sta
Barbara, MS., xii. 234; St. Pap. Sac., MS., ix. 88-93. March 12, 1796,
announcement of results, showing that San Francisco gave $707; Monterey
and San José, $554; Santa Barbara and Angeles, $980, and San Diego, $639.
St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 98;.viii. 75; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 153. Jan. 17, 1797,
viceroy’s thanks for aid, including the prayers. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xii.
234; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 181. Peace announced by V. R. Nov. 29, 1795,
and solemn mass of thanksgiving ordered. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 73.
Published by gov. Feb. 29, 1796. Prov. fec., MS., iv. 144. Original letter
of Lasuen asking padres to say mass at each mission. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS.,
iv. 55-7. General amnesty and pardon on account of peace, and of marriage
of princesses. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 82; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 40.
19 Jan. 6, 1795, governor orders that even in the case of San Blas vessels,
the first persons landing must be closely examined to be sure they are really
Spaniards. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 16-17. Nov. 2d, Sal to comisionado
of S. José urging strict compliance with the V. R’s orders of J uly 25. S. José
Arch., MS., iv. 26. Nov. 14th, Goycoechea to Borica. No foreigners will be
allowed to visit the country on horseback or to get breeding animals. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xiv. 29-30.
20 Portrait of Thomas Murr sent to viceroy (?). Prov. Rec. MS., viii. 166.
Sept. 5th, Goycoechea to Borica, Says the boy’s name was Bostones and he
was of good parentage, a pilot and carpenter. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 69-
70. Capt. Matute is asked to carry the young Bostonian to San Blas. Td. eRRt,
230. His name was Joseph O’Cain, an Irishman, and he went in the Aranzazu
(perhaps in 1796). Prov. ec., MS., iv. 22-3,30-1. ‘This Englishman isa native
of Ireland and his parents live now in Boston,’ Prov. Sé. Pap., Ben. Mil.,
538 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
with English addresses were taken from the mail this
d fe ded to the vi by Borica’s order.”*
year and forwarded to the viceroy by Boricas order.
Throughout the year 1796 precautionary orders
against foreign vessels continued to be issued, pre-
senting no variation in matter or manner from those
of former years, yet it may be well to notice an order
of Borica to the effect that large war-ships, able to
seize San Diego, were not to be permitted to enter
the port, supplies being sent out in boats. Just how
they were to be kept out does not clearly appear,
since no such ship came to that harbor.” In July a
report reached Monterey, coming from an American
captain at Nootka, who received it from an English
captain at Botany Bay, that the Englishmen had
orders to attack Spanish vessels; but the report did
not receive much credit, and the viceroy’s orders dated
November 30th to make reprisals on all English craft
entering the ports, did not reach California till the
next year.”
Only two foreign vessels made their appearance on
the coast this year. The first was the English man-
of-war Providence, under Captain Broughton who had
visited California before with Vancouver. She anch-
MS 4 tod ll. There is a José Burling also mentioned as an Irishman who
arrived in or about this year. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xix. 8,9. See also on the
visit of the Phenix. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 17-68; xiv. 67; St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., xvii. 1; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 22-3. Another English vessel, the
Resolution, Capt. Lochi (Locke?), was reported by Grajera of San Diego as
having touched at Todos Santos Bay in August. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii.
66-70.
*t Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 175. The only Spanish vessels of the year
seem to have been the Concepcion, Melendez, and the Aranzazu, Matute,
with the memorias.
22, Jan. 1796, viceroy to governor, no person from a foreign vessel to be
admitted into California. Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 158; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii.
7. March 30th, Sal to Borica, for supplies furnished a receipt to be taken and
sent to gov. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 104. No goods to be taken in return
for supplies. St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv.69. April 7th, Borica to commandant of
San Diego, war-vessels not to be admitted into the ports. Prov. Rec., MS., v.
242, April 18th, Indians to be sent to Bodega to look out for foreign vessels.
Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 11. Nov. 2d, Borica to V. R. St. Pap.
Sac., MS., iv. 61. June 18th, viceroy orders strict precautions. Prov. St.
Pag. MB Sivas
3 July 15, 1796, governor to commandant, private. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.
149. Aug. 25th, Grajera to gov. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 115. Nov. 30th,
viceroy to gov. Id., xiv. 173. Oct. 19th, a courier arrived at Monterey from
{ er x . . Y 1 TCN -
San Diego, announcing that 18 sail had been sighted. S¢. Pap.,Sac., MS., vi. 89.
n
7
‘4
i
THE ‘OTTER,’ CAPTAIN DORR, 539
ored at Monterey, obtained some needed supplies, left
some instruments which had been intended for Bodega
y Cuadra, but which Borica received and paid for, and
then sailed away. It is recorded not very clearly,
that Broughton after raising his anchor attempted in
boats some exploration of the Rio San Antonio, or
Salinas, and that his boats were fired at.* The other
vessel, the first from the United States to anchor in a
Californian port, was the Otter of Boston, commanded
by Ebenezer Dorr.” She carried six guns and twenty-
six men, arriving at Monterey on October 29th, after
having cruised in the vicinity for nearly a week.
Having obtained wood and water, freely supplied by
the Spaniards on sight of her passport from General
Washington signed by the Spanish consul at Charles-
ton, she sailed on the 6th of November. Dorr asked
permission to land some English sailors who had
secretly boarded his vessel at Port Saxon.” His re-
quest was refused, but he landed five men on the
beach at night, and the next night five more and a
woman on the Carmelo shore, forcing them from the
boat, they said, by the use of a pistol. Dorr’s conduct
naturally seemed to the Spaniards ungrateful; but
his position was doubtless a difticult one, and the nec-
essity of getting rid of his convict passengers was
urgent. Governor Borica regarded it as a dishonor-
able trick on the part of the Yankee; but he had to
44Sept. 10, 1796, viceroy to Borica, approves of his having fired at the
boats, suspecting that the aim was to explore the salinas, and he will senda
vessel to prevent such attempts. St. Pap., Sac., MS., viii. 74. The Providence
fired a salute of 11 guns on entering and the battery responded. According
to Jd., vi. 85-6, she sailed June 18th; but according to Prov. St. Pap., Ben.
AMil., MS., xxiii. 3, 5, itwasJuly 8th. The instruments left were worth £250.
According to Id., xxiv. 6, the vessel appears to have been at San Francisco
on June 10th. Alberni is ordered not to let Broughton land. Orders were
sent to other ports not to permit a landing or to furnish any more supplies.
Prov. Iec., MS., iv. 67. Supplies furnished amounted to $308, the bill being
sent to Mexico. Jd., iv. 206. The instruments were sent to.San Blas. Prov,
St. Pap., MS., xxi. 242.
*5 She is called by the Spaniards the Otter Boston, E/ otro Boston, and Loter
Boston; and their captain, Dow, Dour, Dor, Daur, Door, and Dore.
*6 Herbert C. Dorr, son of this captain, a well known litéérateur residing
in fan I'rancisco, tells me that these men were convicts from Dotany Bay,
and that he has often heard his faihcr tell the story of this voyage and of his
540 RULE. OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
provide for the new-comers. They were set at work
as carpenters and blacksmiths at nineteen cents per
day, and they proved so industrious and well behaved
that. Borica would fain have retained them in the
country; but in obedience to royal orders he was
obliged to send them the next year to San Blas en
route for Cadiz.”
On March 23d and April Ist the Valdés and Sun
Carlos arrived at Monterey and San Francisco re-
spectively with most of the compatifa franca, and of
the artillerymen, the rest coming up the following
spring, and the military force in California being thus
increased by nearly one hundred inen.* Lieutenant-
troubles with these reckless men who used the Otter as a means of escape.
The Dorr family furnished several masters and owners of vessels engaged in
the fur-trade in northern waters, as will be seen in the fist. N. W. Coast, this
series.
27 Nov. 5, 1796, Borica to viceroy, announcing arrival and stating that
no irregularities have been committed by the Americans. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
iv. 62-3; vi. 86-8. Nov. 10th, Borica to V. R., describing the subsequent
‘irregularities.’ Jd.,iv. 63-4. Dec. 6th, Has received order to send the Irish-
man Burling and all other foreigners to Cadiz, will therefore send by first
vessel the men left by Dorr. Jd., iv. 68-9. Dorr obtained supplies to the
value of $187. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 288. Five Englishmen kept as prisoners
until the Aranzazu arrives. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 244. Aug. 1796, V. R.’s
order to send Burling and foreigners to Cadiz. Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 165; iv.
147. I suppose this Burling and the Boston boy, and O’Cain to have been
possibly the same person. Oct. 6, 1797, Borica to V. R., sends the 11 to San
Blas. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 56. Oct. 19th, Borica asks Capt. Caamaiio to take
them. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 270. Feb. 3, 1798, V. R. approves, Jd.,
xvii. 17. Oct. 23d, a strange vessel anchored off Santa Cruz. Prov. Rec., MS.,
v. 94. Doubtless the Oiter. The Spanish vessels of the year were the Valdés
and San Carlos which brought troops, etc., from San Blas in April, touching
at San Francisco, Monterey, and Santa Barbara; the Sutil, Capt. Tobar, from
a tour in the north; the Concepcion, Capt. Salazar from Manila at Santa Bir-
bara in April; and the Aranzazu, Capt. Cosme Bertodano, with the memorias
at Monterey and San Francisco in July, and at Santa Barbara in September.
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 60-1, 74, 77, 148; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 24, &6, 133;
xxi. 236; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii. 6. According to the Relacion de las
Embarcaciones que han conducido los Situados de los 4 presidios de la Nueva
California, con espresion de los nombres de sus comandantes, desde el aio de
1781, hasta 1796, MS., it appears that since 1788 only one vessel each year
had come especially with the regular memorias of supplies, though as we have
seen several vessels arrived for one purpose or another.
28 Arrival of the vessels. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii. 6. Arrival of Concep-
cion, 1797, with Lieutenant Suarez and 4 privates. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii.
148. The compania franca of Catalan volunteers consisted of captain, 2 lieu-
tenants, 3 sergeants—Joaquin Ticd, Francisco Gutierrez, and Juan Inigues—
8 corporals, 2 drummers, and 59 privates—75 men in all. Full list of names
in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 1-4. The artillery detachment con-
sisted of a sergeant—José Roca—8 corporals, and 14 privates—18 men in all,
Total 03. Jd., xxiii, 11.
REENFORCEMENTS FROM MEXICO. 541
colonel Pedro Alberni, captain of the Catalan volun-
teers, became at once commandant at San Francisco,
where twenty-five of his men were stationed. Twen-
ty-five were sent to San Diego under Lieutenant José
Font, and eight under sub-lheutenant Simon Suarez
remained at Monterey, a sergeant and thirteen men
being scattered in various duties. The artillery de-
tachment under Sergeant José Roca was also distrib-
uted between the three presidios.” With the troops
came the lieutenant of engineers, Alberto de Cérdoba,
who proceeded to make an inspection of the coast de-
fences. In September he reported to the viceroy,
chiefly on the works at San Francisco, which he found
exceedingly defective and well-nigh useless. The bat-
tery at Monterey was also useless so far as the de-
fence of the port was concerned, since vessels could
easily anchor and land men out of range of the guns.
Cordoba believed that effective forts and enough of
them could not be erected except at an enormous
expense, and he favored rather an increase of troops
and one or more cruising vessels on the coast. He
subsequently visited the south, and found the defences
not more effective than those in the north, as the
governor informed Branciforte at the beginning of
1797. Borica, however, found some comfort in the
thought that the foes from whom attack might be
feared were probably ignorant how weak the fortifi-
cations really were.”
29 July 8, 1793, the presidios had 161 muskets, 59 pistols, 177 swords, 223
lances. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 150-3. July 10th, received from San Blas
158 muskets, 142 swords, 96 lances—value $2,650. Jd., xxi. 194; Prov. St.
Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxv. 1. Sept. 15, 1795, 170 cwt. powder sent. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xiii. 81. Dec. 1796, Feb. 1797, 200 muskets, 200 pistols, 2C0
cartridges, 200 musket-cases, 16,000 flints. Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 170, 173; iv.
157; vi. 58; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 223; xvi. 240; xvii. 146; xxi. 253.
80 Cérdoba, Informe al Virey so! re defensas de California, 1796, MS. Dee.
27, 1796, viceroy to gov. has received Cordoba’s plans of San Francisco, Mon-
terey, and Santa Cruz, has ordered the fitting-out of two cruisers, and has
taken measures for the proper strengthening of San Francisco. St. Pap., Sac.,
MS., vii. 32-5. Jan. 20, 1797, Borica to V. R. Prov. Rec., MS. vi. 78.
Cérdoba’s first report was sent to Mexico by Borica with his communication
of Sept. 21st, enclosing five plans and approving Coérdoba’s suggestions. Sé.
Pup., Sac., MS.,iv. 56-7. Borica’s instructions to Cér“oba for his southern trip,
Oct. 8, 1796. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 246-7. He was to gather material for
542 RULE OF BORICA-—-FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The transport San Carlos, Captain Saavedra, arrived
at San Francisco March 11,1797, and probably brought
the news of actual war with England, though the
communication of the viceroy does not appear in the
archives;” for the 13th of March despatches began to
circulate throughout the province, ordering the seiz-
ing of English vessels, instructing commandants to
redouble their precautions, and calling upon friars to
ate not only prayers but Indians if needed. On the
rst alarm of invasion notice was to be sent to Mon-
terey, the military forces were to concentrate at the
threatened point, and live-stock was to be driven
inland. Men were drilled in the use of arms; messen-
gers were kept in constant motion; Indians were
harangued on the horrors of an English invasion;
sentinels were posted wherever an anchorage or land-
ing was deemed possible; able-bodied men were
gathered at the presidios, while the disabled ones
were detailed to protect women and children; and
strict economy was practised, since a non- arrival of
the supply-ship was feared. This state of things
lasted several months, but the popular excitement
was considerably allayed by the arrival of the Con-
cepcion and Princesa in April and May, and by the
delay of the English invasion, nothing more alarming
having occurred in the mean time than the rumored
finding of some bodies of white men in the surf at
Point Reyes.*
a general map of California. Dec. 11th, Cérdoba arrived in San Diego. St.
Pap., Sac., vii. 53.
31 Arrival of San Cdrlos, Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 249; Prov. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS., xvi. 62. There is a letter of the viceroy to Borica dated
Jan. 25th, in which he alludes to some vague rumors of trouble with England,
and recommends precautions. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 218-19.
32 March 13th, Borica to Lasuen, Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 183. Borica to com-
mandants. Jd.,iy.155. March 13th to 14th, Lasuen to padres ordering prayers,
litany on Satur days, mass once a month, and exhortations such as Maccabeus
gave during the campaign against Nicanor. Arch. Sta Barbar a, MS., xi. 141-4;
Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 88-4. March 17th, Borica to commandants. Prov.
ftec., MS., iv. 155-G. March 19th, 24th, Sal to B. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi.
220-22, March 22d, B. to commandant S. F. Cautious with strange vessels,
war-ships to be menaced. Prov. Rec., MS. v. 82-3. March 28th, April 10th,
2d, Goycoechea to B., Santa Barbara defences in a very bad state to resist
attack. Is suspicious ‘of the Indians to whom the British have given beads.
ALARMING RUMORS. 548
During the months of July, August, and Septem-
ber all seems to have been quiet,* but in the middle
of October there came a report from the peninsular
mission of San Miguel that five, ten, or even sixteen
vessels had been seen making for the north. The
falsity of the report was ascertained before a week
had passed, but not before it had been published with
all the precautionary orders of old throughout the
province, and had been sent to Mexico.* This emer-
gency elicited from Governor Borica peremptory in-
structions which went all the rounds, to the effect
that in case he were taken prisoner by the English
no attention was to be paid to any orders purporting
to come from him, whatever their nature; but the
commandants were to go on in defence of California
as their duty and circumstances might dictate.™ A
Families to be gradually removed to Angeles. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 40,
43-5, 188-9. March 3lst, Sal to B., all care taken. Provisions to be
destroyed and not allowed to fall into the hands of the foe. Jd., xvi. 220.
March 31st, April Gth, May llth, Grajera to B., a sentinel on the beach at
San Juan Capistrano, Invalids of Angeles, San Gabriel, and Nietos rancho
ready. If the Presidio has to be abandcned, shall it be destroyed or not?
Id., xvi. 267-9, 211-12. April 5th, Fidalgo to B. from San Blas. The Con-
ecpcion, Captain Manrique, and the Princesa, Captain Caamaiio, will protect
the California coast. [d., xvii. 147. April 24th, B. to Goycoechea, 'Target-
shooting every Sunday. Indians must be imbued with anti-English senti-
ments, taught that the foe are hostile to religion, violators of women. Prov.
Rec., MS., 1v. 88. April 25th, B. to commandants, economize, for the
supplies of 1798 cannot come. Jd., iv. 158. April 30th, Alberni to B.,
Indians refuse to go to Bodega from fear. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 152.
May 25th, Princesa at Sta Barbara with supplies. Will remain as a coast-
guard. Jd., xxi. 261-2. June 8th, B. to commandants. If Presidio is aban-
doned, guns to be spiked and powder burned. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 254-5.
Finding of bodies at Pt Reyes in April. Prov. St. Pap., MS.. xv. 116.
Two years later it was learned that San Diego Bay had been surveyed by the
English in 1797 on a moonlight night. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS.,
xiii. 20.
33 Oct. Ist, Vallejo, writing from San José, mentions the arrival of an
English ship at Santa Cruz, Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 155, but nothing more
is heard of the matter.
34 Oct. 15th, Grajera to Borica. Oct. 20th, contradiction. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvi. 190-1. Oct. 19th, B. to all, Spread the news in all directions &
mata-caballo. Vigilancia!! Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 160; v. 259. Dec. 3d, 4th,
viceroy to B. He doubts the accuracy of the report, since the Concepcion
and Princesa came down the coast without seeing any vessels. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xv. 272-9.
35 Oct. 20th, Borica to commandants. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 161. Oct. 22d,
Alberni to comisionado of San José. San José, Arch., MS., v. 28. Nov. 3d,
Goycoechea to B. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 100. Nov. 9th, Grajera to B.
Id., xvi. 195-6.
544 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
large war-ship arrived at Santa Barbara on Dec. 17th,
but she proved to be the Spanish Magallanes, Cap-
tain Espinosa, from Manila, and had come to protect
rather than to invade the country. Finding no foes
in California waters, she sailed for the south, as the
Concepcion and Princesa had done a little earlier.”
The only subsequent events of the war, so far as
California was concerned, were the contribution for
the relief of his Majesty’s exchequer, called for by
Viceroy Azanza through bishop and governor in the
fall of 1798 and paid in the summer of 1799,” and a
new fright, also in 1799, resulting in the usual precau-
tionary orders, and caused by the report of from fifteen
to nineteen English frigates in and about the gulf of
California.
36 Of the San Cdrlos we know nothing beyond her arrival on March 11th
at San Francisco. The Concepcion left San Blas in March with $1,088 of
provisions; she brought also 9 settlers, 2 smiths, 4 soldiers, and 11 padres,
having on board Alférez Lujan and Lieut. Suarez; arrived at San Francisco
April 14th; was at Monterey June 28th; left Monterey Sept. 4th; left San
Diego Nov. 8th; arrived 8. Blas Nov. 22d. The Princesa arrived at Sta
Barbara May 27th with 160 men, many sick with scurvy; was at San Diego
from June to October; and sailed with the Concepcion. The Alagal'anes re-
mained only a few days at Sta Barbara and sailed for Acapulco. The only
other vessel of the year was the Activo, Captain Salazar, from Manila, which
arrived at Monterey Sept. 27th, and sailed Oct. 7th. The vessels of 1798
were the Concepcion, Caamafio, and the Activo, Leon y Luna. The former
arrived at Santa Barbara in May with 8 padres and 24 convicts, and left
Monterey in June. The latter arrived at San Francisco in June. On move-
ments of vessels: Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 90-1, 94, 105, 157, 162; vi. 52, 54, 56,
76, 87, 92-4, 104, 256; St. Pap., Sac., MS., viii. 76; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv.
52, 68, 1138-14; xvi. 54, 62, 175, 192, 197; xvii. 1; xxi. 249, 253-5, 281.
37 Oct. 20, 1798, viceroy to gov. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 82. Nov. 13th,
bishop to padres, and Lasuen’s refusal. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., x. 67-72;
xii. 235-7; vi. 296-7. Jan. 31st, Borica to V. R., sends $1,000 as a personal
contribution. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 118. Same date to commandants. Jd., iv.
170. June 26, account of results. Settlers and Indians of the missions (per-
haps an error for Monterey including Borica’s amount?) $1,853; San Fran-
cisco, $242; Angeles, $175; Santa Barbara, $375; San Diego, $519; Catalan
volunteers, $257; artillery, $39; total, $3,460. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,
MS., xxvii. 7. Another account makes $1,853 the total. Prov. Rec., MS.,
vi. 128.
38 July 4, 1798, Borica to commandants, 19 frigates in the Pacific. Prov.
Rec., MS., iv. 172. July 12th, 15th, Sal to comisionado of San José, for-
warding orders and 1,000 cartridges. S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 48-9. July 19th,
B. to commandant Sta Barbara, a place to be prepared at San Fernando for
archives, reserve arms, and church vessels. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 112. Aug.
3d, V. R. to B., the Manila galleons must remain at Monterey until tue way
is cleared of privateers. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 237. Governor’s orders
in accordance. Prov. Rec., MiS., iv. 176; vi. 131. Sept. 18th, two Spanish
vessels reported as captured, not in Cal. Jd., iv. 173.
-
ry
——
AMERICAN SAILORS. 545
From 1797 to 1800 the military force and distribu-
tion remained practically the same as in 1796 after
the arrival of the Catalan volunteers and the artil-
lery. In April 1797 Borica asked for twenty-five
recruits per year to fill vacancies and for an increase
of thirty infantry and fifty cavalry, besides three war-
vessels. At the beginning of 1799 the total expense
of the military establishment as given by the gov-
_ ernor, was $73,889 per year. In March Borica urged
an increase of $18,624 in the annual expense, by the
addition of three captains and an adjutant inspector,
and the substitution of one hundred and five cavalry
for the Catalan volunteers. Nothing was accomplished,
however, in these directions until after 1800. In the
mean time some slight progress was made on local
fortifications, and the engineer Cordoba, having com-
pleted his surveys and made a general map of Cali-
fornia, had returned to Mexico in the autumn of
oe.
At the end of 1798 four sailors who had been left
in Baja California by the American vessel Gallant
were brought up to San Diego and set to work while
awaiting a vessel to take them to San Blas.“ In May
1799 James Rowan in the Hliza, an American ship,
anchored at San Francisco and obtained’ supplies un-
der a promise not to touch at any other port in the
province.” In August 1800 the American ship Letsy,
39 Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 86-8; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 180, 188-9.
49 Oct. 17, 1795, viceroy to Borica, speaks of Cérdoba’s appointment. He
is able, well behaved, and energetic. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 46. Jan.
1797, Cordoba at work on a map of California. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 78. Nov.
26, 1797, Borica forwards the map to the viceroy; received in March (or
eave L798 7di, vi. G2; vii. “189; Prov. "St Pap., MS., xy¥ii.'3: Nov. 27,
1797, Cérdoba ordered by V. R. to return to Mexico. He sailed in October
1798. Id., xv. 272-3; xxi. 286.
41 Prov. Rec., MS., v. 283, 285; vi. 111; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 197-202.
They were examined carefully but no information of importance was elicited.
Wm. Katt, Barnaby Jan, and John Stephens were natives of Boston ‘in the
American colonies.’ Gabriel Boisse was a Frenchman.
“May 27, 1799, Rowan to commandant. Gives the promise required; will
pay cash; would sail to-day if it were less foggy. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvil.
206-8. June 3d, Borica to viceroy. The Hiliza had 12 guns; gave'a draft on
Boston for $24. Prov. Iec., MS., vi. 125-6. Aug. 3d, V. R. to B., Approves
_ his course; names John Kendrick as supercargo, aud says he wisied *o winter
at Montercy.
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 35
546 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Captain Charles Winship, obtained wood and water
at San Diego.” In October there anchored a large
vessel, of suspiciously English appearance and carry-
ing twenty-six guus, off the mouth of the Rio San
Antonio in Monterey Bay; but she sailed without
committing hostilities.“
In the spring of 1800 there had come news of war
between Spain and Russia. This brought out the
usual orders for precautionary measures and non-inter-
course, but it failed to arouse even a ripple of excite-
ment. An invasion from Kamchatka seems to have
had no terrors for the Californians after their success
in escaping from the fleets of Great Britain.
Precautions taken to guard against invasion by a
foreign foe having thus been narrated, it is necessary
to give some attention to the dangers that threatened
from within at the hands of the natives. Although
this subject of Indian affairs, in this as in most other
periods of California history, is prominent in the
archives, I do not deem it necessary to devote much
space to it here. The Spaniards, few in number
and surrounded by savages of whose numbers and
disposition little was known, were peculiarly situated.
8 Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 1382; xii. 6; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 44; St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., ix. 12, 13. She arrived on the 25th and sailed Sept. 4th; she had 19
men and 10 guns; she asked aid later at San Blas, but was frightened away
by the approach of Spanish vessels, leaving her supplies, papers, captain, su-
percargo, and some sailors.
44 Nov. 30, 1800, governor to commandant. Prov. Ree. .. MS., xi. 146-7.
Gov. to viceroy. Prov. St. Pap,, MS., xviii. 67. Dec. 18th, V. R’s orders to
look out for returning whalers. S¢. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 50. The Concepcion
brought the memorias with nine padres to San Francisco in May 1799, being
kept in quarantine 13 days, and not leaving California until January 1800.
Coming back she arrived at Monterey in August 1800 with supplies, padres,
and children, convoyed by the armed. Princesa, Capt. Vivero. They were
at Santa Barbara in September, and left San Diego in November. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xviii. 9, 69; xxi. 30, 43-4, 48, 54; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 12; xi. 84,
144; St. Pap., Sac., MS., iii. 20; vii. 76-7.
45 Dec. 21, 1799, viceroy to Borica. Newspapers announce war. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., ix. 54. Feb. 8, 1800, B. to commandants. War not certain;
but the province must be ready for an invasion from Kamchatka. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xviii. 23; Prov. Rec., MS., x. 5. March 31st, declaration
of war known at Monterey. Intercourse with Russia forbidden. Id., ix. 2, 7.
‘Oct. 9, 1802, mass ordered for peace. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 1.
|
INDIAN AFFAIRS. 547
They fully realized the dangers to which they would
be exposed in case of a general uprising among the
natives; and the consequence was that any unusual
action on the part of the aborigines, the rumor of
impending hostilities, gave birth to long investiga-
tions and a mass of correspondence out of proportion
to the cause. Nine tenths of the rumors investigated
proved to be groundless, and the few that had real
foundation rested for the most part on petty events
of no interest save in the mission or pueblo where
they happened. Therefore I shall have something to
say of these matters in connection with local annals,
but in this chapter shall enter but slightly into the
details either of events or correspondence.
In September 1794 fifteen or twenty neophytes of
San Luis Obispo and Purisima were arrested .with
some gentiles for making threats and inciting revolt
at San Luis. Five of the culprits were condemned
to presidio work. Throughout the year there was
some apprehension of trouble at San José and Santa
Clara, caused mainly by the natives suddenly leaving
certain rancherias. Lieutenant Sal went in person to
make investigations, and the natives disclaimed any
idea of revolt, but Father fernandez was admonished
‘to be somewhat less zealous, not to say cruel, in his
treatment of the natives.
In March 1795 a party of neophytes were sent
from San Francisco across the bay northerly in search
of fugitive Christians. After marching two nights
and a day in that direction they were attacked by
the gentiles and eight or ten slain. The friars were
blamed for having sent out the party, and the gov-
ernor deemed it unwise to avenge the loss and make
enemies of these warlike and hitherto friendly tribes.
In the south Alférez Grijalva had some trouble with
the natives on the frontier between San Diego and
San Miguel. This was in June and one or two sav-
ages lost their lives. Near Santa Barbara there was
46 Prov, St. Pap., MS., xii. 33, 49-53, 100-4, 124-32, 194,
548 RULE OF BORICA—FOREIGN RELATIONS.
a fight in October between pagans and neophytes in
which lives were lost on both sides.
In June 1797 thirty neophytes were sent across the
bay from San Francisco, in a direction not clearly
indicated, in search of fugitives, and they were rather
roughly treated by a tribe of Cuchillones though none
were killed. This affair caused a long correspondence
and finally brought positive orders from the viceroy
forbidding the friars to send out such parties. In July
after many preliminaries Sergeant Amador made an
expedition against both the Cuchillones and the Saca-
lanes, who had committed the outrage of 1795. He
brought in nine of the gentile culprits and eighty-
three fugitive Christians. The savages are said to
have dug pits which prevented the use of horses, and
obliged Amador to fight on foot hand to hand, seven
or eight of them being killed. At San Luis Obispo
a neophyte was murdered by a gentile and there was
a temporary excitement and fear that the mission
would be attacked. Depredations continued on the
southern frontier and San Diego as usual was deemed
in danger.*
In 1798 the savages are said to have surrounded
San Juan Bautista by night, but they retired after
killing eight Indians of an adjoining rancherfa. In
the resulting expedition to the sierra under Sergeant
Macario Castro, one chief was killed, four captives
were taken, and a soldier was badly wounded. There
was a false alarm of impending attack.on San Miguel,
San Luis, and Purisima by the Tulare and channel
Indians. Around San Francisco Bay and especially
at San José Mission there were: constant rumors of
preparations for hostilities that never occurred.”
“ Prov. Rec., MS., v. 227-8; iv. 35-6; vi. 48-50, 56, 146; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xiii. 82, 1y7e 8, 215-16, 241-2, 275-6; xvi. 71. According to Calleja,
Respuesta, MS., 12, ‘the ranchos of four men in the Monterey district were
destroyed by Indians this year.
© Provost, are MS., xv. 19-27, 122-5, 173-8, 282-3; xvi. 70-3, 90, 239,
249; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 88; v. 206-7, 267.
49 Prov, Rec., MS., iv. 285; v. 210; vi. 106-7, 100; ix. 9; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvii. 97, 100, 106-7.
INDIAN AFFAIRS. 549
The only recorded event of 1799 was an expedition
of Macario Castro in June to the various rancherias
of the Monterey district. His object was to collect
fugitives from San Carlos, Soledad, and San Juan
Bautista, and also to warn the gentiles against har-
boring runaways. Fortified by long and _ explicit
instructions from Borica, and accompanied by thirteen
soldiers and as many natives, Castro was successful.
In May 1800 Pedro Amador made a raid from Santa
Clara into the hills. He killed a chief, broke many
weapons, and took a few captives andrunaways. The
natives again committed some depredations at San
Juan Bautista, and in July Sergeant Moraga, march-
ing against them, captured fourteen.” From the pre-
ceding paragraphs it appears that Borica’s rule was a
period of peace so far as Indian hostilities against the
Spaniards are concerned. Naturally there were con-
flicts between neophytes and pagans, especially when
bands of the former were sent out by the friars to
scour the country for fugitives, and here and there a
theft or other petty depredation was committed; but
the natives were not yet hostile, though they resisted
the soldiers on several occasions in the hills, and
showed that in case of a general war they might
prove formidable.
50 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 325-30; xviii. 33; Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxviii.
10-12; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 9,10; St. Pap., Sac., MS., viii. 70-1.
CHAPTER XXVI.
RULE OF BORICA~EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
, 1794-1800.
SEARCH FOR MIssrton S1ITES—EXPLORATION OF THE ALAMEDA—SAN BENITO—
Las Pozas—ENcINo—PALE—LASUEN’S REPORT—FOUNDATION oF MIs-
sIon SAN Jost AT THE ALAMEDA—LOCAL ANNALS TO 1800—Misston San
JUAN BAUTISTA AT POPELOUTCHOM—EARTHQUAKE—MISSION SAN MIGUEL
AT VAHIA—PADRE ANTONIO DE LA CONCEPCION HorraA—MIssIon SAN
FERNANDO ON REYES’ RancHo, oR ACHOIS COMIHAVIT—MIssion SAN
Luis Rey at TacayME—A New PuEBLO—PRELIMINARY CORRESPOND-
ENCE—SEARCH FOR A SITE—REPORTS OF ALBERNI AND CORDOBA—SAN
FRANCISCO AND ALAMEDA REJECTED IN Favor oF Santa CRUzZ—AR-
RIVAL OF COLONISTS—FOUNDING OF THE VILLA DE BRANCIFORTE—PRO-
TEST OF THE FRANCISCANS—PLAN TO OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH NEW
MExico—CoLorabo RovutE TO SONORA.
Ir had long been the intention to found a series
of new missions, each equidistant from two of the old
ones, or as nearly so as practicable, and all somewhat
farther inland than the original line. The friars of
course were familiar with the general features of the
country, and had made up their minds long ago about
the best sites. In 1794—5, however, explorations were
made by the priests, assisted in each instance by a
military officer and guard of soldiers. In some cases
this was a real search for new information; in others it
was a formality, that the choice of sites might be offi-
cially confirmed. This matter settled, the necessary
correspondence between governor, president, viceroy,
and guardian took place in 1795-6, and in 1797-8 the
new missions, five in number, were put in operation.
In 1794 the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay
were almost a tierra incdégnita to the Spaniards. It
( 550 )
SS SG
THE ALAMEDA SHORE. 551
would perhaps be too much to say that those shores
had not been visited for nearly twenty years, since
the time of Anza; but there is no record of any pre-
vious raid against the gentiles in that region, much
less of any exploring expedition. In November of
this year, four natives were sent across to work with
the pagans, but one of the two tule-rafts composing
this armada was swept out and wrecked on the Fara-
llones, where two of the navigators were drowned. In
the same month the friars wished to go with a small
guard up the eastern bay-shore from Santa Clara to
conquer the gentiles, taking advantage of their short
supply of food resulting from drought, but the com-
mandant at San Francisco refused, because the coun-
try was “almost unknown,” the natives perverse, and
the adventure too hazardous.’ Before June Sergeant
Pedro Amador visited the southern part of this ter-
ritory, and in his report used the name of Alameda,
still applied to county and creek. ” November 15,1795,
in accordance with Borica’s orders of the 9th, AL
férez Sal and Father Danti set out from Monterey.
On the 16th they explored the San Benito region, on
the stream of the same name, where they found all
that was required for a mission; and next day they
found another suitable location on the edge of the
San Bernardino plain near Las Llagas Creek, or what
is now the vicinity of Gilroy. Having arrived at
Santa Clara on the 21st, they were joined by Alférez
Raimundo Carrillo, and started next day to examine
the Alameda previously explored by Amador, whose
diary they had. The river of the Alameda was also
called by Danti Rio de San Clemente. The explorers
continued their journey up toa point which they state
to have been opposite or in sight of San Francisco
1 Nov. 30, 1794, Sal to Governor, in Prov. St. Pap. , MS., xii. 28-9.
? Amador’s report is not extant, but the governor’s acknowledgment of its
receipt is dated June 2, 1795. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 54. i suppose he applied
the name, or it had been applied before, toa grove on the stream, since it is
so applied a little later. Alameda was subscquently used for the southern
section as was Contra Costa for the northern, though much less commonly.
552 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
Mission and Yerba Buena Island, nearly or quite to
the site of the modern Oakland perhaps, and then
turned backward, discovering some important salt-
marshes, and finally erected a cross at a spot some-
what south of the Alameda and called San Francisco
Solano, arriving at Santa Clara, well soaked with the
rain, on the 25th of November. Both commandant
and friar kept a journal of this expedition. The docu-
ments still exist and contain many interesting local
details, but are somewhat vaguely written. At all
events I have no space for their reproduction, and the
still longer explanation that would be required.°
In August 1795 Father Sitjar of San Antonio made
an examination of the country between his mission
and San Luis Obispo, finding no better place for a mis-
sion than Las Pozas, where farming-ground for three
hundred fanegas of seed might be irrigated from the
arroyos of Santa Isabel and San Marcos. He was
accompanied on his trip by Macario Castro and Ig-
nacio Vallejo.‘
3 Sal, Informe que hace de los Parages que se han reconocido en la Alameda,
1795, MS. Dated San Francisco, Nov. 30th. Left San Francisco, Oct. 16th.
St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 60-1. Dantt, Diario de un Reconocimiento de la Ala-
meda, 1795, MS. Dated San Francisco, Dec. 2, 1795. It may be noted
that Macario Castro, of San José, had a herd of mares at this time in the Ala-
meda. Also that one of the northern streams visited was called San Juan de
la Cruz. Sal, Informe en el cual manifesta lo que ha adyuirido de varios suyetos’
para comunicarlo al gobernador, 81 de Enero 1796, MS., contains the follow-
ing geographical information about the great interior valley—unintelligible for
the most part: About 15 leagues north from Santa Clara is the Rio del Pes-
cadero where salmon are caught. A quarter of a league further the Rio San
Francisco Javier still larger. Two leagues beyond, the Rio San Migucl,
larger than either. These three have no trees where they cross the tularvs
valley. Five leagues farther is the Rio de la Pasion. Letween the last two
is an encinal in that part of the Sierra Madre which stretches north and is
called the Sierra Nevada. Keeping in the encinal and leaving the tulares
to the left there is a region of fresh-water lakes. The four rivers run from
east to west and empty into the ensenada of the port of San Francisco, tide-
water running far up. The Sierra Madre is about eight leagues from Rio de
la Pasion. Before coming to the rivers, on the right is the Sierra of San Juan,
a short distance from the Sierra Nevada, and in sight from the presidio. The
four rivers were named by Captain Rivera in December 1776.
An Indian said his people traded with a nation of black Indians who had
padres. Another spoke of the Julpones, Quinenseat, Taunantoe, and Quisitoe
nations, the last ba!d from bathing in boiling lakes. An Indian woman said
that five days beyond the rivers there were soldiers and padres. Lovers of
mystery will find food for reflection and theory in the preceding remarks.
*Sitjar, ReconocimientodeSitio parala Nucva MisiondeSan Miguel, 1795, MS.
Dated Aug. 27th, andaddressed to Lasuen. Nee also St. Pap., Miss. ,MS., ii. 56-7.
ees Eee
a een a Pp ea Se
heed
aetna se
SOE A. AS ada
oe 2 a
NEW SITES IN THE SOUTH. 553
The region between San Buenaventura and San
Gabricl was explored in August 1795, in accordance
with the governor’s instructions of July 23d, by
Father Santa Maria, Alférez Cota, and Sergeant
Ortega with four men. The Encino Valley, where
Francisco Reyes had a rancho, was the spot best
suited for a mission among the many visited, but the
gentiles being attached to the pueblo of Los Angeles
or to the private ranchos, showed no desire for mis-
sionaries.” In the preceding June Sergeant Ortega
had explored the country northward from Santa
Barbara and found a fertile valley on the Rio Santa
Rosa, probably near where Santa Inés was founded
in later years.£ In the southern district Father
Mariner with Alférez Grijalva and six men started
from San Diego on August 17th to search for a mis-
sion site between San Diego and San Juan Capis-
trano. His report was in favor of the valley of San
José, called by the natives Tacopin, a league and a
half beyond Pam6 toward the sierra.’
The results of the various explorations were summed
up by President Lasuen in a report of January 12,
1796, which was incorporated by Governor Borica in
a report to the viceroy in February.® The sites ap-
5 Santa Marta, Registro que hizo de los Parages entre San Gabriel y San
Buenaventura, 1795, MS. Dated Feb. 3, 1796. The padre visited in this
tour Cayegues rancheria, Simi Valley, Triunfo, Calabazas, Encino Valley
with rancherias of Quapa, Tacuenga, Tuyunga, and Mapipinga, La Zanja,
head of Rio Santa Clara, and Mufin rancheria. The document is badly
_ written, and also I suspect badly copied, and the names may be inaccurate.
In some spots the pagans cultivated the land on their own account. Corporal
Verdugo owned La Zanja rancho. Governor’s order of July 23d, in Prov. Rec.,
MS., iv. 19. In St. Pap., Aliss., MS., ii. 55-6, it is stated that Santa Maria
made an unsuccessful survey.
S Ortega, Diario que forma Felipe Maria de Ortega, Sargento de la Com-
panta de Santa Barbara en cumplimiento a la comision que obtuvo de D. Felipe
de Goycoechea saliendo con tres hombres a reconocer los sitios por el rumbo del
norte en el dia 17 a las 8 de la mafiana del mes de Junio, y es como siyne, 1798,
MS. The same diary includes an examination of the Mojonera region on
June 26th to 28th. Some explorations in 1798 will be given later in connection
with the foundation of Santa Inés.
7July 23, 1795, governor’s order. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 229-30. Aug. 14th
and 28th, Sept. Ist and 9th, communications of Mariner and Grajera. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xiii. 19-20; St. Pap., Miss., MS.,
8 Lasuen, Informe sobre Sitios para Nuevas iisiones, 1796, MS.; Borica,
Informe de Nuevas Misiones, 26 de Feb., 1796, MS.
504 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
proved were San Francisco Solano, seven or eight
leagues north of Santa Clara; Las Pozas, equidistant
between San Antonio and San Luis Obispo: and Palé,
fourteen leagues from San Diego and eighteen from
San Juan. ‘The other two required additional exam-
ination, since two sites had been recommended be-
tween San Carlos and Santa Clara, and that between
San Buenaventura and San Gabriel was not altogether
satisfactory. Borica hoped that by means of the new
missions all the gentiles west of the Coast Range
might be reduced and thus $15,060, the annual ex-
ense of guards, might be saved to the royal treasury.
He did not deem it safe to expose the friars with a
small guard of soldiers east of the mountains. The
viceroy if he consents to the foundations should send
friars and the $1,000 allowed to each new establish-
ment; but no increase of military force will be needed,
since the presence of the volunteers and the artillery-
men will release some soldiers, and the guards of some
old missions may be reduced. The saving of $15,060
and the unusual circumstance that no additional force
was needed, were strong arguments in Mexico, and
on the 19th of August 1796 the viceroy, after con-
sultation with the treasury officials, authorized the
carrying-out of Borica’s plan.° On September 29th
Nogueyra, the guardian, announces that he has named
the ten friars required. He asks for the usual allow-
ances, and begs that a vessel may sail with the mis- |
sionaries as soon as possible, but protests against any
reduction of the guards at the old missions. Borica
received the viceroy’s orders before the end of the
year, and on May 5, 1797, Lasuen announced that the
friars were coming and all was ready.”
® Branciforte, Autorizacion del Virrey para la fundacion de cinco nuevas mis-
tones, 1796, MS. Sept. 29th, guardian consents. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 128-9.
0 Dec. 23, 1796, Borica to viceroy, St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 71-2. May
5, 7935 Lasuen to B., Jd., vii. 28-31. Lasuen says it will be hard for the
old missions to contribute for so many new ones at the same time; yet he will.
do his best. San Carlos, Santa Clara, and San Francisco will be called upon
to aid the two northern establishments and to lend Indiansand tools. Live-
stock must be given outright. Santa Cruz certainly and Soledad probably
must be excused.
cat > eri rr Sr Reta Ol Acer a i omental
te. Pret as
in le
Pe SS
FOUNDING OF MISSION SAN J OSE. 555
Preliminaries being thus arranged, I come to the
actual founding of the five missions, chronological
order in this instance agreeing with that of localities
from north to south. Desiring to avoid any unneces-
sary scattering of material I shall join to the estab-
lishing of each mission its local annals to the end of
the decade, as I have done before in the case of new
establishments.
Borica sent orders to the commandant of San Fran-
cisco, the 15th of May, to detail Corporal Miranda
and five men for the mission of San José to be founded
at the Alameda. On June 9th the troops under
Amador and accompanied by Lasuen started for the
spot, where next day a temporary church, or enramada,
was erected. The native name of the site was Oroy-
som, and the name of the mission, San José, in honor
of the patriarch husband of the virgin Mary, had
been included in the orders from Mexico. On June
11th, Trinity Sunday, the regular ceremonies of
foundation—blessing the ground, raising the cross,
litany of all saints, mass, sermon, te deum, and the
burning of one pound of gunpowder—were performed’
by or under the superintendence of Father Lasuen,
the only friar present. The same day all returned to
Santa Clara leaving the new mission to solitude and
the gentiles. Five days later Amador and his men
came back to cut timber and prepare the necessary
buildings. By the 28th this work was so far advanced
that the guard, as was thought, could complete it.
Water was brought to the plaza, and the soldiers, all
but Miranda and his five men, retired to the presidio.
The same day the ministers, Isidoro Barcenilla and
Agustin Merino, arrived and took charge.”
1 Amador, Diario de la Expedicion para fundar la Mision de San José,
1797, MS.; Amador, Prevenciones al Cabo de la escolta de Sun José, 1797, MS.
Dated June 28th, San José, Lib. de Mision, MS., title-pages. May 15th,
governor’s order to commandant. Prov. Iec., MS., v. 107. June 11th,
Lasuen to gov. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 21-2; St. ‘Pap., Sac., MS., xviil.
29-30; Prov, Rec., MS., vi. 1990. July 2d, Gov. to viceroy. Id., vi. 94. June
29th, Miranda to ‘commandant. Pro. St. Pap. Was, XL, 91, The Indian
name of the site is also written Oroyjon, Oroyson, and ‘Oryson. Contributions
556 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
In July 1797 there were rumors of impending
attack by the savages, and such rumors were prevalent
to the end of the decade; but there was no disaster,
and I shall have occasion elsewhere to speak further
of Indian troubles round San Francisco Bay.” The
first baptism was administered September 2d by Father
Catalé. By the end of 1797 there were 33 converts,
and in 1800 the number had increased to 286, the
baptisms having been 364 and the burials 88. Mean-
while the large stock came to number 367, and there
were 1,600 sheep and goats. Crops in 1800 were about
1,500 bushels, chiefly wheat. Total for the three years
3,900 bushels. Padre Barcenilla, a man who, by reason
of ill-health as was believed, was extremely irascible
and always in a quarrel with somebody, particularly
with the corporal,” remained at San José till after
1800. Merino was replaced in 1799 by José Antonio
Uria. All three were new-comers, and none remained
long in the country. A wooden structure with grass
roof served as a church. Miranda was replaced by
Luis Peralta in 1798."
from the three northern missions for San José were 12 mules, 39 horses, 12
yoke of oxen, 242 sheep, and 60 pigs. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 57.
12 See Chapter xxxi. of this volume. July 3, 1797, Corp. Miranda to com-
mandant, says that on account of the danger, the padres wished to abandon
the mission, but he has dissuaded them. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 90. Aug.
17, 1797, Amador to Borica. Some gentiles want to come near the mission to
live because the Sacalanes threaten to kill them for their friendship to the
Christians. [d.,xv. 173-4. April 6, 1798, Argiiello to B., Indians making arrows
to attack the mission. Reénforcements sent. The corporal has orders not to
force Indians to come to the mission. Jd., xvii. 97. April 17th, Amador says
26 Indians consented to come and be made Christians. /d., xvii. 101. The
making of arrows seems to have been for hunting purposes. Jd., xvii. 100.
June 6th, Gov. to Corporal Peralta ordering great caution and prudence, but
the Indians must be punished if fair words have no effect. Jd., xvii. 106-7.
13 Sept. 27, 1797, Barcenilla writes to the commandant that the soldiers
will not lend a hand even in cases where ‘the most barbarous Indian would not
refuse his aid.’ Private Higuera does nothing but wag his tongue against such
as assist the padres. Corp. Miranda is much changed and will not work even
for pay. Miranda explained that the padres were angry because the soldiers
would not act as vaqueros. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 47-8. Details of the
trouble in Jd., xvi. 35-8, 46-7.
48t. Pan. Miss., MS., ii. 122. Soldiers of the guard before 1800, accord-
ing to S. José, Lib. de Mision, MS., Juan José Higuera, Salvador Higuera,
Juan Garcia, Cornelio Rosales, Rafael Galindo, Juan José Linares, Ramon
Linares, Francisco Flores, José Maria Castillo, Miguel Salazar, Hilario Mi-
randa, and Hermenegildo ‘Bojor ges,
aca
we @
ee
et Bo
ale i Ne ee
me
= OF,
ie
FOUNDING OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA. 557
For the second mission Borica instructed the com-
mandant of Monterey on May 18th to detail Cor-
poral Ballesteros and a guard of five men.” Next day
were issued Borica’s instructions to the corporal, simi-
lar in every respect to documents of the same class
already noted in past chapters. It is to be noted,
however, that the matter of furnishing escorts to the
friars is left more to the corporal’s discretion than
before, the absence of soldiers at night being declared
inexpedient but not absolutely prohibited. Sending
soldiers after fugitive neophytes was, however, still
forbidden. These instructions, though prepared espe-
cially for this new mission, were ordered published at
all the missions.”®
The site chosen was the southernmost of the two
that had been examined, called by the Spaniards for
many years past San Benito, but by the natives
Popeloutchom.” Here as early as June 17th, Corporal
Ballesteros had erected a church, missionary-house,
granary, and guard-house,” and on June 24th, day of
the titular saint, President Lasuen with the aid of
fathers Catalé and Martiarena founded the new mis-
sion of San Juan Bautista,” the name having been
15 Prov, St. Pap., MS., xvii. 144-5. A list of supplies furnished the
escolta is given as follows: 12 fan. maize, 4 fan. beans, 1 butt of fat, 1 barrel,
1 pot, 1 pan, 1 iron ladle, 1 metate, 1 earthern pan, 1 frying-pan, 2 knives, 5
axes, 3 hoes, 1 iron bar, 1 machete, 6 knives for cutting grass and tules, 10
hides, 2 muskets, 1,000 cartridges, No. 14, 1,000 balls, 200 flints, 50 Ibs. pow-
der, 1 pair of shackles, 2 fetters, 1 door, 1 padlock, weights and measures,
List also in St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 51-2... May 19th, Borica gives some gen-
eral orders about the two new missions. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii, 137.
16 Borica, Instruccion para el Comandante de la Escolta destinada & la fun-
dacion de la Mision de San Juan Bautista, 1797, MS.
1 Written also Poupeloutehun and Popelout. The 23 rancherias belong-
ing to this mission were Onextaco, Absayruc, Motssum, Trutca, Teboaltac,
Xisca, or Xixcaca, Giguay, Tipisastac, Ausaima, Poytoquix, Guachurrones,
Pagosines or Paycines, Calendaruc, Asystarca, Pouxouoma, Suricuama, Ta-
marox, Thithirii, Unijaima, Chapana, Mitaldejama, Echantac, and Yelmus.
18 Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 190-1.
19Lasuen both on the title-page of S. Juan Bautista, Lib. de Mision, MS.,
and in a letter of June 27th, to the governor, Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vi.
22-3, commits the strange error of making the foundation on June 2Ist. In
another letter dated June 27th, he gives the date correctly. St. Pap., Sac.,
MS., xviii. 28-9. July 2d, governor announces the founcation to viceroy.
Prov. lec., MS., vi. 94. See also Jd., iv. 250; Arroyo de la Cuesta, Gram.
Mutsun, p. vii.-viil.
558 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
indicated in the orders of the viceroy, and the day
having been selected as appropriate.
José Manuel Martiarena and Pedro Adriano Marti-
nez were the first ministers, both new arrivals of 1794
and 1797 respectively, the latter serving at San Juan
until the end of 1800, the former leaving the mission
in July 1799, and Jacinto Lopez coming in August
1800. The first baptism took place on July 11th, and
before the end of the year 85 had received the rite,
as had 641 before the end of 1800, 65 having died in
the mean time, and 516 remaining as neophytes. Live-
stock increased to 723 large animals and 2,080 small;
agricultural products for 1800—much the largest crop
that had been raised—amounted to about 2,700 bush-
els. A mud-roofed wooden structure was the mis-
sion church before 1800.
Beyond the statistics given there is nothing to be
noted in the local annals of San Juan Bautista except
certain Indian troubles and the earthquake of 1800.
The Ansaimes, or Ansayames, were the natives who
caused most trouble. They lived in the mountains
some twenty-five miles east of San Juan. In 1798
they are said to have surrounded the mission by night,
but were forced to retreat by certain prompt measures
of the governor not specified. In November another
band known as the Osos killed eight rancherfa Ind-
ians, and Sergeant Castro was sent to punish them.
They resisted and a fight occurred, in which the chief
Tatillosti was killed, another chief and a soldier were
wounded, and two gentiles were brought in to be
educated as interpreters. In 1799 the Ansaimes
again assumed a threatening attitude and killed five
Moutsones, or Mutsunes, who lived between them
and the mission. Acting under elaborate instructions
from Borica, Castro visited several rancherias, recov-
ered over fifty fugitives, administered a few floggings
0 The soldiers named in the mission-books before 1800 were Corporal Juan
Ballesteros, Antonio Enriquez, José Manuel Higuera, José Guadalupe Ramirez,
Matias Rodriguez, Manuel Briones, Liicas Altamirano, Isidro Flores, and
José Ignacio Lugo.
FOUNDING OF SAN MIGUEL. ' 559
with no end of warnings, found some of the prevalent
rumors of past misdeeds to be unfounded, and brought
in a few captives for presidio work. Again in 1800
the Ansaimes killed two Mutsunes at San Benito
Creek, burned a house and some wheat-fields, and
were with difficulty kept from destroying the mission.
Sergeant Gabriel Moraga marched with ten men and
brought in eighteen captives including the chieftains
of the Ansaime and the Carnadero rancherfas.”*
There were shocks of earthquake from the 11th to
the 31st of October, sometimes six in a day, the most
severe on the 18th. Friars were so terrified that
they spent the nights out of doors in the mission
carts. Several cracks appeared in the ground, one of
considerable extent and depth on the banks of the
Pajaro, and the adobe walls of all the buildings were
cracked from top to bottom, and threatened to fall.
The natives said that such shocks were not uncom-
mon in that vicinity, and spoke of subterranean fis-
sures, or caverns, caused by them, from which salt
water had issued.” :
The site of the third mission, between San Antonio
and San Luis Obispo, was called Las Pozas by the
Spaniards and Valid by the natives.” ‘ Here,” says
21 Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 9-11; vi. 106-7; Borica, Instruccion al Sargento
Castro sobre recorrer las Rancherias de Gentiles, 1799, MS., in Prov. St. Pap.,
xvii. 325-8. Dated Monterey, June 7th. Castro, Diario de su Expedicion &
las Rancherias, 1799, MS. Dated June 29th. It seems that the Spaniards
were in the habit of going to the Ansaime country after ¢equesquite, or salt-
petre. Besides those named in the text the Orestaco and Guapo rancherias
are mentioned. Seealso St. Pap., Sac., MS., viii. 80-1; Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xviii. 33. In 1800 the San Juan Indians sent 3 wagons, 9 yoke of oxen, 9
horses, and 15 Indians to Monterey when an attack from foreign vessels was
feared. For this they were remunerated by order of the viceroy to encourage
zeal in like cases. Id, xix. 7.
22 Comandante Sal. to governor, Oct. 31, 1800, in St. Pap., Miss. and Colon,
MS., i. 40-2. Nov. 29th, governor acknowledges receipt. Prov. Rec., MS.,
xi. 147. Dee. 5th, governor to viceroy. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi., 51. Feb.
10th, V. R. to gov. Id., xviii. 69. is earthquake has been noticed also in
Randolph's Oration; Val’ ejo, ITist. Cal., MS., i. 107; Tuthill’s Hist. Cal., 116;
Trask, in Cal. Acad, Nut. Science, iii. 134. On Nov. 22d a shock was felt i in
the extreme south. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 54.
*8 There is much doubt about this aboriginal name. Different copyists
from Lasuen’s original letters and cntries in the mission-books make it: Vatica,
Savage, in title-page of S. Miguel, Lib. de Mision, MS.; Vahca, another from
560 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
Lasuen on July 25, 1797, ‘with the assistance of the
Reverend Padre Apostolic Preacher, Fr. Buenaven-
tura Sitjar, and of the troop destined to guard the
new establishment, in presence of a great multitude
of gentiles of both sexes and of all ages, whose pleas-
ure and rejoicing exceeded even our desires, thanks
to God, I blessed water, the place, and a great cross,
which we adored and raised. Immediately I intoned
the litany of the saints, and after 1t chanted the mass,
in which I preached, and we concluded the ceremony
by solemnly singing the te deum. May it all be
for the greater honor and glory of God our Lord.
Amen.” Thus was founded the mission of San Miguel,
in honor of “the most glorious prince of the heavenly
militia,” the archangel Saint Michael, for which Sitjar
and Antonio de la Concepcion Horra, a new-comer of
1796, were appointed ministers. José Antonio Ro-
driguez was corporal of the guard.”
A beginning of missionary work was made by the
baptism of 15 children on the day of foundation; at
the end of 1800 the number had increased to 385, of
whom 53 had died and 362 were on the registers as
neophytes.” The number of horses and cattle was
372, while small animals numbered 1,582. The crop
of 1800 was 1,900 bushels; and the total product of
the three years, 3,700 bushels.” Sitjar left San Miguel
and returned to his old mission of San Antonio in
same original; Vahid, Murray, from Lasuen’s letters of July 25th, in Arch.
Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 23-4; Vahea, Pivia, from Borica, July 31st, in Prov.
Rec., MS., vi. 94-6.
44 San Miguel, Lib. de Mision, MS.; Rodriguez’ letter of July 25th. St.
Pap., Sac., MS., xviii. 27-8; Lasuen’s letter of Aug. 5th, referring to the un-
usually favorable disposition of the natives, but suggesting caution. Jd., vi.
96-7; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 193. See also references of preceding note. Con-
tributions from San Antonio, San Luis, and Purisima were 8 mules, 23 horses,
8 yoke of oxen, 128 cattle, 184 sheep. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 201.
2° | give the figures as they stand on the records. The sum of the deaths
and existentes is rarely the same as the baptisms. When less, the deficiency
may be attributed to runaways; but when greater it is inexplicable save on
the theory of an error in the register.
*6 The soldiers of the guard were José Antonio Rodriguez, corporal, Man-
uel Montero, José Maria Guadalupe, and Juan Maria Pinto, according to the
mission-book. According to the report of 1797-8, the bell at San Micuel was
tis after its hanging found to be cracked and worthless. Arch. Sta Barbar a,
IS., xii. 66.
il
FOUNDING OF SAN FERNANDO. 561
August 1798. Juan Martin began a very long term
of ministry in September 1797, and Baltasar Car-
nicer a short one in May 1799. Horra, better known
by the name of Concepcion, served only about two
months, when, being charged with insanity, he was
enticed to visit Monterey on some pretended busi-
ness of importance and sent to his college by order of
Lasuen and consent of the governor, sailing on the
Concepcion or Princesa, which left Monterey in Sep-
tember.” He is said to have been a very able and
worthy friar before he came to California; and in
proof of his insanity nothing more serious is recorded
than baptizing natives without sufficient preparation
and neglecting to keep a proper register. There is
no special reason to doubt, however, that the charge
was well founded. After his return to the college,
on July 12, 1798, he made a long report in which he
charged the California friars with gross mismanage-
ment, with cruelty to the natives, and with inhuman
treatment of himself. This report I shall have occasion
to notice more fully elsewhere. In the mission-books
of San Miguel this padre’s signature appears but
once—on the title of the death-register, where his
statement that he was one of the founders was sub-
sequently struck out. The original mud-roofed wood-
en church was not replaced by a better structure
until after 1800.
For the fourth mission, between San Buenaventura
and San Gabriel, additional exploration revealed no
better location than that of Reyes’ rancho in Encino
Valley, called by the natives Achois Comihavit. A
quarrel between Reyes and the friars respecting the
ownership of the land would be an appropriate intro-
duction to the narrative of this foundation; but no
77 Aug. 20th, Lasuen to governor in Sé. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 93-4. Sept. 4th,
governor to viceroy. Id., vii. 4. Sept. 2d, Gov. to Lasuen. Prov. Ree. oy DLS,
vi. 196. Horra seems to have been transferred subsequently to the Queré taro
col'ege, for which the guardian thanks God in a letter to. Lasuen, nay 14,
Vi89. Arch. Sta B érbara, MS., xi, 280-1.
Hier: tan, Vou L, 36
62 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
or
such controversy 1s recorded, though the ranchero’s
house was appropriated as a dwelling for the mission-
aries. Lasuen had gone down from San Miguel to
Santa Barbara, whence he started at the end of August.
with Sergeant Olivera and an escort. With the aid of
Father Francisco Dumetz, on the 8th of September, in
the presence of the troops and a great crowd of natives,
he performed the usual ceremonies, and dedicated the
new mission, as required by instructions from Mexico,
to San Fernando, Rey de Espajia.** Francisco Javier
Uria was the associate of Dumetz, and both served —
until the end of 1800 and later. Ten children were bap-
tized the first day, and thirteen adults had been added
to the list early in October. There were 55 neophytes
at the end of 1797, and 310 at the end of 1800, bap-
tisms having amounted to 352 and deaths to 70. Five
hundred and twenty-six was the number of cattle,
mules, and horses; and 600 that of sheep. Products
of the soil in 1800 were about 1,000 bushels, though
they had amounted to 1,200 bushels the year before,
the total yield for three years being 4,700 bushels.
The fifth and last of the new establishments was not
founded until the next year. In October 1797 a new —
exploration was made between San Juan Capistrano
and San Diego by Corporal Lizalde, with seven sol-
diers and five Indians, escorting fathers Lasuen and
8 St Ferdinand was Fernando III., King of Spain, who reigned from 1217
to 1251, under whose rule the crowns of Castile and Leon were united. He
was canonized in 1671 by Clement X. Aug. 28th, Goycoechea to Borica an-
nouncing Lasuen’s departure for Reyes’ rancho. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv.
82. Sept. 8th, Lasuen’s report of foundation. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xviii. 26-7;
Arch, Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 24-5. Sept. 8th, certificate of Sergt. Olivera; he
calls the site Achoic. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 92; vi. 191,196. Oct. 4th, Goycoe- —
chea to Borica, sends Olivera’s diary. Guard-house and store-house finished.
Two houses begun, church soon to be begun. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 246-7;
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 92. Contributions from Santa Barbara, San Buenaven-
tura, San Gabriel, and San Juan were 18 mules, 46 horses, 16 yoke of oxen,
310 cattle, 508 sheep. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 202. The mission-books of San.
Fernando I examined at the mission in 1874, They consisted of baptismal
register 1 vol., 1798-1852, Ist entry April 28, 1798, signed by Dumetz; mar-
riage register, 1 vol. 1797-1847, first entry, Oct. 8; 1797; and the Libro de
Patentes y de Inventarios. In the legal difficulties that followed the death of
coe Pico the books disappeared and could not be found by Mr Savage in
877.
FOUNDING OF SAN LUIS REY. 563
Santiago from San Juan. The party separated to
return north and south at the old Capistrano, which
they doubtless selected at the time, October 6th, as
the best mission site, for we hear no more of the Palé
of former expeditions.” During December there was
a correspondence between Borica and Lasuen on the
subject, by which it appears that the large number
of docile natives was the chief inducement to found a
mission in this region, but that agricultural and other
advantages were believed to be lacking. The gov-
ernor insisted on the foundation, and prophesied that
difficulties in the future would be less serious.”
The governor issued orders the 27th of February
1798 to the commandant of San Diego, who was to
furnish an escolta and to require from the soldiers
ersonal labor in erecting the necessary buildings
| ae Uo se ea
without murmuring at site or work, and with implicit
obedience to Lasuen.* The records show no subse-
quent proceedings till the 13th of June. On that
date at the spot called by the natives Tacayme, and
by the Spaniards in the first expedition of 1769 San
Juan Capistrano, or later, Capistrano el Viejo, in the
presence of Captain Grajera, the soldiers of the guard,
a few neophytes from San Juan, and a multitude of
gentiles, and with the aid of fathers Santiago and
Peyri, President Lasuen with all due solemnity, sup-
plemented by the baptism of fifty-four children,
ushered into existence the mission of San Luis, Rey
de Francia, it being necessary hereafter to distinguish
29 Lisalde, Reconocimiento de las tierras para situar la Mision de San Luis,
1797, MS. The places named are Las Animas, Las Lagunitas, Temeca ran-
cheria, Pauma, Pullala, and San Juan Capistrano. In Grijalva, Informe
sobre las ranchertas que se hallan en las tierras exploradas por el Padre Mari-
ner, 1795, MS., there are named the following rancherias: Mescuanal, To-
napa, Ganal, Mocoquil, and Cuami, in a little valley called Escha; Tagui, Gante,
Algualcapa, Capatay, Tacupin, Quguas, Calagua, Matagua, and Atd, in
another valley three leagues distant; Curila, Topame, Luque, Cupame,
Pdume, and Palé, three leagues from former valley, and speaking language
of San Juan; Palin, Pamame, Pamua, and Asichiqmes, lower down; Chacape
pot Pamamelli in Santa Margarita Valley; Chumelle and Quesinille in Las
lores.
30Lasuen to Borica. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 44; to Lasuen, Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 201.
31 Prov. Rec., MS., v. 273-4.
564 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
between the establishment of San Luis, king, and
San Luis, bishop.” All was prosperity at first. In
a week Antonio Peyri, the energetic founder, had
seventy-seven cnildren baptized and twenty-three
catechumens under instruction. By the first of July
he had six thousand adobes made for the mission
buildings. In July he was joined by José Faura,
who was succeeded in the autumn of 1800 by José
Garcia. José Panella was assigned to this mission,
and served for a short time in 1798, during the ab-
sence of one of the ministers, who went to the baths
of San Juan Capistrano for his health. Panella made
himself unpopular by his harsh treatment, and so
oreat was the discontent of the natives and the clamor
for a change, that Lasuen was obliged to send him
away and promise the return of the other padre,
probably Peyri, who was greatly beloved.” The bap-
tisms in 1798 were 214; before the end of 1800 there
were 337 neophytes, 371 having been baptized, and
56 being the number of burials. There were 617
horses, mules, and cattle in 1800, besides 1,600 sheep.
Products of the soil were 2,000 bushels of wheat, 120
of barley, and six of maize, the latter being just the
amount sown, while eight bushels of beans produced
nothing. The mission-books of San Luis Rey are
the only ones in California which I have not exam-
ined. Their whereabouts is not known.
It had long been deemed desirable to promote
colonization in California, and the prevalent fears of
foreign aggression did much to cause definite action
82 Saint Louis was Louis IX., king of France, who reigned from 1226 to
1270, and earned his reputation for piety both at home and in the crusades.
June 13th, Lasuen to Borica reporting the foundation. Arch. Sta Barbara,
MS., vi. 25-7; xi. 11; Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 47-9. July 12th, B. to Lasuen.
Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 218-19. Aug. Ist, B. to viceroy. Jd., v. 279; vi. 98-9.
Contributions of Santa Barbara, San Gabriel, San Juan, San Diego, and San
Luis Rey: 64 horses, 28 yoke of oxen, 310 head of cattle, 508 sheep. Arch.
Misiones, MS., i. 202.
°3'The governor in a communication to Lasuen on the subject calls the ab-
sent missionary Juan Martinez, but there was no such padre in California.
Prov, Rec., MS., vi. 222-8. Dec. 7, 1798, Borica also writes a letter of warn-
ing and advice to the friar. Id., 227-8.
A NEW PUEBLO. 565
_to be taken at this epoch. The completed line of
missions as planned was rapidly to civilize the natives,
but a larger Spanish population was desirable and new
pueblos of gente de razon were to be founded as well
as new missions. This subject was doubtless included
in a general sense in Borica’s original instructions; but
the first definite action is seen in a report of the royal
tribunal of accounts to the viceroy, dated November
18, 1795. In this document it is recommended as a
most important measure for the welfare and protection
of the Spanish possessions in California that the gov-
ernor, with the aid of Engineer Cordoba and other
officers, proceed to select a site and to found a pueblo, |
or villa, to be called Branciforte in honor of the viceroy.
This establishment as a coast defence should be put
on a military basis, securely fortified, and settled
with soldiers as pobladores. The site must be selected
and the lands divided according to existing pueblo
regulations and the laws of the Indies. Lach officer
and soldier is to have a house-lot, and between those
of the officers lots are to be assigned to chieftains of
rancherias who may be induced to live with the Span-
lards; thus assuring the loyalty of their subjects.
Live-stock and implements may be furnished by the
government as hitherto. Instead of an _habilitado
there is to be a town-treasurer; and Alberni may com-
mand, acting as lieutenant-governor. As the time
\
of the infantry soldiers expires they are not to be
reénlisted, but new recruits obtained from New Spain
will ereate an immigration without the heavy so of
bringing in settlers 3 as such.*
It is to be supposed that the viceroy approved this
plan in its main features at least, and sent correspond-
ing orders to Borica, though no such order appears
in the archives.® It had been indicated in the plan
34 Branciforte, Informe del Real Tribunal sobre fundacion de un pueblo que
se llamard Branciforte, 1795, MS. This report was prepared by Beltran on
Nov. 17th, and approved by the tribunal Nov. 18th.
85 The order dated Dec. 15, 1795, and enclosing the auditor’s report given
above is alluded to by Borica on June 16, 1796. “St. Pap., Miss. and Colon.,
MS., i. 364.
566 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
that the new establishment should be on or near San
Francisco Bay, and in the spring of 1796, on receipt
of the viceroy’s instructions, whatever they may have
been, the governor began to move in the matter,
though in January 1795 he had instructed the com-
mandants to ‘report on suitable sites for new pueblos,
and though Sergeant Amador seems to have explored
with the same view as early as July of the same year
the coast region from San Francisco to Santa Cruz.
On May 21st Borica requested Alberni and Cordoba
with an escort of six men to meet him at Santa Cruz
on the 28th. During the next few weeks, the three
made some personal explorations not described in
detail, and June 16th the governor asked the others
to report on the best place for the town, and to give
ecu
=. 7 ati: Syren Geer ae ere,
(Pee are
bart wk
their ideas generally in connection with the plan of —
foundation. Private letters of similar purport were
written on the 17th and 18th.
Alberni’s report was dated at San Francisco July —
Ist, and that of Cordoba the 20th, the two being in
substance identical. Three sites were considered: the —
Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. The first —
was pronounced unsuitable for a pueblo, not only be-
cause the bed of the creek was so low as to prevent —
irrigation, but because there was no wood, timber,
stone, or pasturage, except at a great distance. San
francisco was declared to be the very worst place in
36 Jan. 9, 1795, Borica to commandants. Prov. Rec., iv. 126-7. Amador, —
PReconocimiento de Terreno desde Santa Cruz hasta San Francisco, 1795, MS.
Dated July 4th, he describes particularly four fertile spots with more or less —
advantages for settlements at distances of 8, 12, 153, and 20 leagues from San
T'rancisco, the last being 5 leagues from Santa Cruz. July 23d, has received
the report of July 4th, and orders Amador to improve the road with the aid ©
of commandants at Santa Cruz and Santa Clara (San Francisco?). Prov. Rec.,
MS., v. 57-8. May 11, 1796, Salazar in his report to the viceroy mentioned ~
a spot suitable for a pueblo about midway between San Francisco and Santa |
Cruz where there is an anchorage. San Benito was also a good site, but there
were many Indians requiring a mission, as there were not at the former
spot. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ii. 75-7.
37 Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 6,7; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., —
MS., i. 364-5, 374-5; Translation in Sta Cruz, Peep, 51; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xxi. 241. In his letter to Cérdoba, Borica says that the viceroy cannot
entertain the request of the Catalan volunteers to have lands granted them,
but instead will found a new town and give them lands therein as a recom- —
pense when their term expires.
A SITE FOR THE VILLA. 567
all California for the purpose in view, since the pen-
insula afforded neither lands, timber, wood, nor water,
nothing but sand and brambles and raging winds.
The Santa Cruz site, across the river from the mis-
sion, had all the advantages which the others lacked,
and had besides proximity to the sea, affording facili-
ties for export, plenty of fish, with an abundance of
stone, lime, and clay for building. The establishment
of a town here could moreover do no possible harm to
the mission. The settlers should be practical farmers
from a cold or temperate climate, and should have
houses and a granary built for them at expense of the
government in order that they might apply them-
selves at once to agriculture. The soldiers and inva-
lids are entitled to more assistance than other settlers
by reason of their past services. The scheme of add-
ing Indian chiefs to the town is impracticable, since
there are no chiefs; some mission Indians, however,
might be profitably attached to the settlement to work
and learn in company with Spaniards.*
August 4th Borica transmitted these reports to the
viceroy with his own enthusiastic approval, pronounc-
ing the Santa Cruz site the best between Cape San
Liicas and San Francisco, and giving some additional
particulars about the anchorage. He recommends
that an adobe house be built for each settler so that
the prevalent state of things in San José and Los
Angeles, where the settlers still live in tule huts,
being unable to build better dwellings without neg-
lecting their fields, may be prevented, the houses to
cost not over two hundred dollars each.” On Sep-
tember 23d another communication of the governor
38 Alberni, Parecer sobre el sitio en que debe fundarse el nuevo Pueblo de
Branciforte, 1796, MS. A part is translated in Dwinelle’s Col. Hist. S. Fran-
cisco, App. 18. Cérdoba, Informe acerca del sitio de Branciforte, 1796, MS.
Very inaccurately translated, and dated July 2d, in Sta Cruz, Peep, 53-5.
Brief mention of the decision against San Francisco in Randolph's Oration,
309; Tuthill’s Hist. Cal., 105; Elliot, in Overland Monthly, iv. 337-8.
39 St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 258-60. The vclunteers should have
a year’s pay, and as a reintegro, 2 mares, 2 cows, 2 sheep, 2 goats, a yoke of
oxen, plough, harrow, hoe, axe, knife, musket, and 2 horses; other vecinos.
besides the house, stock, tools, etc., ane $10 per month for a year,
568 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
to the viceroy contained suggestions of similar pur-
port, and asked for four classes of settlers: first, robust
country people from cold or temperate climes; second,
carpenters, smiths, stone-cutters, and masons; third,
tailors, tanners, shoemakers, and tile-makers; and
fourth, shipwrights, and a few sailors, to take advan-
tage of the abundance of whales.” Having received
Borica’s report and also the opinion of the legal
adviser of the royal treasury, the viceroy on January
25, 1797, in accordance with that opinion, ordered
Borica to proceed immediately with the foundation.
He had already sent a list of eight men who had
volunteered at Guadalajara as settlers.“ The begin-
ning was to be made with such settlers at San José or
Angeles as had no lands and might be induced to
change their residence to Branciforte. New settlers
and artisans were to be sent as soon as possible; in
fact, orders had already been issued for the collection
of vagrants and minor criminals to be shipped to Cali-
fornia. The president of the missions was ordered to
render all possible assistance; and Borica must for-
ward at once an estimate of cost and a memorandum
of needed implements and other articles.”
The receipt of the viceroy’s orders was acknowledged
by Borica on April 29, 1797, and three days later he
sent the necessary orders to the commandant of Santa
Barbara and the comisionado of San José in order
that recruits for the new establishment might be ob-
tained from the settlers and rancheros at and near the.
two old pueblos. At the same time Lasuen directed
his friars to afford the required aid, though he had
received no instructions on.the subj ect from his college,
and deemed it strange that the king should have per-
mitted the foundation of a villa so near a mission
40 St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 57-8.
“1 Oct. 24, 1796. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 169.
*” Branciforte, Dictdmen del Fiscal de Real Audiencia sobre la fundacion de
la Villa de Branciforte, Aprobado por el Virrey en 25 de Enero 1797, MS.;
inaccurate translation of copy certified by Borica May 9th in Sta Cruz, Peep,
57. Mention in Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 76-7.
FOUNDING OF BRANCIFORTE. 569
established with royal approval.“ The Concepcion
arrived at Monterey May 12th with a party of col-
_onists on board in a pitiable state of destitution and
ill-health.“ It was necessary to provide some kind
of a home for them; and before the end of May Ga-
briel Moraga was sent as commissioner to erect tem-
porary shelters at Branciforte, since Cérdoba, who
was to superintend the formal establishment, had other
duties which would keep him busy fora time. It is
impossible to give the exact date when Moraga began
his work, when the first settlers took possession of
their new homes, or when the formal foundation oc-
curred.*
The 17th of July, possibly at or about the time
that the settlers left Monterey for Branciforte, Borica
issued instructions to Comisionado Moraga for the
internal management of the villa. The townsmen must
be made to live in peace and harmony; no concubin-
age, gambling, or drunkenness, which offences, like
#3 April 29th, Borica to’ viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 91-2. May 2d, B. to
commandant. Jd., iv. 89-90. B. to comisionado S. José. Jd., iv. 211-12.
May 5th, Lasuen to B. Sé. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 27-8.
+t They were José Antonio Robles, Fermin Cordero, José Vicente Mojica
(or Morico), wife and five children, José Maria Arceo, José Barbosa and wife,
José Silvestre Machuca and wife, José Acevedo, José Miguel Uribes, José
Agustin Narvaez. The different lists of arrival, departure, and settlement
differ somewhat. The first lacks the last four names and has Gallardo and
Guzman which never appear again. The nine colonists with their families,
17 persons, were of the vagabond and criminal class, but they differed from
the first settlers of the other pueblos in being for the most part so-called
Spaniards. They included 2 farmers, 2 tailors, 1 carpenter, 1 miner, | mer-
chant, 1 engraver, and 1 with no trade. St. Pap. Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 384-
bs, Prov. Rec., vi. 92;, Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 223-4; xiii. 277-8; xvii. 31,
89-90; xxi. 256.
* May 12, 1797. Borica to commandant. When the settlers go to Branci-
forte, cattle, implements, etc., will be furnished, an account being opened with
each. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 31. May 15th, B. to Cordoba. Directs him
after completing the work at 8. Francisco, the survey of the Sta Clara boun-
dary, and that for a. removal of 8. José, to go to Sta Cruz and make careful
surveys and plans for the town of Branciforte and its buildings public and
private, with an estimate of expenses. /d., xxi. 260-1. May 26th, B. to Moraga.
Instructions to build some temporary huts for himself and the guard and to
take his family there to live; then to build some large huts to accommodate
15 or 20 families each, also temporary. The soldiers must work and the
colonists also if they arrive before the work is done. Implements, stock,
etc., will be sent by Sal. Cérdoba is to be obeyed when he comes. Sta
Cruz, Arch., MS., 67-8; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 247; Sta Cruz, Peep, 3, 5. May
27th, Sal acting as secretary for Borica forwards blank-books, paper, and ma-
terials for making ink. Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 69.
570 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
neglect of public work, must be punished. Mass must
be attended on holidays, on penalty of three hours in
the stocks; prayers and the rosary must close the day’s
labor; and certificates of compliance with the annual
communion and confession must be forwarded regu-
larly to the governor. All intercourse with the mis-
sion Indians and gentiles was prohibited; and the most
friendly relations must be maintained with the friars
of Santa Cruz. The greatest precautions must be
taken to insure proper care of the colonists’ clothing,
implements, and other property, and to prevent sales,
which were to be void. And finally all labor, before
Cérdoba’s arrival, was to be directed to the preparation
of the needed shelters for men and animals, monthly
reports of progress being sent to the governor.” By
August 12th Cordoba was on the spot, had surveyed
the lands, done some work on the temporary houses,
begun an irrigating canal, and was in search of suit-
able stone and timber for the permanent edifices. He
also furnished Borica with an estimate of cost, $23,-
405, which early in October was forwarded to the vice-
roy, and a little later by order of October 24th, the
work at Branciforte was suspended for want of funds,
Cordoba retiring to the presidio.” —
Thus the proposed greatness of the Villa of Bran-
ciforte was indefinitely postponed; but there remained
the temporary huts, the nine pobladores, the comi-
sionado, and the military guard. The colonists, though
not convicts, were of a class deemed desirable to get
rid of in and about Guadalajara whence they came.
‘They had been aided at the beginning to the extent
of from $20 to $25 each; and they were to receive
from the government $116 annually for two years,
*6 Borica, Instruccion de dirigir la fundacion de la Nueva Villa de Branci-
Forte, 1797, MS.
47 Aug. 12th, Cérdoba to Borica. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 149; xxi. 265-6.
The irrigable lands were 1,300 x 1,500 varas; those depending on rain 2,000
to 3,000 varas. Oct. 7th, Gov. to viceroy with estimate of cost. Prov. Rev.,
MS., vi. 56. Oct. 24th, to Cordoba ordering suspension of works, though he
is to leave the mission mill in good shape. Prov. St. Pap., xxi. 272. Aug.
22d, Borica orders a ‘model fence’ to be erected at Branciforte. Jd.. xxi. 266.
i
PROGRESS AT BRANCIFORTE. 571
and $66 for the next three years,* besides the live-
stock and implements for which they were obliged
eradually to pay. They were thus enabled to live after
a fashion, and they never became noted for devotion
to hard work. There was no change in the number
of regular pobladores down to 1800, though half a
dozen invalids and discharged soldiers were added to
the settlement,” perhaps more, for the records on the
subject are meagre. Corporal Moraga remained in
charge until November 1799, when Ignacio Vallejo
was ordered to take his place as comisionado, arriving
about the 20th.” The settlers raised in 1800 about
1,100 bushels of wheat, maize, and beans; and their
horses and cattle amounted to about 500 head. I
append in a note a few minor items which make up
all that Branciforte has of history down to the end
of the decade and century.”
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 31, 41, 89-90.
#2 Feb, 1,°1798, ain governor states to the viceroy that there were, besides
the 9, two invalids and one discharged soldier. Prov. I’ec., MS., vi. 65. In
a list of 1799, Prov. St. Pap., xvii. 264, six invalids; Marcelino Bravo, Mar-
cos Briones, Marcos Villela, José Antonio Rodriguez, Juan José Peralta, Joa-
quin Castro. The population tables make the number of men in 1800, 17, or
66 persons in all; but I suppose this may have included besides those just
mentioned from 3 to 5 soldiers of the guard with their families. Yet 21 set-
tlers, one an Indian, are reported by Vallejo on Dec. 31, 1799. St. Pap., Miss.,
MS., iii. 6. - !
50 Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 302; Santa Cruz, Arch., MS., 65.
51 The work called Sta Cruz, A Peep into the Past, The Early Days of the
Village of Branciforte, should be noticed here. It is a series of articles pub-
lished in the. Sta Cruz Local Item from July 1876 to Aug. 1877, which I have
collected in a scrap-book. Each of the 42 articles contains the translation of
an original document from the archives with preliminary remarks of consider-
able interest by the translator, Mr Williams, an old resident of Santa Cruz.
The plan of this work is so praiseworthy, and the result so far superior to
what newspapers usually furnish in the way of local history, that the numer-
ous inaccuracies of detail may almost be pardoned.
In the following I omit many items of no importance or interest. Dec. 14,
1797, Sal to Moraga, Sends 6 varas of jerga for each settler for bedclothes.
Sta Cr uz, Arch., MS., 69. Jan. 28, 1798, Borica to Moraga, Must teach the
Guadalajaretios ’ agriculture and strive against their natural laziness; treat
them with charity and love, but punish grave faults and malicious failure to
work. Jd., 71; Sta Cruz, Peep, 7-9; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 264. March 3d, Bo-
rica says the community must till the ficld of Narvaez if he is ill. dds; iv. 266,
May 30th, cows and sheep promised. Each settler got three cows. Jd., iv. 271,
274. July 27th, a settler to attend to no other work than tilling his own fields.
Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 70; Sta Cruz, Peep, 11. Oct. 29th, Cordero and Arceo,
runaways, if caught must work in irons. Jd.,71 and 13. Oct. 28th, Borica orders
Moraga to inspect the wardrobe of settlers’ wives and report what is nceded.
Prov. Ree. , MS., iv. 282. Expense for wages and rations to end of 1798,
572 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
Meanwhile in Mexico August 30, 1797, the San
Fernando college sent to the viceroy a protest against
the choice of a site so near that of the mission. The
utility of the new establishment was not to be ques-
tioned; but the villa site was on the pasturage-ground
of the natives; troubles would surely result; the laws
allowed aiission at least one league in every direction;
and, according to a report by Father Sefian, there
were good lands nearer San Francisco. The only
result of this protest before 1800 seems to have been
a reply of the governor dated February 6, 1798, in
which he gave statistics to show that the mission had
more land and raised more grain than could be attended
to; that the neophytes were dying off and there were
no more pagans to convert; and there was no better
site between Santa Cruz and San Francisco than that
at Branciforte.”
$1,720. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 41. Feb. 4, 1799, a close watch to be
kept on the coast. Sta Cruz, Peep, 13. Moraga must go on with his duties,
for his chance of promotion depends on it. Better times coming if the wheat
crop is cared for. The king will send his troops where they are needed, not
where they wish to go. StaCruz, Arch., MS., 62-3. March 6th, Borica wants
information about a site fora rancho for horses and cattle near the villa. March
27th, if the settlers object, let nothing be done; the only object was to aid them.
Id., 61-2, 66; Peep, 15,19. April 8d, Borica consents to dividing of sowing-
lands. Will hold Moraga responsible for remissness of any settler in caring
for his land. Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 62. May 12th, the settlers’ two years at
$116 per year expire to-day. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 380-1, 383.
Oct. 16th, two settlers may go to San José and return on a fixed day. Stu Cruz,
Arch., MS., 65-6; Peep, 23. Nov. 21st, Sal notifies Moraga that Vallejo will
supersede him as comisionado. /d., 25. Dec. 26th, Sal to Vallejo, guns of
the battery at Monterey to be fired. Don’t be alarmed. Jd., 25,27. Dec. 31st,
Sal assures Borica that Vallejo will perform his duties faithfully. Prov. Sté.
Pap., MS., xvii. 289. Settlers must not make pleasure trips to San José.
San José, Arch., MS., iii. 59; Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 18. Jan. 3, 1800, set-
tlers in need of corn and beans. The comisionado of San José to make a
contract with some person to furnish these supplies at the expense of the gov-
ernment. San José Arch., MS., ili. 55. Feb. 10th, Sal to Vallejo, at the end
of 1799 the settlers owed the treasury $558; the appropriation fur 1800 is
$540, so that receiving nothing they would still be in debt. The delivery of
cigarritos and other articles not rations and tools has been suspended. Sta
Cruz, Arch., MS., 63. Oct. 9th, aid to be furnished to the padres if asked for.
Sta Cruz, Peep, 31. Dec. 5th, governor to viceroy, the Branciforte settlers
are a scandal to the country by their immorality, etc. They detest their
exile, and render no service. Daily complaints of disorders. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xxi. 50-1. Dec. 11th, death of Comandante Sal announced at Branci-
forte. Sita Cruz, Peep, 45. The nine pobladores received in 1800 rations at
¢60 each. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxvi. 16.
2 Branciforte, Ll Discretorio de San Fernando al Virrey sobre el sitio de la
Nueva Villa, 1797, MS., Feb. 6th, Borica to viceroy, in Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 70.
Py ee Dat ue
COMMUNICATION WITH NEW MEXICO. 573
Independent of the explorations made with a view
to new establishments, Borica had a scheme of open-
ing communication ut New Mexico, where, as he
had heard from Governor Concha through General
Nava, there were fifteen hundred gente de razon with
neither lands nor occupation. He sent to Mexico
early in 1795 for copies of Garcés’ diary and map.
Having obtained these he instructed Goycoechea of
Santa Barbara at the end of the year to make inqui-
ries about the eastern country and to suggest some
way to send a letter across to the governor of New
Mexico by the natives, who could at the same time
explore the route. In January 1796 Goycoechea sent
to the governor such vague and unreliable rumors as
he could gather from the natives of the channel re-
specting the country beyond the Tulares; and in
February he informed Borica that he had made
arrangements with the native chief, Juan Marta, and
four companions to carry the letter, but that Father
Tapis had forbidden their departure, at least until an
order could be obtained from Lasuen.”
This state of the matter was reported to the vice-
roy in Borica’s communication of October 2d,°* and
the attorney-general having reported favorably on the
scheme of intercommunication as useful to Califor-
nia’s commerce, development, and defence, the viceroy
requested Borica to send to Mexico the maps and
papers on which his project rested; that the project
be also sent to the commandant general for his in-
spection; and that Lasuen forward his views about
the employment of the Santa Barbara Indians. This
was in January 1797, and in April Lasuen answered,
53 April 29, 1795, Borica to viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 44. Dec. 14th,
Borica to Goycoechea. Id., iv. 41, 46-7. Jan. 18th, Goycoechea to Borica.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 16, 17. Feb. 16th, Id. toId., St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
iv. 74-7. Sept. 28th, Borica orders the padres to use ‘gentle measures with
the Tulare Indians so that there may be no difficulty on the proposed route.
Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 174. Sal’s report of Jan. 31st, already alluded to, was
probably in answer to similar i inquiries sent him by the governor.
5+ Borica, Informe sobre comunicacion con Nuevo Mexico, 1796, MS. A
similar cominunication dated October Sth is given in Arch. Sta. Ldrbare,
BMi>., x. 73-6.
574 EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
arouing that it was dangerous to send a party of
natives so far among foreign and hostile tribes, since
on one side or the other excesses would surely be
committed. Moreover the chief it was proposed to
send was very useful to the mission and any accident
to him would lead to trouble with his people; and
finally Tapis had not forbidden the expedition, but had
simply refused to urge the neophytes to undertake it.”
Here, so far as the archives show, correspondence on
this matter ceases. It is probable that more was
written, but not likely that any actual expedition was
made, and certain that communication was not opened
with New Mexico. Neither was there anything
accomplished toward opening the Colorado River
route. between California and Sonora, a subject slightly
agitated during this period.”
55 Jan. 11, 1797, viceroy to Lasuen. Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., x. 76-7.
April 25th, Lasuen to V. R., /d., 77-83. Feb. 14, 1798, V. R. calls for Arri-
llaga’s ideas on the project and the best way to execute it. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvii. 9.
56 April 16, 1795, Borica to viceroy, asks to have Fages send his papers
relating to his expedition to the Colorado. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 44. Sept. 4,
1797, Borica thinks no party of less than 35 can safely pass to Sonora. Jd.,
vi. 58. Dec. 22, 1797, refers to Arrillaga’s report and schemes of Oct. 26,
1796; Ist, a presidio of 100 men at Sta Olaya with 20 at S. Felipe and 20 at
Sonoita; 2d, a presidio on California side at mouth of Colorado, to be crossed
in canoes. Borica prefers the latter, and advises that all attention be given
at present to pacification of the Indians between Sta Catalina and the Colo-
rado. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 65-6. April 24, 1798, Amador says that the padre
of San José went to the Colorado, and that the Indians fled, fearing enforced
baptism. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii 123. Reference to the general topic in
Azanza, Ynstruccion, MS., 90.
CHAPTER XXVII.
MISSION PROGRESS.
1791-1800.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF PADRES—GENERAL STATISTICAL VIEW—THE
PRESIDENCY—EPIScoPpAL PowERS—THE INQUISITION—REVILLA GIGEDO’s
REPORT—VIEWS OF SALAZAR—CARMELITE MoNnastTERY—Pious Funp
HacIENDA—CONTROVERSIES—THE OLD QUESTIONS DiscussED ANEW—
RepvcTion IN NUMBER OF FRIARS—RETIREMENT—TRAVELLING Ex-
PENSES—CHAPLAIN Duty—Guarps—Runaway NEoPHYTES—MISSION
ALCALDES—INDIANS ON HoRSEBACK—LOcAL QUARRELS—CHARGES OF
CoNCEPCION DE HoRRA—INVESTIGATION—BoRICA’S FIFTEEN QUESTIONS—
REPLIES OF COMANDANTES AND FRIARS—PRESIDENT LASUEN’S REPORT—
THE MISSIONARIES ACQUITTED—ECCLESIASTICAL MISCELLANY.
At the beginning of this decade the missions were
eleven in number; at its end they had been increased
by new establishments, as recorded in the preceding
chapters, to eighteen—within three of the highest
number ever reached.’ In 1790 there were twenty-
six friars on duty. Before 1800 there came up from
the college thirty-eight new missionaries; twenty-one
retired—some on the expiration of their regular term
of ten years, others on account of failing health, four
virtually dismissed for bad conduct, and four sent
away more or less afflicted with insanity; while three
died at their posts. This left forty still in the ser-
vice, or two ministers for each of the eighteen missions
and four supernumeraries. Six of the old pioneers
_who had come before 1780 were still left.?
1 The seven new missions in the order of their founding were: Santa Cruz,
Soledad, San José, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel, San Fernando, and San
Luis Rey. There were subsequently founded Santa Inés, San Rafael, and San
Francisco Solano. For a general statistical view of the missions in 1790
see chapter xix. of this volume.
2 The original 26, the names of pioneers being italicized, were: Arroita
Arenaza, Calzada, Cambon, Cruzado, Dumetz, Danti, Fuster, Garcia, Giribet,
(575)
576 MISSION PROGRESS.
The average of integrity, zeal, and ability among
the new friars was lower than in the case of Junipero
Serra’s companions, since a dozen or more were either
refractory, immoral, inefficient, or insane; yet the list
included such eminent names as Peyri, Payeras, Via-
der, Martinez, and Catala, together with many faithful
and efficient Christian missionaries.
The eleven old missions in 1790 had in round num-
bers 7,500 converts; in 1800 they had 10,700, a gain
of 3,200 for the decade, 320 a year on an average,
or about 30 a year for each mission. During the
period the priests had baptized 12,300 natives, and
buried 8,300, leaving 800 to be regarded as approxi-
mately the number of deserters and apostates. Mean-
while in the seven new establishments baptisms had
been 3,800 and deaths 1,000, leaving 2,800 converts on
the rolls. Thus for old and new missions together
Lasuen, Mariner, Miguel, Noboa, Ordmas, Paterna, Petia, Pieras, Rubi,
Sanchez, Santa Maria, Santiago, Sefan, Sitjar, Tapis, and Torrens.
The new-comers, 38 in number, were: Abella, Barcenilla, Barona, Car-
nicer, Carranza, Catal4, Catalan, Ciprés, Cortés, Espi, [stévan, Faura,
Fernandez (3), Garcia, Gili, Gonzalez, Horra, Iturrate, Jaime, Landaeta,
Lopez (2), Martiarena, Martin, Martinez, Merelo, Merino, Panella, Payeras,
Peyri, Pujol, Salazar, Uria (2), Viader, and Vinals.
The deaths were Mariner, Paterna, and luster. There left California, 21:
Arroita, Arenaza, Catalan, Danti, Ordmas, Espi, Fernandez (2), Garcia,
Rubi, Salazar, Gili, Giribet, Horra, Lopez, Torrens, Cambon, Noboa, Peiia,
Pieras, Merino. Lists of friars in different years, with general statements of
numbers, in St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 4, 77-8, 100-2, 107-8; iii. 3-5; Arch.
Sta Barbara, MS., xii. 55-6, 61, 66, 68, 235; St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 14-17;
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 83-4. These lists, however, afford but a very
small part of the data from which I have formed my local tables and bio-
graphies of padres, data which I have had to collect little by lttle from a
thousand sources.
Arrivals in 1791 were Gili, Landaeta, Baldomero Lopez, and Salazar, in-
tended for Santa Cruz and Soledad, or to replace others who were to be sent
to those new missions while Cambon retired. In 1792 came Espi; and in 1793
Catala, the latter.as chaplain on a Nootka vessel. This same year Ordmas
and Rubi—the latter a black sheep of the Franciscan flock—departed, and
Paterna, an old pioneer, died in harness. In 1794 five new priests were sent
to California—nren of a different stamp, it was thought, from those who had
given the president so much trouble., Mugdrtegui, in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS.,
iv. 39-40. These were Martin, Martiarena, Estévan, Manuel Fernandez, and
Gregorio Fernandez. The departures were Noboa, Pieras, Pefia, and Gili—
the latter another source of scandal—who sailed on the Concepcion, Aug. 11th.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 157, 175, 202; xxi. 142, 146-7; Arch. Arzobisnado,
MS., i. 389. Viceroy’s license dated Jan. 10th; governor’s, May 3lst. In
1795 Jaime, Ciprés, and Pu/ol came; while Salazar and Sefian retired, the
latter temporarily. St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. £0; Prov. Iec., MS., vi. 47; Prov.
Si. Pap., MS., xxi. 230. Danti, Lopez, Calzada, and Arroita sailed in July
_ STATISTICS. 577
we have a total population of 13,500, a gain of 6,000
in ten years, during which time the baptisms had been
16,100 and the deaths 9,300. There is no doubt that
the deaths were largely in excess of the births, though
there are no available means of accurately estimating
the latter.’
The mission herds and flocks multiplied about three-
fold during the decade. Horses, mules, and horned
cattle increased from 22,000 to 67,000; small stock,
almost exclusively sheep—goats having diminished
very rapidly and swine being comparatively few—
from 26,000 to 86,000. Agricultural products had
been 30,000 bushels in 1790, the smallest subsequent
crop being also 30,000 in 1795, and the largest 75,000
in 1800. About three fifths of the whole crop in 1800
was wheat, which was less proportionately than usual,
one fifth corn, and one tenth barley, the remainder
_ being beans, pease, and various grains. Wheat yielded
or August 1796. Other priests wished to retire, but the guardian thought, as
they had been eager to come to California, it was best not to permit them to
leave without the most urgent reasons. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 56-7,
274; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii. 8; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 246; Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 163. The new-comers of 1796, arriving in June by the Aranzazu,
were: Payeras, José Maria Fernandez, Peyri, Viader, and Cortés. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xiv. 139; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 7; also Catalan
and Horra. In April 1797 the Concepcion is said to have brought 11 priests.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 145-6; xxi. 254; but there were really only 7.
Barcenilla, Carnicer, Gonzalez, Martinez, Merino, Uria, and Panella. The
same vessel carried back to San Blas in September, Garcia and Arenaza, who
were ill and had served out their term; and also the insane priests José Maria
Fernandez and Concepcion de Horra. Prov. Iec., .AS., vi. 94, 98, 192; Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xxi. 264; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 57-8; St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
vi. 107-8. On her next trip the Concepcion brought to Santa Barbara in May
1798 Senan and Calzada, returning from a visit to Mexico, and also the six
new friars: Barona, Faura, Carranza, Abella, Martinez, and Vifiales. Arch.
Arzobispado, MS., i. 47; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 73-6; Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
ete toy xxi. 2795, 86 Pap., Sac., MS., viii. 13. Manuel Fernandez and
Torrens retired this year, as did PP. Landaeta and Miguel temporarily. Arch.
Sta Barbara, xi. 60; St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 107. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii.
2,3. In 1769 Merelo, Jacinto Lopez, and José Uria arrived; while Espi,
Giribet, Merino, and Catalan, the last two afilicted with insanity, obtained
leave to retire, sailing in January 1800. This last year of the decade Fuster
and Mariner died; Landaeta and Miguel came back; and Garcia and Iturrate
were added to the force, some of them apparently against their wishes. Prov.
Rec., MS., vi. 127-9, 243; ix: 12: xi, 144:. xii. I; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 30,
44, 292; St. Fan, Sac. . MS., 0a a i Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS. wie 2A Ke
61-2; 281-2, 284.
3 The governor ina report of 1800 states that the number of deaths is al-
most double that of births. Bandini, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., No. 3.
Hist. Cau., Vou. 1. 37
578 MISSION PROGRESS.
on an average fifteenfold, barley eightcenfold, and corn
ninety-threefold for the ten years.
Fermin Francisco Lasuen remained at the head of
the Franciscan community as president, performing
his duties to the satisfaction of all classes, loved and
respected by friars, officers, soldiers, settlers, and
neophytes. He received no pay for his services, being
a supernumerary friar, and no stipend being allowed
except to the two regular ministers of each mission.
The duties of the supernumeraries were as arduous,
and those of the president more so, than those of the
ministers, yet though petitions were made and the
viceroy was disposed to grant them in Lasuen’s favor,
the attorney general always interposed objections.
Dumetz and Pefia held patents after Mugirtegui’s
departure to assume the presidency in case of acci-
dent. The power to administer the sacrament of
confirmation, granted by the pope in May 1785,
expired May 4, 1795, although Lasuen had actually
exercised it only since 1790, or half the full period.
The privilege was never renewed, and there were no
more confirmations until California possessed a bishop
of her own.’ The ordinary episcopal powers of ad-
ministering sacraments other than confirmation were
conferred on the president by the bishop of Sonora.
As vicario foraneo Lasuen exercised those powers
toward the civilians, and as vicario castrense toward
the military; that is to say, as a kind of chaplain
* Arch. Sta Bdrbara, MS., xi. 220, 260-3. Viceroy Revilla Gigedo in
his report of 1793, St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 18, 24, implies that
missionaries are often removed unnecessarily by their prelate; but it does
not clearly appear that he refers particularly to California, where he says
the friars perform their duties in a most commendable manner. See pope’s de-
crees of July 8, 1794, and Dec. 12, 1797 on qualifications, duties, honors, etc., of
friars of the Propaganda Fide colleges, in Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., x. 109-
36; ix. 37-40; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 272-3.
*Sept. 9, 1792, pope’s license forwarded from Mexico. Arch. Sta Barbara,
MS., x. 289; yet Lasuen says he received the power on July 13, 1790. S. Diego,
Lib. de Mision, MS., 45. Expires May 4, 1795. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi.
233; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 284. April 3, 1795,-Borica to Lasuen, learns
that the president is hurrying through the province to use his privilege
while it lasts. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 144-5.
VICEROY’S REPORT. 579
general. The new bishop renewed the concession
in 1796, and Lasuen subdelegated the authority to
his subordinate missionaries.®° Lasuen was also com-
issary of the holy inquisition for California after 1795,
but so far as the records show his only duties in this
capacity were to receive and publish an occasional
edict on general matters.’
In an exhaustive report on the missions of New
Spain Viceroy Revilla Gigedo presented to the king
in 1793 an historical, descriptive, and statistical view
of the Californian establishments, which is an inter-
esting and important document, though expressing
only en réswmé what I have presented in detail from
the same original papers on which this report was
founded. An effort was made also about this time
by the Spanish and Mexican authorities to insure
greater regularity and thoroughness in reports of
missionary progress.* Iather Salazar having returned
6Sept. 30, 1796, bishop to Lasuen, confirming faculties. Dec. 16th,
Lasuen to bishop, expressing thanks. March 20, 1797, Lasuen takes the
oath as vicario foraneo before P. Arenaza. June 19th, bishop reserves the
right of granting divorce and some other episcopal faculties. Arch. Sta Bar-
bara, MS., xii. 192-8. Dec. 18, 1796, Lasuen’s circular to the padres. /d.,
xi. 1389-41. March 20, 1797, Lasuen notifies Borica. Is only awaiting the
license and blessing of the guardian. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 45. March
22d, B. to Lasuen, will proclaim him juez vicario eclesidstico in the pre-
sidios. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 184-5. June 20th, B. says the title of vicar
must be presented to the government. /d., vi. 192-3. It appears that cas-
trense powers were conferred by Lasuen on only seven friars. Arch. Sta Bar-
bara, MS., xi. 145-6.
7Oct. 15, 1795, Lasuen’s patente de Comision del Santo Oficto sent from
Mexico. Arch. Sta Bdrbara, MS., xi. 56. Several edicts of 1795, 1797, and
1800 in Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 187-8, 228; Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 67-8.
In offences of which the inquisition had cognizance the natives were not
directly subject to that tribunal but to the provisor de Indias, who, with the
knowledge of the inquisition, acted as judge. Privilegios de Indios, MS., 6.
Some additional items on ecclesiastical matters are given later in this chapter.
8 Revilla Gigedo, Carta sobre misiones de 27 de Diciembre de 1793, in Dice.
Univ., v. 427-30; also MS.,i. See also chap. xxiv. of this volume. Oct. 22,
1794, viceroy to governor, urging compliance with royal order of March 21,
1787, which required attention to mission welfare and reports every two or
three years on mission progress. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 203. July 28, 1795,
Branciforte sends Borica a copy of his predecessor’s report of 1793 to serve as
a guide for new reports; and also calls for suggestions. St. Pap., Miss. and
Col., MS., i. 1. Jan. 2, 1795, Lasuen in a circular says the council of the
Indies have read the mission reports and thank us in king’s name for progress
made, which is great compared with other missions with better advantages,
The guardian sends the thanks of the college. A~ch. Sta Barbara, MS., ix.
320-1.
580 MISSION PROGRESS.
from California was called upon by the viceroy for a
report on the condition of the country, which was
rendered May 11, 1796, but contained little of value
respecting the missions. Salazar estimated the wealth
of the Franciscan establishments at $800,000 in build-
ings and chattels; but he complained that progress was
impeded by the excessive labors imposed upon the
friars; also by the preference shown to settlers in the
purchase of supplies.?
On the subject of secularization, not referring par-
ticularly to California, Revilla Gigedo expressed his
dissatisfaction with the condition of such missions as
had been given up to the clergy. He would take no
steps in that direction without a better prospect of
success. Curates could do no better than friars in the
instruction and improvement of the natives.” Ina
letter of 1796 Governor Borica says that according
to the laws, the natives are to be free from tutelage
at the end of ten years, the missions then becoming
doctrinas; “but those of New California at the rate
they are advancing will not reach the goal in ten
centuries; the reason, God knows, and men know
something about it.”
Two special projects for the advancement of Cali-
fornian interests were devised in Mexico during the
decade; and both, being opposed by the Franciscan
authorities, seem to have been given up at the end of
1797. The first was to establish a Carmelite monas-
tery at San Francisco, which was to consist of twelve
friars, and cost from $25,000 to $30,000. It was to
be supported by an agricultural establishment, become
the nucleus of a settlement, and thus promote both
the colonization of the country and the civilization of
the natives, to say nothing of the usefulness of the
monastery towers to navigators as landmarks. This
matter was referred to two friars who had been in
® Salazar, Condicion Actual de Cal., Informe General al Virey, 11 de Mayo
1796, MS.
10 Revilla Gigedo, Carta de 1793, MS., 25.
11 Aug. 3, 1796, Borica to Alberni. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., xxiv. 7, 8.
: ee
PROJECTS DEFEATED. 581
California and who reported adversely. The second
project was to establish a hacienda of the pious fund
in Jacopin Valley near San Diego, but the guardian
of San Fernando pronounced the scheme impractica-
ble if not absurd. The general argument of the
Franciscans on these questions was, that so far as
the conversion of the natives was concerned the old
methods were sufficient, and any innovation would be
dangerous; and that for the promotion of settlement
by gente de razon the new establishments would have
no advantages over the old, which were far from pros-
perous.”
The regulation of 1781, as we have seen, provided
for the gradual reduction of the ministers to one at
each mission. Until this was effected friars retiring
or dying were not to be replaced. This regulation
was disregarded by the friars and the secular author-
ities made no attempt to enforce it. The subject came
up and was discussed during this decade, but nothing
was effected. The law remained unchanged, and was
practically disregarded as before.” Respecting the re-
2 Dec. 4, 1795, viceroy to governor, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 34;
Mugdrtegui and Pefia, Parecer sobre el Establecimiento de un Convento en el
Puerto de San Francisco, 28 de Enero de 1797, MS. These padres declare that
aid from the Carmelites in founding new missions would be acceptable. Ca-
lleja, Respuesta del Guardian al Virey sobre Proyectos de California, 1797,
MS. This report, dated Oct. 23d, is chiefly devoted to another subject, of
which more anon. It is noticeable that the guardian speaks very ironically
of the ‘domesticated’ gentiles whose services it was proposed to utilize in the
new establishments, greatly exaggerating the danger of the old missions and
pueblos from the natives, and implying without intending to do so that not
much had been effected by nearly 30 years of missionary work. Borica also
disapproved of the hacienda because there would be no market for produce.
Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 61.
13 Revilla Gigedo, Carta de 1793, 24, disapproves the reduction, among
other reasons because it would favor immorality on the part of the friars.
April 30, 1796, the guardian writes to Lasuen that the fiscal wants to know the
reasons for non-compliance with the reglamento; consequently all the docu-
ments on the subject are needed, only one or two being in the college archives.
. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 275-6. Nov. 16, 1797, Borica to viceroy, thinks
the matter should be settled, as there is a deficit of $52,142 in the mission
fund. He suggests that two padres be allowed to each mission, but that only
one sinodo of $400 be divided between them, since they now spend no more
than that on themselves. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 60-1. Sept. 3, 1699, Padre Lull,
Hzposicion del Guardian sobre la reduccion de Misioneros en California, 1799,
MS., presents the usual arguments against reducing the number of mission-
aries, and also opposes Borica’s scheme of reducing the sinodo, not only because
it is contrary to the king’s intentions, but because, while, as Borica says, the
¥
582 MISSION PROGRESS.
tirement of friars to Mexico there was now no contro-
versy between the secular and Franciscan authorities,
because the latter were considerably troubled to keep
the missionaries at their posts, and welcomed even
secular interference to aidin the task. In 1795 there
came a royal order that the governor and president
might grant license to retire for due and certified
cause without waiting for a report from Mexico; but
before the end of this decade this rule seems to have
been modified. Since 1787 and down to 1794 friars
coming to or returning from California were allowed
two hundred dollars for travelling expenses on land
and ninety-five cents per day while on the water.
Subsequently their stipends were allowed to cover the
time consumed on the journey provided there were
no unnecessary delays.”
two priests spend less than $400 on themselves they spend the remainder for
the natives, and this is practically the only way of obtaining necessary arti-
cles since there is no market for mission produce. In 1800, or perhaps later,
Lasucn in a letter to the guardian argues the same side of the case most
earnestly, speaks rather bitterly of any scheme to economize on the pay of
poor over-worked friars when the king is so liberal in other expenses, and re-
peats his old determination to retire if the change be insisted on. Lasuen, Cor-
respondencia, MS., 329-33.
141793, a priest retired on a provisional license of the comandante at Mon-
terey. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 33. 1794, the 10 years of service to count
from the date of embarking from Spain. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 294—-
5. Royal orders referred to in my text dated Sept. 16, 1794. Sent from Mex-
ico June 8, 1795. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 124-5. Just before the receipt
of this order Borica refuses Danti’s petition to retire until leave is obtained
from Mexico. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 149. Dec. 9, 1797, viceroy to the guar-
dian, friars must not go to Mexico to solicit license to retire to Spain. Arch.
Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 59. Sept. 1, 1800, governor to viceroy, understands
that no leave to retire is to be given, even on expiration of term, until substi-
tutes arrive. The priests are not pleased at this. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 42.
15 Qn measures adopted 1786-8, see Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., x. 267-70;
xi. 52-3, 241-2; xii. 40-1; Prov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 202-3; viii. 1-3. It
seems that the $200 was to be paid, like the stipend, from the pious fund, which
in 1787 was charged with $3,944 for friars’ travelling expenses for the past 20
years. In December 1793 the guardian attempts to secure travelling expenses
for supernumerary friars going to California, and succeeds after some corre:
spondence in getting an advance of their stipend to pay these expenses,
though their stipend would cease on arrival until assigned toa mission. From
this correspondence it appears that by royal order of April 20, 1798, the sti-
pend began on the date of departure from Mexico. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., -
xi. 246-51. By order of Sept. 16, 1794, the stipend was extended to date of
arrival in Mexico on return and all gratuities for travelling expenses were
abolished. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 124-5; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ix.
324-5; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. date July 20, 1795. The friars
subsequently had much trouble on account of the naval authorities who
demanded $2.25 per day instead of 95 cts. Moreover the government in some
MISSIONARY ESCORTS. 583
Many of the old matters of dispute still remained
open, but as a rule they gave rise to no very bitter
controversy during this period. No regular chaplains
were appointed, though Borica made an effort to
secure such appointments; neither does it appear that
the friars got any pay for attending to the spiritual
interests of soldiers and settlers.* In the matter of
mission escorts and their duties there were no radical
changes and few disputes. The soldiers were in-
structed to treat the padres always with respect and
evidently did so, the chief complaint being that they
would not always serve as vaqueros and servants of
all work, a refusal the padres could never quite un-
derstand. ‘The guard furnished to a friar engaged in
his several duties abroad was still regulated by the
governor's or commandant’s instructions, or in some
cases left to the corporal’s discretion. The friars
desired discretionary powers, but submitted. The
strict rule of Fages that no soldier on escort duty
should sleep away from the mission was relaxed some-
what in urgent cases by the viceroy’s orders; but the
order that no soldier should be sent after fugitive
natives or allowed to visit the rancherias of gentiles
without superior command was strictly enforced,
and the friars, now that their temper had cooled a
little, doubtless recognized the necessity of such a
rule. The instructions of Borica to the guards show
an earnest desire to maintain harmonious relations
with the missionaries, as well as a prudent and wise
policy toward the gentiles. Doubtless the patience
of the friars was often sorely tried by the indolence
cases when the return voyage was very long by no fault of the priests refused
a pay the full stipend as per royal order. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ix. 41-5,
—5.
16 Sept 26, 1793, governor to viceroy asking for a friar for each presidio,
as the missionaries have too much to attend to. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 117.
June 18, 1794, viceroy must have more information before deciding. /d., xi.
181-2. November 28th, gov. circulates nine questions on the performance of
chaplain’s duties by padres; and April 3, 1795, explains more fully to the V.
R. asking again for chaplains at a salary of $400. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 122;
Vi. 41-2. _ Nothing more is heard from Mexico. June 17, 1796, Comandante
Goycoechea complains of the padres having declined to hear confessions. S¢.
Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 73.
584 MISSION PROGRESS.
and insolence of individual soldiers, but of the govern-
ment they had no cause to complain. The guards
were reduced in most of the old missions on the estab-
lishing ef new ones, and this brought out a protest
from the Franciscans, which was in some instances
successful.” ,
Desertion of neophytes became prevalent, especially
in the northern missions, the pretended motive of the
fugitives, and in some instances the real one, being
ill-treatment, overwork, and hunger; but oftener the
true cause of apostasy was a longing for the old free-
dom and dread of the terrible death-rate in the mis-
sion communities. As we have seen, the soldiers of
the guard were not allowed to pursue runaways;
neither was the practice of sending neophytes after
them, approved by Fages, allowed during Borica’s
rule. Gentiles might be bribed to bring them in;
Borica, Instruccion para la Escolta de San Juan Bautista, 1797, MS. This
document was ordered to be posted in every mission for the guidance of the
corporal. Sal, Instruccion al Cabo de Sta Cruz, 1791, MS.; Fages, Instruc.
para la Escolta de Purtsima, 1788, MS.; Id., Instruc. para S. Miguel, 1787,
MS. Prohibition of escorts for long distances, approved by king, Jan. 13,
1790. Fages, Papel de Puntos, MS., 155. 1794, soldiers to be alternated in
escolta and presidio service. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 8; Prov. Rec., MS.,
v. 48. Muskets to be fired and reloaded once a week. Some complaint of
failure to keep watch at night. No escorts for long distances. Arrillaga,
Papel de Puntos, MS., 196-7. May 15, 1795, escorts of padres must return
to mission same day. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 183. June 3d, Borica to viceroy.
The padres still ask for escorts to visit rancherias; but I attribute present
tranquillity to the measures of my predecessor and refuse. We must not risk
our peace in the hands of a careless soldier. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 52. Oct. .
5th, approval of V. R. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 42-8; but on Nov. 7th the
V. R., on petition of the guardian, recommends concessions in urgent cases,
always with due prudence. Jd., xiii. 65-6. On this ground, Lasuen, March
5, 1796, informs the padres that the old restriction has been removed, the
matter never having been properly understood in Mexico before. Doc. //ist.
Cal., MS., iv. 56; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 137. Corporal at Soledad
had to give monthly reports on manufactures, etc. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 179.
Must keep a diary of events to be sent in every month. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
vi. 1. Escoltas to build themselves houses to save paying rent. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xiv. 175. June 9, 1796, padres to have escorts on journeys, or
on going to confess, etc., but not to pursue fugitives. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.
64; v. 86. No aid to padres to punish Indians unless two agree; but to alle-
viate suffering the request of one to suffice. Jd., v. 89. April 29, 1797,
Argiiello reprimandsa corporal for having furnished only one soldier to escort
seven padres. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 57. Lasuen, Jnforme Bienal, 1797-8,
MS., 67-8, objects to the reduction of the guard in the old missions. Oct.
11, 1799, the guardian complained to the V. R. that the escoltas were too
small; and the report was sent to Borica on Dec. 17th. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
XVili, 148-9,
REGULATIONS. 585
and occasionally an expedition of presidio soldiers was
sent out to make a wholesale collection of apostates,
but such raids were not yet very frequent. Kind
treatment of returned fugitives was required by the
governor, and was to a large extent enforced. Neo-
phytes sometimes stowed themselves away on the San
Blas vessels, or escaped by land to Sonora.”
The laws required an alcalde and several regidores
to be elected annually in each mission, a policy which
had in earlier times met with considerable opposition
from the padres, who insisted that the natives were
by no means fitted for self-rovernment even to this
sheht extent. After 1792 these elections ceased alto-
gether until Borica brought up the matter in 1796
and insisted with the viceroy’s approval on the en-
forcement of the law. President Lasuen obcyed,
but in his instructions to the padres he clearly indi-
cated that the election was to be a mere formality
and the authority of the native officials merely nom-
inal, the whole system being intended simply for the
instruction of the neophytes in the forms of civil
government with a view to the time when the missions
should be secularized. After 1796 the elections were
regularly reported to the governor each year, and the
padres sometimes caused the choice to fall on a
trusty neophyte who could be allowed to exercise
slight authority as a kind of overseer. The govy-
181791, Fages’ policy of sending neophytes. Fages, Papel de Puntos, MS.,
154-5. Jan. 15, 1794, governor to viceroy. Progress has been made in the
reduction of gentiles and fugitives by gentle measures. A chief has even
brought in fugitives voluntarily. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 131. 1795, Bo-
rica approves sending pagans after fugitives. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 69. 1796,
fugitives to be treated well. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 176. 1797, viceroy
forbids any Indian being taken to Mexico. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 195. 1798,
ninety fugitives of Santa Cruz recovered by soldiers. Prov. St. Pup., MS., xvii.
101. Nov. 8, 1798, viceroy to Lasuen, disapproves the sending of neophytes
after fugitives, except in extreme cases after consultation with the governor.
Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 75. Mar. 4, 1799, Lasuen instructs the padres
accordingly. Jd., xi. 146-7; Lasuen’s original order in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS.,
iv. 71-3. July 22, 1799, governor to padres of San Juan. ‘They may send
Indians after fugitives to peaceful rancherias. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 242.
Flight of Indians to San Blas and Sonora. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 209; xxi.
185; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 58. On fugitives from San Francisco where the
most trouble occurred see chapter xxxi. of this volume.
586 MISSION PROGRESS.
ernment did not choose to interfere so long as the
prescribed formalities were complied with.” The sec-
ular authorities still found fault because the neophytes
were permitted to ride and thus fitted to be formi-
dable foes in the future; but the friars, while appreci-
ating the danger and admitting that one white man
was ‘equal to six or eight Indians to care for their herds,
claimed that as there were no Spaniards to be had
even if the missions were able to pay for their services,
they must necessarily employ natives as vaqueros.”
In two local controversies elsewhere narrated, that is
to say at Santa Clara respecting boundary lines be-
tween mission and pueblo and at San Francisco
respecting the establishment of the rancho del rey,
the friars were victorious in the first and defeated in
the second, receiving strict justice at the hands of
the authorities in California as well as in Mexico.
Indeed, throughout this decade there was an evident
disposition on the part of viceroy and governor to
promote friendly relations; while guardian and presi-
dent, especially the latter, were much more disposed
than formerly to conciliatory methods.”
19 Qn mission alcaldes before 1790 see Prov. Rec., MS., i. 120; iii. 71, 170;
Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., x. 94-6. Sept. 22, 1796, Borica to Lasuen and to
the padres, requiring compliance with the law. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 173; Sta _ ;
Cruz, Parroquia, MS., 16; Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 44. Nov. 2, 1796,
Lasuen’s circular to the padres. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 138-9; vi. 118-
19. Nov. 19, 1796, Borica to viceroy stating his action in the matter. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., iv. 66-7. Dec. 20, 1797, viceroy to Lasuen. Arch. Sta Barbara,
MS., x. 90-8. Dec. 2, 1796, Borica to Lasuen, approving the election of neo-
phyte alcaldes and regidores who are to act generally under the padres’ direc-
tion, but in criminal matters under the corporal of the escolta. Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 178-9. Jan. 7, 1797, Borica orders padres of San Diego to depose a
bad alcalde and elect a new one. Jd. March 30, 1798, Borica tells padres of
Soledad they were wrong in changing alcaldes without submitting the case to
the government. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 210.
2» This matter was pretty well settled before 1796 so far as the missions
were concerned. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 64-5, 87; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 392-
6; vii. 63. May 28, 1791, the governor says the Indians are getting too much
meat to eat, are becoming too skilful riders, and are acquiring the insolence of
Apaches. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 150. Strict orders against any gentile or.
any Indian servant of soldier or settler being allowed to ride or to have arms.
S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 86; iii. 65.
21 For the controversies at Santa Clara and San Francisco see chapter
xxxl., this volume. Revilla Gigedo, Carta de 1793, MS., 24-5, dwells on
the importance of promoting harmony with the friars. J. an, pt 1795, Lasuen
in a circular orders the padres to forward to him all consultations of the gov-
HORRA’S CHANGES. ; 587
The leading controversy of the decade in Franciscan
circles resulted from certain charges made against the
missionaries by one of their own number, though in
subsequent investigations the secular authorities be-
came involved. The results of these investigations
present the best information extant respecting the de-
tails of the mission routine in certain of its phases,
and they will be used elsewhere in a chapter devoted
to the subject; but here I present the matter only in
a general way as a prominent historical event and as
illustrating the missionary policy of the time. In 1797
Padre Antonio de la Concepcion Horra, who had come
to California the same year, was sent back to Mexico
by President Lasuen on a charge of insanity. Back
at the college on July 12, 1798, Horra addressed a
memorial to the viceroy in which, besides complain-
ing bitterly of the treatment to which he had been
personally subjected on a false charge of insanity, he
made some serious charges against the Californian
friars of cruelty and mismanagement. There was
nothing in the document to indicate that the writer
was of unsound mind, unless it was his closing request
to be sent away because his life would be in danger if
it were known that he had revealed prevalent abuses
to the viceroy.”
ernor. Arch. Sta Barbara, xi. 135. Catald’s reported hostility to settlers
rebuked. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 169-70. In case of innovations the padres to
be cautious and consult the president. Laswen, Correspondencia, MS., 318-19.
Dec. 14, 1796, Borica to Goycoechea, he must give the padres all needed
aid by viceroy’s order. Prov. Rec., MS. iv. 86. Jan. 1797, corporals a
raga and Vallejo forced to apologize to Catala for their rudeness. J.,
179- 80; iv. 204-5. A padre must settle his troubles with a Sonniian c or
appeal to the prelate; the governor will not interfere in such matters. /d.,
vi. 197.
22 Horra, Representacion al Virey contra los Misioneros de California, 1798,
MS. Sitjar, Lasuen, and Miguel were the particular objects of Horra’s
wrath. Sitjar, offended at Padre Concepcion’s criticisms, went to his inti-
mate friend Lasuen, who believed the absurd story of insanity, and sent
- Miguel who treated him as a maniac, even laying violent hands on him and
maltreating him all the way from San Miguel to Monterey where he was
thrown intoa fever, all of which could be proved by Peyri, the soldiers, and
the surgeon. He cites many witnesses including Gov. Borica to prove that
he is not mad, and others to prove his past services; but he can get no jus-
tice at the college because all there are friends of Lasuen. See also chapter
XXVl., on Padre Horra’s life and experience in California.
588 MISSION PROGRESS.
On August 31st the viceroy sent the representa-
tions of Horra to Borica, who was ordered to investi-
gate and report on the truth of the charges. Borica
accordingly despatched private instructions to the
four commandants to send in answers to fifteen ques-
tions propounded on the manner in which the friars
were discharging their duties.”
3d, and before the end of the month the required reports
were made by Argiiello, Goycoechea, Sal, and Acting
Comandante Rodriguez; while Grajera sent in his
reply in March 1799. These replies, especially those
of Goycoechea and Sal, went far to support some of
the mad friar’s accusations.“ The report which Borica
probably made to the viceroy on receipt of his subor-
dinates’ statements is unfortunately not extant.” It
was not apparently until this report, including those
of the commandants, reached Mexico that anything
whatever was known at the college of Horra’s repre-
sentation against the friars or of the resulting investi-
gations. In February 1799 the guardian sent Lasuen
a statement of the charges,” and a little later copies
of other documents which were lost in crossing the
oulf of California, and Lasuen did not receive the
fifteen questions and the commandants’ replies until
September 1800. In October Tapis and Cortés of
Santa barbara sent in to the president a long and
complete reply to Goycoechea, whose statements had
been more full than those of the others and slightly
23 Aug. 31st, viceroy to Borica, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 49; Borica,
Quince Preguntas sobre Abusos de Misioneros, 1798, MS.
*4 Argiello, Respuesta a las Quince Prequntas sobre Abusos de Misioneros,
i798, MS. Dated San Francisco, Dec. 11th, and more favorable to the padres
than the others. Goycoechea, Respuesta, etc., MS., Sta Barbara, Dec. 14th;
Sal, Respuesta, etc., MS., Monterey, Dec. 15th; Rodriquez, Respuesta, etc.,
MS., San Diego, Dec. 19th; Grajera, Respuesta, etc., MS., San Diego, March
4 WS Wh OS
>On Oct. 30, 1798, however, Borica in a letter to the viceroy expresses
his opinion that the best way to insure the advancement of the natives was
to form a reglamento for the whole mission routine, including instruction,
food, dress, dwellings, care of sick, labor, punishments, and amusements,
and to hold the president responsible for exact compliance with the rules; for
at present his authority is sometimes disregarded. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 105-6.
mie: Feb. 6, 1800, guardian to president, in Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi.
This was on December |
LASUEN’S REPORT. 589
less favorable to the friars.” And finally president
Lasuen devoted himself from November 12, 1800, to
June 19, 1801, to the preparation of a comprehensive
exposition of the whole subject, which is not only the
leading production of the venerable author’s pen, but
the most eloquent and complete defence and present-
ment of the mission system in many of its phases
which is extant.* It is in a chapter on the mission
system and routine that the details of all these docu-
ments must be chiefly utilized as already intimated;
but it seems necessary to present here a general view
of the questions at issue, which difficult task I pro-
ceed to perform as briefly as possible.
It was the policy of the government and the duty
of the friars to introduce the Spanish language in place
of the vernacular, thus fitting the natives “for future
citizenship. Padre Concepcion accused the friars of
an almost total neglect of this duty. According to
the commandants religious services and some teachings
of Christian principles were conducted daily in the
north in Spanish; in the south the natives were taught
in their own language, though the doctrina was often
repeated to them in Spanish. In general intercourse
the vernacular was used wherever the friars had learned
it, and in some missions exclusively. Nowhere were
the natives compelled to learn Spanish, and every-
where the friars were more or less indifferent on the
subject. Padres Tapis and Cortés affirmed that at
Santa Barbara the doctrina at mass was taught in
Spanish and in the afternoon either in one language
or another; but they admitted that the natives were
not required, only persuaded, to use the Spanish.
And finally Lasuen, while maintaining that 1t was use-
27 Tapis and Cortés, Réplica de los Ministros de Sta Barbara a la Respuesta
que did cl Comandante Goycoechea & las quince preguntas de Borica sobre abusos
de Misioneros, 1800, MS. Dated Oct. 30th. Other padres, not unlikely one
from each mission, sent in similar reports on the subject, but I have found
none of the documents except this.
8 Lirsuen, Representacion sobre los Puntos representados al Superior Gobierno
por el P. rr. Antonio de la Concepcion ({iorra) ecntra los misioneros de esta
Nueva California, 1800, MS., with autograph signature.
590 MISSION PROGRESS.
less to preach to the natives in a language they did
not understand, claimed that an honest effort was nade
to teach Spanish, that exercises were conducted in
that language once a day, that the natives were com-
pelled to use it in their petitions, that premiums were
offered for acquiring it, and moreover that the natives
were inclined to learn it.”
Respecting Horra’s statement that natives were
baptized without sufficient instruction in the faith, and
then often allowed to return to the forest, to be re-
baptized perhaps at a later date, the commandants
thought the preliminary teaching of eight days or-
more and rarely less might be sometimes too little,
some padres being more careful than others, and that
rebaptism might occur, though they knew of no in-
stances where it had occurred. The padres claimed
that eight days was the minimum, that the instruction
was ample, and that a second baptism could never
happen under their system of registers. Lasuen knew
of but three cases of rebaptism out of 27,000 con-
verts. All but Goycoechea agreed that neophytes
were never allowed to return to the woods and moun-
tains except for definite periods and purposes. In
answer to the charge of insufficient food many details
were given of the rations actually served, which
though insipid and unvarying in quality seem to have
been sufficient in quantity. Sal and Goycoechea
deemed the amount of food too small for laboring
men; but Lasuen affirmed most earnestly that the
natives had all they wanted, not only of the everlast-
ing atole and pozole, but regular allowances of meat
and milk, with fish occasionally, and always a plate
Revilla Gigedo understands that the natives permanently settled use
Spanish; but the friars learn the vernacular to advance their instruction.
Carta de 1793, MS., 14, 15. Feb. 19, 1795, Borica to president, enclosing
royal order that natives be taught Spanish. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 143. Feb.
23d, circular of president requiring padres to promote learning Spanish and
forbid the use of vernacular. Arch. Sta Bdrbara, MS., xi. 120. Dec. 1798,
Borica says that Sitjar of San Miguel teaches in the vernacular. Prov. Pec.,
MS., vi. 115. March 21, 1799, Grajera says the natives at San Diego are
taught the doctrines in their own language by educated Indians, no effort
being made to teach Spanish. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 192.
TREATMENT OF INDIANS. 59]
from the padres’ table if asked for. The mission
Indians were always fatter than the gentiles, their
work was easier than that required to gain a subsist-
ence in the old way, and the gentiles greatly preferred
the Spanish grains to their wild seeds and fruits.
Still, as the president admits, the neophytes did desert
and plead hunger, and they were always glad to get
permission to go to the monte for a time to live in the
old way. Such permissions were given more freely
in times of short supplies; but no Indian was ever
compelled to go. As to the clothing of the neophytes
there was a substantial agreement on the one or two
blankets, breech-clouts or petticoats, and shirts given
to each native every year or two, and no expression
of opinion that the supply was not adequate to their
wants, except by Sal.
The dwellings of the neophytes were, as Lasuen
admitted, in many places like those of the gentiles,
but cleaner, better on the Channel than elsewhere,
and in some missions already replaced by adobe houses
with tile roofs. These dwellings like the presidios
and other buildings went through successive stages,
and were improved as fast as possible. Unmarried
females it was found necessary to lock up at night
and to watch closely, but they were given generally
the best room in the mission, and subjected to no hard-
ships. In only a few missions were bachelors locked
up or forced to sleep in the mission. On these points
Horra had made no special charges except as they
were included in the general one of ill-treatment.
On the subject of labor there was a radical differ-
ence of opinion. According to the commandants
the working hours were from six to nine hours per
day, varying with the season, with extra work on
special occasions as in harvest-time. Task work was
also common, but the tasks were so heavy that the
time was not materially reduced. Women must carry
adobes, stones, and bricks, and when with child or
giving suck their tasks were not sufficiently dimin-
592 MISSION PROGRESS.
ished. Children were employed at driving away birds ©
or at other lighter labor; the aged and sick were
exempt. The friars on the contrary affirm that work-
ing hours were from four to six hours; that not more
than half the natives worked at the same time, the
rest escaping on some reason or pretext, for they were
always excused even when their plea was doubtful;
that many did little even when pretending to work;
that tasks were assigned whenever it was possible,
and so light that the workers were usually free in the
afternoon or a day or two in every week, and finally
that all proper allowances were made for women in
their various conditions. Lasuen compares the mis-
sion tasks with those imposed on such natives as were
sent to work at the presidios where they were obliged
to toil from morning till night; and he ventures to
doubt the sincerity of the commandants’ compassion
for the poor overworked neophytes.
The commandants in answering Borica’s questions,
and indeed the governor in asking them, touched on
several points not included in Horra’s accusations.
One complaint was that too short a time was allowed
to the neophytes for gathering wild fruits. The
answer was that at Santa Barbara one fifth of the
whole number were allowed every Sunday to go to the
monte for a week or two, and elsewhere a similar sys-
tem was adopted. If the converts are to be freed
from every restraint. like the pagans, says Lasuen,
when are they to become civilized? Another charge
of Sal and Goycoechea was that the natives were
carefully restricted from all intercourse with the gente
de razon, and were not allowed to visit the presidios
or to afford any aid to the soldiers, the missionaries
being afraid of losing their services. These state-
ments the friars denied as false and calumnious.
There was no effort to restrict intercourse except in
special cases with vicious persons; any neophyte was
free to visit the presidio on holidays or with leave of
absence, and none had ever been punished for helping
ol . Meet y
CRUELTY TO NEOPHYTES. 593
the soldiers, except sometimes for absconding. More-
over the presidios had always been supplied with
servants of all kinds for no compensation save what
the employers chose to pay, and neither missions nor
natives had ever been benefited by this intercourse.
The aborigines did not lke to work at the presidios,
where they were ill-treated and often cheated out of
their pay; yet most of the work on the presidios had
been done by laborers furnished from the missions.
“The treatment shown to the Indians,” says Padre
_ Concepcion, ‘is the most cruel I have ever read in
history. or the shghtest things they receive heavy
floggings, are shackled, and put in the stocks, and
treated with so much cruelty that they are kept whole
days without a drink of water.” The commandants,
without expressing an opinion as to the propriety or
undue severity of the punishments inflicted, simply
_ specify those punishments, administered by the padres
at will, as flogeing, from fifteen to fifty lashes, or
sometimes a novenary of twenty-five lashes per day
for nine days, stocks, shackles, the corma—a kind of
hobble—and imprisonment in some of the mission-
rooms, for neglect of work or religious duties, over-
staying leave of absence, sexual offences, thefts, and
quarrelling among themselves. Rarely or for serious
offences were the natives turned over to the military,
or assistance asked from the soldiers. The friars ad-
mitted all this, except that they denied that more than
twenty-five lashes were ever given,” affirming more-
over that only at Santa Barbara were women put in
the stocks, and that they were very rarely flogged.
They claimed that according to the laws they stood
in loco parents to the natives, must necessarily re-
strain them by punishments, and inflicted none but
proper penalties, pardoning first offences, and always
inclining to mercy and kindness. The soldiers were
30 Sept. 26th, 1796, Borica says to a padre that only 25 lashes may be
given; beyond this the matter belongs to royal jurisdiction. Prov. Rec., MS.,
vi. 174.
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 38
594 MISSION PROGRESS.
not asked to render aid because Governor Neve had
opposed it; and natives were not sent to the presidio
because there they were ill-treated, used merely as
peons, could easily escape, and always came back
worse than ever. Lasuen admits that there may have
been instances of undue severity, and that one mis-
sionary had been removed; but he denies the charges
of cruelty at San Francisco, which had had most
weight with Borica, and insists that for every instance
of apparent severity there have been many where the
commandants have blamed the friars for excessive
tolerance and yielding.*
Father Concepcion renewed the old complaint that
the padres in selling mission products to the presidios
disregarded the tariff of prices established by the
government, Although the president indignantly de-
nied any variation from the legal rates, and although
the different statements are somewhat confusing in
detail, yet from the testimony of the officers and
from the admissions of Tapis and Cortés it is evident
enough that, except in the articles of wheat and corn
in ordinary years, and in the more ordinary qualities
of animals, little attention was paid to the price-lists
either by missionaries or any other class in California.
It was easy for the friars by pleading the needs of
the neophytes or the choice quality of the article
desired, to avoid selling or obtain an extra price; but
grain and ordinary live-stock they were almost always
glad to sell, and sometimes at less than the legal rates.
That wines and liquors were bought by the friars at
high prices in addition to the quantities obtained in
Mexico, was unsupported by any evidence. Finally
the missionaries were accused of having accumulated
wealth, though they pleaded poverty. To this the
commandants replied that they knew nothing of the
31 See chapter xxxi. of this volume for the charge of cruelty at San Fran-
cisco, which Borica believed to be well founded; also Prov. Rec., MS., v. 266;
vi. 97-8, 115, 172, 176; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 88; /d., Ben. Mil., xxiv.
8-10. Instructions of the viceroy in 1 (738 and 1797, in favor of kindness and
mercy to the Indians so far as justice and caution may allow. St. Pap., Miss.
and Col., MS., i. 23-4.
. THE PRESIDENT’S CONCLUSIONS. 595
mission wealth, because the friars kept the matter
secret,and simply gave some figuresrespecting amounts
paid and due for mission supplies to the presidios
during the past year or two. The padres made no
reply to the main charge, though announcing their
readiness to reply when required to do so by their
superiors; but they indignantly repelled the insinua-
tion that there was anything in their financial manage-
ment or condition kept secret from the government.”
Such was the controversy and such the statements
presented on the leading points by both parties, though
the résumé does but scanty justice to the subject, and
especially to Lasuen’s report, many of the minutiz
being necessarily omitted. The author manifests some
dissatisfaction that the charges of a man who left Cal-
ifornia under such peculiar circumstances should have
been made the basis of this investigation without a
preliminary taking of testimony as to the state of
his mind. He is indignant at the commandants, not
only for what he regards as misstatements on certain
details, but chiefly for what they failed to say and for
what their silence implied. They had failed to refute
5? Of the supplies furnished by missions to presidios the accounts preserved
are very meagre and fragmentary, some of them being presented with local
annals. Perhaps an average of $1,200 per year for each mission during this
decade would be a fair estimate. This amount and the stipend of $800 for
each mission was all the revenue of the padres to support themselves and
keep their churches in order. So far as can be judged from the partial
accounts of the procurador extant, the annual memorias of supplies ordered
by the friars were fully equal to their credits. I think there was little
foundation for the charge that the padres were accumulating money either at
the missions or in Mexico in these early years. Balance against the missions
Sept. 6, 1800, $11. Procurador’s accounts in Sta Cruz, Parroquia, MS., 18.
May 11, 1796, Salazar estimates the mission wealth, in buildings, etc., at
$800,000. Salazar, Condicion actual de Cal., MS., 66-7. Dec. 1798, Borica
to viceroy, he never interferes in mission finances, and is merely informed
at end of each year of produce existing. Both he and the commandants
believe the padres to have large surpluses at Mexico and in the coffers at
San Diego, San Juan, Capistrano, and San Gabriel. He advises investigation
in Mexico. The president aids new missions abundantly. There are com-
plaints of not following the tariff, but Borica expresses no opinion. Prov.
Rec., MS., vi. 116-17. Aug. 16, 1795, Lasuen to Borica, representing the
injustice of keeping grain at the same low prices as in years of plenty. Arch.
Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 97-101. In 1793, Pedro A. de Anteparaluceta, canon
of Puebla, left a legacy of $500 to the California missions, $36 apiece with
$40 for Sta Barbara and Soledad, and $60 for Sta Cruz. /d., xi. 235. On
mission trade for this period see next chapter. Lists of increase in church
vestments, etc., 1794-5. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 15-27, 78-9.
596 MISSION PROGRESS.
the statements of ever-complaining neophytes whom
their own observations must have shown to be unre-
liable witnesses; and because of certain petty quarrels
about the services of the natives as’peons at the forts,
they had given weight to the charge of a madman
and had done great wrong to the missionary cause.
Lasuen claimed that he and his band of friars were
working honestly for the conversion of the natives
according to the well known rules of their order and
the regulations of the Spanish government, by which
they stood in the position of parents to the aborigines.
He admits that, being but men, they differed from
one another in judgment and patience, and conse-
quently that errors were committed; but he affirms
most earnestly that the natives were shown all the
kindness that was consistent with the restraint implied
in the missionary and parental relation. The vener-
able friar’s words and manner impress the reader
most forcibly, and a close study of the subject has
convinced me that he was right; that down to 1800
and considerably later the natives were as a rule most
kindly treated. We are by no means to conclude
that the friars were now free from all blame in their
quarrels with the secular authorities, or that they
had lost the arbitrary spirit that had distinguished
them in the days of Serra and Fages. Neither are
their protestations of a scrupulous regard for the reg-
ulation in the details of business management to be
implicitly credited; but in the matter of neophyte
labor at presidio, pueblo, and rancho the friars here
as elsewhere were usually right and the military
wrong; and so far as they touched this point, cruelty
to natives, or accumulation of wealth, Horra’s charges
must be regarded as for the most part unfounded.
After reference to the fiscal and the usual delays, in
April 1805 the viceroy rendered his decision, com-
pletely exonerating the missionaries.”
53 April 19, 1805, viceroy to governor, the padres are cleared and are to
continue in the same course of zeal and brotherly love, etc. Commandants —
ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS. 597
There are a few miscellaneous topics connected with
the ecclesiastical administration of the province that
may appropriately receive brief notice here. There
were as yet no regularly appointed chaplains, and the
friars continued to care for the spiritual interests of
soldiers and settlers, apparently without any compen-
sation, An income was, however, derived from the
saying of masses for souls in purgatory, some soldiers
leaving a large part of their small property to be thus
expended, or during their own life paying fees for
members of their families.** Most of the missions
are urged to promote harmony. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 2, 3. Same date,
V. R. to guardian to same effect, the good name of the padres is nowise tar-
nished by P. Concepcion’s charges—the emanations of an unsound mind.
(Original document in my collection, reference lost.) A fragment of the fis-
cal’s opinion is also extant. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 1-8. He advises that there
be no sweeping decision because a few points may be proved. There is a
natural conflict of interests between padres and commandants, since the latter
have to come to the former for supplies, and the careful management and
strict dealings of the friars are attributed to meanness or spite. Moreover
there are dissensions between the Indians and soldiers, and on the reports of
corporals punishments are inflicted which seem to the padres too severe. It
is difficult to obtain testimony from disinterested parties in California. It is
a pity the poor Indian has to be all his life in the service of others, never
owns anything, and is fed on rations, yet it cannot now be helped.
It appears that early in the decade there had been an attempt to take from
the padres the management of the temporalities, originated by some of the
friars themselves. Jan. 30, 1794, P. Mugartegui, formerly of California, writes
to Lasuen expressing in strong language his opposition to the proposition
advocated by some members of the college to give up the temporalities. It
would be a pity ‘for the disconnected reasonings of two Mallorcan charlatans
to stop the work begun by a holy Mallorcan.’ Fortunately, however, the
projects of the would-be reformers meet with but little encouragement, and
the same may be said of the complaints of two other padres, Gili and Rubi,
who have spoken against the California missionaries. Mugdrtegui, Carta de
1794, MS. April 30, 1791, the bishop of Sonora calls Lasuen’s attention to
the royal order of March 6, 1790, granting an ecclesiastical tax on all reve-
nues, including those of missionaries; and asks him to collect 6 per cent. for
four years on the stipends of all the friars and all other revenues. Lasuen
replies that the California padres have no revenue, except the stipend of $400
each, given as alms, and even with that they have nothing to do except to
name the articles needed for the churches. A séndico at the college collected
the stipends and with them paid for the invoices. If the king wants to reduce
the stipend by a tax, let the matter be arranged at the college; Franciscan
friars have nothing to do or say about revenue matters. He sends a sworn
statement, though regretting that his word does not suffice. Arch. Sta Bdr-
bara, MS., x. 61-8. Ihear no more of this matter. Sept. 19, 1799, Borica
says that a royal order decides that temporalities are to be incorporated in
the royal hacienda. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 174. 1795, 1798, director-general
of temporalities (for America) appointed. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 232,
289. 1792, 1796, governor signs certificates for the padres to get their
stipends. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 28; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 168.
34Santa Barbara Mission received alms for 757 masses said from 1794 to
1800. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ii. 134. The friars had also masses to say
598 MISSION PROGRESS.
had now a palisade or adobe enclosure serving as a
cemetery. No pueblo, and of the presidios only San
Diego, had a cemetery. It was customary to bury
gente de razon in the churches or chapels, but the
friars made an effort to break up the practice.” » Both
soldiers and natives often escaped a flogging by taking
advantage of their right of church asylum, and occa-
sionally this taking refuge in the sacred edifice led to
petty misunderstandings between the officers and
friars, though there were no notable instances during
this decade.”
The performance of religious duties by the people
was rigidly enforced, as is shown by many orders in
the archives.” Papal bulls or indulgences were sent
to California every two years, and such as were ‘not
sold were burned at the end of a specified time. The
habilitado of Monterey was general administrator of
this branch after 1797, and each commandant attended
for members of their order abroad. Oct. 22, 1795, Lasuen says in a circular
that the numercus deaths of friars at San Fernando and other colleges and
en route, have burdened the community with over 7,000 masses. Each padre
is to say how many he can take. Jd., ix. 323-4. Dec. 7, 1800, Lasuen orders
mass and te deum on the accession of Pope Pius VII. /d., xi. 148-9.
35 Dec. 20, 1792, Lasuen to Arrillaga. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 28-9.
1790, Sefian refuses to bury Maria del Carmen Alviso in the presidio chapel.
Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xx. 5, 6. Two soldiers buried in the chapel
at San Diego. Prov. St. Pap., Presidios, MS., i. 53, 60.
86 July 29, 1794, governor orders an Indian culprit to be taken out of the
church at Santa Clara by force since his offence was not subject to ecclesias-
tical immunity. Prov. Rec, MS., ii. 150. Dec. 6, 1798, Lasuen certifies that
he found a soldier in the church claiming asylum for having struck a woman.
He was ordered on guard, and as there was no one to replace him Lasuen gave
him a papel de iglesia to protect hisrightof asylum. Arch. Arzobispado, MS.,
i. 53. Mar. 29, 1800, commandant of Monterey orders a soldier to be given
up for trial on bail. /d., ii. 5-6.
*7 March 28, 1793, Arrillaga to commandants. All officers and men by 3d
day of Pentecost are to show certificates of having complied with church
rules. St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 113. April, 1795, Padres of Sta Cruz, Sta
Clara, and S. Francisco certify to those who have complied with the annual
precept of confession and communion. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 234-8, 242-4,
Sept. 29, 1795, Sal to comisionado of San José. Tobar is sent to the pueblo;
if he does not confess within 15 days he is to be sent to Monterey in irons. He
must also go to work. San José, Arch., MS., iv. 27. Jan. 14, 1798, Lasuen in
a circular regrets the carelessness of many. All must commune on easter
and be examined in the doctrina. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 144-5. June
6th, Corporal Peralta is to arrest any of the San José Mission guard and keep
them so until they perform their duties. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 107.
Roman, the tailor, must be kept handcuffed until he complies. Prov. Rec.,
MS., iv. 110. Arrellano to be shackled. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 24.
IMAGE OF THE VIRGIN. 599
to his own district. Some statistics on the subject are
given in connection with local annals. So far as can
be determined from the records the annual revenue
from this source was from fifty to a hundred dollars.*®
A. sacred image of our lady of Guadalupe sent to
California in 1795 was by license of the highest
ecclesiastical authorities allowed t» be touched by the
original picture. In one instance the soldiers estab-
lished a kind of rancho where was raised a herd
devoted to decorating the image of the virgin.”
. 588 Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 148, 296; Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix. 241; xv. 42-3,
48, 77-8; xvi. 98, 220; Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxviii. 9; St. Pap. Miss., MS., ii.
65; S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 42. The bulls sent sold from 2 reals, or 25 cents,
to $2 each. The different kinds were vivos, laticinios, composicion, and
difuntos.
39 Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix. 194-5; xiii. 79.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PUEBLOS, COLONIZATION, AND LANDS—INDUSTRIES
AND INSTITUTIONS.
1791-1800.
PoErBLo PRocRESS—STATISTICS—JORDAN’S PROPOSED CoLONY—EFFORTS OF
GOVERNMENT—MARRIAGE ENCOURAGED—INNS—VIEWS OF SALAZAR,
SENAN, AND CostansOé—WomEN WaNnNTED—Convicts—FouNDLINGS—
TENURE OF LANDS—PUEBLO AND MIssIon SITES—CHRONOLOGICAL STATE-
MENT, 1773-90—PRESIDIAL PUEBLOS—PROVISIONAL GRANTS—LAND-
TITLES AT END OF CENTURY—LABOR—INDIAN LABORERS—SAILORS—
ARTISAN INSTRUCTORS—MANUFACTURERS— MINING—AGRICULTURE—
Fiax AND HemMP—STOCK-RAISING.
THE missions, as may be seen from the preceding
sketch, if we regard only the primary object for which
they were founded, were successful and prosperous.
Given a band of earnest and able missionaries, a
friendly native population, and a military force for
protection if needed, there was nothing to prevent
success and prosperity in a land so blessed by nature.
The government had nothing more to do in the matter.
If the towns were less successful in their efforts at
colonization and progress it was not because they were
deemed of less importance or received less attention.
Nor was it because the colonization system was less
judiciously managed by the crown than the mission-
ary system by the Franciscans. It was because this
problem was more complicated than the other. It
would not solve itself, and faithful provincial officers
with wise regulations could not solve it. It is not
necessary to claim that the king’s officers were as
devoted to the welfare of the towns as the friars to
( 600 )
PUEBLOS NOT PROSPEROUS. 601
that of their missions, for they had other duties and
lacked the incentive of holy zeal; but had their oppor-
tunities, their authority, and their enthusiasm corre-
sponded to and exceeded those of the missionaries, they
never could have made the pueblos prosper. Two
fatal obstacles to success were the worthless character
of the original settlers, most of them half-breeds of
the least energetic classes of Nueva Vizcaya and
Nueva Galicia, and the lack of provincial commerce
to stimulate industry; for before 1800 the settlers
could not have sold additional products of their fields.
_ I give elsewhere the local annals of the three Cali-
fornian pueblos, San José, Los Angeles, and Branci-
forte—the latter honored with the title of villa—during
this decade." The united population of the three
towns in 1800 was about 550 in something over a
hundred families, including a dozen or fifteen men
who raised cattle on ranchos in the vicinity and whose
families for the most part lived in the pueblos. About
thirty families had been brought from abroad as set-
tlers and had been paid wages and rations and other-
wise aided for a term of years; while the increase
came from children who grew to manhood and from
soldiers who had served out their term of enlistment
and retired, often with pensions. These, although
generally old men, were as a rule the most successful
farmers. The only industries of the settlers were
agriculture and stock-raising. They had 16,500 head
of cattle and horses, about 1,000 sheep, and they
raised about 9,000 bushels of grain each year, surplus
products being sold to the presidios. Hach settler had
his field which he was required to cultivate, and he
had to contribute a certain quantity of grain each
year to the common fund from which municipal ex-
penses were paid. Each pueblo had a small guard of
soldiers, who were practically settlers also; and each
in addition to its alcalde and regidores had a comi-
1 See chapter xxix. of this volume for Angeles; chapter xxxii. for San
José, and chapter xxvi. for Branciforte.
602 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
sionado, generally corporal of the guard, who repre.
sented the governor and reported directly to the
commandant of the nearest presidio. Labor was
largely done by hired gentiles. Los Angeles was more
populous and prosperous than either of the others,
while Branciforte was as yet but a burden to the
government.
A. Spanish visitor in 1792 stated in his narrative
that soldiers in California when too old for service
were not allowed to settle as farmers, and he criticised
this state of things very unfavorably; but needlessly,
for no such conditions existed. Many of the invalids
went to live in the pueblos, a few obtained ranchos,
and others remained at the presidios, performing a
certain amount of military service. It was even per-
mitted them to settle near the presidio but outside
the walls, though it does not appear that any did so
at this early period.” Alejandro Jordan’s project for
a colony to be established in the interests of trade
under govermental protection and with somewhat ex-
travagant emoluments for himself, was disapproved
by the king on Arrillaga’s advice, as already noted,
after negotiations lasting from 1792 to 1794.2 Revilla
Gigedo in 1793 favored the settlement of some Span-
ish families at the missions, though he admitted the
great difficulty of finding families possessing the re-
quired moral qualifications. Costansé in his report
of 1794 says: “The first thing to be thought of, in
my opinion, is to people the country. Presidios to
support missions are well enough for a time, but there
seems to be no end of them. Some missions have
been for a hundred years in charge of friars and pre-
sidial guards. ‘The remedy is to introduce gente de
razon among the natives from the beginning. Cali-
2 Sutil y Mexicana, Viage, 162-3. Oct. 24, 1792, governor orders that no
Sie vecino is to be prevented from settling at the presidio of Monterey.
-rov. Jtec., MS., ii. 156. Vancouver gives a rather superficial and inaccurate
account of the pueblos, which he did not visit. Voyage, ii. 495-6.
3 See chapter xxiv., this volume.
* Revilla Giyedo, Carta de 1793, 23-4.
SPECIAL PROJECTS. 603
fornians understand this, and clamor for industrious
citizens. Hach ship should carry a number of families
with a proper outfit. The king supplies his soldiers
with tools, why not the farmer and mechanic as well?
They should be settled near the missions and mingle
with the natives. Thus the missions will become
towns in twenty-five or thirty years.”°
In 1795 Borica made some special efforts to pro-
mote marriage among soldiers and settlers by favorable
regulations, and he even discouraged the enlistment
of the sons of settlers in the presidio companies;
but an absurd proposition from Mexico to establish
inns for the convenience of travellers at ten suitable
spots in California met.with no favor from Borica
and the project died a natural death.°®
In 1796 a special agitation of this subject of colo-
nization began in Mexico, with the founding of Bran-
ciforte as a result, as elsewhere narrated. Father
Salazar, lately from California, was called upon for
his views on the condition of the country. His report
on the pueblos was not an encouraging one. ‘The in-
habitants were idlers, paying more attention to gam-
bling and playing the guitar than to tilling their lands
and educating their children. The pagans did most
5 Costansd, Informe, 1794, MAS.
6April 13, 1795, Borica to commandants, marriages to be promoted by
all honorable means. Soldiers to be aided with arrears of pay, with what
they have in the fondos, or even by an advance of $40. Parents of contract-
ing parties to be aided with such effects as can be paid for from their crops in
a year. Hstudillo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 11; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 129-30;
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 227-8. Goycoechea’s reply, May 15th. Id., xiv.,
76. Nov. 19, 1796, B. directs the commandant of San Francisco to try and
prevail on Maria Simona Ortega, a widow, to remain in the country; for sooner
or later some soldier or ‘civilian willask her hand in marriage. Prov. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 10,11. Feb. 14, 1795, Grajera has received B.’s order
not to accept any recruit from Angeles, ‘in order that the population may
not be lessened.’ /d., xxi. 7. March 12, 1795, B. to viceroy, explaining that
the population of California, which he gives as 1,275, is much too small for
the 10 inns proposed; also that travellers have to sleep out of doors to care
for their animals, etc. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii. 3-6. Oct. 5th, the tribunal
de contadurta advises the V. R. to submit the scheme, recommended by Bel-
tran, to a council before adopting it. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 197-9. Oct.
15, 1796, B. asks for a list of settlers living on ranchos and for an opinion
whether they should be allowed to do so. Dec. 29th, he decides that unless
the rancheros will keep sheep they must live at the pueblo. Prov. Rec., MS.,
iv. 79, 86.
»
604 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
of the work, took a large part of the crop, and were
so well supplied thereby that they did not care to
be converted and live at the missions. The friars
attonded to the spiritual needs of the settlers free
of charge, and their tithes did California no good.
Young men grew up without restraint, and wandered
among the rancherias, setting the Indians a bad
example and indulging in excesses that’ were sure
sooner or later to result in disaster. The great
remedy was to build up commerce and give the colo-
nists an incentive to industry. Now they could not
sell all their produce; they obtained a small price for
what they did sell, and often they could not get the
articles they wanted in payment, or had to pay exces-
sive rates for them.
Without the encouragement of trade the country
could never prosper; but other reforms were also
needed. There should be a settlers’ fund similar to
the military funds, in which each settler should de-
posit annually a sum varying according to the size
of his family. In the sale and purchase of supplies
an officer should stand between the settlers and the
habilitados; each pueblo should moreover support a
priest and a teacher." Father José Sefian was tem-
porarily in Mexico, and a report was also obtained
from him which agreed with that of Salazar in most
respects. This writer, however, attached special im-
portance to the introduction of a better class of set-
tlers. He would appoint to each pueblo a director,
or comisionado, of better abilities and not related to
the inhabitants, and he would enforce residence of all
settlers in the towns, and not on distant ranchos out of
reach of spiritual care and exposed to dangers. Above
all, towns should not be placed too near the missions.®
T Salazar, Condicion Actual de Cal. 1796, MS., 73-82. The author also
advocates the transfer of the San Blas naval station and ship-yards to San
Francisco or Monterey. This would be for the interest of tne department,
since wages and food would be cheaper than at San Blas, and it would
develop the industries of California.
8 Serian, Respuesta del Padre al Virey sobre Condicion de Cosas en Califor-
nia, 1796, MS. Dated at college of San Fernando May 14, 1796. March 19,
CONVICT SETTLERS. 605
In his correspondence of 1797, Borica still urges
colonization, substantially approving the ideas of Sal-
azar and Sefian, and issuing orders which compelled
retired soldiers to live in the pueblos.° We have seen
_ that nine persons, though rather of a worse than bet-
ter class compared with the rest, were obtained from
Guadalajara and settled at Branciforte. In 1797-
an effort was made to obtain a reénforcement of mar-
riageable women, in which the governor was seconded
by the viceroy, but in which he does not seem to have
been successful.”
There was another class of colonists much more
easily obtained and by no means beneficial to the
country. Unfortunately California was from this time.
to a considerable extent a penal colony for Mexico.
Governor F'ages was perhaps responsible for the be-
ginning of the plague. In 1787 he proposed that
artisans imprisoned in Mexico and Guadalajara should
have their sentence commuted to exile to California
on condition of working out their term at the presi-
dios or missions, and subsequently remaining as set-
tlers. Nothing was done on this proposition; but in
1791 three presidiarios, or convicts, were sent up to
1797, Borica to viceroy, refers to voluntary enrolment of settlers at Guada-
lajara. Prov. Rec., vi. 83.
9Nov. 16, 1797, Borica to viceroy, favoring commerce and admitting that
the pueblos have a surplus of 2,000 fanegas of grain for which there is no
market. Twelve sailors from the Concepcion and San Carlos have volunteered
to remain at Monterey. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 61-2. Oct. 15th, B. to com-
mandant at Monterey, invalided or discharged soldiers must live in the towns
and not on ranchos nor in the presidio, unless they wish to continue military
service. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 109-10. May 1799, Settler Rosales
petitions the viceroy for permission to leave California with his family. Prov.
Ree., MS., vi. 125. Branciforte in his Instruccion, MS., 32-8, speaks of Cali-
fornia’s need of colonists, and of his efforts in her behalf.
10Sept. 17, 1797, Borica to viceroy, wants good wives, strong young spin-
sters, especially for criminal settlers, since the padres objected to the native
women marrying such husbands. Besides good health the girls must bring
good clothes, so that they may go to church and be improved. A sine qua
non of a California female colonist must be a serge petticoat, a rebozo cor-
riente, a linen jacket, two woollen shifts, a pair of stockings, and a pair of
strong shoes. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 55-6. Jan. 25, 1798, viceroy says orders
have been given to procure young, healthy, single women for the pobladores,
but the task presents some difficulties. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 19-20.
June 1, 1798, Borica says one hundred women are wanted. Prov, Rec., MS.,
vi. 75.
606 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Monterey to labor with shackled feet for rations; and
the same year we hear of a convict blacksmith teach-
ing the natives at San Francisco." In 1798 the Con-
cepcion brought twenty-two convicts, of various grades
of criminality, some of them merely vagrants lke
those formerly destined for Branciforte. They were
set at work by Borica to learn and teach trades, a
saving of nine thousand dollars being thereby effected
as the governor claimed.” Three convicts had arrived
the year before, and subsequently such arrivals were
of frequent occurrence. Some artisan instructors
sent to the country by the government will be noticed
a little later. In 1800 nineteen foundlings were sent
from’ Mexico under the care of Madre Maria de Jesus,
nine boys under ten years of age, and ten girls some
of them already marriageable, who were distributed
in respectable families in the different presidios.”
11 There was a royal order forbidding convicts from settling in pueblos
until their sentences were served out. /’rov. St. Pap., MS., vi. 98. Fages’
propositicn in his Informe Gen. de Misiones, MS., 154. The three presidiarios
of 1791 were Ignacio Saenz, Rafael Pacheco, and Felipe Alvarez, sent up by
Romeu from Loreto. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 15. Smith at San Francisco,
PR age
12°'The three of 1797 were Rafael Arriola, Tomas Escamilla, and José
Franco. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 134. Correspondence on the 22 sent in
1798, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 249-50; xvii. 7, 88-9, 182; xxi. 275, 280,
285; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 91-2, 101-2; St. Pap., Sac., viii. 11-13, 68-9; ix.
75-6. Four or five lists are given, the following being the names: José de los
Reyes, José Maria Perez, José Vazquez, Juan Hernandez, José Velasquez, Cor-
nelio Rocha, José Chavez, José Salazar, Antonio Ortega, Juan Lopez, José
Balderrama, Pedro Osorno, José Calzado, José Avila, José Hernandez, José
Igadera, José Ramos, José Rosas, José Chavira, Casimiro Conejo, Pablo
Franco, Maria Petra Aranda, José Barcena, Felipe Hernandez, Rafael Gomez,
Juan Blanco, 26 in all, though the number is spoken of as from 17 to 24, and
22 are said to have landed. They arrived in August. The expense of sending
them was $405. There were 3 hatters, 3 miners, 1 shoemaker, 1] silversmith,
1 trader, 3 bakers, 1 tailor, 1 blanket-maker, 1 laborer, 1 overseer, 3 without
trade, and 1 woman. There were 4 Spaniards only. There were a saddler
and 2 carpenters, not convicts, perhaps included in the list I have given.
Several friars also came on the same vessel. After the arrival of these con-
victs all persons not having passports were ordered to be arrested. Prov. Rec.,
MS., iv. 166. Feb. 26, 1799, Borica publishes a series of rules for the con-
duct of the convict workmen. They were subjected to strict surveillance and
allowed few privileges. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 248-4. August 1800, Her-
nandez allowed to earn wages by his trade as saddler. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 13.
Nov. 1800, José Cris. Simental sentenced to 6 years as settler in California,
to be accompanied by his wife. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 57-8; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xxi. 53-4.
13 Twenty-one children left Mexico for San Blas and one died on the sea-
voyage. ‘The expense is said to have been $4,763. There was a plan to send
TENURE OF LANDS. 607
The tenure of lands is an interesting topic of Cal-
ifornia history, both in itself and especially in view
of the litigation of later times. In its earliest phases
the subject falls more naturally into the annals of this
decade than elsewhere, though a general statement
with but few details is all that is required here. As
soon as the territory was occupied by Spain in 1769
the absolute title vested in the king. No individual
ownership of lands, but only usufructuary titles of
various grades, existed in California in Spanish times.
The king, however, was actually in possession of only
the ground on which the presidios stood and such
adjoining lands as were needed in connection with the
royal service. The natives were recognized as the
owners, under the king, of all the territory needed for
their subsistence; but the civilizing process to which
they were to be subjected would greatly reduce the
area from that occupied in their savage state; and
thus there was no prospective legal hinderance to the
establishment of Spanish settlements. The general
laws of Spain provided for such establishments, and
the assignment to each of lands to the extent of four
square leagues.“ Meanwhile neither the missions,
nor the friars, nor the Franciscan order, nor the church
owned any lands whatever. The missionaries had the
use of such lands as they needed for their object,
which was to prepare the Indians to take possession as
individuals of the lands they now held as communities.
When this was accomplished, and the missions had
become pueblos, the houses of worship would natu-
rally become the property of the church, and the friars
would move on to new spiritual conquests. Each
mission and each presidio was at the proper time to
become a pueblo; other pueblos were expected to be
60 boys and the same number of girls. Two of the girls were married before
the end of the year. St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 74; vii. 74-6; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xviii. 9, 18, 31; xxi. 34, 47; Zd., Ben. Mil., MS., xxviii. 22; Prov. Rec.,
MS., ix. 11, 12; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xii. 307; Bustamante, Suplemento,
181; Azanza, Instruccion, MS., 88-9.
14 Recopilacion de Indias, lib. iv. tit. v. ley. vi., x. I intentionally avoid
conditions and details in this chapter.
608 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
founded from time to time; and four square leagues
of land was the area to be assigned under ordinary
circumstances to each; but the fixing of boundaries
was tacitly left until the future increase in the number
of establishments should render it a necessity, noth-
ing in the mean time being allowed to interfere with
the area to which each pueblo would be entitled,
though the missions in their temporary occupation
were not restricted. :
In his instructions of 1773 Viceroy Bucareli author-
ized Captain Rivera to make a beginning of the future
pueblos by distributing lands to such persons, either
natives or Spaniards, as were worthy and would dedi-
cate themselves to agriculture or the raising of stock.”
Rivera did grant a piece of land in 1775 to Manuel
Butron, a soldier who married a neophyte of San
Carlos; but the land was subsequently abandoned, and
if any other similar grants were made by Rivera there
is no record of the fact. In November 1777 the
pueblo of San José was founded and a somewhat in-
formal distribution of lands to settlers was made by
order of Governor Neve. In 1781 Neve’s regulation
went into effect, and one of its sections regulated the
distribution of pueblo lands; prescribed the assign-
ment to each settler of four fields, each two hundred
varas square, besides a house-lot; specified the lands to
be devoted to various uses of the community; and
made provision for the gradual extension of the town
by the granting of new lots and fields. Under this
regulation the pueblo of Los Angeles was founded in
the same year of 1781. The formal distribution of
lands, however, and the giving of written titles took
place for San José and Los Angeles in 1783 and 1786
respectively. These titles were the nearest approach
to absolute ownership in California under Spain; but
_ the lands were forfeited by abandonment, failure to
cultivate, and non-compliance with certain conditions,
1 Bucareli, Instruccion de 17 de Agosto de 1778, MS.
16 On foundation of San José and Angeles and the distribution of lands,
see chapters xiv. and xvi. of this volume.
PRIVATE RANCHOS. 609
They could not be alienated; and one instance is
recorded of lands being taken for hemp culture from
a settler, who was given others in their place. New
grants of pueblo lands to new settlers were of con-
stant occurrence hereafter. Neither in the regulation
nor in the proceedings under it was any attention paid
to exterior pueblo limits, save the vague establishment
of a boundary, at San José at least, with the adjoin-
ing mission. This matter was practically and natu-
rally left to be agitated by the crown should there
ever in the distant future be danger of the town
exceeding its four leagues, or by the pueblo itself in
ease of encroachments by other towns or by indi-
viduals.
In 1784 application was made to Fages by private
individuals for grants of ranchos. He granted written
permits to several men for temporary occupation of
the lands desired,” and wrote to the commandant gen-
eral for instructions. General Ugarte replied in 1786,
on the recommendation of his legal adviser, Galindo
Navarro, by authorizing the granting of tracts not to
exceed three leagues, always beyond the four-league
limits of existing pueblos, without injury to missions
or rancherias, and on certain other conditions includ-
ing the building of a stone house on each rancho and
the keeping of at least two thousand head of live-
stock.!* The instructions required the immediate as-
signment by clear landmarks of the four leagues to
each pueblo; but there is no evidence that any such
survey was made, that any documents were given in
place of the temporary permits, or that the few pro-
visional grants subsequently made differed in a
respect from those permits.
17 The ranchos since known as Los Nietos and San Rafael were thus granted
to Manuel Nieto and José Maria Verdugo in 1784. In the case of Nieto his
long possession until 1804 and that of his children after him was urged as
affording presumption of a complete title; but the supreme court held that
Fages’ written permit destroyed this presumption. The land commission had
already taken a similar view. Nieto vs. Carpenter, 21 Cal. 456.
** Pages’ report to Ugarte Nov. 20, 1784, Navarro’s opinion, Oct.:27, 1785.
St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 8325-7. Ugarte’s order June 21st. /d., i. 343,
Hist. Cab., Vou. in 39
610 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
In 1789 a series of instructions was issued with
royal approval for the establishment of the Villa of
Pitic in Sonora since called Hermosillo, instructions
which were to be followed also in the founding of
similar establishments throughout the northern prov-
inces. Omitting details unimportant to my present
purpose, each pueblo was to have assigned to it with
definite bounds four square leagues of land in rectan-
gular form; the land given to each settler to depend
somewhat on his character and needs, but might be
fifty per cent larger than that already given in Cali-
fornia; and after four years the ownership might be-
come absolute. I do not find that this regulation ever
had any effect at Los Angeles or San José 6 Tn 1790
a pensioned corporal, Cayuelas, who had married a
neophyte of San Luis Obispo, asked in the name of
his wife for lands at Santa Margarita belonging to
that mission; but the grant was opposed, probably
with success, by the friars, on the ground that the land
was needed for the community, to which the neophyte
in question had rendered no service.”
A. beginning of the presidial pueblos was made by
General Nava in 1791, when he authorized com-
mandants of presidios to grant lots and fields to sol-
diers and settlers desiring them within the prescribed
four square leagues,” but there is no clear evidence
19 Pitic, Instruccion aprobada por S. M. que se formé para el establecimiento
de la nueva Villa de Pitic, y mandada adaptar a las demas nuevas poblaciones
proyectadas, 1789, MS. Dated Chihuahua, Nov. 14, 1789.
20 Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 398-9, 400-2; Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix.
163-6. This instance and that of Butron are the only ones recorded of land
being asked for by neophytes before 1800. In fact only 24 neophyte women
had married gente de razon since 1769. Lasuen, in Arch. Sta Barbara, MS.,
ii. 192,
1 Nava’s decree, dated Oct. 22, 1791, at Chihuahua, and approved provi-
sionally by the viceroy.before Jan. 19,1793. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS.,
i. 320-2, 341-2; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 27-8. This decree has been often
translated and referred to in legal reports, sometimes erroneously under the
date of March 22d. According to the Ordenanza de Intendentes of 1786, the
royal intendentes had been intrusted with the distribution of royal lands;
but this order shows that the four leagues belonged to the pueblo and were
not included in the king’s lands. Dwinelle’s Colon. Hist. S. F., 34-5. In U.S.
Sup. Court Repts., 9 Wallace, 639, itis stated that the words ‘the extent of
4 leagues | measured from the centre of the plaza of the presidios in every
direction,’ found in an order of Nava of June 21, 1791, and in other papers,
caused Los Angeles to claim before the land commission 16 square leagues
LAND GRANTS. 611
that any such grants were made. Arrillaga reported
to the viceroy in 1793 that no grants had been made
by his predecessors under the order of 1786, and that
on account of this failure to act, and because of the
ultimate right of the natives to the best sites—
although he was constantly asked for ranchos and
believed that it would be well for the country to
grant them—he would not act without further in-
structions.” Yet early in 1794 he reported that he
had permitted several persons to settle on the Rio de
Monterey from three to five leagues from the pre-
sidio, the permission being only provisional.* In
April 1795 Borica sent to the viceroy his views on
the subject. He did not know why his predecessors
had failed to grant sites for cattle-raising, but he did
not favor such concessions. It would be difficult to
tell what lands the missions really needed, since new
converts were constantly made. Troubles between
the owners of ranchos and rancheria Indians would
lead to excesses and war; the animals of the settlers
would do injury to the food-supply of the gentiles;
the rancheros would be far removed from spiritual
care and from judicial supervision; and finally the
province had already live-stock enough, there being
no export. Borica therefore proposed that no ranchos
should be granted for the present, but that settlers
of good character be allowed to establish themselves
provisionally on the land asked for near a mission or
pueblo, to be granted them later if it should prove
best. In fact several ranchos already existed under
those conditions.”
instead of 4. This would literally be 64 square leagues; but the original
‘41, measured from the centre of the plaza, 2 in each direction,’ might—like
the corresponding definition in the Recopilacion de Indias—be interpreted
naturally 16 square leagues. It is a curious complication; but that an area
of 4 square leagues, either in square or rectangular form, was what was
intended, and in hundreds of cases actually surveyed for each Spanish pueblo,
there can be, I suppose, no doubt.
22 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 45-7. This report was sent back to Borica
for his opinion on Aug. 25, 1794. Arrillaga recognizes the four-league limit
even in the case of missions. .
43 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 132; xii. 189.
24 April 3, 1795, Borica to viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 39-41.
612 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
There was certainly a degree of force in some of
Borica’s arguments, though most of them were quite
as conclusive against his substitute for land-grants.
Indeed there is something mysterious about the pref-
erence of successive governors for provisional permits
of occupation over the regular concessions authorized
by superior authority. I suspect that the preference
may have been largely on the part of the settlers them-
selves, who did not like to comply with the conditions
attached to a regular grant. There were some sixteen .
ranchos in the regions of Los Angeles and Monterey
thus provisionally held by some twenty men in 1795.
Two and doubtless more similar permissions were given
before the end of the decade.” In 1796 a part of
the land which Fages had allowed Nieto to occupy
was taken from him, on the claim of San Gabriel mis-
sion that it was needed by the natives. In 1797 the
Encino Rancho, held by Francisco Reyes, was taken
from him, and both land and buildings were appro-
priated by the new mission of San Fernando. This
same year the Villa de Branciforte was founded, pre-
sumably on the plan of Pitic, though there is no posi-
tive information extant respecting the distribution of
lands in that famous town. In 1798 Borica gave
some kind of a confirmation to the title of Verduge
at San Rafael, but we know nothing of its nature.
The condition of land matters in California at the end
of the decade and century was then briefly as follows:
There were eighteen missions and four presidios, each
without settlers,“ but each intended to become a
pueblo, and each entitled to four square leagues of
land for distribution to settlers in house-lots and sow-
ing-lands, or for other pueblo uses; three pueblos of
Spaniards already established, entitled like the pros-
25 See chapters xxx. and xxxi. for lists of the ranchos with additional de-
tails. Borica, whatever may have been his real motives, oppose even the
provisional concessions in several instances,
6 It is noticeable, however, that some of the tracts occupied near Monte-
rey under the provisional permits were probably within the limits of the
prensa presidio-pueblo, where there was no legal authority for granting
ands for stock-raising.
MANUFACTURES AND LABOR. 613
pective ones to four leagues of land, though like them
as yet without fixed boundaries, inhabited by over
one hundred settlers, each of whom held about four
acres of land still subject to conditions and not to
be alienated or hypothecated; and finally twenty or
thirty men raising cattle on ranchos which they occu-
pied temporarily by permission of the authorities,
without any legal title, though some of them or their
children subsequently became owners of the land.
Besides the missions and pueblos, conversion and
colonization, there are various institutions and indus-
tries of the province whose progress during this pericd
merit brief notice here; though in most respects that
progress was great only in comparison to that of other
epochs of California history. The order in which the
several topics are treated being a matter of no mo-
ment, I begin with that of manufactures and labor.
At the first occupation of Upper California some
Christian Indians from the peninsula, the only per-
sons for many years who were honored with the name
of Californians, were brought north as servants of all
work in the new missions. The presidial companies
usually had a few smiths, armorers, and carpenters
whose services were available at times, as well for the
friars as for the soldiers; the soldiers themselves
were obliged to render assistance in building and
some other kinds of work. Gentiles were hired from
the first, especially on the Channel coast. After 1773
men were enlisted and paid as sailors to serve in Cal-
ifornia as laborers, and among the settlers at the
pueblos were persons of various trades, on which,
however’ none seem to have depended for subsist-
ence. This was the condition of mechanical indus-
try down to 1790. Besides the repairs executed on
arms, implements, and articles of clothing, there
were rude attempts at tanning and various other
simple and necessary processes suggested by the
needs of the soldiers and ingenuity of the friars; but
614 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
progress in this direction was slight and is but vaguely
recorded.
During the last decade of the century all the classes
of laborers mentioned continued to be employed, except
that no new natives were brought from Baja Calli-
fornia. Neophytes were extensively hired from the
friars for all kinds of presidio work, the mission and
not the Indian receiving the pay, and there were few
Spanish families without a native servant. This ques-
tion of neophyte labor was, as we have seen, a fruit-
ful source of misunderstanding between friars and
officers. Gentiles were also hired in large numbers to
work both at presidios and pueblos, being paid chiefly
in grain, but also with blankets and other articles of
clothing. Negotiations for laborers were made for
the most part with chiefs who contracted to supply
the required number. It is not improbable that the
chiefs were already so far advanced in civilization as
to make a profit on the contracts. Spanish regula-
tions required kind treatment and fair compensation
to all Indian laborers, and any notable or habitual
abuses in this respect would in these early times have
largely cut off the supply. The friars complained that
the gentiles earned so much grain and clothing that
one of their chief incentives to become Christians was -:
lost.” The sailor servientes, several of whom were
7 Nov. 10, 1791, Sergt. Ortega wanted men to build a house, etc., at San
Gabriel; but the padres refused to furnish any even for wages. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., x. 4,5. The gentiles, though lazy, offer themselves to work for a manta
and daily rations of meat and boiled maize. The best are chosen, who take
their blankets, lay down their arms, and go to work bringing building-mate-
rials. Sutil y Mex., Viage, 164-5. Great care taken in employing Indians,
and a daily sum of money paid. Vancouwver’s Voyage, ii. 497. May 7, 1794,
governor to Sal, if padres want a gratuity for Indians above wages it must
be refused. At Sta Barbara they get 19 cents per day, and an almud of corn
per week. San Antonio Indians at the Rancho del Rey get.a coton and manta
per month. Even if content with little they should be given all they deserve.
Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 147-8, 163. Dec. 1794, at San Diego Indians got one
real and rations. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 7. Indians must be treated well
and work equally. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 15, 16. April, 1796, Indian laborers
not to be obtained without governor’s permission. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv.
176. 1796, Sal sends 30 blankets to San José with which to hire 30 Indians.
They will be treated well. Any capitanejo helping to get them may be given
a gratificacion. ‘Travelling expenses paid. Later some invalids are sent to
look after the 30; who were to be treated with alguna comiseracion. 8. José,
ARTISANS FROM MEXICO. 615
furnished to each of the new missions, did not in many
instances give satisfaction. There was also some diffi-
culty about their wages being paid by the royal treas-
ury, and they were all sent back to San Blas in 1795,
though sailors were subsequently allowed to remain in
California as workmen at the presidios and as settlers.”
In the promotion of manufactures, however, a de-
cided effort was made in this decade, and with consid-
erable success. The plan adopted was to send skilled
artisans from Mexico under government pay to teach
their trades to neophytes and to white apprentices.
About twenty of these artisan instructors were sent
to California, chiefly in 1792 and 1795, a few of whom
remained permanently as settlers, but most retired on
the expiration of their contracts before 1800.”
Arch., MS., ii. 75. . Wages paid to mission, not to Indians. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xxi. 158. 1800, mission Indians get two reals per day, one in extra
food and one in cloth, or sometimes money from presidios. Private persons
pay in corn or meat. Arch. Sta Ldarbara, MS., ii. 119.
8 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 193-4; xiii. 69, 123-4; xvi. 2; Prov. Rec., MS.,
iv. 232; v.5. The sailor sirvientes got $10 per month and 19 cents for rations.
One slave is mentioned during the decade. He was owned by Col. Alberni,
and was tried for robbery in 1798. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 102.
#® Their names were: Santiago Ruiz, Manuel D. Ruiz, Toribio Ruiz, Salva-
dor Rivera, Joaquin Rivera, and Pedro Alcdntara, masons: Mariano Tapia,
potter; Cayetano Lopez, mill-maker; José A. Ramirez and Salvador Véjar, car-
penters; Miguel Sangrador, tanner and shoemaker; Joaquin Avalos, tanner;
Mariano Tapinto and Joaquin Botello, tailors; Pedro Gonzalez Garcia, José
Arroyo, and José F. Arriola, blacksmiths; Antonio Dom. Henriquez and Mari-
ano José Mendoza, weavers; Manuel Mufioz, listonero, ribbon-maker; José
de Los Reyes and Antonio Hernandez, saddlers. One or two of these names
may have been those of settlers who had trades; and one or two of convicts.
A few of the maestros got $1,000 per year, and the journeymen from $300 to
$600. The contracts were for four or five years. Sept. 10,1790, Fages speci-
fies 51 mechanics needed, besides teachers, millers, and a surveyor. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., xv. 138; St. Pap., Miss., MS.,i. 82. 1790 and 1792, lists of trades
existing. Jd., i. 96, 98, 101-2. Salvador Rivera, the stone-cutter, was at first
left at Nootka in 1791. St. Pap.; Sac., MS., v. 95. Four mechanics arrived
in Dec. 1791. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xv. 6. Viceroy says a carpenter
must teach his trade to at least 12 Indians in the four years. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., x. 137. In 1791 tailor at Monterey did $135 worth of work for private
parties. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiii. 3. June 20, 1792, opinion of
the fiscal on the project, including provision for granting the artisans land and
making permanent settlers of them. The engineer Miguel Costansé appears as
one of the advisers in the matter. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 62-8. March 1793,
three artisans sent back as useless. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 163. Jan. 1794, no
visible progress made though the artisans work well. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi.
178-9. Of the value of work done by the artisans half goes to the treasury, one
third to apprentices, and one sixth to artisans. Jd., xi. 158; Prov. Rec., MS.,
vill. 140. April 29, 1795, V. R. wonders that though wages have ‘been paid,
-$10,000 is yet due the artisans. Jd., iv. 227. July 19, 1795, new opinion of
616 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
At first the artisans were distributed in the missions
and presidios, or in some cases travelled from one place
to another giving instruction. The friars were of
course pleased, for they thus received almost without
cost instructions for themselves and their neophytes
which in the future must contribute largely to the
prosperity of their establishments. But they were
deeply grieved when they found that the king’s
mechanics were by no means disposed to regard them-
selves as mere mission servants to be utilized according
to the orders of the padres, and at the necessity of pay-
ing something for the work done by the artisans in
the course of their teaching. As usual they wanted
all the benefits of the enterprise and its management,
but pleaded poverty when payment was asked. The
government was not willing to do so much for the
missions, and after 1795 the friars were obliged to pay
for the work done, to pay the artisans’ salaries, or to.
send their neophytes to the presidios to be taught.
In many cases they refused to do either, and quite a
controversy ensued. But the difficulty settled itself
as the terms of contract expired, and before 1800 the
neophytes had acquired a stock of instruction which
it was thought would suffice for the mission needs.”
the fiscal on details. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 56-60. Aug. 24, 1795, B. says
V.R. has ordered work of artisans to cease at missions. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 61.
Pay began when artisans left Mexico. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 41-3. Fifty
dollars advanced for travelling expenses. The married ones to be given in
California a male and female Indian servant for each family, to be fed and edu-
cated. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 202-4; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 184. Dec. 4,
1795, fiscal’s report, with details of contracts. dd.. xiii, 34-42, Jan. 1796, the
missions must be asked to support the new artisans expected. Prov. ec., MS.,
v. 78. 1796, effort to obtain white apprentices. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 53-4,
72-3; v. 249; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 16. July 1796, lands ordered granted
(in pueblos) to several artisans. Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 164. 1797, the basis of
pay was changed in later years, one eighth ‘of the value of work done going to
the artisan, and seven eighths to the treasury. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 90-1 (and
many other references). See also for voluminous correspondence on this sub-
ject—chiefly on the names, salaries, engaging, distribution, arrival and depart-
ure of the artisans—Proo. St. Pap., MS., x. 41; xii. 192-3; xiii, 40-2, 52-3,
60, 107, 126-7; xiv. 6; xvi. 202, 213; xvii. 40, 135; xxi. 36-7, 44, 73-4, 89-90,
229, 236, 238, 253, 280, 287; Id., Ben. Mil., 'MS., Xxi. 9; xxiit. of d., Pre-
sidios, MS. a bia 5, §2--3; St. Pap., Sac., MS. vad, 9, 10; iv. 2, 62; vii. "47-9;
xvii. 8; Prov. Rec., hers vy ba UBT 3 Avi 190, 210; v. 14; vi. 32, 35, 76; Arch.
Arzobispado, MS., i.
50Dec. 21, 1792, petit to Arrillaga, some of the artisans show a ten-
WEAVING AND TANNING. 617
Some white apprentices were obtained and taught,
though instances were not wanting where parents
deemed it degrading to put their sons to a trade.
The results of all these efforts were that before
1800 rude looms were set up in many of the missions,
on which by Indian labor the wool of the country was
woven into blankets and coarse fabrics with which the
neophytes were clothed ;* hides were tanned and made
into shoes, some of the coarser parts of saddles and
other leather goods being also manufactured, though
dency to act as officers rather thaninstructors. The tailorsdon’t amount to much,
in fact tailors are not much needed in a country where each native is tailor for
himself. It is not well to send the natives to the presidios for instruction;
but it would be a good idea to let certain artisans travel from mission to mis-
sion. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 30-2. 1793-4, several San Carlos Indians
instructed in stone-cutting, bricklaying, ete. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xii. 59.
Dec. 1795, Borica orders missions to send each four or five Indians to presidios,
They will be supported and will have a soldier to teach them religion. Prov.
Tec., MS., v. 235-6. July 28, 1796, Lasuen in a circular regrets the restric-
tions, but orders the padres to send the neophytes to the presidios, not how-
ever expecting any good results. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 138. Aug. 8,
1796, B. says to Lasuen seven eighths of products of work must go to treas-
ury and one eighth to artisan. An Indian boy and girl must be supplied, as
servants, or appeal will be made to the viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 166-7,
163-4. Dec. 20, 1796, V. R. says that the artisans are engaged to teach the
natives and not to serve at missions. The missions must pay. Arch. Sta
Barbara, MS., ix. 167-8. April 26, 1797, Lasuen to V. R. protesting against
giving the artisans one eighth of the value of their work when the mission
furnishes all the material, and also against sending Indians to the presidios
as being subversive of all subordination. Jd., ix. 169-72; Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xv. 281-2. Nov. 12, 1798, B. has given a mission the free use of a smith and
carpenter for a year. Prov. Iec., MS., vi. 226. Sept. 21, 1799, V. R. to gov.
and president, asking them to come to some conclusion how best to instruct
neophytes without risk to Christian duties. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ix. 173-
4; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 339; Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 1938. Jan. 22, 1800,
Lasuen to V. R., neophytes ought not to be sent to the presidios where they
are used as peons and often run away; still something may be effected by
sending docile youth and requiring a strict watch over them. The objection
to the artisans coming to the missions, is the required payment for the articles
made by them which the mission cannot afford, especially after furnishing
servants and material, and as the objects made are not sold. Arch. Sta Bur-
bara, MS., ix. 175-80.
31 For items about weaving see Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 162-6; iv. 98-9, 251,
300; v. 206. 245-7; vi. 3, 79, 81, 117, 230; ix. 5; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii.
24; xv. 67-8; xvi. 233, 261-2; xviii. 18, 19; xxi. 189; Jd., Ben. Mil., xxv. 14;
St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 100; St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 108-5; Arch. Sta Bar-
bara, MS., ii. 68, 96-7; ix. 168-9; Vancouver’s Voyage, ii. 11-13. No blankets
were brought from Mexico after 1797. A little cotton cloth was woven from
material brought from San Blas. The Indians had some natural skill at dye-
ing. The ribbon-maker was found to be of no use. There was a proposition
in 1797 to make the learning of a trade obligatory. Weaving was a failure
at Monterey. Some hemp was used for neophytes’ garments. P. Espi
wanted to establish a fulling-miil, but the governor disapproved the scheme.
The pueblos got none of the instructors, but some weaving was done there.
618 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
not enough as yet toavoid importation from Mexico.”
Soap was made of suitable quality and quantity to
supply home needs after 1798;* coarse pottery was
produced at San Francisco and several other places ;*
and water-power flouring-mills were built at Santa
Cruz and San Luis Obispo, possibly also at San
Gabriel and San José, which with the tahonas worked
by horse or man power and the metates of the neo-
phyte women, supplied the province with flour.®
Some details of these different branches of manufac-
tures will be found in local annals of the different
towns, missions, and presidios.*
In the way of public improvements, repairs were
several times ordered to be made on the roads, espe-
cially at the crossings of streams where couriers were
liable to be delayed. There were several supposed
discoveries of rich mineral deposits, including one of
quicksilver in the black mud at Santa Barbara in 1796.
In fact Father Salazar reported that the province was
supposed to be very rich in metals, which were not
developed for fear that foreigners would rush in, but
actual mining operations were confined to an occasional
trip after teguesquite, or saltpetre, and the extraction
of brea, or asphaltum, from the pitch-wells of the
Channel coast, used to some extent for roofing.”
32 St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 46-7; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 50, 220; Arch. Sta
Barbara, MS., ii. 72-3, 129. Some 2,000 hides were tanned at Santa Claraas
early as 1792, but very few of them could be sold. At Sta Barbara the cor-
poral of the guard was paid $150 per year to attend to the tanning.
83 Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 33, 48, 50, 95, 105, 303; v. 211; ix. 5; Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xvii. 110. About $1,000 worth of soap was required each year.
There was a manufactory of this article at the rancho del rey in Monterey.
34 Prov, St. Pap., MS., xvi. 25; xviii. 259; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 75; v. 88;
Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ix. 313.
85 Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 162-3; iv. 177, 187-8, 224, 232, 253, 283; v. 50; vi. 6,
68; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xii. 59; Los Angeles Hist., 7. Hall’s Hist. S.
José, 114.
36 See also general communications on the progress of the various industries
between governor and viceroy in Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 67-8, 89-90, 117; S¢.
Pap., Miss. and Col., MS., i. 79; Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 46; St.
Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 6.
37 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 107, 175; xxi. 176-7; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 57-8;
Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ii. 64-5. The only ship-building industry recorded
is the building of a large boat by the sailors left by Capt. Dorr in 1796. Prov.
fec., MS., vi. 79.
AGRICULTURE. 619
Agricultural statistics are given elsewhere in chap-
ters devoted to missions, pueblos, and to local prog-
ress; but it is well here to give the grand total of
production, which was on an average 56,000 bushels
of grain per year during the decade. Of this yield
36,000 bushels were wheat; 11,700 bushels, corn;
5,400 bushels, barley; 1,800 bushels, beans; and 1,200
bushels, miscellaneous grains such as pease, lentils, etc.
Of other crops no statistical records were kept, though
each establishment had a vegetable garden, a fruit-
orchard, or a vineyard, most having all of these in
a prosperous condition supplying the wants of the
country. There have been some interesting discus-
sions in modern times respecting the dates ‘at which
grapes, oranges, and other fruits were introduced in
California; but there are no records which can throw
light on the matter. Many varieties of fruit, includ-
ing probably grapes, were introduced from the penin-
sula by the earliest expeditions between 1769 and
1773; nearly all the varieties were in a flourishing
condition on a small scale before Junfpero Serra’s
death in 1784; and very few remained to be introduced
after 1800.8
Borica gave and required his commandants to give
much personal attention to the advancement of agri-
cultural interests, using various expedients of reward
and threat to accustom the settlers—for there was
rarely any occasion to interfere with the friars and
their subjects—to habits of industry and to precau-
tions against possible famine in years of drought.
38 Information on these matters is very meagre and of a general nature.
Vallejo has heard from his father and others of the fundadores that vines
were brought up in 1769, and planted at San Diego. Vallejo, Doc. List. Cul.,
MS., xxxvi. 288. Palou, Vida de Juntpero Serra, 199, 220, etc., mentions
grapes, vegetables, fruits, etc., as flourishing in 1784. Yield of Monterey
garden suflicient to pay for a gardner in 1784, Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 54. La
Pérouse left the first potatoes in California in 1786. There are some traili-
tions of wild grapes found in the country near San Antonio, and improved by
cultivation. Gomez, Lo que sabe, MS., 105-6. Fages’ garden in 17$3-91 with
200 fruit-trees, vines, etc. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 167. Vancouver names
many kinds of fruit raised in 1792. Wine manufactured in the southern
missions in 1797-8. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xii. 66, 70, 1798. The culture
af vines and olives must be encouraged. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 106.
620 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Regular weather reports were insisted on, though very
few of them have been preserved.” The hardest years
for the province were 1794 and 1795; but even in
those years the drought did not extend over all the
territory, so that more than half the average crop was
produced. In 1793 the governor seconded by Presi-
dent Lasuen prohibited the kindling of fires by neo-
phytes and gentiles which had in ‘several instances
caused considerable damage in the grain-fields.” In
1795 owners of gardens were required to fence them,
or at least to make no complaints of ravages by cat-
tle." The chief enterprise, however, of an agricult-
ural nature in which the government took an inter-
est was the attempt to introduce the cultivation of
flax and hemp. The establishment of this industry
in the American colonies of Spain had been ordered
by the king in 1781, and the orders had been promul-
gated in California as elsewhere, without receiving
any practical attention; but in 1795 special orders and
a package of seed having been sent up to Monterey,
the experiment was undertaken in earnest by Borica’s
directions, San José being selected as the spot and
Tenacio Vallejo as the superintendent, with the aid of
a soldier who knew something of flax-culture. Some
details of the experiment will be found in connection
with the local history of San José for this period.
There were some failures of crops, and others result-
ine from inexperience in the various processes to
which. the product was subjected; but several lots of
the staple sent to Mexico gave satisfaction, and in
1800 the prospects of the new industry were consid-
ered encouraging, and preparations were made to send
Joaquin Sanchez to superintend it in California.”
89 Minor communications of the governor on agriculture. Prov. Rec., MS.,
iv. 52-3, 69-186; v. 63; vi. 67, 80; Dept. St. Pap. 8. José., MS., i. 52. Borica
offered a premium of G05 for the largest crop in 1796.
9 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 187-8; /d., Ben. Mil., xx. 5; Arch. Arzobis-
pado, MS., i. 34; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 210-14.
eta Rec., 'MS., iv. 16, 17, 29, 33-4, 272, 293; Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xiv. 77.
“” Nov. 13, 1781, royal orders published by Neve. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
STOCK-RAISING, 621
The companion industry to agriculture, and the
favorite occupation of Californians from the first, as
requiring less hard work than tilling the soil, was
stock-raising. California had in 1800 in round num-
bers 187,000 animals in her herds and flocks: 74,000
cattle, 24,000 horses, 1,000 mules, and 88,000 sheep,
not to mention the comparatively few asses, goats,
and swine. Of the total number the missions had
153,000; the presidios 18,000; and the pueblos 16,000.
The increase had been uninterrupted from 1769 except
in the year 1794—5 when there was a slight decrease.
The king’s rancho at Monterey with branches at San
Irancisco and San Diego furnished to the presidial
companies a very large part of the meat consumed
and nearly all the cavalry horses employed in the
service, the proceeds of sales on royal account varying
from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. The missionaries
always looked with much hostility on these establish-
ments as depriving the missions of the best and almost
the only market for their produce; but having founded
iii. 247-53. 1785, other orders of the audiencia published. Jd., v. 250-1.
Sept. 13, 1785, José de Galvez to Fages on aiding the enterprise. St. Pap.
Sac., MS., iv. 35. Sept. 6, 1793, viceroy orders flax-culture to be promoted
in all the missions. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 263-4. Sept. 7th, guardian
also recommends the matter, saying that a wild flax is found on the Cali-
fornia coast. /d., xii. 14,15. Aug. 13, 1794, two fanegas of hemp-seed sent
to Lasuen. /d., xi. 267-8. Instructions for hemp-culture. Instruments sent
1795. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xv. 15-17; Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS.,i. 53-6;
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 140. See chapter xxxii. for experiments at San José.
May 21, 1796, flax and hemp to be free of duty, and implements free from
taxes. Gaceta de Mez., viii. 95-8; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 194. Dec. 19,
1796, Borica to V. R., 30 fanegas of seed harvested. Missions as a rule will not
be able to raise hemp. No success yet in working the material. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., iv. 70. Hemp exported in 1796-7 of nouse. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.
272. 1798, samples sent to Mexicoand approved. Jd., vi. 103; vili. 189-90.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 272, 287. May 3, 1798, hemp sent to P. Viader
to try experiments in spinning. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 213. 1799, 25 arrobas
of hemp sent to Mexico. Price $350. Prospects favorable’ Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xviii. 83-4; xvii. 213. Culture must be introduced at Branciforte. /d.,
xvii, 314-15. San Cérlos using hemp for ordinary cloth for neophytes.
Prov. Rec., vi. 117. 1800, crops not good. Jd., ix. 15; S. José Arch., MS.,
iii. 70. Arrangements in Mexico to continue to encourage the new industry
and to send Joaquin Sanchez to California. S. José, Arch., MS., v. 20; St.
Pap., Miss. and Col., MS., i. 55-7; St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 102-4. By
these arrangements the memoria ships were to take flax and hemp in good
condition and pay for it in cash. Sanchez did not sail for California. Guerra,
Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 176-9. Vague indications that cotton was also
tried. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 108; vi. 209; ix. 6
622 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
the ranchos at a time when the missions had no live-
-stock to sell, the government was not disposed to
abandon them later; and indeed it was claimed that
only by means of the rancho del rey and of the fixed
tariffs of prices were the friars kept from maintaining
an oppressive monopoly.*
In 1796-7 Borica made a special effort to promote
the raising of sheep in connection with the manufac-
ture of cloth. Statistical reports do not show that
the increase in the mission flocks was much greater
in those than other years, though it was uniformly
rapid; while in the pueblos, to which Borica gave his
attention more particularly, very little was accom-
plished.“ The Californian cattle were very prolific,
and, under the early regulations forbidding the
slaughter of cows, multiplied with wonderful rapid-
ity. The pueblos were not allowed to let their large
stock increase beyond fifty head to each settler; the
rancheros had no very large herds before 1800; and
in the missions during the last decade efforts were
directed rather to restrict than encourage further
increase; yet in spite of all restrictions, and of the
ravages of bears, wolves, and Indians, and of the
constantly increasing slaughter for meat and tallow,
cattle were becoming too numerous for the needs of
4 Prov. St. Pap., MS. x. 91; xii. 30, 97; xvi. 92; xvii. 14-16; Jd., Ben.
Mil., xiii. 1-7; xvii. 1; xviii. 4, 5; xxv. 2-4; Prov. Rec., MS., i. 208; iv. 16,
117, 134, 255-6, 273, 285; v. 64, 68, 85, 269; vi. 100, 104, 109; St. Pap., Miss.,
MS., i. 73-4; Sé. Pap., Miss. and Col., MS., i. 68-78. See also chapters xxx.
and xxxii. for local items respecting the rancho del rey. 1795, cattle lost on
the road were charged to the consumption of the troops. 1790, 4,000 cattle
belonging to the real hacienda, from which many private persons were sup-
ei 1795, each soldier might have two milch cows. ‘There seem to have
een some sheep on the rancho. After 1797 an account was made of the
hides, which before had been left to the soldiers.
4 Efforts at Sta Barbara. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 66. Rancheros must keep
sheep or live in the pueblos. Jd., iv. 86. Introduced at Angeles, 8. José,
and San Francisco. Jd., vi. 79. Every settler should have at least 11 sheep,
for which they may pay in grain. Jd., iv. 147. Breeding-sheep to be pur-
chased and sent to Monterey. Jd., iv. 62. Six hundred and fourteen. sheep
at 7 reals, wethers $2, received from San Diego. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 6.
Wool at S. Gabriel 20 reals per arroba. Jd., vi. 6. Two hundred sheep dis-
tributed at Angeles August 1796. Jd., vi. 1. Every settler at San José must
keep 3 sheep for every larger animal. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 73-4.
The breed at San Francisco was merino, and better than elsewhere. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xv. 8, 9.
HORSES AND MULES. 623
the country. Horses, not being used for food, nor
as yet stolen extensively by Indians, were largely in
excess of all demands at four or five dollars each.
Mules at fifteen dollars were generally in demand,
comparatively few being yet raised. ‘Tithes of all
live-stock except in the missions were branded each
year in October or November and added to the rancho
Rael rey.”
451791, mission stock should be reduced to prevent dispersion. The
Indians eat too much meat. Missions not allowed to buy animals from the
troops. The raising of horses and mules should be promoted. Yearly slaughter
for meat ordered. Fages to Romeu, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 150, 157, 170.
1792, no more fat to be shipped from San Blas, and 200 cows to be killed
each year. It is better to make monthly distributions of meat. Arrillaga, in
Id., xi. 87-8; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 156. Vancouver took some cattle away
for Botany Bay and the Sandwich Islands. Vancouver's Voy., ii. 99; Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xxi. 122. 1794, no market for horses. Mules promise better.
Pueblo stock much exposed to Indians. Soldiers allowed only three or four
cows. King’s stock not much affected by the removal of females. Adobe
houses built for soldiers guarding stock, in place of huts of hides. Arriliaga,
Papel de Puntes, MS., 189-91. 1795, rancheros have but little stock and it
must not increase. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 269, 219, 224-5. 1796, wild
beasts troublesome, preventing the increase of tithes. A lion attacked a cor-
poral, soldier, and Indian woman at Rancheria Nueva. Prov. Rec., MS., ix.
6, iv. 63. 1797, no settler to have over 50 head of large stock, for each of
which three head of small stock must be kept. /d., iv. 204, 284; Dept. St.
Pap., S. José, MS., i. 73-4. Two reals to be paid on each head of cattle
killed. S. José, Arch., MS., v. 31. Tithe cattle to be branded with royal
rancho brand applied crosswise to prevent confusion. /d., v.31. Over 12,000
horses on the Monterey ranchos in 1800 (evidently an error). Arrillaga, Estado
de 1800-1, MS., in Bandini, Doc. Hist. Cal., 3, 4.
CHAPTER XXIX.
INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
1791-1800.
CoMMERCE—TRADE OF THE TRANSPORTS—OTTER-SKINS—PROJECTS OF MAR-
QUEZ, MAMANELI, INCIARTE, PoNCE, MENDEZ, AND OVINETA—PROVINCIAL
FINANCES—HABILITADOS—FAcTOR AND COMMISSARY—COMPLICATED
ACCOUNTS—SUPPLIES AND REVENUES—TaAaxEsS—ToBacco Monorpoty—
TitHEes—MiuiTtary ForcrE anp DISTRIBUTION—CIVIL GOVERNMENT—
PPoPposED SEPARATION OF THE CALIFORNIAS—ADMINISTRATION OF JUS-
TICE—A CAUSE CELEBRE—EXECUTION OF RosaS—OFFICIAL CARE OF
Morats—USE oF Liquors—GAMBLING—EpucaTION—Borica’s EFFORTS
—TuE First SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.
Cauirornia had as yet nocommerce. Nota trading-
vessel proper touched on the coast before 1800, though
there had been some little exchange of goods for meat
and vegetables on several occasions between the Cal-
ifornians and such vessels as arrived for purposes other
than commercial. “It is sad not to see a single ship-
owner on the Pacific coast,” wrote Costansé in 1794;
no trade in the South Sea, and therefore no revenue,
a lack of population, and great expense to the crown.
The Cadiz merchants from mistaken motives stifled
the coast trade in its infancy. A grand commerce |
might be developed, affording California colonists a
market for their products, including fish and salted
meats... The Spanish laws strictly forbade all trade
not only with foreign vessels and for foreign goods,
but with Spanish vessels and for Spanish-American
goods except the regular transports and articles
brought by them. At first the transports were for-
bidden to bring other goods than those included in
the regular invoices to the habilitados, and great pre-
1 Costansé, Informe de 1794, MS.
( 624 )
TRADE WITH THE TRANSPORTS. 625
cautions were insisted on to prevent smuggling by
friars, soldiers, and sailors. After 1785, however,
trade was free on the transports except that from
1790 to 1794 one half the regular rates of duties must
be paid, and that at no time could foreign goods be
introduced. The methods of conducting this traf-
fic are not clearly indicated, but apparently the offi-
cers and even sailors of the transports brought up
from San Blas on private speculation such articles as
they could barter with the soldiers. In the absence
of money this trade could not have assumed large pro-
portions; but the soldiers formed the habit of exchang-
ing the regularly furnished goods needed by their fam-
ilies for liquors, bright-colored cloths, and worthless
trinkets. To prevent this the governor sometimes
delayed opening the regular supplies till after the ves-
sel had departed. The supply-ships continued during
this decade as before to take an occasional small quan-
tity of salt or salt meat to San Blas, besides receiving
the needed supphes for their return trips. The im-
portation of mission produce from Lower California
was allowed, but naturally little was done in this
direction, though one or two lots of brandy, figs, and
raisins for the friars were sent up overland.’
2 Feb. 26, 1791, Fages disapproves the free trade with San Blas because
the soldiers sacrifice useful articles in barter for luxuries and liquor. Papel
de Puntos, MS., 158-9. 1793, the viceroy thinks no branch of commerce is
likely to succeed unless it may be the shipment of grain toSan Blas. MRevilla
Gigedo, Carta de 1793, MS. 1794, Gov. allows importation from Baja Cali-
fornia, except of mescal and other liquors. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 110-11.
Nov. 1794, publication of the king’s renewal of license (of Feb. 18, 1794), for
free trade with San Blas for 10 years. Jd., xi. 186-7; xii. 9, 10, 177-8. May
27, 1795, V. R. has learned that the habilitados have paid the half duties on
San Blas imports down to Nov. 21, 1794. This would indicate perhaps that
this duty was paid on the regular memorias, as well as on extra goods. Iu.,
xiii. 91-2; xii. 1385. June 8, 1795, all foreign goods except such as are in-
cluded in the regular invoices of the habilitado general are to be confiscated
by V. R.’s order. /d., xiii. 208; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 47; S. José, Arch.,
MS., iv. 31. July 7, 1795, Perez Fernandez of San Francisco wants instruc-
tions how to carry out this order. St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 21-2. 1796, royal
order not to admit goods from foreign vessels. Prov. Rec., MS., vill. 165.
Aug. 17, 1796, V. R. transmits royal order of May 5th approving certain
restrictions imposed on the leaving of cloth, etc., in payment for supplies by
captains Moore and Locke. English cunning and pretexts for trade must
be watched. ‘¢. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 30-1. 1798-9, brandy, figs, and raisins
‘sent up from Paia California. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 216, 238.
Hist. Cau., VOL. 1. 40
626 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS:
Within the limits of California trade consisted in
the delivery of goods from the presidio warehouse to
the soldiers for their pay and rations and to the set-
tlers in payment for grain and other supplies, the ha-
bilitados being required to purchase home productions
rather than to order from Mexico. Money was paid
but rarely, but goods were delivered at cost. For
the benefit of the pueblos Borica urged not only the
exportation of grain that the settlers might have a
market, but the sending by the government of special
invoices of goods to be sold to them atasmall advance
on cost, in order that they might not be compelled to
purchase inferior articles at exorbitant prices from the
San Blas vessels.* The missions also sold supplies to
the presidios, and sometimes received goods in pay-
ment; but they preferred as a rule to keep an open
account which was settled once a year by a draft of
the habilitado on Mexico, with which special invoices
of articles needed by the friars for themselves or their
neophytes or their churches were purchased and sent
to California free of all duties. The friars still sent
a few otter-skins to Mexico, and an occasional cargo
of tallow found a market at San Blas.*
31794, orders to try all possible home products, paying in goods at cost.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 163-4; xii. 91, 99; xiv. 76-7; Prov. Rec., MS., ii.
127-8; iv. 118. 1796, care must be taken to prevent the settlers selling too
much of their grain, and keeping none for seed. S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 73-4.
Correspondence between governor, viceroy, and habilitado general about the
project of special invoices of goods for the pueblo trade. The matter was
taken under consideration. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 18-29; Prov. Rec., MS.,
vi. 7, 103-4. The settlers were disposed to cheat the government by selling
damp flour. S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 46.
‘The only communication which I find respecting the fur-trade in a
decade is a somewhat remarkable circular of President Lasuen dated July 22,
1791, in Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ix. 314-15, 317, in which he says that
advices from Mexico promise better prices for otter-skins, which may there-
fore be accumulated. They can be sent to the Mission sindico so packed and —
mixed with other goods that the contents of the packages may not be appar-
ent; but the guardian or procurador should be notified as to the details of
marks, etc.! Lasuen in the same circular, Jd., ix. 315-16, says that too
much tallow has been sent to San Blas and the price is lower; therefore the
remainder may be disposed of to private persons. 1794, the guardian gives
the bad quality of the tallow as the reason why the ships have refused it.
‘| hey will take 500 or 600 arrobas yearly at $2.50if well prepared. He sends
directions for preparing it. Doc. Jlist. Cal., MS., iv. 51-2; Arch. Sta Bar-
bara, MS., xi. 258, 264-7, 271-3. Salazar complains that pueblos have the
preference as sellers, and also of the long time that the missions have to wait.
COMMERCIAL PROJECTS. 627
In 1793 the king granted to Roman Marquez of
the Comercio de Indias license to make an experi-
mental trading voyage from Cadiz to San Blas and
California, with the privilege of introducing Spanish
goods free of all duties, though foreign goods must
pay seven per cent. Californian products exchanged
for these goods might also be exported free of duties.
Due notice was forwarded to the viceroy, and by him
to Borica and Lasuen, who notified friars and com-
mandants to be ready for the expected commercial
visitor. It was announced in November 1794 that
the vessel, the Levante, had actually sailed. A year
later came the notice that as Marquez had failed to
carry out his enterprise it would be undertaken by
Jonacio Inciarte. Here the matter seems to have
dropped out of view.° Meanwhile the king and vice-
roy in 1794-5 approved the petition of Nicolds Ma-
maneli who proposed to make a trading voyage from
California and return; but nothing more is heard of
the scheme.® Permission was also granted to Antonio
Ponce to build a schooner and open a trade between
San Blas and California.’
I have alluded to Borica’s recommendation in favor
of the sending of special invoices by the government
for pueblo trade. In May 1797 the habilitado gen-
eral made a long report in favor of the project, ex-
plaining that nothing but a market for produce could
arouse Californian industries from stagnation to pros-
perity; enumerating the facilities for a profitable
exportation of furs, hides, fish, grain, flax, oil, and
wine, and especially sardines, herring, and salmon, and
insisting that the government must take the initiative
in opening this provincial commerce, since the pros-
Condicion Actual de Cal., MS., 71-3. 1799, contracts not to be made with
Mission majordomos without consent of padre. S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 40.
5 Viceroy’s communication of April 2, 1794, enclosing royal order of Oct.
1, 1793, and other papers. Prov. Si. Pap., MS., xi. 168, 188-9; xii. 21-2;
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 116-17, 119, 140; Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 40; Cedu-
lario, MS., i. 249.
6 Feb. 28, 1795, viceroy to governor, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii, 12.
1 Nueva Espatia, Acuerdos, MS., 92-3.
.
628 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
pects at the first were not sufficiently flattering to
attract private companies. He urged the sending of
an experimental invoice of $6,000, and gave many
details respecting the management of the business.
Here so far as the records show the matter ended
without practical benefit to Los Angeles and San José.*
Two other commercial schemes in behalf of California
were devised in 1800 and were still in abeyance at
the end of this decadé. Juan Ignacio Mendez, who
had brought some goods to California for sale on the
supply-ship in 1798 and had worked in the country”
as a carpenter, asked for a license to export California
productions on private account by the same vessels.
Juan Bautista Ovineta asked for the approval of a
contract which he had made with the settlers of San
José and Branciforte for one thousand fanegas of
wheat each year at two dollars and a half a fanega.
The- viceroy and fiscal were disposed to favor both
projects, but called on the governor for his opinion.’
8Carcaba, Informe del Habilitado General sobre la remision de memorias de
Efectos para los Pueblos de California, 1797, Ms.
® Oct. 3, 1800, viceroy to governor, on the Mendez proposition. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., ix. 104-6. Dec. 18, 1800, fiscal to V. R., on Ovineta’s contract.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 72-5. Viceroy Azanza in his Ynstruccion, MS.,
91-2, speaks of a proposal of Tepic merchants to supply California with mer-
chandise. On prices I append the following items: Feb. 26, 1791, Fages sug-
gests a reduction in some of the tariff prices for grain and meat. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., x. 156-7. Prices at Sta Barbara and 8. Buenaventura, 1794 to
1821. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vii. 44-66, 80-111; ix. 485-7. Sept. 22,
1795, Borica gives a list of articles which could be advantageously sold in
California, including hats costing $22 and selling at $30 per dozen; stockings,
$9-$12 per dozen; handkerchiefs, $13-$18 per dozen; gold lace, $28-$50 per
pound; chocolate, 1.75 reales to 3.5 reales per pound. Prov. St. Pap., Ben.
Mil., MS., xxii. 2. 1796, cojinillos, saddle-pads, 50 cents a pair. Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 160. Wheat, $3 per fanega. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 69.
Freight on grain from Angeles to Sta Barbara 7 reals. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.
82-3. 1797, wool 18 reals per arroba (9 cents per pound). Jd., iv. 91; $3
at Monterey. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 78; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 214.
Lambs offered, 7 reals; asked by padres, $1. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 86.
1798, tiles $20 per thousand. Jd., xvii. 97. Bulls, $4. /d., xvii. 103. Calves,
$4; cows, $5. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 102, 105. 1799, blankets $4.50; brandy,
$1.07 per cwartillo; figs, 830 cents per pound; olive-oil, 40 cents per pound,
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 110; vi. 233. Chickens, 50 cents per dozen. S. José,
Arch., MS., vi. 41. June 26, 1799, Borica favors reduction in price of horses
from $9 to $7; mares, $4 to $3; and colts, $5 to $3.50. Other tariff prices fair
enough. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 126-7. Soap, 15 cakes for $1. Tithe wheat
ee Ae sold for 13 reals for cash or on 4 months’ time. S. José, Arch., MS., vi.
PROVINCIAL FINANCE. 629
- The matters of provincial finance, presidial supplies,
and habilitado’s accounts are closely allied to that of
commerce, since the distribution of supplies consti-
tuted for the most part the traffic of the country.
There were no radical changes in the system of finan-
cial management during this decade. Hach year an
appropriation from the royal treasury was made in
Mexico to cover all Californian expenses, according to
the pay-roll of officers, soldiers, artisans, and settlers.
Before 1796 it was about $64,000; subsequently by
reason of the reénforcements of Catalan volunteers
and artillerymen, of artisan instructors, and of the
settlers of Branciforte, the ainount was raised to about
$81,000. Hach year in March or April a list was
sent from California of all the articles which would
be needed for the following year and which could not
be purchased in the province. From the appropria-
tion was deducted the amount of drafts on Mexico
with which supplies obtained in California had been
paid for, and also the amount of various royal revenues
retained in California and represented by drafts.
Then there was added the amount of supplies furnished
in California to vessels or by due authority to native
laborers, or otherwise properly disposed of. Finally,
the memorias of needed articles were purchased at
Mexico and San Blas and shipped regularly to the
north. The accounts of each presidial company and
of the volunteers and artillery were kept separate, and
there was usually a balance of a few hundred or a few
thousand dollars for or against each company, accord-
ing as the memorias were less or greater than the net
appropriation. ‘The habilitados were not allowed to
include in their lists articles of luxury. Some coin
wax sent with each invoice, enough to pay the salaries
10 For separate presidial accounts see chapters xxx.-xxxii. The following
references are somewhat general in their nature, embracing accounts and frag-
ments relating to all the presidios: St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 47-8; ii. 35, 38; vi.
115; ix. 48, 58-60, 74-6; xv. 10-12; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiv. 8;
xix. 5, 7-9; xxvi. 5; xxvii. 5,6; xxviii. 21-2; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 160; v. 6,7,
10; vi. 120-1; Prov. St. Pap, MS., xvii. 35-43: Prov. St. Pap. Ms Presidios,
MS., i 76-88.
630 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
of the governor and one or two other officers, with a —
small amount for the soldiers. There was at one time ~
an order that all balances due the companies be sent
in coin, but I find no evidence that anything of the ©
kind was ever done.” |
Until 1791 the purchase of supplies and general
management of California business in Mexico was in —
the hands of a factor, Pedro Ignacio Ariztegui being ~
the last to hold that position, preceded by Ramon ~
Manuel de Goya from 1776, and his place taken by _
José Avila from 1785 for several years. Francisco —
Hijosa as commissary attended to the business at —
11¥yom the voluminous correspondence on the topics treated in thisand
the next paragraph I present the following items: 1790, full details on
forms of accounts. Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix. 289-99, 305. Viceroy’s orders
for reports, etc., to aid Romeu in his investigation of presidial accounts. /d., —
ix. 313-19. Sept. 26, 1790, Revilla Gigedo’s letter to court recommending the __
appointment of Carcaba as habilitado general, and explaining the desirabil- __
ity of the new office. Hstudillo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 8,9. May 14, 1791,
royal order creating the office. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxv. 2. Oct.
3, 1791, viceroy communicates royal approval of Carcaba’s appointment to —
governor. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 136-7. Sept. 20th, habilitado’s deficits
to be charged to the company pro rata, and he is to live on 25 cts per day under © 4
arrest, his property also being sold. /d., x. 76. Some clerical fees had tobe
paid from California on statements of account. Jd., xii. 105. Damaged effects —
charged to the factor; expenses to company. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 158, Jan.
4, 1793. Sending of supplies suspended until accounts are cleared up. Prov.
St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xx. 4. Jan. 23, 1794, habilitado general, his appoint-
ment, accounts, etc. Nueva Espatia, Acuerdos, MS., 40-3. May 12th, gov.
complains to V. R. of lack of system in the accounts. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xxi. 138-40. 1794, Col. Alberni was refused 50 arrobas of flour, because it
could be bought in California. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 41-2. Articles of lux-
ury not to be included in memorias. Balances in coin, one fourth in small
change. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 124-5; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 182-3. Dec. 7
1795, 10 per cent advance to be charged on goods distributed to Indians. Jd. —
The habilitados had to send with their memorias an account of the condition
of arms, dress, and other kinds of property. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 91.
Jan. 1, 1795, Borica to Carcaba, complaining of the inefficiency of his officers
especially as habilitados. Grajera is namedas an exception. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xxi. 213-14. April, $6,000 in silver coin sent to California. Prov. St. |
Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxi. 10. Report of Feb. 19, 1795, on the accounts of —
the expedition of 1769-74. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 5-9. Habilitado gen-
eral considered as agent and apoderado of the California Indians. Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 2. Company accounts must bear the signature of commandant and
alférez besides that of the habilitade. St. Pap. Sac., MS., vii. 40. 1797,
precautions against counterfeit money, with indications that some of it was — |
in circulation in California. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 154; vi. 78; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvi. 245. March 19, 1797, Borica asks for a release of habilitados from
some duties, and the appointment of administrators. Prov. Rec., MS., vi.
83-4. Gov. still at work on the accounts of 1781-92. Jd. Cadrcabasucceeded
by Columna. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 168-9: Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
Xvii. 209, 322-3; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 112; viii. 224. Arrears of pay at San
Diego. Prov. St. Pup., MS., xxi. 34, 60-3. ,
HABILITADOS. 631
San Blas until 1795 and perhaps throughout the
decade. In 1791 Manuel Carcaba, at the recommen-
dation of Revilla Gigedo, was put in possession of the
newly created office of habilitado general with the
rank of captain and the pay of $1,200 a year. He
was to devote his whole attention to California busi-
ness as the factor had not done. The office was to
be elective; and in 1799, Carcaba obtaining leave of
absence, Eucario Antonio Columna was appointed to
succeed him ad intervm in May, and the choice was
duly ratified by the presidial companies in August
and September. It is not certain that Columna ever
took possession of the office, there being some indica-
tions that Carcaba held it again in 1802. Through
want of skill on the part of the habilitados the ac-
counts were always in confusion. Deficits during this
decade are noticed in local chapters. In 1793 the
forwarding of supplies was once suspended till the
accounts could be adjusted. In 1795 the final orders
were issued for settling the old accounts of the first
expeditions of 1769-74. Manyof the soldiers were now
dead and their descendants scattered. Whenever the
sum due was large, the heirs were to be sought;
otherwise the money was to be spent in masses for
the souls of the dead pioneers. In 1797 Borica in the
north and Arrillaga at Loreto were still at work on
the accounts of the past decade. There had been
$12,000 due the presidio of Santa Barbara in 1792,
and in 1801 the governor expressed doubts whether
a settlement would ever be reached. Truly there was
little inducement to the soldiers to live economically
and to leave large balances in the hands of the gov-
ernment. The procuradores at San Fernando college,
charged with the transaction of business for the Cali-
fornia missions, were José Murguia and Tomas de la
Peiia, whose duties were simply to collect the friars’
stipends and drafts sent from California, and with the
proceeds to purchase supplies for shipment accord-
- ing to the orders received. Of the pious fund, source
632 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
of the stipends, nothing in particular is known pertain-
ing directly to this epoch; but Revilla Gigedo in his re-
port of 1793 represents the fund as rapidly running to
decay, and predicts that the royal treasury will have
to make new sacrifices in behalf of the missions.”
The Californians were free from alcabalas, or excise
tax, on articles bought and sold for five years from
1787 to 1792, and again for ten years from 1794.
I’rom 1792 to 1794 one half the regular tax of six
per cent was paid, but statistics are insufficient to
show the revenue from this source, which was very
small. There was also a tribute of one fanega of
corn per year paid by the settlers, which yielded to
the king something over $100.% From $100 to $200
a year resulted from the sale of papal indulgences, an
ecclesiastical revenue, but managed by the treasury
officials.* Another ecclesiastical revenue belonging
to the bishop of Sonora, but by him sold to the royal
treasury, was that of diezmos, or tithes. This tax of
ten per cent on all products must be paid by settlers
after five years and by the rancho del rey, only
the missions being exempt. The treasury gained
five per cent by the purchase from the bishop, the
habilitados received ten per cent of gross receipts for
collection, and it was customary to sell the tithes for
a year in advance at auction whenever a purchaser
could be found, the price being the probable proceeds,
and the purchaser making his profit by a more careful
collection than the officials would enforce. This tax
was collected in kind for grain and even for live-stock
when the animals could be used at the presidios. The
net proceeds, paid by drafts into the branch treasury
at Rosario, or at Guadalajara after 1795, were over
$1,200.¥
12 Revilla Gigedo, Carta de 1793, MS., 18, 19.
138 Prov. St. Pup., MS., x. 178; xi. 8, 9; Fd., Ben. Mil., xviii. 6, 7; xxv.
6, 7; S. José Arch., MS., iii. 21. Tributes paid at Monterey in 1793, were
ee a dite: $22. In 1797, 24 men paid $97. Alcabalas at Monterey in
14 See chapter xxvii.; also local items in chapters xxx.—xxxii. this volume.
©1794, tithes paid into real caja de Rosario. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xil.
REVENUES. 633
The largest item of royal revenue in California, as
in all other Spanish provinces where no rich mines
were worked, was that produced by the sale of tobac-
co, always monopolized by the government. The net
product of cigars, cigaritos, and snuff, little or no
tobacco being used for chewing or smoked in pipes,
was not less than $6,000 a year on an average.”
Postal revenue amounted to about $700 a year, the
habilitados serving as post-masters at their respective
presidios, and receiving eight per cent of gross re-
ceipts as a compensation for their services.”
The management of all branches of the revenue was
135. Sta Barbara tithes for 1794 were $328. The governor authorizes the
commandant to sell them for two years at $400. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 9, 10,
20. Capt. Ortega bid $200 (per year) on condition that the presidio purchase
grain and cattle at tariff prices. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 173-4. Oct. 1795,
tithes and quicksilver revenue of California transferred to Guadalajara. Jd.,
xili. 44-5;-xiv. 5; Prov. Itec., MS., iv. 143; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xvii. 2.
1706, items showing that the tithes on live-stock, when paid in money or
grain, were from 10 to 25 cents per head, or for mules 50 cents. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xvi. 178, 244; Id., Presidios, i. 8; S. José Arch., MS., v. 29.
Habilitados allowed 10. per cent. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 178. No offers
to rent the tithes of Sta Barbara in 1799. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 109. Jan. 22,
1800, Sal to comisionado of San José, urging him in no gentle terms to hasten
the brancing. Excommunication is the penalty for failure to pay tithes. 8.
José, Arch., MS., ii. 57. Twenty-five ewes claimed out of every thousand
killed. St. Pap. Mis. and Colon, MS., i. 38. Tithe cattle sold at $1.25 each.
S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 66.
16 Product in 1789, $6,019. Consumption in 1790, 7,751 pckgs. cigars,
71,323 pcekgs. cigaritos, and 13 lbs. of snuff. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ui. 3, 5, 7.
Revenue in 1793, $4,018. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 183; xxi. 186. In 1796,
$7,918. Prov. St. Pap,, Presidios, MS., ii. 89-90. In 1800, $7,981. Prov. St.
Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxviii. 8. The habilitados received 5 per cent on
gross sales, and the habilitado of Monterey as administrator got $545 a year.
i. XVI. 8:
17 In the numerous communications in the archives respecting the manage-
ment of the mails during this decade there is very little matter of interest or
value. 1790, $250 paid for a special express from Nootka. Prov. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS., xix. 10. 1792, couriers to leave San Francisco on Ist of
each month. Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 152. 1793, a courier sent from Monterey
Nov. 16th, arrived at San Diego Nov. 23d, and at Loreto Dec. 7th. The day
and hour of arrival and departure at each mission are given. The stay at
each station was generally an hour. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 77-80. In
1794 a change was made in route, mails going via Chihuahua and Buenavista
instead of Alamos and Guadalajara. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 25; viii. 145-6;
Prov. St. Pap.,, MS., xi. 194. English letters taken from the bags and sent
to Mexico in 1794-5. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 9, 121; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii.
134; xiii. 175. 1795, mails leave Monterey on 3d of each month for south.
Prov. Rec., MS., v. 304. Net proceeds in 1796-7 were $758. Prov. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS., xxv. 14. New mail-bags in 1797. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi.
-. 193. Administrators of P. O. got 8 per cent. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Muil.,
MS., xxviii. 14. Vessel carrying the mail across the gulf lost in 1800. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xviii. 86.
634 INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
in the hands of the habilitados for their respective
jurisdictions, the accounts being sent to Monterey
for transmission to Mexico; until in 1799 Hermene-
gildo Sal, as: habilitado of Monterey, was formally
appointed administrator general of royal exchequer
revenues for New California.”
The military force maintained in California during
this decade was 280 men of the presidial companies,
besides governor and surgeon, and 90 Catalan volun-
teers and artillerymen after 1796. There were 12
commissioned officers, 35 non-commissioned officers,
260 private soldiers, 60 pensioners, and four or five
mechanics. Grades and salaries | append in a note.”
In 1799 an effort was made by the officers, supported
by the governor, to obtain an increase of pay to the
extent of $150 per year. It was claimed that the
sum received was insufficient to supply food and cloth-
ing to the officer’s family, his children going barefoot
and in rags, while his wife had to take in washing and
sewing. No immediate result is recorded. With
their pay the cavalry soldiers must buy food, clothing,
arms, and horses; but the latter were taken back and
18 Nov. 7, 1799, Sal declared administrator. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 176;
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 285, 315. 1795, tobacco accounts sent to habili-
tado of Monterey, as also cattle accounts; tithes to Rosario; mail accounts to
administrator general at Mexico; bulas to the respective branch of the treas-
ury. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 26; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 133.
19 Salaries paid were as follows: governor (lieut.-col.), $4,000; captain Cat.
vol., $840; alférez or sub. -lieut., $400; alférez Cat. vol., $384; sergeant, $262.50;
sergeant artillery, $240; sergeant Cat. vol., $192; soldiers, $217.50; soldiers
Cat. vol., $132; soldiers artillery, $180; invalid alférez, $200; invalid corporal,
$96; surgeon, $840; lieutenant, $550; lieutenant Cat. vol., $480; bleeder, $360;
corporal, $225; corporal artillery, $204; corporal Cat. vol., $156; mechanics,
$180; drummer Cat. vol., $144; armorer, $217; invalid sergeant, $120; invalid
soldier, $96. Nov. 5 , 1792, Arrillaga to viceroy, urging a provision for send-
ing the soldiers’ pay in advance, as was done in some other presidios, though
contrary to the reglamento. The delays, especially in fitting out new re-
cruits and in paying off soldiers whose term had expired, caused great hard-
ship. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 80-4. Oct. 2, 1793, viceroy orders two pay-
ments in advance to lieutenants Graj jera and Parrilla for travelling expenses.
St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 71. 1797, sailors employed in defensive duty get
25 cents per day. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxl. 256. 1799, correspondence be-
tween commandants, governor, and viceroy respecting an increase of pay for
a presidial officers. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,i. 123-4; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 113;
. 120-1,
MILITARY FORCE. 635
credited at the expiration of the term. The Catalan
volunteers received less pay, and had no horses to
buy. or them and for the artillerymen separate in-
voices of effects were sent from Mexico, to the amount
of about $15,000 per year. This infantry company
was not deemed a very useful addition to the forces
of the country, and it was hoped that most of the
members at the expiration of their term might be
induced either to reénlist in the cuera companies or
remain in the country as settlers.”
I explain elsewhere the military and presidio sys-
tem. Here it is my purpose to note briefly the con-
dition of military affairs and the slight modifications
that occurred during the decade. The regular term
of enlistment was ten years,” but at least eighteen
years’ service was required for retirement as an in-
valid on half-pay pension, and the pensioners were
often retained a long time in the service for want of
recruits to fill their places. From the pay of each
20 The compafifa de voluntarios de Catalufia was also called the compaiiia
de fusileros de montafia. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 186. Dec. 1795, the peti-
tion of the volunteers for travelling expenses denied. Prov. Rec., MS., viii.
158; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 363. June 1797, volunteers may
enlist in the companies on expiration of their term, but not before, and enjoy
the advantages of their previous services. They were encouraged to marry
christianized natives as a means of retaining them in the country. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xv. 252-3;.Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 175. July 1, 1796, Alberni
argues that the volunteers desiring to become settlers should receive double
allowances, on account of their 15 or 20 years of service and because it is hard
for an old soldier to bend his body to the axe, hoe, and plow. St. Pap., Miss.
and Colon., MS., i. 368-9, 379. March 1799, Borica favors an increase of
cavalry in place of infantry. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 121-2. Aug. 1799, B. says
the artillery-men live at thé batteries and alternate with the infantrymen in
their duties. When free they promenade about the presidios. No com-
plaints of injustice heard. Jd., vi. 128.
21 There are no records that any recruits were obtained from abroad dur-
ing this decade—certainly there were but very few; neither do the archives
show how many recruits were obtained in California to keep the companies
full; but many of the young men chose a military career. ‘There was no
bounty paid. Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix. 192-3; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal. MS.,
xy. 3-66, 69, 72,85, 92. Jan. 15, 1794, governor says he found many useless
men at the presidios and tried to promote recruiting so as to fill the vacancies
with good men. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 1382. March, 1795, Gov. orders
commandant of Fronteras to enlist 15 or 20 young men. Prov. Ltec., MS., v. 310.
Dec. 1797, corporal sent to Angeles to recruit 6 youths so that as many invalids
may be released. /d., v. 261; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 184. June 1799, Sal
wants a healthy robust man from San José to fill a vacancy. Not a widow’s
son. S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 47.
636 INDUSTR&IES AND INSTITUTIONS.
soldier was kept back a certain sum constituting the
fondo de retencion, to be paid him on his discharge.
This was fifty dollars till 1797, when it was raised to
one hundred dollars, to be made up in four annual
retentions.”
In military discipline there was nothing salty: at
this time.” In 1793 the governor recommended that
San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and San Diego be
commanded by captains who should have nothing to
do with the presidial accounts,* but the suggestion
was not followed, though several of the lieutenants
were brevetted captains before 1800. In 1794 the
presidios were reported to have no flags and no mate-
rial with which to make them; accordingly one flag
for each establishment was sent from Mexico the
next year.” In the matter of uniform and equip-
ments buckskin chupas, or jackets, and breeches were
allowed to be worn on active duty, and anqueras,
heavy leather coverings for horses’ haunches, were
prohibited in 1794.% In 1795 the royal tribunal,
#2 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 63, 223; xv. 50. The other military ‘funds’
were the fondo de gratificacion, an allowance of $10 for each man in the
companies per year for miscellaneous company expenses; the fondo de invd-
lidos, a smail discount on soldiers’ wages, 8 maravedis on a dollar, for the
payment of pensions; and the fondo de montepio, a discount of officers’ pay
for similar purposes. Feb. 1795, the king ordered $5 per month as alms
paid to the old carpenter Lorenzo Esparza. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxv.
16. ‘This sum was paid to Esparza until his death. April 1795, 70 persons in
the four presidios entitled to retirement but no recruits to replace them.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi, 221-2, Dec. 6, 1796, royal order regulating de-
tails of pensions. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 151-2. Oct. 1797, invalids declining
to live in the pueblos must stand guard at the presidios. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xvi. 86-7, 184; xv. 99-100; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 159-60. Oct. 1798, retired
officers who held government positions get no half-pay. Prov. Rec., MS., vi.
104.
31795, Sergt. Ruiz reports that the soldiers at San Buenaventura have to
be treated with severity. Their insubordination has reached such a point
that they have to be threatened with kicks. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 45.
But Ruiz was arrested for offensive language to private Lugo. Id., xui. 14,
Albino Tobar sent out of the country for bad conduct. Prov. Rec., MS., v.
62. Two soldiers given two hours of extra guard duty per day, wearing
their cueras, for eight days, having allowed some Indian prisoners to escape.
Prov, St. Pap., MS. xvi. 173.
24 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 108-9. A captain also proposed for Santa
Barbara in 1799. Prov. Rec. . MS., vi. 121.
Pre. Bi Paps bie Su 200; xiv: 58; xxi. 190.
26 Prov, St. Pap., MS., xii. 28, 148; xvii. 98. S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 795
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 8; V. 24,
GOVERNMENT. 637
through Contador Beltran, reported to the viceroy
that the California soldiers had too many duties not
belonging to their profession, serving as vaqueros,
farmers, couriers, artisans, and butchers, so that but
little time was left for rest or for their proper duty of
protecting and advancing the spiritual conquest.”
The governor also urged the necessity in 1795, and
again in 1799, of appointing an adjutant-inspector to
relieve him of some of his duties.* In connection
with the apprehensions of attack by foreigners in
1797, ashight attempt was made to organize the militia
of California, and a distribution of arms and ammuni-
tion was made among the settlers, the employment of
the natives as auxiliary forces being also contem-
plated.”
Civil and political government had but a nominal
existence at this epoch, consisting mainly in the facts
that the comandante de armas was also political gov-
ernor of the province and that each pueblo had its
alcalde. This is not the place to attempt an analysis
of the relations between military and civil authority,
in which there was substantially no change from the
beginning down to the end of Spanish power in Call-
forma. The only topic that requires notice in the
annals of this decade is the proposed separation of the
two Californias hitherto forming a single province
under one governor. This separation was recom-
mended in March 1796, by Beltran of the court of
exchequer in Mexico, who based his argument on the
great distance between Loreto and Monterey, and
the consequent delays in the transaction of all public
business. Tenacio Rafael Alvarado, not an ancestor of the later governor, enlisted
in 1773 at the age of 23. He came to San Diego in 1774, was made a corpo-
ral in 1781, and sergeant in 1783. In 1795 the governor complained of his
lack of resolution, and in 1797 his cédula de invdiido was received. He was
still on the list of pensioners in 1805.
6 The Lower Californian mission of San Miguel belonged at this period to
San Diego, as did Los Angeles as late as 1796, at least so far as the military
guard was concerned, though in other respects the pueblo was subject to San-
ta Barbara. San Gabriel had its guard from San Diego throughout the dec
648 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
twenty-seven to thirty-three men were constantly
detached to form the five or six guards of the juris-
diction. After 1796 Lieutenant Font with twenty-
five Catalan volunteers of the new reénforcements
was stationed here, as were six artillerymen under
Sergeant José Roca, increasing the effective. force to
nearly ninety men.?. The white population of this
southern, district, consisting of the soldiers and their
families, was about three hundred at the end of the
decade, or two hundred and fifty exclusive of San
Gabriel and Los Angeles, more conveniently classed
with the Santa Barbara district.2 About one hun-
dred and sixty lived at the presidio; and the rest
were scattered in the missions, or lived as pensioners
at the pueblo. Hight foundling children from Mexico
were sent to San Diego to live in 1800.° The native
neophyte population, “excluding that of San Gabriel
and San Miguel, was not quite three thousand.
There is no record of any agricultural operations
whatever at or near the presidio, nor were there any
private ranchos in the whole region before 1800. That
some of the soldiers came down from Presidio Hill
and cultivated small patches of Vegetables would seem
not unlikely, but the archives contain nothing on the |
subject. There were kept here, however, from 900
to 1,200 head of live-stock, including the company’s
horses, from 30 to 50 mules, two or three asses, pos-
sibly a few milch cows by the soldiers, and from 300
to 700 horned cattle in a branch of the rancho del rey
ade. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 192. Feb. 1, 1796, Borica ordered escoltas
to be as follows: San Miguel, 8; San Diego, 3; San Juan Capistrano, 8; San
Gabriel, 4; Los Angeles, ~4, Prov. [ee., MS., v. 240. San Luis Rey, founded
in 1798, probably had 6 men at first. "According to orders, Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xii. 8, it was customary to have soldiers serve alternately in escoltas and
pr esidio, though it caused much inconvenience on account of their families.
7Company rosters and statements of force and distribution scattered in
the archives, chiefly in Prov, St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiii.-xxvii., and St.
Pap Sde., Mist. i Wie
8 In the various reports on the population of the southern district in 1799
and later, the escorts and families are credited to the missions instead of the
presidio as before and as in other parts of the country. List of rank and file
of the presidial company in 1798, in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xvii.
14-16s
° Prov. St. Pap,, Ben. Mil., MS-., xxviii, 22:
AFFAIRS AT SAN DIEGO. 649
maintained here during the last half of the decade.”
Each year in Mexico an appropriation was made from
the royal treasury for the presidio expenses, varying
from $14,000 to $15,000; and invoices of goods, based
on the habilitado’s estimate of needs, were sent with
a small amount of coin by the transports from San
Blas, varying in amount from $11,000 to $17,000 per
year. San Diego usually had a credit balance of from
$1,000 to $3,000 in its favor. The sztuado, or allow-
ance, for the volunteers and artillery was not included
in the amounts above mentioned. Supplies to the
amount of about $15,000 per year were sent to Cali-
fornia for them, and San Diego received not quite one
third." There are no records of the annual supplies
obtained from missions, but during the last three years
of the decade the presidio was indebted to the mis-
sions about $10,000.
“The Presidio of St Diego,” says Vancouver, who
visited it in November 1793, ‘‘seemed to be the least
of the Spanish establishments. It is irregularly built,
on very uneven ground, which makes it liable to some
inconveniences, without the obvious appearance of any
object for selecting such a spot. With little difficulty
10The records are fragmentary and contradictory. Statistical reports
sometimes include the king’s cattle and sometimes not. There is no evi-
dence that the rancho at this period included any horses; in fact it had been
established to avoid driving cattle from the north. In 1797 it contained 681
cattle; increase for the year 137; sales, 30; killed by natives and wild beasts,
27; proceeds of sales, $125; tithes paid, $26; net profit to treasury, $99. Prov.
St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxv. 4. The totalamount of tithes in the jurisdic-
tion was $34. Prov. St. Pap,, MS., xvi. 178; and this difference of $8 is the only
indication I find of the possible existence of a private rancho. Cattle at end
of 1798, 531; proceeds of sales, $539. Jd., xvii. 1. 1800, cattle, 690; proceeds,
$342. Jd., xviii. 5.
11 San Diego Company accounts in Prov. St. Pap., MS.. xiv.-xxxiii.; S¢.
Pap. Sac., MS., i. ii. vi. ix. Loss sustained on the government forge and
carpenter’s shop for 1797, $70. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 179. Fondo de
gratificacion for 1797: income $3,075, expended $2,641. Prov. St. Pap. Presil.,
MS., i. 102-3. Londo de Retencion for 1800: $3,750. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,
MS., xxviii. 18. Inventory of effects in warehouse 1798, $13,992. Id., xvii.
4. Papal bulls on hand Nov. 1795, $4,339. Jd., xiii. 5, received from Ziiliga
with the office by Grajera. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 227. Bulls needed for
1796-7, 100 at 25 cents for vivos; 100 at 25 cents for difuntos; 50, lacticinio;
2 or 3 composicion. Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 12. Net revenue of San
Diego post-office for 1794, $71; for 1796, $95. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS.,
xxi. 2; xxiii. 8. Accounts of presidio with missions 1797-1800. Jd., xxxiii,
13; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 265; xvii. 195. .
7 ———
650 * LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
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a
PRESIDIO BUILDINGS. 651
it might be rendered a place of considerable strength,
by establishing a small force at the entrance of the
port; where at this time there were neither works, .
-guns, houses, or other habitations nearer than the
Presidio, five miles from the port, and where they
have only three small pieces of brass cannon.”” In
August of the same year Borica had informed the
viceroy that three sides of the presidio walls were in
a ruinous condition, owing to the bad quality of the
timber used in the roofs, though $1,200 had been
spent in repairs since the establishment. The ware-
house, church, and officers’ houses forming the fourth
side of the square were in good condition. Workmen
were at once set at work to cut timber at Monterey
which was shipped by the Princesa in October to be
used in repairs and also in the construction of some
new defensive works in connection with the old ones.
What progress was made in these improvements on
Presidio Hill we only know by a vague record that
esplanade, powder-magazine, flag, and houses for the
volunteers were blessed by the friars and dedicated by
a salute of artillery November 8, 1796." At the end
of 1794 the viceroy expressed a desire to have a fort
built similar to the one just completed at San Fran-
cisco, but without cost to the king. ‘Perhaps he
wishes me to pay the expenses” writes Borica to a
friend. Early the next year Point Guijarros, Cobble-
stone point, was selected as the site of the fort whose
absence Vancouver had noticed, and preparations were
at once begun. Two or three workmen, and the nec-
essary timber, were sent down by the transports from
Monterey. Santa Barbara furnished the axle-trees
and wheels for ten carts, while bricks and tiles were
12 Vancouver's Voyage, ii. 495, 501.
18 Aug. 20, 1793, governor to viceroy. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 115.
August 18th, timber to be cut at Monterey and taken south by the Princesa.
Id., xxi. 112; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 165. Oct. 14th, the vessel has sailed with
timber. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 157. Sept. 16, 1794, governor to Argiiello,
ordering him to send timber in the Aranzazu for esplanade and bastions;
but none were sent. Jd., xii. 150, 152-8. Nov. 17, 1796, governor to the
friars, blessing of the works. Prov. Jtec., MS., v. 247b.
652 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
hauled from the presidio to the beach and taken across
to the point in a flatboat. In December 1796 the
engineer Cérdoba arrived to inspect the San Diego
detences, in which he found no other merit than that
an enemy would perhaps be ignorant of their weak-
ness. But the fort had evidently not been built yet,
for early in 1797 Borica approved Cérdoba’s idea that
the form should not be circular. Nothing more is
known of this fortification till after 1800, save that
it was intended to mount ten guns; that on battery,
magazine, barrack, and flatboat $9,020 had been ex-
pended before March 1797; and that in 1798 there
was a project under consideration to open a road
round the bay to connect Point Guyarros with the
presidio.**
The natives gave the commandant and people of
San Diego but little trouble, the few depredations
committed being chiefly directed against the Domini-
ean establishment in La Frontera. In 1764 three na-
tives were held as prisoners, one of whom, a neophyte,
had been leader in a proposed attack on San Miguel.
Several bands had approached the mission by night,
but finding the guard mounted and ready had re-
treated.” In May or June 1795 Alférez Grijalva
while returning from San Miguel with three natives
arrested on a charge of murder was attacked by some
two hundred savages, one of whom was killled and
two were wounded in the skirmish, Grijalva having a
M Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 69, 165; xiv. 168; xvii. 9, 10; xxi. 212, 216-17,
248; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 20-1; v. 238, 272, 278; vi. 46, 79. Water had to
be carried from the presidio, where a well long abandoned was reopened.
One hundred and three planks, 22 feet long, were among the timber shipped
from Monterey. A few industrial items are as follows: For a time after
May 1793 there was no armorer, the old one having left after a service of 20
years. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 56-8. In 1795 the missions of this district
were requested to send each four or five Indians to the presidio to learn stone-
cutting and bricklaying. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 235-6. Jan. 1796, a weaver was
to go to San Diego to teach. J/d., v. 78. The comandante tried to induce
Spanish youth to learn trades, but without success, some of them deeming
the request an insult. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 16. The forgeand carpenter
shop did $93 worth of work for soldiers and missions in 1797; but as expenses,
including two apprentices, were $163, the king’s exchequer was not perceptibly
benefited. Jd., xvi. 179.
® Arrillagn, Papel de Puntos, 195, MS.
‘FOREIGN VISITS. 653
horse killed under him. This affair caused some fear
and precautions at San Diego, redoubled a few days
later on rumors of new hostilities; but Grijalva went
south and found all quiet. Raids on the cattle of San
Miguel again required the attention of a sergeant and
eight men in April 1797."
San Diego did not come much into contact with
the outside world. The first foreign vessels that ever
entered this fine harbor were those of the English
navigator Vancouver, which remained at anchor some
three miles and a half from the presidio from Novem-
ber 27th to December 9th 1793. Vancouver was
courteously received by Grajera and Zutiiga, who,
however, on account of Arrillaga’s “severe and inhos-
pitable injunctions” were not able to allow the for-
eigners such privileges as were desired. The English-
man, though he visited the presidio, spent most of his
time on board in preparing journals and despatches to
be sent to England by way of Mexico, having little
opportunity for observations.” In the early part of
1797 an English invasion was supposed to be immi-
nent, and all possible preparations were made by Gra-
jera. Great reliance was placed on- the battery at
Point Guiarros; but Grajera was also careful to
obtain instructions respecting what was to be done
should the enemy succeed in entering the bay, or
should it be necessary to abandon the presidio. In
case of such disasters it was decided to spike the guns
and burn the powder and provisions, but to leave the
buildings intact. A reserve of ammunition was stored
at San Juan, whither the sacred vessels, archives, and
other valuables were to be carried if necessary. The
English did not appear; the armed frigate Princesa lay
in port from June to October; and San Diego Hai
destruction.“ At the end of 1798 the port was
second time visited by foreigners, this cime by foun
16 Prov. Rec., MS., v. 227-8; iv. 88; vi. 50; Prov. S». Pap., MS., xiii.
215-16; xvi. 249,
11 Vancouver's Voyage, ii. 469-76.
18 Prov. Rec., MS., v. 254-5; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 197, 211-12, 267-9.
654 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
Boston sailors who had been left on the lower coast
and were put to work in the presidio to earn their
living until a vessel came to carry them to San Blas.”
Yet once more was the port visited by the Americans
during this decade, when in August 1800 the Betsy,
Captain Charles Winship, obtained wood and water
here, remaining ten days in the bay. Later, on No-
vember 22d, there came an earthquake which in six
minutes did more damage to the adobe buildings than
had been done by either the British or Yankees.”
At San Diego mission Juan Mariner and Hilario
Torrens served as associate ministers until the last
years of the decade. The latter left California at the
end of 1798, dying early in the next year; while
the former died at San Diego on January 29, 1800.™
Their sucessors were padres José Panella and José
Barona, both recent arrivals who had lived at San
Diego, the former since June 1797, and the latter
19 Prov, Rec., MS., v. 283, 285; vi. 111; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 197-
202. Their names were Wm. Katt, Barnaby Jan, John Stephens, and Ga-
briel Boisse. The captors of a Spanish vessel in 1799 claimed that some of
their men, being on the coast in 1797, as part of the crew of two (English)
ships had entered San Diego and made soundings by moonlight. Prov.
St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiii. 20.
20 Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 182; xii. 6; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 44, 54;
xvili. 67; St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 12,18. The earthquake occurred at 1:30
Pp. M., and the soldiers’ houses, warehouse, and the new dwelling of the vol-
unteers were considerably cracked. The drought of 1795 and an epidemic
diarrhcea in 1798 are the only other natural afflictions noted. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xiii. 4; xvii. 69.
1 Hilario Torrens—thus he signed his name, but by his companions it was
more frequently written Torrente or Torrent, to say nothing of several other
variations—was a native of Catalonia, where he was for a long time predica-
dor, for three years guardian, and also.vicar. He came to California in 1786
with the highest recommendations from his college for talent, experience, and
circunstancias. Serving at San Diego from November 1786 to November 1798,
he had but slight opportunity to distinguish himself save by a faithful per-
formance of his missionary duties. His license to retire was signed by the
viceroy March 17, 1798. He sailed in the Princesa on Nov. 8th, and May 14,
1799, the guardian wrote that he had died in a convulsion. Arch. Sta. Barbara,
MS., xi. 281; xii. 26-7; Prov. St. Pap., xvi. 187. Of Juan Mariner still less is
known. He came to California in 1785, served at San Diego from November
of that year, made a trip with Grijalva in July 1795 to explore for the new
mission site of San Luis Rey. He died Jan 29, 1800, and was buried in the
presbytery by Padre Faura on Jan. 30th. Finally April 26, 1804, his remains
were removed and placed, together with those of Jaume and Figuer, in a sep-
ulchre constructed for the purpose under the small arch between the two
altars of the new church. San Diego, Lib. de Mision, MS., 81, 89.
SAN DIEGO MISSION. 655
since May 1798. Another supernumerary was Pedro
de San José Estévan, from April 1796 to July 1797.
The only one of the missionaries with whose conduct
any fault was found, so far as the records show, was
Panella, who was accused of cruelty to the neophytes
and was reprimanded by President Lasuen, who de-
clared that he would not permit one of his subordi-
nates to do injustice to the natives.”
During the decade the neophytes of San Diego
increased from 856 to 1,523. There had been 1,320
baptisms and 628 deaths. San Diego had thus passed
San Gabriel and San Luis Obispo, and now was the
most populous mission in California. In the number
of baptisms for the ten years it was excelled only by
Santa Clara. The baptisms in 1797 were 554, the
largest spiritual harvest ever gathered in one year with
one exception, that of the year 1803 at Santa Barbara,
when 831 new names were added to the register.
The deaths moreover at San Diego were less in pro-
portion to baptisms than elsewhere except at Purisima
and Santa Barbara, though the rate was frightfully
large, over fifty per cent, even here. The greatest
mortality was in 1800 when 96 natives died.* This
comparative prosperity was, however, more apparent
than real in some respects, since the San Diego con-
verts were left more at liberty in their rancherifas
42Sept. 30, 1798, Lasuen to Borica. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 51. July
14, 1799, Lujan instructed to report confidentially on the treatment of the
natives. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 247. July 17, 1797, Grajera explains his
treatment of the natives. Does not allow them to have much intercourse with
those of cther missions, to prevent illicit intercourse. [d., xvi. 172. 1796,
padres to depose misbehaving alcaldes and appoint others. Prov. fec., MS.,
vi. 178-9. Jaime Samop and Antonio Pellau were alcaldes in 1799. Arch.
Arzobisbado, MS., i. 220. Three neophyte stowaways: were found on the
Concepcion eight days out of port in 1794. They did it, they said, in sport,
and were sent back from San Blas. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 216-17; Prov.
Rec., MS., v. 226; xi. 209. Again in 1798 a runaway neophyte was sent
back from Tepic. Prov: St. Pap., MS., xxi. 289. In the mission registers
appear the names of fathers Cayetano Pallas, Mariano Apolinario, José
Conanse, and Ramon Lopez, Dominicans from the peninsula who officiated
here at different times; also presbyters Loesa and Jimenez, chaplains of San
Blas vessels, and a dozen Franciscans from different missions. San Diego, Lib.
de Mision, MS.
23 Lasuen confirmed 656 persons between 1790 and 17938. S. Diego, Lib. de
Mision, 45.
656 LOCAL ‘EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
than in other establishments, Christianity being
therefore somewhat less a burden to them. Mean-
while the mission herds multiplied from 1,730 to 6,960
head, and its flocks from 2,100 to 6,000. ‘The harvest
of agricultural products in 1800 was 2,600 bushels,
the largest crops having been 9,450 bushels in 1793
and 1799, surpassed only by those of San Gabriel and
San Buenaventura in 1800, and the smallest 600
bushels in 1795, a year of drought: average crops
1,600 bushels.
Respecting material improvements in and about
the mission we have but fragmentary data. In 1793
a tile-roofed granary of adobes, ninety-six by twenty-
four feet, was built. In 1794, besides some extensive
repairs, one side of a wall which was to enclose and
protect the mission was constructed, and a vineyard
was surrounded by five hundred yards of adobe wall.
In 1795 work was begun on a newly discovered source
of water-supply for irrigation.“ Whether this was
the beginning of the extensive works whose ruins are
still to be seen, and which Hayes supposes with some
plausibility to have been constructed before 1800, I
know not, for there are no further records extant.”
Of manufacturing and other industries during this
period nothing is known, nor are there any means of
ascertaining if the teachings of the artisan instructors
sent by government to California penetrated to this
southern establishment. In respect to commerce
nothing further appears than that there was due the
4 9t. Pap., Miss., MS., i. 113; ii. 26, 29. The neophytes’ huts at San
Diego as late as 1798 were like those of the gentiles of wood and grass, con-
sidered by the comandante as sufficient protection against the weather, if
not against fire. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 73. Names of rancherias in the
Lib. Mision, MS., 3, 4: Cosoy, San Francisco, Soledad, S. Antonio or Las
Choyas, Santa Cruz or Coapan in San Luis Valley, Purisima, or Apuoquele,
S. Miguel, or Janat, San Jocome de la Marca or Jamocha, San Juan Capis-
trano or Matamo, and San Jorge or Meti.
> Hayes’ Emigrant Notes, 153, 477, 603. Hayes gives from personal ob-
servation a most interesting description of this dam and aqueduct, which I
shall notice in a subsequent chapter, as I am inclined to think without having
any very strong evidence that the works were built or completed in the next
decade. Ina report of March 1799 Grajera speaks of an attempt to bring in
water, at which the Indians had been overworked, but which was not a suc-
cess. Grajera, Respuesta, MS., 193-4.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, — 657
mission at the end of each of the later years about
$3,500 for supplies to the presidio.”
San Luis Rey, a new establishment of 1798, where
Padre Peyri was at work building up one of the
randest of the Californian missions, has been disposed
of for this period in a preceding chapter.” At San
Juan Capistrano, next northward Fuster and San-
tiago were the associate ministers until 1800, when the
former died,” and José Faura from San Luis Rey
took his place. These missionaries baptized in the
decade 940 converts and buried 668, the community
being increased from 741 to 1,046. Horses and cattle
from 2,500 became 8,500, San Juan being third in the
list, while in sheep with 17,000 it was far ahead of any
other mission. Crops in 1800 were 6,300 bushels; the
average, 5,700; the best crop, in 1792, 7,400, and the
smallest, in 1798, 3,700 bushels. In 1797, there was
due San Juan for supplies furnished to San Diego and
Santa Barbara presidios over $6,000.”
In 1794 there were built at San Juan two large:
adobe granaries roofed with tiles, and forty houses for
neophytes, some with grass roofs and others tiled. In:
26 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 195, 197, 265.
27 See chapter xxvi. of this volume.
*8 Vicente Fuster was a‘native of Aragon, who had originally left Mexico :
in October 1770, arrived at Loreto in November 1771, served at Velicata, and
came up from the peninsula with Palou, arriving at San Diego August 39,
1773, where he served until 1776. He was with Jaume on the terrible night
of November 5, 1775, when the mission was destroyed and his companion was
murdered. His pen has graphically described the horrors of that night.
After living at San Gabriel and other missions as supernumerary he was
minister of San Juan Capistrano from November 1779 until December 17387,
when he founded Purisima and remained there till Aug. 1789. Then he
returned to San Juan and served until his death on Oct. 21, 18C0. He was
buried by Estévan, Santiago, and Faura in the mission church. He had
received the last sacrament, writes Estévan, ‘with the most perfect corformity
to the divine will, giving us even to the last moment of his life the most illus-
trious example of the resignation and love to God our Lord and his holy law
which he had preached in his life, both by works and words.’ Sept. 9,
1806, with all due solemnity Fuster’s remains were transferred to their final
resting-place in the presbytery of the new church on the epistle side. San
Juan Capistrano, Lib. de Mision, MS., 28, 39-40.
*9 Due San Juan from Sta Barbara $1,628. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 80-1.
From San Diego in 1797, $4,785; in 1798, $4,553. Jd., xvi. 195, 265. Mar.
15, 1797, draft on Mexico in favor of the padres for $3,000. Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 184. July 1794, draft drawn by Grajera for $2,000. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS... xu. 17:
Hist. Cau., Vou. I. 42
658 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
February 1797 work was begun on a new stone church
which was to be the finest edifice in California. A
master mason was obtained from Culiacan and the
structure rose slowly but steadily for nine years.”
Mariano Mendoza, a weaver, was sent from Mon-
terey in the summer of 1796 to teach the natives. If
he neglected his business, he should be chained at
night, for he was under contract with the govern-
ment at thirty dollars a month.. A loom was set up
with other necessary apparatus of a rude nature,
with which by the aid of natives coarse fabrics and
blankets were woven. larly in 1797 the friars were
notified that if they wished the services of Mendoza
for a longer time they must pay his wages; but they
thought his instructions not worth the money, espe-
cially now that they had learned all he knew, and the
weaving industry had been successfully established.
Besides home manufactures San Juan supplied from
its large flocks quantities of wool for experiments at
other establishments.”
Vancouver, sailing down the coast in the autumn
of 1793, noted San Juan as “erected close to the
water-side, in a small sandy cove; very pleasantly
80 St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 26. A mason sent up by Arrillaga, who reports
to the viceroy Jan. 11, 1799. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 15. Lasuen in report of
1799-1800 says the church has been building four years. Arch. Sta Barbara,
MS., xii. 128. Date of beginning, 8. Juan Cap., Lib. de Mision, MS., 26.
Dec. 1797, church of masonry with arches being built 53 x 10 varas. St. Pap.,
Miss., MS., ii. 110.
31 May 1796, a weaver (tejedor de ancho) sent. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 79,
245, 247. April 16, 1797, Pedro Pollorena’s report to Grajera. Blankets,
wide woollen cloths, mangas for vaqueros, 30 yards of manta, 30 yards of
baize successfully woven. Not so perfect as Mexican goods, but good enough
for this country. The native women spin and pick wool and cotton, and also
dye tolerably well. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 261-2. April 17th, report of
padres on progress. The weaver’s attempts at dyeing with vinegar, etc., not
equal to what the natives could do with Campeche, Brazil, and Zacatastal
woods. St. Pap., Suc., MS., vi. 103-5. April 28th, Grajera to Borica, the
carpenter Gutierrez the only man who can put up looms. Prov. St. Pap.,
Ms., xvi. 261. April 29th, Borica to padres. May 31st, Fuster to Borica. Men-
doza’s services in the past not worth much, but he will pay what Lasuen
deems just. June 26th, Borica to commandant of Monterey. Make an
arrangement with Lasuen and pay one eighth to Mendoza and seven eighths
to royal treasury. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxv. 15; Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 185-6, 189. Wool purchased for Monterey and Santa Barbara. Jd.,
ix. 0; St. PAD., Sac, DiS. Vie 2.
LOS ANGELES. 659
situated in a grove of trees, whose luxuriant and
diversified folage, when contrasted with the adjacent
shores, gave it a most romantic appearance; having
the ocean in front, and being bounded on its other
sides by rugged dreary mountains, where the vegeta-
tion was not sufficient to hide the naked rocks. ‘The
buildings of the mission were of brick and stone, and
in their vicinity the soil seemed to be of uncommon
and striking fertility. The landing on the beach in
the cove seemed to be good.” In the fear of Eng-
lish invasion which agitated the whole country in
1797 a sentinel was posted on the beach at San Juan
to watch for suspicious vessels, since it was not doubted
that England had her eyes upon the cove anchorage.
Whether a four-pounder was mounted here as recom-
mended by Captain Grajera does not appear. The
arrest of a neophyte Aurelio for the murder of his
wife in 1797, and the earthquake of November 22,
1800, which slichtly cracked the rising walls of the
new church, complete the annals of the decade.*
Respecting the pueblo of Los Angeles from 1791
to 1800, the information extant is exceedingly slight.
The number of families residing here increased from
thirty to seventy, and the white population from 140
to 315, chiefly by the growing-up of children and the
ageoregation of invalids from the different presidios.
Horses and cattle increased from 3,000 to 12,500, a
larger number than is accredited to any other Cali-
fornian establishment. Sheep numbered 1,700 only,
though a special effort had been made since 1795 to
increase the pueblo flocks with a view to the industry
32 Vancouver’s Voyage, il. 467. This description seems to locate the mis-
sion much nearer the shore than it really is, but it could hardly have been
moved before 1797 when the new church was begun, and certainly not later.
See chapter xiv. this vol.
33 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 155-6, 170, 249-50; xxi. 54. The Indian
Aurelio was not severely ‘punished. In a fit of jealousy he proceeded to
administer some conjugal discipline, and in his zeal overdid the duty as he
frankly confessed. He had no intention of killing her. The authorities de-
cided it not a matter for criminal process.
660 LOCAL EVEN'IS IN THE SOUTH.
of weaving. Crops in 1800 were 4,600 bushels, the
largest having been 7,800 in 1796, and the smallest
2,700 in 1797. Seven eighths of the entire harvest
was usually maize, though the inhabitants offered in
1800 to contract for the supply of 3,400 bushels of
wheat per year at $1.66 a bushel for the San Blas
market.
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Map or Los ANGELES REGION IN 1800.
84 From 9 to 12 pobladores in 1793. Expense of pay and rations $1,528,
Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., iii. 16. List of 42 names of male settlers in
1799. St. Pap., Miss., MS., iii. 9,10. Two hundred sheep distributed in
August, 1796. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 74; vi. 79; St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 1.
1796, Borica orders that land be given to heads of families who have none,
but they must cultivate it. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 44-5. 1795, correspondence
and orders requiring seeded lands to be fenced. In one case a willow fence
is mentioned. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 12, 16, 17, 29. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 77.
The same year especial effort was made by the governor through Commandant
Goycoechea to encourage the settlers to raise good crops in view of the general
Sen tin
pai:
AFFAIRS AT THE PUEBLO. 661
Vicente Félix remained in charge of the pueblo as
comisionado throughout the decade, except perhaps
for a brief period in 1795-6 when Javier Alvarado
seems to have held the office. The successive alcaldes
were Mariano Verdugo, elected in 1790; Francisco
Reyes, 1793-5; José Vanegas, 1796; Manuel Arellano,
1797; Guillermo Soto, 1798; Francisco Serrano, 1799;
and Joaquin Hignera for 1800. The pueblo was in
the jurisdiction of Santa Barbara, the comisionado
receiving his orders from the commandant of that
presidio, though as we have seen the small military
guard was furnished by the San Diego company. Of
local events from year to year there is practically
nothing in the records.”
It is in connection with the pueblo of Los Angeles
that the most interesting topic of early land-grants
in this southern central region may most conveniently
be noticed. In February 1795 there were five ranchos
in private possession, held under provisional grants
and supporting several thousand head of live-stock.®
The first was San Rafael, granted by Fages October
20, 1784, to the retired corporal of the San Diego
company José Maria Verdugo. It was also known as
drought. Id., xix. 38-40; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 15. Proposal to furnish wheat
for the San Blas market. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 50. 1787, grain sold to
Santa Barbara, $358. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., ix. 4. Each settler
must give annually two fanegas of maize or wheat for a fondo de proprias to
be spent for the good of the community. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 98-9.
35 Arrillaga reported that Los Angeles was in quiet in 1792, but certain
unruly persons were ordered to leave, and though they did not go, the warn-
ing proved effective. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 188. Oct. 11, 1795, Borica to
comandante, if the comisionado is not active enough he must be removed.
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 29-80. Alvarado comisionado 1795-6. Id., iv. 39;
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 234; Id., Ben. Mil., xv. 7. 1796, Francisco Avila
drowned in the tulares. Suspicions of murder proved groundless. Prov. Rec,
MS., iv. 66, 71. Dec. 7, 1797, the settlers Avila and Arellano must be
chastised and turned out if they continue to disturb the pueblo. Jd., iv.
93-4. 1798, allusions to speedy completion of a jail. Prov. Rec., iv. 108.
Padre Salazar relates that when he was here in 1795 a man who had 1,000
mares and cattle in proportion came to San Gabriel to beg cloth for a shirt,
for none could be had at pueblo or presidio. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS.,
Meds
36 Feb, 24, 1795, Goycoechea’s report to Borica in Prov. St. Pap., Ben.
Mil., xxii. 7, 8. April, 1795, Borica to viceroy. Prov. Rec., vi. 40-1. The
former important report seems not to have been seen by either writers or
lawyers in the past.
662 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
La Zanja, described as across the river and four leagues
from Los Angeles, and was confirmed by Borica
January 12, 1798.” The second rancho was that of
Manuel Nieto, held under [’ages’ permission of No-
vember 1784, the largest and best of all, supporting
1,100 head of cattle and large enough for a pueblo,
since well known as Los Nietos, and formerly granted
in several tracts to Nieto’s heirs by Kigueroa in 1834.*
The third was the famous San Pedro, or Dominguez,
rancho, occupied by Juan José Dominguez with about
a thousand head of cattle under a permission given
very likely by Fages, but the date of whichis not
known. It was regranted by Sola in 1822, and is one
of the few Californian ranchos that have remained in
the possession of the original grantees and their de-
scendants.” Fourth in the list was the rancho at Por-
tezuelo,smaller but fertile and well watered and stocked
with cattle on a small scale, situated about four leagues
from Los Angeles on the main road, and occupied by
the old veteran Sergeant Mariano de la Luz Verdu-
go.” The fifth and last was the Encino rancho, where
37 According to Reg. Brands, MS., 32-3. Fages permitted Verdugo on
Oct. 20th to keep his cattle at Arroyo Hondo, one and a half leagues from San
Gabriel on the road to Monterey, on condition that no harm was done to mis-
sion or pueblo, and care taken with the natives. Jan. 12, 1798, in answer to
petition of Nov. 4, 1797, Borica permitted him to settle with his family, rela-
tives, and property, under like conditions, and the new one of raising sheep, at
La Zanja. This rancho was visited in August 1795 by the party seeking a mis-
sion site. Sta Maria, Registro, MS.
38 In 1795-6 the mission of San Gabriel laid claim to Nieto’s land, called
at the time La Zanja. After an investigation Borica allowed Nieto to retain
what land he had actually under cultivation and in use, the rest to be used
by the mission without prejudice to Nieto’s legal rights. Prov. fec., MS., iv.
45, 51-2, 61-2. It would seem that other persons besides Nieto were living
here in 1797, when the inhabitants were called on to be ready to resist English
invasion. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 249-50. This grant came before the U. 8.
land comission in later times in five separate tracts: Los Cerritos, Los Coyotes,
Las Bolsas, Los Alamitos, and Santa Gertrudis, aggregating 33 sq. leagues.
LToffman’s Land Cases.
8° Granted by Sola Dec. 31, 1822, to Sergt. Cristébal Dominguez as nephew
and heir of Juan José. Leg. "Brands, MS., 35. The author of Los Angeles,
Liist., 8, 9, supposes this grant to have been originally made before 1800,
chiefly on the testimony of Manuel Dominguez and otker old settlers. No one
has until now shown any documentary proof.
*0 Verdugo enlisted at Loreto on Dec. 15, 1766, serving as private, corporal,
and sergeant, seven years in each capacity. He came “with Capt. Rivera y
Moncada in the first expedition of 1769, and served in several Indian cam-
paigns. His name appears among the godfathers at the first baptisms in San
i
. a 7
EARLY LAND-GRANTS. 663
Alcalde Francisco Reyes had a house and where he
kept his own live-stock as well as that of Cornelio
Avila and others. This was where San Fernando was
established in 1797, the friars taking possession of
Reyes’ house, a fact that illustrates the slight tenure
by which these early grants were held. Between 1795
and 1800 there were perhaps granted two other ran-
chos within this jurisdiction, San José de Gracia de
Simf to Javier, Patricio, and Miguel Pico in or about
1795; and El Refugio to Captain José Francisco
Ortega or his sons a year or two later.“
San Gabriel, belonging throughout the decade to
Diego, and he commanded the guard at San Luis Obispo in 1773. He was
temporarily in command at San Diego in November 1775 at the time of the
massacre, being the first to reach the mission and report the terrible event.
He accompanied Gov. Neve to the Colorado in 1782. His wife, Dota Maria
Guadalupe Lugo, was buried by Lasuen at San Diego April 15, 1780, and he
subsequently married Gregoria Espinosa. From about 1780 he was sergeant
of the Monterey company till 1787 when he was probably retired as an invalid.
Prov, St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., ii. 14; viii. 8,9; xiv. 1, 2; xxii. 7; Prov. St.
Pap., MS., i. 2, 4, 5; S. Diego, Lib. de Mision, MS., 10, 77; San Luis Obispo,
Lib. de Mision, MS., 29.
41 The Simi Rancho, according ta Reg. Brands, MS., 33, and Hoffman’s
Land Cases, was granted by Borica in 1795, being regranted, or at least
petitioned for, in 1821, and also by Alvarado in 1542. According to Leg.
Brands, MS., '32, El Refugio was granted by Borica, therefore betore 1800,
to Capt. Ortega, therefore before 1798 when Ortega died. I think there is
room for doubt about one or both of these grants. “Respecting both it may be
said that Borica does not seem to have favored such grants. As to Simi,
when an exploring party visited the valley in August 1795 they did not men-
tion any rancho as they did Reyes’ and Verdugo’s; and not only this but in
April 1796 Borica expressly refused to grant Pico (no given name) permission
to leave the pueblo and settle on a rancho. As to El Refugio, we know that
Ortega in 1796 was in trouble about a deficit in his Loreto accounts, Prov.
Rec., MS8., iv. 68, 72, 81-2, 86; his son José Maria wished to take a land-grant
on which to work and pay his father’s indebtedness, and although Borica
advised him against the scheme, still a grant was ordered to be made to him
of the Zanja de Cota lands if unoccupied. The author of Los Angeles, Hist.,
8, 9, thinks that Santiago de Santa Ana was one of these early grants. His
reasonsare: A popular belief that this was one of the oldest ranchos; testimony
in the district court that the original occupant was Grijalva; the probability
that the grant to Yorba in 1810 was a regrant to Grijalva’s son-in-law; and
finally a recognition by the court of the Peraltas’ claims as descendants of the
original occupant. This is an ingenious but probably erroneous argument.
Lieut. Grijalva was a pensioner of the San Diego company after 1796 as was
Sergt. Yorba, his son-in-law, after 1798; but Grijalva, dying at San Diego in
1806, named no land in his will though he did name cattle; and moreover he
refused to give his daughters anything, on the ground that they had been pro-
vided for at their marriage—one with Yorba in 1782 and the other with
Peralta in1785. Peralta’s claims resulted from the fact that Arrillaga’s grant
of July 1, 1810, was to Yorba and Peralta in company. In his petition of
Noy. 24, 1809, Yorba says nothing of any previous occupancy by himself or
others. Leg. Brands, Mis., 34.
664 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
the jurisdiction of San Diego, was one of the most
flourishing of the missions, but its annals may be very
briefly disposed of. Cruzado and Sanchez still toiled
together as ministers. Calzada remained until 1792.
Cristébal Ordmas served here in 1792—3;" Juan Mar-
tin in 1794-6; Juan Lope Cortés in 1796-8; and
Pedro de San José Estévan to 1800 and later, so that
the mission had always three padres. They baptized
1,267 natives, but they buried 1,124,“ so that the com-
munity was increased only from 1,040 to 1,140, stand-
ing now third instead of second in the list. In large
stock San Gabriel stood fourth, with a gain from 4,220
to 7,090 head; while in sheep it was second to San
Juan only, its flocks having increased from 6,000 to
12,360. In agricultural products San Gabriel was a
tie with San Buenaventura in 1800, with a crop of
9,400 bushels, the smallest having been 3,600 in 1793,
and the average about 6,400.
José Maria Verdugo, owner of a rancho in the
vicinity, was corporal of the mission guard much of
the time down to 1798, and his successor was Pedro
Pollorena. José Miguel Flores, a discharged soldier,
was majordomo down to his death in 1796.4 A
stone church was half finished in 1794, but in 1800
it had not yet been completed. There is no record
of manufacturing industries save that a little cotton
obtained from San Blas was woven; but I suppose
that a beginning of weaving woollen stuffs or of some
# Of Cristébal Ordmas we only know that he had been for five years
assistant curate and became a friar only a year before coming to California,
whither he brought in 1786 a most flattering reputation from the guardian
for genius and exemplary conduct. Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xii. 26-7. He
served at Santa Barbara, of which mission he was a founder, from December
1706 to December 1789; at Purisima until November 1792; and at San Gabriel
until September 1793, when broken down in health he retired to the college.
This death-rate of 90 per cent of baptisms and doubtless 500 per cent
and more of births was not caused by any great epidemic in one year, for the
a run quite evenly as follows: 104, 84, 98, 65, 80, 87, 92, 96, 138, and
** San Gabriel, Lib. de Mision, MS., passim. The mission-books contain
but little beyond the names of padres and of persons baptized, married, or
buried. The original registers are also imperfect, parts of several books
having disappeared.
‘
D4
%
ay
a
Se a ee
ME
SANTA BARBARA DISTRICT. 665
other branch of primitive manufactures must have
been made at this period, for San Gabriel, so flourish-
ing and so prominent in later years, would naturally
have been among the first to make experiments.
Events important or petty there are none to record.
San Fernando, the new establishment in Encino Val-
ley belonging to the jurisdiction of Santa Birbara, I
have already noticed in another chapter.*
Santa Barbara presidio remained under the able
command of Lieutenant Felipe de Goycoechea, who
was also habilitado, and was in 1798 promoted to be
brevet captain. Pablo Antonio Cota was promoted to
fill the vacant post of alférez, and served throughout
the decade, dying at the end of 1800. José Maria
Ortega, son of the lieutenant, took Cota’s place as ser-
geant with Olivera and Carrillo; and when the latter
went to Monterey in 1795 he was replaced by Fran-
cisco Maria Ruiz. The presidial force was fifty-nine
men, from which number guards were supplied to San
Buenaventura, San Fernando, Santa Barbara, and
Purisima missions. The number of pensioners in-
creased from one to seventeen, and all, with their
families, constituted a population de razon which in-
5 Church-building. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 5, 29,100,110. Cotton-weav-
ing. Jd., ii. 6, 100; Arch. Arzodispado, MS., i. 30-2. July, 1796, 200 arrobas
of wool can be had at 20 reals. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 6. Due mission
from presidio of San Diego, 1797, $2,881. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 265. For
1798, $2,597. Id., xvi. 195. Due from Santa Barbara, 1797, $3,311. /d.,
xvii. 78-81. Two runaway neophytes from San Gabriel brought in by the
Papagos to Tucson. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 58.
46 Pablo Antonio Cota was born in 1744, and enlisted in 1768, coming to
California probably in 1769, and certainly before 1774. He seems to have
commanded the guard at San Buenaventura from its foundation in 1782 until
1787, when he was removed on complaint of the padres. He subsequently
commanded at Purisimia until replaced by Corporal Ortega in September
1788. During this time he was engaged in one or two minor explorations
and Indian campaigns. His commission as alférez was signed in Mexico Jan.
13, 1788. St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 55. His wife was Dofia Maria Rosa de Lugo,
who died Jan. 10, 1797. S. Buenaventura, Lib. de Mision, MS., 2, 5, 9; Sta
Barbara, Lib de Mision, MS., 30. In August 1795 he commanded the party
exploring for the mission site of San Fernando. Sta Marta, Registro, MS.
He died Dec. 30, 1800, Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 87; xxi. 56, of pleurisy,
which during this cold rainy winter attacked many persons at Santa Barbara.
Prow. St. Pap.,; Ben. Mil.; MS., xxix. 3.
666 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
creased from 200 to 370. The total white popula-
tion of this district, including Los Angeles and the
-ranchos, was 675, and neophytes, including San
Gabriel and San Fernando, numbered almost 4,000.
Having no fort,“ Santa Barbara obtained no part of
the reénforcement of artillerymen and infantry sent
to California in 1796, and was garrisoned by cuera
cavalrymen only. The annual appropriation for this
presidio from the royal treasury did not vary much
from $15,000.”
It has been seen that new presidio buildings had
been completed or nearly so by 1790; but some of the
roofs were constructed of tules; some of the timbers
supporting tile roofs were bad; the family kitchens
were inside the houses and not detached as was best;
a fire did considerable damage in August 1789; and it
seems that no new chapel had been built. Fages in
47 Company rosters in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiii.-xxvi.; St.
Pap., Sac., MS., i.-iii. List of about 100 persons in 1797 who have com-
plied with religious obligations. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 89-93. List of 14
young men fit for military service, but whose parents need their care. Jd.,
xv. 102-4. Full list of officers and men in 1798. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,
MS., xvii. 20-1. Four foundlings came here to live in 1800. Jd., xxviii. By
Borica’s order each mission escolta was reduced by one man in 1795. Prov.
ftec., MS., iv. 252 Proe, St. Pap., MS, xiiei7 i:
48 One brass 6-pounder and three smaller iron pieces at the presidio with
four iron guns at the three coast missions were the armament in 1798. Prov.
“St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xvii. 5. Paper supplied to school and collected
again for cartridges. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 32.
#9 Company accounts in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xv. xvii.—-viii. xxi.
Rxill. xxviii.; St. Pap., Sac., MS., ii. iv. The memorias of supplies were from
$13,000 to $17,000. Account of 1794, credit, $39,737; debit, $38,634. Prov.
St. Pap., Presid., MS.,i. 3. Id. for 1797, cr., $42,377; dr., $43,095. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., ii. 68. Id. for 1798, cr., $40,520; dr., $40,658. Prov. St. Pap., Ben.
Mil., MS., xvii. 9-11. Total receipts of supplies in 1795, including $6,830
from missions, $22,057. Id., xxi. 9. Waste in last memoria 1796, $690.
Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 80. Mission supplies in 1797, $4,623; in 1798, $756.
Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xvii. 10,11. Inventory of goods on hand.
Dec. 31, 1798, $9,758. Id., xvii. 9. Account of 1799, cr., $45,728; dr., $467148.
Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., ii. 18,19. Postal revenue from $56 to $105.
Prov. St. Pap.,- Ben) Mil., MS,, xxi. G).93 xxl. 8; xxv. 14: St. Pap, Gace
MS., vi. 61. Tithes collected from $200 to $800 per year, the expense of col-
lecting being from 15 to 20 per cent. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xix. 4;
xxi. 6; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 45-6; vi. 2; Dept. St. Pap., MS., x. 3, 4;Sé. Pap.,
Sac., MS., i. 124. In 1792-3, the papal bulls sold amounted to $62. Prov.
St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxi. 6. From 1790 to 1795, only $8 out of $1,177
worth sent. /d., xiii. 4; xxi. 9. In 1797, $87 worth sold, and those remain-
ing ordered burned. Prov. Pec., MS., iv. 87. It seems that this sale was a
special one of bulls of the holy crusade. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 79-80.
ae wa a a
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x
+
SANTA BARBARA. 667
his instructions to Romeu of February 1791 reported
this state of things and hoped all would be completed
that year. In August 1793 the governor pronounced
the presidio buildings the best in California owing to
Goycoechea’s activity, but still some roofs needed re-
pairs. All would be done that year except the new
chapel and a cemetery outside the square. Van-
couver in November found here ‘‘the appearance of a
oPURISIMA
IX, /
ision o STAJINES |.
Wiej oe ° ¢
ey: as ae
‘s 7 i ~ ¥ te x S Z f
* BYR, : Se
Map or Santa BARBARA District, 1800.
far more civilized place than any other of the Spanish
establishments had exhibited. The buildings appeared
to be regular and well constructed, the walls clean
and white, and the roofs of the houses were covered
with a bright red tile. The presidio excels all the
others in neatness, cleanliness, and other smaller
though essential comforts; it is placed on an elevated
part of the plain and is raised some feet from the
668 LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.
ground by a basement story, which adds much to its
pleasantness.” In October 1794 the commandant
certified that to complete the buildings fifteen laborers
for six months were necessary at a cost of $561.
Thereupon work was stopped except upon the church
and the most necessary repairs; and at the end of
1796 the viceroy declared that the sailor-workmen
could no longer be employed at royal expense; but
the chapel was blessed on Guadalupe day in 1797."
Though Santa Barbara seems to have had as yet
no branch of the rancho del rey like those at the other
presidios, yet it is credited in statistical reports with
from 1,000 to 4,000 horses and cattle, and from 200
to 600 sheep. This live-stock is not to be confounded
with that, of the mission, but it was probably identical
to some extent with that of the rancheros within the
jurisdiction already referred to. There were also
agricultural operations carried on by the soldiers dis-
tinct from those of the mission neophytes. Records
of results are very meagre, but in 1797 they reached
1,650 bushels of wheat, corn, and beans.** Of mechan-
ical industries there is nothing to record save that
the attempt to obtain white apprentices was more
50 Fages, Papel de Puntos, MS., 166. Aug. 20, 1793, governor to viceroy.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 115; Vancouver’s Voyage, ii. 451, 495. Oct. 11,
1794, 15 men at 18 cents per day and 34 fanegas of maize at 13 reals, neces-
sary to complete the buildings. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 62. Oct. 24th, build-
ing expenses to stop. Jd., x1i. 98. Dec. 13th, Borica says the church is to be
enlarged at cost of the fondo de gratificacion. Id., xii. 58. HKxpenses from 1784
to 1794, $2,256. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxi. 12. Dec. 16th, viceroy
to governor, the 8 ship-boys and other workmen can no longer be paid from
treasury of San Blas. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 57-8. Chapel to be blessed
on Guadalupe day. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 87. The $2,256 charged to fondo de
gratificacion by order of April 26, 1797. Zd., iv. 89.
°! Jan. 15, 1794, governor orders that each soldier be allowed only four
cows. These to be branded and the rest slaughtered. Prov. Rec., MS., i.
208. 1794-5, commandant asks for and obtains from governor 200 steers for
rations, Jd., iv..163;iProv,. St, Pap., MS. xi. 97. “Oct. 122;:1795,
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691
CHAPTER XXXII.
LOCAL EVENTS AND PROGRESS—SAN FRANCISCO
JURISDICTION.
1791-1800.
San Francisco OrrictaLts—Mi.itary ForcE—PopuLaTIoN—FINANCE—PRE-
SIDIO BuILDINGS—PLAN—CASTILLO DE SAN JOAQUIN AT Fort Point—
Cérposa’s Rerport—RavacGEs oF ELEMENTS—REPAIRS—BATTERY OF
YERBA BUENA AT BLACK POINT—VANCOUVER’S VISITS—CAPTAIN BROWN—
MinEs DiscovERED—ALBERNI’S COMPANY—WRECK OF THE ‘SAN CAR-
Los "—THE ‘ ELizA’—RANcHO DEL REY—MISSION VERSUS PRESIDIO—
InpIAN AFFAIRS—RuNaway NEOPHYTES—AMADOR’S CAMPAIGNS—
PapRE’s CRUELTY—SAN FRANctsco Mission—Fatuers Campon, Espt,
Danti, GARCIA, AND FERNANDEZ—BUILDINGS, STATISTICS, INDUSTRIES—
PUEBLO OF SAN JOSE—INHABITANTS AND OFFICIALS—STATISTICS—HEMP
CuLTURE—LOocAL EvENTS—PROPOSED REMOVAL—BounbDaARY DIspuTE-—
Santa CLARA—PENA AND NoBoA—POPULATION, AGRICULTURE, BUILD-
INGS, AND MANUFACTURES. .
Tue official list of San Francisco for this decade is
confused, though the minor complications are hardly
worth recording. José Argiiello was the lieutenant,
brevetted captain in 1798, of the company,and properly
its commander throughout the period; but he was
absent in Monterey from 1791 to 1796, during which
absence Alférez Hermenegildo Sal of the Monterey
company was acting comandante until the middle of
1794, and Alférez José Perez Fernandez from that
time till the spring of 1796. The same persons acted
as habilitados, except that Raimundo Carrillo served
in 1796-7.1. It must be noted, however, that Lieu-
1 These brief statements are made from a careful study of the 65 distinct
references to different archives which are before me, but which it would serve
no good purpose to print. About the date of Argiiello’s return there is some
confusion. May 2, 1795, viceroy’s order that Argiiello rejoin his company.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 85, 91. Ordered by governor in January 1796 to
(692) *
a
ay
PRESIDIAL COMPANY. 693
tenant-colonel Pedro de Alberni, captain of the Cata-
lan volunteers, by reason of his superior rank in the
army, was commandant of the military post from
April 1796. The alférez of the presidial company
was Ramon Lasso de la Vega until the end of 1791,
José Perez Fernandez from 1792 until 1797, and
Manuel Rodriguez from 1797 to 1800, although he
never served at San Francisco, and the place was
practically vacant. The position of sergeant was held
throughout the decade by Pedro Amador.
The company was composed of thirty-one privates,
besides the sergeant and four corporals. After the
middle of 1796 the military force was augmented by
detachments of twenty-five Catalan volunteers and
seven or eight artillerymen. There were also from
three to eight pensioners, making 79 men in all, who
with their families constituted a population, not includ-
ing San José and Branciforte, of 225 within the juris-
diction. With the two pueblos the population was
460, and the christianized natives numbered 2,670.
Not less than twenty of the soldiers were usually
scattered in the mission and pueblo guards, so that
before the infantry reénforcement came the presidio
had but a very small force, and when parties had to
be sent with despatches, or against the natives, or for
turn over command at Monterey and go to San Francisco. St. Pap., Sac.,
MS., vii. 38-9; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 178. Took command in April. /d., v.
85. But there are indications that Argiiello went again to Monterey to com-
mand for a short time in the spring of 1797. He returned to San Francisco
April 18th. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 57,212. Sal gave uv the command to
Perez on June 30, 1794. Id., xvi. 84; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 149. Perez retained
the command until November 1795, when Sal seems to have resumed it for a
few months until Argiiello’s arrival. Jd., iv. 237; v.75. But Sal did not
resume the habilitacion, which Perez gave up to Carrillo in April 1796, accord-
ing to orders dated Nov. 8, and Dec. 11, 1795, transferring him to Monterey.
Id., iv. 237; v. 74. Carrillo gave up the habilitacion to Argiiello on Sept. 1,
1797. Id., vi. 7. Carrillo’s accounts at the end of August showed a deficit of
$1,823. Figures given Prov. St. Pap., Presid., MS., i. 81-2, 84-7. Also stated
to have been $1,425, and $1,946. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 265, 267; Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvi. 80-1. This amount was charged to the company, until it could be
repaid from half of Carrillo’s pay as alférez. It was a great hardship to the
soldiers and their families; and Argiiello thought it particularly unjust that
the presidal company should have to bear the whole burden while the volun-
teers and artillerymen were exempt, and also while Lasso de la Vega was re-
ceiving half-pay and was not required to pay up his old indebtedness. Jd.,
xvi. 40-1.
694 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
supplies, the post was left almost deserted.? From
the fragmentary company accounts that have been
preserved we learn that the annual appropriation for
pay-roll and contingent fund of San Francisco was
a little less than $10,000; supplies from Mexico
amounted on an average to about $7,000; and sup-
plies from the missions about $3,000. At the end of
each year an inventory showed from $11,000 to $16,-
000 worth of goods in the presidial warehouse.’
The subject of presidio buildings received a large
share of attention and correspondence between 1791
2 March 4, 1792. Nov. 1, 1794, complaints of commandant. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xi. 51-2, 56; xii. 42. Thirty soldiers were left at San Francisco in April
1797 as a temporary expedient, /d., xxi. 255-6; Prov. Rec., MS., viil. 178;
and there were also workmen left at other times not included in the statistics
of population. The guard at San Francisco mission was four men. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xii. 25,77; xiii. 231. List of the cuera soldiers and their families
in 1795. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 236-7, 242-4. List of the artillerymen.
Id., xiii. 75. List of volunteers. Jd., Ben. Mil., xxiv. 1,2. List of presidial
company in 1798. Jd., xvi. 16,17. Company rolls and statement, in Prov.
St. Pap., Ben. Mil;, MS. xi. aarvil; SiPap:, Sac Mists ty.
3’ Company accounts in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiii.-xviil. passim;
St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 52; ii. 36; v. 60, 73-4; vi. 120. Argiiello’s account as
habilitado for 1800 is as follows: charges himself with effects on hand Dec.
31, 1799, $14,748; supplies from Mexico and San Blas, 1800, $10,876; balances
due soldiers, $3,299; funds of montepio, invdlidos, and retencion (amounts
held for the soldiers), $604; proceeds of tobacco, post-office, and tithes, $1,403;
debt to presidio of Monterey, $881; supplies received from missions, $3,417;
draft on habilitado general, $680. Total, $35,748. Credits himself with:
pay-roll of company and pensioners, $9,504; amount paid company on old
. account, $3,573; other sums paid, $565; paid debt of 1799 to Monterey,
$2,593; paid missions for supplies of 1799, $3,776; amount charged by habili-
tado general, $3,081; effects on Dec. 31, 1800, $12,885. Total, $35,977. Balance
in favor of Argiiello, $229. The fondo de retencion (money held back from a
soldier’s pay to be given him at discharge) amounted in the early years to
about $1,200, but later, when added to the fondo de invdlidos (percentage on
pay reserved with which to pay pensions), and the fondo de montepio (per-
centage on officers’ pay for their widows), it amounted to only about $709.
St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 60, 73-4; Prov. Sé. Pap., MS., xvi. 202-3. In 1795
the habilitado reports only $3,490 to pay for the next year’s supplies. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS.,i.52. Of $1,122 in coin sent up in 1796, $266 was paid to soldiers,
$300 to the mission, and $400 to Argiiello; so that the sergeant applying for
money was told to wait. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. i. In 1798 the presidio
got $6,404 in supplies from the missions. Jd., Ben. Mil., xvii. 12, 13. In
1797 the amount was $8,973. Jd., xxv. 9,10. In 1799 it was $3,776. Jd.,
xxvi. 7,8. In 1800 it was $3,417. Jd., xxviii. 18,19. Accounts of tithes are
neither complete nor altogether intelligible. Forsome years the proceeds are
given as $500 and in others $80, some reports perhaps including the whole
jurisdiction and others not. Papal bulls yielded in 1797 only $2. The net
proceeds of the post-office averaged $83 per year for the decade. Revenuesfrom
tobac 20 sales were from $500 to $1,500, averaging $1,100. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
XXL) 193: id, (Ben, MuloxinGsxive Psyvaliosl4enixile Xue. Ae ewig tos
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PRESIDIO BUILDINGS. 695
and 1800, with but meagre results so far as the
presidio proper was concerned. On March 4, 1792,
Comandante Sal sent the governor a description
accompanied by a plan which I reproduce. Three
sides of the square of 120 yards were occupied by
adobe walls and houses, both of adobes and of rough
stones laid in mud; and the fourth side was protected
by a primitive palisade fence. All the structures
were roofed with straw and tules, exposed to fire and
at the mercy of the winds. All, except the com-
PLAN oF SAN Francisco, 1792.
mandant’s house lately completed and two or three of
the soldiers’ houses, were, through the poor quality
of materials and want of knowledge and care on the
part of the builders, liable to fall at any moment, the
church being in a particularly precarious condition.
None of the structures were those originally built;
each year some of them had fallen and been restored
in the same faulty manner with the same perishable
4 Sal, Informes sobre los Edificios de San Francisco, 1792, MS. 1. Com-
mandant’s house, 4 rooms and yard, 37 x 6 varas, of adobes. 2. Sergeant’s
house, of stone, without mortar. 3. Chapel 19 x 8 varas. 4. Barracks,
guard-house, and calabooses, of adobe and stones. 5, 6. Warehouses for food
and clothing, of stones and mud. The other structures are the soldiers’
696 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT
material. Timber had to be brought thirty miles, and
tules nine miles. The garrison was so small and its
duties so many that Sal deemed it impossible to accom-
plish the necessary repairs. At the end of the year
the same condition of affairs existed, and Sal urged
the government to send eight or ten sailor-workmen
and a bricklayer; otherwise an appropriation of $3,000
would be required to hire Indian laborers. Mean-
while Vancouver visited and described the presidio in
November, and he describes it as a “square area
whose sides were about two hundred yards in length
enclosed by a mud wall, and resembling a pound for
cattle. Above this wall the thatched roofs of their
low small houses just made their appearance.” One
side was “ very indifferently fenced in by a few bushes
here and there, fastened to stakes in the ground.”
The wall was “ about fourteen feet high, and five feet
in breadth, and was first formed by uprights and hor-
izontal rafters of large timber, between which dried
sods and moistened earth were pressed as close and
hard as possible, after which the whole was cased with
the earth made into a sort of mud plaster, which gave
it the appearance of durability.” The church had
been whitewashed and was neat in comparison to the
rest. The floor in the commandant’s house was the
native soil raised about three feet above the original
level. The windows were mere holes in the thick
walls, without glass.°
In 1793-4 complaints and calls for aid continued,
but attention was given almost exclusively to new
fortifications on the shore to the neglect of the presidio
5 Vancouver’s Voyage, ii. 7-9. There is a communication from Sal to
Arrillaga dated Nov. 29th, stating that work on the building was finished,
tile roofs on the church, warehouses, and nine new houses for soldiers; but
this does not agree with the other records, and I am at a loss to know why
such a letter was written. St. Pap., Sac.,MS.,i.118. August 20, 1793, the gov-
ernor informs the viceroy of the bad condition of the buildings, although
$1,400 have been spent on repairs since the foundation. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xxl. 114-15, Dec. 29th, Sal to Borica, the $1,200 gratuity for the troops for
building the presidio not yet received; nor are there any lists. Hints that
the other presidios get $4,000. /d., xi. 54, 57.
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xx:
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PROGRESS IN BUILDINGS. 697
square.® Late in 1794 Sal proposed removal to a better
site near Fort Point. Borica would not consent until
he had made a personal examination; but in June
1795 he reported in favor of the scheme and esti-
mated the cost of the new presidio at $11,716. The
viceroy disapproved so large an outlay for buildings
of doubtful utility, the matter was dropped, and the
rains and winds continued their ravages,’ the drifting
sand contributing to the devastation by covering the
powder-magazine, notwithstanding the soldiers’ efforts.
Quarters of some kind must have been built for the
volunteers and artillerymen,’ but I find no evidence
that there was any material improvement within the
presidio square from the date of Vancouver's visit to
1800.
Still there was some building done in the way of
fortifications. In the general movement already
6 Aug. 8, 1794, Perez Fernandez and others state that nothing has been
done, and the soldiers are overburdened with work. The buildings should be
solidly constructed to avoid later repairs, and he and the commandant will
guarantee to complete the work economically and well if a few mechanics can
be furnished. St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 108-10. Arrillaga informs Borica of the
needs of San Francisco in 1794. Papel de Puntos, MS., 192. Jan. 31, 1794,
commandant to governor; house of 2d officer in a bad state; adobes and tiles
melting away; will try to save the timbers. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 66.
Feb. 1, 1794, rain came near spoiling the powder, but hides and tiles were
arranged to save it. Id., xii. 56.
7 Nov. 1, 1794, commandant to governor. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. -35-6.
Dec. 3, Borica’s reply. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 28, 54-5. June 27, 1795, B. to
viceroy, old buildings ready to fall; total expenses since 1776, $8,188; presi-
dio, 2,889 varas from fort; new one, 481 varas. Jd., vi. 51. Dec. 4, 1795, V.
R. to B., advises that the new structures be not undertaken, but wants addi-
tional information. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 832-6. Jan. 22, 1796, a heavy
gale did much damage to church and one house. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,
MS., xxiii. 6,7; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 81. June 16, B. calls for a report from
Alberni. Prov, St. Pup., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 7. June 30th, Alberni to B.,
he disapproves the removal, because the San Joaquin hill has no water and
is less sheltered; but the coming rains will bring the old buildings down, and
a new presidio should be begun. Cordoba agrees with Alberni. St. Pap., Sac.,
MS., iv. 36-7. July 20, 1797, Argiiello to B. The old complaints. Nothing
done yet. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 11,12. Aug. 8, Id. toId. Warehouses
badly built and in great danger from fire. Jd., xvi. 389. Aug. 19, B. orders’
Argiiello to have warehouses of stone or adobe built. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 267.
In January 1800 a huricane tore off several roofs; $1,799 were spent in repairs
during the year; and complaints continued. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 24-7;
xxi. 31.
8 One hundred and ninety-two dollars spent on quarters for volunteers.
Expenditure approved by viceroy Feb. 28, 1798. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii.
10, 11
698 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
noticed towards the strengthening of coast defences
San Francisco could not be neglected, since it was
recognized as the strongest and most important natu-
ral position in California. Vancouver as he entered
the bay was saluted by a brass three-pounder lashed
toa log at Fort Point, and he found another mounted
on a rotten carriage before the presidio. There had
been two guns here, but one had burst shortly before
in firing a salute on a saint’s day. No wonder the
Englishman was surprised at the unprotected condi-
tion of so important a point. When he returned in
1793, eleven brass nine-pounders were lying on the
beach, and a number of natives were. erecting what
seemed to be a platform or barbette battery at Fort
Point; but this was intended by the Spaniards to be
a much more formidable work, the Castillo de San
Joaquin, to command the entrance to San Francisco
Bay. The guns had been sent from San Blas in the
Aranzazu, and a gunner’s mate, master-carpenter, and
one or two workmen ‘had begun work on the fort in
August.° Thirty neophytes were hired from the
mission, and as many more gentiles from San José.
Choppers were sent to the distant forests down the
peninsula; twenty-three yoke of oxen were employed
in hauling the timber; adobes, bricks, and tiles were
rapidly prepared, and the work was pushed: forward
until interrupted by the rains. Soon after its resump-
tion in the spring of 1794 there came an order from
the viceroy that the works here and elsewhere were
to be constructed of fascines, to avoid heavy expenses;
but so much progress had been made that it was
deemed best to complete the fortification as begun,
° Vancouver's Voyage, ii. 9, 500. Sept. 30, 1792, Sal reports the bursting
of the gun into 10 pieces, nobody hurt. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 74; i. 117.
Although Vancouver says a gun was fired, Sal reports to the governor that
the Chatham got no salute for want of a cannon. Jd., iii. 23. Oct. 31st, Sal to
Arrillaga. Only one cannon, and that burst several years ago. Cuadra gave
some powder and promised four or five guns. So it seems that the presidio
gun was not so effective even as Vancouver supposed. Jd., i. 119. Aug. 20,
1793, Arrillaga to viceroy, announcing that work had been begun on a fort.
After completing it the men will go to Monterey. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi.
113. Dec. 31, 1793, statement of munitions. St. Pap., Sac., MS. v. 61.
CASTILLO DE SAN JOAQUIN. 699
especially as earthworks and fascines were thought to
be useless here. The fort was completed and blessed
under the name of San Joaquin on December 8, 1794,
the eight guns of the battery being mounted, the
sentry-box, casemate, and other necessary buildings
being attached, and nothing more being required but
a garrison to prevent any hostile vessel from entering
CASTILLO
DE
SAN JOAQUIN
the port—so at least Arrillagva believed. We have
no detailed description of this fort, but its main walls
were of adobes, faced in the embrasures with bricks.
The annexed plan is from an original in my possession.
700 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
The castillo was of horseshoe shape, about one hundred
‘by one hundred and twenty feet. Its cost was $6,000,
which was paid with some reluctance by the royal
treasury.”
The elements had now another object on which to
exert their destructive power, and repairs kept pace as
nearly as possible. The San Carlos brought some
new guns in April 1796, and the Concepcion left
twenty-four sailors. Cdérdoba examined the fort on
his arrival, and in September reported unfavorably.
The structure rested mainly on sand; the brick-faced
adobe walls crumbled at the shock whenever a salute
was fired; the guns were badly mounted and for the
most part worn out, only two of the thirteen twenty-
four pounders being serviceable or capable of sending
a ball across the entrance of the port. The whole
work, protected by an adobe wall with one gate, was
commanded by a hill in the rear, and the garrison of
10 Jan. 30, 1794, Sal to governor, has begun to fell timber; guns on the
esplanade. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 47-51. Jan. 31st, 6 guns in the battery
facing the harbor. Jd., xii. 67. The padres endeavored to obtain an extra
blanket and pair of breeches for each neophyte laborer per month but failed;
1,500 adobes being made daily. April 30th, a sergeant and four soldiers in
charge of the laborers. Jd., xii. 74. Twenty-two Indians ran away in April.
Id., xii. 53. June 9th, viceroy acknowledges receipt of advices on measures
taken to complete the provisional esplanade. /d., xi. 174. Jan. 10th, vice-
roy’s orders to use fascines and reduce expenses. June 12th, governor’s
reply. Jd., xxi. 143-4; xii. 120. res
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704 " LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
was here that he had the best opportunities to make
observations respecting the institutions of the country,
and as his visit was one of the chief interruptions of
the dull monotony of San Francisco life during the
decade, I deem the subject worthy of brief additional
mention here in connection with local annals.
As Vancouver entered the port at nightfall Nov-
ember 14, 1792, he looked in vain for the lights of
the town which he supposed to be planted here, and
next morning the only sign of civilization was the
herds seen in the distance. After a quail-shooting
expedition on the hills where the city now stands he
caine into contact with Commandant Sal and was
entertained at the presidio, where the wife of Don
Hermenegildo received him “decently dressed, seated
cross-legged on a mat, placed on a small square wooden
platform raised three or four inches from the ground,
nearly in front of the door, with two daughters and a
son, clean and decently dressed, sitting by her; this
being the mode observed by these ladies when they
receive visitors.” Then he was invited to the mission
and was most kindly treated by fathers Landaeta
and Danti. He saw all that was to be seen on the
peninsula, much more than it was prudent to let him
see, and though greatly surprised at the weakness
and poverty of the Spanish establishment and the
Jack of ‘‘those articles. which alone can render the
essentials of life capable of being relished,” yet for the
kindness and hospitality of the people he had nothing
but words of praise. The Spaniards as is their wont
placed everything at his disposal, and he interpreted
their offers somewhat too literally, making a visit to
Santa Clara that gave Sal many forebodings. He
made no survey of the bay, but found Yerba Buena
a better anchorage than the usual one nearer the pre-
sidio. Every facility was afforded him for obtaining
wood, water, and supplies, though the carts placed at
the disposition of the sailors were found to be a more
clumsy and useless contrivance on land than the rude
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FOREIGN VISITORS. 705
balsas of the natives as water craft. Vancouver sailed
for Monterey on the 25th of November. He came
back in October of the next year, but was obliged to
put up with the ordinary courtesies allowed to for-
eigners in Spanish ‘colonial ports, and so great was
the contrast that he left in disgust after a few days’
stay at anchor.”
The 18th of March 1793 a strange vessel was an-
nounced at the entrance of the port. A guard was
posted and the live-stock driven in. A boat came to
land in the afternoon, with six men who said the
vessel was English and the captain’s name Brown, in
need of water, wood, and meat, for which he would
send the next day. The vessel anchored beyond Point
Almejas, opposite San Pedro rancho, fired a gun,
and displayed the English flag. On the 15th she
was seen near the Farallones, and on the 16th Sal
reported these facts with his opinion that the foreign
craft meant mischief, though pretending to be bound
for Nootka."
In 1795 three mines were discovered somewhere
within the jurisdiction of San Francisco, called San
Diego, Carmen, and San José, with the respective
aliases of Descubridora, Buenavista, and Hsperanza.
One of them was expected to yield gold, and the others
silver or quicksilver. Specimens of the ore were sent
by Perez Fernandez to the governor, but Monterey
experts failed to discover metal except in one speci-
men.” The coming of Alberni and his company of
volunteers was the event of 1796, but beyond a bare
mention and the enrolment of the reénforcements on
the military records it left no trace in local annals;
yet as almost doubling the population of San T'ran-
138 Vancouver's Voyage, ii. 1-27, 433-4. For further account of this voy-
age, and a map published in Vancouver’s work, see chapter xxiv., this vol-
ume.
14 March 16th, Sal to Borica, in Sé. Pap., Sac., MS., ii. 131-2.
15 Sept. 28, 1795, Perez Fernandez to Borica. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii.
66-7. Sept. 30th, B."s Peay authorizing ore to be sent to San Blas for assay-
ing. Prov. [ec., MS.. v. 70
HIst. ‘Cab, VOL, Le 45
706 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
cisco it merits mention.” In 1797 there was a propo-
sition to establish a Carmelite convent and hospice at
San Francisco, but it was disapproved by both the
guardian and the fiscal, and consequently was aban-
doned.” The leading event of this year was the
wreck of the transport vessel San Carlos in the bay
on the night of the 23d of March. No details are
known except that little of the cargo was lost.* The
Concepcion as a coast guard spent a large part of the
year in this port. At the end of May 1799 the
American ship Lhza of 136 tons and carrying twelve
guns, bound for Boston with hides, under James
Rowan, obtained supplies under the prescribed re-
strictions.”
There were two topics of local interest at San Fran-
cisco during the decade which affected the mission not
less than the presidio. These were the establishment
of the rancho del rey, and Indian affairs. The royal
rancho had been founded here in 1777, with 115 head
of cattle, which were pastured on the hills about the
presidio. The animals multiplied rapidly notwith-
standing annual slaughters in the later years and the
16Tt is implied by Borica, Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 241, that Alberni’s
men had lands granted them at San Francisco and the Alameda; but such was
probably not the case. Alberni and his company arrived May 7, 1796, on
the San Carlos. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiii. 83.
M1 Arch, Sta Barbara, MS., iv. 186-93; ix. 10-14; xiii. 84.
18 Prov, St. Pap., MS., xvi. 57-8, 181; xvii. 242; xxi. 251, 268; Prov. Rec.,
MS., vi. 86, 92, 95. This was not the original San Carlos of 1769, but her
successor surnamed H/ Filipino. The crew were obliged to remain for some
time in California. The only stores specially named as lost are 4 boxes of
cigars and 151bs. of powder. April 26th, Capt. Saavedra says to Argiiello that
most of his men lost their clothes, tobacco, and soap in the wreck. He asks
for them the advance of a month’s pay, which was granted to the amount of
$1,026. ‘The troops with 55 natives worked to save the cargo. April 24th,
the padres answer the complaint that they failed to render aid, by stating
that Fernandez was absent, but Landaeta sent all his disposable Indians, who
worked waist-deep in water for three days and nights. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
vi. 108-9. April 14th, the finding of a white man’s body in the surf at Pt
Reyes is reported, and the mission majordomo had seen a vessel off the Fara-
llones shortly before. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 116. Alberni at the same time
wished to send natives to see if there were any vessels at Bodega; but they
refused from fear of their enemies. Jd., xvii. 152.
19May 27th, Rowan to Argiiello, will obey the governor’s orders to sail
as soon as possible and not to enter any other port. Prov. St. Pap., xvii.
206-8, 238; xvill. 26. June 3d, Borica to viceroy, Rowan left a draft for $24
on Boston. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 125-6. .
=i.
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- RANCHO DEL REY. 707
ravages of wild beasts,” so that in 1791 they numbered
over 1,200. At the end of March of this year the
cattle were transferred to Monterey, except a few
milch cows which the soldiers were allowed to keep.
This change seems to have been made by order of the
comandante general at the petition of the padres
who represented that injury was done to the interests
of the mission. Subsequently the garrison was obliged
to obtain meat from Monterey.% In 1796, at the
suggestion of Sal, Borica determined to reéstablish a
branch of the rancho del rey, and this was accom-
plished in September 1797, two, hundred and sixty-five
cattle being purchased from the missions and placed
at Buriburi between San Bruno and San Mateo.”
When the news reached Mexico it brought out a
protest of the guardian, in which he narrated the
past history of the rancho, claimed that Borica had
acted in opposition to the king’s wishes that the
mission lands should not be encroached upon, and
demanded an order to remove not only the rancho
but the cattle owned by the soldiers. The pasturage
it was claimed was all needed for the mission herds,
which now must be driven far down the peninsula;
and the natives were suffering great injury in their
20 In the cattle account of 1782 appears an item of three arrobas of yerba
de Puebla with which to poison wolves. Prov. Rec., MS., iil. 115. April and
May 1790, commandant refers to ravages of bears and savages. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., ix. 213-14. Bears numerous in 1798. Jd., xvii. 103.
21 Cattle of the rancho in 1790, 1,174 head. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,
MS., xiii. 6,7. Net proceeds of sales, $91. Zd. Sales in 1791, $81. Jd., xv.
5. Number of cattle at transfer on March 31, 1791, 1,215 head. St. Pap.,
Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 68. The rancho was moved by order of Fages,
Id., or by order of commandant general at request of padres. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvii. 14-16. Statistical reports show that the soldiers had from 96 to
147 cattle down to 1797 and then the number increased to 500 or 600, not
including the king’s cattle. In 1793 the number was 115, and the names of
14 owners, 23 credited to Juan Bernal being the largest number, are given
from an old inventory in //alley’s Centennial Year Book of Alameda County,
27. There is quite a mass of information from the archives given in this
work, but there are nearly as many blunders as words in the translation,
copying, and printing. In 1794, 75 cattle for food were sent up from Monte-
rey. Prov. St. Pup., MS., xii. 30.
22 Borica to commandants April 30, 1796, Aug. 15, Sept. 1, 1797. Prov.
Rec., MS., v. 85, 269; iv. 255-6. Argiiello to B. Sept. 29th. Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xvi. 92. .
708 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
natural and legal rights.* Borica, being called upon
for an explanation, asked Argiiello for a report in
which the governor’s eleven question were clearly
answered. According to this report the mission was
in no respect injured by the king’s cattle at Buriburi,
feeding on the hills westward to the Caiiada de San
Andrés and south-westward for two leagues, nor
would it be injured even should its cattle greatly in-
crease, for it still had several large sitios: San Pedro,
five leagues southward on‘the coast, where horned
cattle were kept; another two leagues to the south,
where were the herds of mares; El Pilar,“ where
there was abundant pasturage for the oxen; San
Mateo, five leagues from the mission, stretching to
Santa Clara on the south-east and to San Pedro on
the west; besides the smaller and nearer tracts of La
Visitacion, San Bruno, and Lake Merced. Argiiello
also proved that the mission had been accustomed to
sell to the presidio and the vessels cattle about one
third smaller than those of Monterey at prices ex-
ceeding those of the tariff, besides obliging the pur-
chaser to go long distances after the animals.” His
arcuments seemed conclusive to the viceroy, who in
March 1799 ordered the rancho maintained, notwith-
standing the opposition of the friars.”
The natives, Christian and gentile, caused more
trouble in the region of San Francisco than in any
other part of California, the troublesome gentiles
being chiefly those inhabiting what is now known as
73 Feb. 5, 1798, guardian to viceroy, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 14-16.
Horses were kept 10 leagues distant; sheep under a salaried man six leagues
away; and the oxen not actually at work were also pastured at a long dis-
tance.
4 But according to Prov. Rec., MS., v. 103, Argiiello himself had received
a provisional grant of El Pilar in 1797.
*° June 14, 1798, Borica to Argiiello. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon, MS., i.
68-70. Argiiello, Informe sobre el Rancho del Rey y su influencia y relacion con
la Mision de San Francisco, 24 de Julio 1798, MS. Salazar speaks of S. Pedro
or Punta de Almejas. Arch. Sta Barbara, ii. 75.
26 March 13, 1799, Viceroy Azanza to Borica. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii.
220. June 5th, to commandant. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 298. Dec. 3lst, num-
ber of cattle in the rancho, 879. Net yield from sales, $179. Prov. St. Pap.,
Ben. Mil., MS., xxviii, 5.
INDIAN AFFAIRS. 709
‘Alameda and Contra Costa counties, acting in con-
junction with deserters from San Francisco mission,
but threatening more seriously Mission San José.
“All was quiet, however, until 1795." In March of
that year Father Danti sent a party of fourteen neo-
phytes to the rancherfas of the Chaclanes, or Sacal-
anes, to bring in some fugitives, but they were attacked
by gentiles and Christians combined, and at least seven
of the number were killed. The affair was reported
to Borica, who informed the viceroy, but ordered no
retaliation as the Sacalanes were a brave people and
would be troublesome as foes, and the friars were
directed to send out no more such parties.* In Sep-
tember of the same year over two hundred natives
deserted from San Francisco, different parties in
different directions, the number including many old
neophytes who had always been faithful before. In
the correspondence which followed, Borica indicated
his belief that the disaster was due largely to cruelty
on the part of the padres. He ordered a strict inves-
tigation; instructed the soldiers to afford no aid in the
infliction of punishments unless at the request of both
padres, for it seems that Danti was much more severe
than his associate, and finally protested to the presi-
dent that rigorous steps must be taken to insure better
*7 In February 1793 a new convert named Charquin ran away and waged
war on all aborigines who favored christianity, holding 20 women and chil-
dren captives in the mountains. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 24-5. In February
1795 the governor reported the prospects for new converts excellent at San
Francisco and Santa Clara, on account of a scarcity of seeds. Prov. Iec., MS.,
vi. 37.
28 March 3, May 3, May 29, 1795, commandant to Borica. June 23d, B. to
,viceroy. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 241-2, 275-6; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 50, 56;
vi. 48-50. I suppose the Sacalanes lived in what is now Alameda County,
somewhere between Oakland and Mission San José. The messengers are
said to have travelled two nights and one day before reaching the rancherias.
Borica says the Chimenes did the killing and lived 30 leagues from Bodega
on the coast. Subsequent expeditions show, however, that the Sacalanes,
the guilty parties, did not at any rate live north of the bay. The commandant
charges Danti with having at first pronounced the story of the survivors a lie,
and with attempting later to keep it from the knowledge of the officers.
July 6th, Borica to friars, regrets that they continue sending Indians to the
‘other side of the bay. It must be stopped. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 146. Sept.
- 18th, V. R. approves B.’s policy of avoiding war. Prov. St. Pap. eg SS Fee a
82.
710 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
treatment and better food, to which Lasuen gave as-
sent.”
In June 1797 a new mishap occurred. A large
part of the fugitives belonged to the Cuchillones
across the bay. Notwithstanding the governor's
orders the missionaries sent one Raimundo, a Califor-
nian—a name still applied exclusively to the natives
of Baja California—with thirty natives to bring back
the runaways. ‘They crossed in balsas and fell into a
difficulty with the Cuchillones which is not clearly
described, though it appears that no life was lost and
no fugitive recovered. This affair gave rise to a new
correspondence and to earnest protests from the friars,
who were inclined to think that the quarrel, if any
occurred, had been greatly exaggerated. Now the
Sacalanes assumed a threatening attitude toward
Mission San Jose, and Sergeant Amador was sent to
investigate. He found that the gentiles were threat-
ening to kill the Christians if they continued to work,
and the soldiers if they dared to interfere. He ac-
cordingly recommended to Borica that an expedition
_be sent to punish them, to collect fugitives, and to
dispel the idea of the Sacalanes that the Spaniards
were afraid of them. orica assented and ordered
Amador to take twenty-two men and fall upon the
rancheria at dawn, capturing the head men and desert-
ers, but avoiding bloodshed if possible. They set out
July 13th, and on the 15th the troops under Amador
and Vallejo reached the hostile camp. The Sacalanes
would listen to nothing; they had digged pits, so that
the Spaniards were forced to dismount and attack with
sword and lance. In the fight two soldiers were’
8 Correspondence on the subject during 1795-6. In Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xili. 147-8; xiv. 176; Id., Ben. Mil., xxiv. 8-10; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 69, 80,
Dlg uve 172, 17 be ‘
30 Letters of Argiiello, Espi, Fernandez, and Landaeta in Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xv. 19-25. July 16th, Argiiello assembled the natives and made known
to them the governor’s orders that they were not to go after fugitives even if
told to do so by the padres. Then the padres received a lecture on the evils
that might have resulted. Landaeta insisted that the natives had gone of
their own accord and had not been sent. Argiiello to Borica, in Id., xv. 25-7.
eo lh
“ea Dein Sica a a
= tugs aes
—
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de
3g ie eres
a
Ree 31
a
%
AMADOR’S EXPEDITION. 711
wounded and seven natives killed. The Cuchillones
were subsequently attacked and retreated after one
had been killed. On the 18th Amador returned to
San José with eighty-three Christians and nine gen-
tiles, including five Sacalanes implicated in the affair
of 1795 and three Cuchillones in that of Raimundo.”
The testimony and confessions of fourteen of the
captives were taken the 9th of August, and nine of
them having been proved guilty, were subsequently
sentenced by Borica to receive from twenty-five to
seventy-five lashes and to work in shackles at the
presidio from two months to a year.” In this exam-
ination and in another held the 12th of August with
a view to learn why the neophytes had run away,
nearly all the witnesses gave as their reasons exces-
sive flogging, hunger, and the death of relatives.*
Borica subsequently announced that in consequence
of his efforts and especially of the kindness of Father
Fernandez, the natives were treated better than be-
fore; but Lasuen declared that the charges of cruelty
were unfounded, as proved by the large number of
conversions. The neophytes fled, not because they
were flogged or overworked, but because of the rav-
31 Amador, Expedicion contra los gentiles Sacalanes, con Correspondencia
perteneciente al asunto, 1796, MS.; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 176-8; xvi.
38-9, 70-1, 88, 90; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 206-7. The diary is dated San
José, July 19th, and the papers include: July 6th, Argiiello to Borica; July
8th, Amador to B.; July 10th, B. to A.; July 19th, A. to B.; July 21st, B.
to A. Christians not to be punished, but gentiles kept at work on presidio;
July 26th, receipt of Espi and Landaeta for 79 returned neophytes. Return-
ing natives have never been punished. July 30th, Argiiello to B., has given
up the neophytes and will try the gentiles.
32 Argiello, Relacion de lo que declararon los Gentiles Sacalanes, 1797, MS.;
Borica, Castigos que han de sufrir los Indios, 1797, MS.
33 Argiiello, Relacion que formé de las declaraciones de los Indios Cristianos
huidos de la Mision de San Francisco, 1797, MS. Tiburcio was flogged five
times by Danti for crying at the death of his wife and child. Magin was put
in the stocks when ill. Tarazon visited his country and felt inclined to stay.
Claudio was beaten by the alcalde with a stick and forced to work when ill.
José Manuel was struck with a bludgeon. Liberato ran away to escape dying
of hunger as his-mother, two brothers, and three nephews had done. Otolon
was flogged for not caring for his wife after she had sinned with the vaquero.
Milan had to work with no food for his family and was flogged because he
went after clams. Patabo had lost his family and had no one to take care of
him. Orencio’s niece died of hunger. Toribio was always hungry. Magno
received no ration because, occupied in tending his sick son, he could not
work.
712 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
ages of an epidemic.* No further troubles occurred
at San Francisco, but the Sacalanes-and other gentiles
continued their hostile influence at San José mission,
several times requiring the presence of Amador, who
in April 1800 made another raid, killing a chief, cap-
turing twenty fugitives, and breaking all the bows
and arrows of the foe.”
Something remains to be said of San Francisco Mis-
sion, where we left Cambon and Danti in charge as
ministers at the end of 1790. Cambon, one of the
few remaining pioneer missionaries, and a founder of
San Francisco, retired to his college entirely broken
down in health at the end of 1791, and was succeeded
by Martin Landaeta, a new-comer, who however was
absent from October 1798 to September 1800, Espf
serving in 1797-9, and Merelo in 1799-1800. Diego
Garcia remained until October 1791, and returned in
1796-7. Danti retired in the summer of 1796; Padre
Fernandez took his place in 1796-7 with Garcia as a
supernumerary, and Rémon Abella came in July 1798.
Padre Martiarena was also supernumerary from
August 1800, and the names of several others appear
on the mission-books as having officiated here at dif-
ferent dates.™
34 July 1, 1798, Borica to viceroy, in Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 97-8; Lasuen,
Representacion, 1801, MS., in Arch. Sta Baérbara, ii. 202-5,
35 Amador, Salida contra Indios Gentiles, 1800, MS. Alsoon slight previous
troubles at San José. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 173-4; xvii. 97, 100-1, 106-7.
36 Pedro Benito Cambon, a native of Santiago in Galicia, Spain, was ordered
to California from the college in August 1770, setting out in Oct., sailing from
San Blas in January 1771, and arriving at San Diego March 12, and Mon-
terey May 21st. He was a founder of San Gabriel in September 1771, and
served there until April 1772. He then spent several years at Velicata in
Baja California for the benefit of his health, and to look after Franciscan
property. He went to San Francisco in Oct. 1776, but was absent from Oct.
1779 until May 1782, during which time he made a trip from San Blas to
Manila as chaplain of the San Carlos, devoting his pay to the purchase of sup-
plies for his neophytes, and also founded San Buenaventura in March 1782.
He was a zealous and able man, but his health repeatedly broke down, and
finally in November 1791, at the request of Lasuen, and on a certificate signed
by three surgeons, he was permitted to depart without waiting for the vice-
roy’s license. His last signature on the mission-books was on Sept. 10th. S.
Francisco, Lib. Mision, MS., i, 61, 69; Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 18, 19.
37 José de la Cruz Espi, possibly Espi as written by himself, a native of
Valencia, came to Mexico in 1786, and two years later went to Nootka’as
chaplain with the expedition of Martinez, which touched on the California
MISSION STATISTICS. 713
During the decade 1,213 natives were baptized,
1,031 were buried, 203 of them in 1795, and the neo-
phyte population as registered grew from 438 to 644,
from which it would appear that most of the fugitive
cumarrones had been recovered before 1800. Large
stock increased from 2,000 to 8,200, and sheep from
1,700 to 6,200.% Crops in 1800 amounted to 4,100
bushels, one half wheat, the largest yield having been
coast. He came to California as a missionary in 1793, serving at San Antonio
from September of that year until September 1794; at Soledad until Decem-
ber 1795; at Santa Cruz until 1797; and at San Francisco from June 1797
until August 1799) when he obtained leave to retire and sailed from San
Diego Jan. 16, 1800. He had served 10 years and refused to remain longer.
His signature appears on the San Francisco books until Aug. 19, 1799. S.
Francisco, Lib. de Mision, MS., 44; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 60, 220;
Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 57.
Of Antonio Danti we only know that he was minister at San Francisco
from October 1790 until July 1796; that he had a fiery temperament—genio
de pélvora, as Borica termed it—and was disposed to be unduly severe to his
Indians; and that he was finally allowed to retire, suffering from some trouble
with his legs and with inflammation of the eyes threatening blindness. San
Francisco, Lib. de Mision, MS., 41; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., vi. 227; xi.
56-7; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 149, 157, 163.
Diego Garcia came to California in 1787, serving at San Francisco from
September of that year until October 1791; at Soledad until February 1792;
at San Antonio until November 1792; again at Soledad until March 1796; and
again at San Francisco until May 1797. He was generally a supernumerary
and his services as minister were not in great deinand. One year on some
frivolous pretext he neglected to sow any grain; he made himself obnoxious
to each successive associate; and once when assigned to San José refused
obedience. Naturally no objection was made to his retiring at the end of his
term of 10 years, the coming of which probably saved him from dismissal by
Lasuen. His license was dated July 8, 1797; his last signature at San Fran-
cisco was on May 18th. San Francisco, Lib. de Mision, MS., 40, 61; Soledad,
Lib. de Mision, MS.; Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., xi. 227-8; Prov. Iec., MS., vi.
11d.
José Maria Fernandez left his college in February and arrived at San
Francisco in September 1796, serving until May 1797 as minister, receiving
his license in July, and leaving California a little later. He was a.very kind-
hearted man, and as we have seen Borica gave him great credit for having
secured better treatment for the natives at San Francisco; but a blow on
the head accidentally received affected his health and especially his mind to
such an extent as to incapacitate him for missionary labor. San Francisco, Lib.
de Mision, MS.; Arch. Sta Barbara, xi. 57-8; Prov. Rec., MS. vi. 98.
38 May 28, 1791, Fages informed Romeu that the padres of San Francisco
had formed a new establishment seven leagues away, where they kept most
of their neophytes. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 149; but we hear no more of the
subject. The controversies between mission and presidio about pasturage, and
the alleged inferiority of San Francisco cattlé, have been already noticed. In
Prov. Kec., MS., vi. 79, it is stated that sheep-raising was introduced in
1796, but no special increase appears in the statistics for that year. May 19,
1797, Argiiello says the San Francisco sheep being of Merino stock may be a
little better than elsewhere. He wanted to me 100, but Landaeta refused to
sell. Prov. St. eae MS., xv. 8, 9.
714 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
5,800 bushels in 1796; the smallest 1,200 in 1792,”
ane the average 3.600 bushels. The mission bald
ings were described by Vancouver as forming two
sides of a square, without any apparent intention of
completing the quadrangle, the architecture and ma-
terial being as at the presidio, but the apartments
larger, better constructed, and cleaner. At this time
all roofs were of thatch, and the dwellings of the Ind-
ians were huts of willow poles, basket-work of twigs,
and thatch of grass and tules, about twelve feet high,
six or seven feet in diameter, and ‘‘abominably in-
fested with every kind of filth and nastiness.” In
1793 nineteen adobe houses were built, which number
was subsequently increased until in 1798 there were
enough for most of the married neophytes. In 1794
a new storehouse 150 feet long was built and roofed
with tiles as were some of the old buildings, and half
a league of ditch was dug round the potrero and fields.
In 1795 another adobe “building 180 feet long was
erected; and tile roofs were completed for all the
structures, including the church, about which from the
laying of the corner-stone in 1782 nothing more is
recorded down to 1800. At the time of Vancouver’s
visit one large room was occupied by manufacturers
of a coarse sort of blanketing, made from wool pro-
duced in the neighborhood. ‘The looms, though
rudely wrought, were tolerably well contrived, and
had been made by the Indians. The produce is
wholly applied to the clothing of the converted Ind-
ians. I saw some of the cloth, which was by no
89 Where the cultivated fields were situated at this time does not appear.
In 1795 supplies furnished to the presidio amounted to $2,831. Prov. Rec.,
MS., v. 26. In January 1795 cold weather prevented the padres from say-
ing mass. Id., v. 40-1. From 1797 to 1800 regular weather reports were
rendered at the end of each year. 1797 was cold, windy, and foggy. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., vi. 100. In 1798 the summer began with ‘terrible and continu-
ous wind’ and fog, and the winter with frost, heavy rains, and roof-damaging
winds. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xvii. 22-3. In 1799 little rain,
heavy north winds, and much frost. Id., xxvii. 2. 1800, heavy rains, some
frost, strong winds. /d., xxviii. 12-13.
40 Vancouver's Voyage, ii. 10-14; St. Pap., Miss., MS., i.. 124; ii. 15, 78;
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 59-60. Fages states that in 1787 there was but
a suplemento de iglesia, a temporary affair. Lages, Informe Gen., MS., 146.
ee
a |
we
=
Se ge ee ge
i ee a ee oe
=e a er ray Ra ee ws
eee)
ANNALS OF SAN JOSE. 715
means despicable; and, had it received the advantage
of fulling, would have been a very decent sort of
clothing.” In 1797 Borica ordered that mission
blankets should be used at the presidio, and no more
obtained from Mexico; but in 1799 he disapproved
the friars’ scheme of building a fulling-mill. In 1796
a manufacture of coarse pottery was established un-
der Mariano Tapia.“
The new establishments of Branciforte, Santa Cruz,
and Mission San José having been elsewhere noticed,
there remain the annals of Santa Clara and the pueblo
of San José, the former within this northern jurisdic-
tion, and the latter most conveniently included in it,
though it really belonged to the military jurisdiction
of Monterey. At the pueblo population increased in
general terms from eighty to one hundred and sev-
enty, though the variation from year to year is so
*! White apprentices were to come to San Francisco to learn to make pot-
tery. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 53-4: v. 78, 206; vi. 230. Some cotton from San
Blas was woven before 1797. St. Pap., Aiss., MS., ii. 100. In 1798 the mis-
sion contracted to furnish tiles to the presidio at $20 per thousand. Prov. St.
Pap., MS., xvii. 97; xvi. 25, 42.
Such are the facts briefly stated in 23 pages that I have to present respect-
ing San Francisco from 1791 to 1800. Most of the facts are in themselves not
very startling or important, but they constitute the annals for ten years of
what is now a great city; and they have been recorded not diffusely, I believe,
but with due condensation. As I write, a History of the City of San Iran-
cisco comes from the press. It was written in accordance with a resolution of
congress calling for a historical sketch of each town from its foundation, as a
centennial memorial; it was written by a pioneer, an editor, the author of
several good works, the historian of the Society of California Pioneers; in
fact by a man generally supposed, and with much reason, to be better qualified
_than any other for the task, for which he was paid by the city. Being a his-
tory of a town the work might naturally be expected to deal largely in local
details whose absence in a history of California would be excusable. The
work has received no unfavorable criticism, except for its rendering of modern
events involving personal and political prejudices. For the Spanish period
there is nothing but praise. The leading journals of the city credit the
author with immense research among the records of the past, and with an
exhaustive treatment of his subject. Naturally, therefore, it was with some
trembling that I compared the results with those of my own labors; but I
breathe more freely and am encouraged, when I see that respecting this dec-
ade the work alluded to contains the following, and nothing more: ‘Cambon
was soon superseded by Danti, and he by Avella, who served 20 years, com-
mencing in 1797;’ the mission had in ‘1793, 704 Indians, 2,700 cattle, 2,300
_ sheep, and 314 horses.’ For four decades, from 1780 to 1820, all that the work
contains will barely fill one page of foolscap manuscript. Thisis but a sample
of the record of early California events hitherto called history, and yet the
work to which I refer is one of the best of its class.
716 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCiSCO DISTRICT.
ereat and inexplicable as to inspire doubts of entire
accuracy.” fe)
left in 1797, the latest complete report extant, and
about fifty new names of settlers, pensioners, and sol-
diers appear during the decade. Ignacio Vallejo held
the office of comisionado until November 1792, and
from May 1797 to November 1799; Macario Castro
from 1792 to 1794, and from 1799 to 1807; and
Gabriel Moraga from 1794 to 1797, the same men
being corporals of the guard. Marcos Chabolla was
alealde in 1796, José Maria Martinez in 1797, Jacobo
Velarde in 1798, Ignacio Castro in 1799, and Fran-
cisco Castro in 1800.
Cattle and horses increased from less than 1,000
head to 6,580, while sheep, notwithstanding Borica’s
efforts, decreased to less than 400.% Agricultural
products were 4,300 bushels in 1800, the largest crop
having been 6,700 bushels in 1797, and the smallest
* According to the statistics the population in 1791 was 82; in 1792, 122;
in 1794, 80; in 1795, 187; in 1796, 208; in 1798, 152; and in 1800, 171, from
10 to 20 natives being included in each number. Of the 26 names given in a
former chapter (xvi.) for 1790, there disappeared before 1797, Antonio Romero
and Francisco Avila (sent away in 1792) of the pobladores; Juan Antonio
Amézquita, invalid; and Higuera, Cayuelas, and Joaquin Castro, agregados.
The new names that appear during the decade, most of them on the list of
1797, are as follows: Francisco Alvires, Javier Alviso, Francisco Alviso, José
Aguila, Francisco Arias, Justo Altamirano, José Avila, Nicolas Berreyesa,
Pedro Bojorques, José Maria Benavides, Antonio Buelna, Francisco Béjar,
Marcos Chabolla, Francisco Castro, Macario Castro, Leocadio Cibrian, Pablo
Cibrian, Ignacio Cantua, Nicol4s Camareno, Bernardo Flores, Bernardo Gon-
zalez, Francisco Gonzalez, Nicolis Galindo, Bernardo Heredia, Salvador
Higuera, Ramon Lasso de la Vega, José Larios, José Maria Martinez, Leo-
cadio Martinez, Dolores Mesa, Joaquin Mesa, Gabriel Moraga, Juan Mejia,
Miguel Osuna, Ignacio Pacheco, Miguel Pacheco, Luis Peralta, José Pliego,
Pedro Romero, José Maria Ruiz, Juan Rosas, José Saez, Miguel Saez, Justo
Saez, José Antonio Sanchez, Albino Tobar, Rafael Villavicencio, Jacobo
Velarde, Antonio Soto. List of 1793, in Prov. Rec., MS., v. 410-14. Lists
of 1797, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 130-1; Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxv. 6, 7.
43'Three thousand three hundred and forty-seven cattle, horses, and mules,
the number for 1799, would probably be a fairer estimate, for the statistics
are very irregular. An increase from 945 cattle in 1799 to 3,311 in 1800 is
inexplicable, the number given for 1801 being 1,841. Sheep-raising intro-
duced in 1796, according to Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 79. May 18, 1796, Sal to
comisionado, transcribing Borica’s orders. Many vecinos have not a single
sheep. This is bad and contrary to the reglamento. Each settler must at
once obtain aram and 10 sheep, and the government will at once advance the
means to the poor. S. José, Arch., MS., i. 87. A settler must not keep more
than 50 cattle, and should keep sheep in the proportion of three to one. Prov.
Rec., MS., iv. 204; Dep. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 73-4.
s
Of the nine original settlers six were still °
Se a eS
—
—<—— =
Se
a a ee eS
PRIVATE RANCHOS. "17
1,800 in 1799. These figures include wheat, corn,
and beans, but not hemp, the culture of which was.
introduced into California in 1795, San José being
selected as the place for the experiment, and Ignacio
Vallejo as the man to superintend it. Small crops of
this staple were raised nearly every year during the
last half of the decade. Some rude machinery was
constructed for its preparation, and several small lots
of the prepared fibre were sent to Monterey for ship-
ment to San Blas.*
Outside of the pueblo limits, there is no evidence of
any agricultural or stock-raising operations in this
region or in the San Francisco jurisdiction, where no
land-grants even of a provisional nature had been
made, except perhaps EH] Pilar on the peninsula to José
Argiiello in 1797, about which there is some uncer-
tainty.“© The slight structures of the town had, as
44 Jan. 15, 1795, Borica urges increased attention to agriculture and prom-
ises preference in the purchase of supplies. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i.
45-6. March 29, 1796, Borica is glad to know the reservoir is finished and
he offers a premium of $25 to the man who shall raise the biggest crop. Prov.
Rec., MS., iv. 186. Sept. 1796, Borica congratulates San José on her wheat
crop. In May he had soundly rated the comisionado for not planting more
. corn. /d., iv. 188-9, 196, 202. May 2, 1796, 10 sacks seed-corn sent from
Monterey. S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 87. Sept. 15, 1797, complaints of bad
quality of San José flour. /d., v.32. May 30, 1798, Borica orders the settlers
to enclose their fields. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 272, 298. Aug. 31, 1799, Vallejo
to B., very poor wheat crops caused by chahuiste. Asks for time to pay
loans and tithes. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 229.
4 Dec. 23, 1795, Borica to Moraga ordering him to afford Vallejo aid in the
way of grain with which to pay native laborers. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 241.
Dec. 4th, Argiiello to Moraga, transcribes B.’s note of Dec. Ist, with viceroy’s
order of Aug. 26th, in reply to Borica’s of Feb. lst, with instructions on prep-
aration of hemp, and promise of instruments. S. José, Arch., MS., iv. 28.
Lands of Linares taken and others given him. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 177-80.
July 3, 1796, B. regrets loss of first crop; but five fanegas of seed were saved.
Id., iv. 192, 199. August 13th, B. to Vallejo, carpenter Béjar to make machin-
ery. Grain to be sown for rations of native laborers. /d., iv. 197. About 30
fanegas of seed harvested in 1796-7. Twenty-five arrobas (625 lbs.) sent to
San blas in 1798. Jd., vi. 103; Sé. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 70. Numerous minor
communications on the subject during 1797, showing great interest on the
part of Borica and even the V. R. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv." Seven bales ,
shipped in September 1800. Crop in 1800-1 not good. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.
15; S. José, Arch., MS.., iii. 59, 66, 70.
46 Application and grant recorded in Prov. Rec., MS., v. 103; but in 1798 Ar-
giiello himself names Kl Pilar as belonging to the mission. Argiiello, Informe
sobre Rancho del Rey, MS. In his report of 1794 Arrillaga says that the settlers
of San José formerly did not possess their lands in property, and the land annu-
ally assigned them by the comisionado was not properly cultivated because liable
next year to fall into the hands of another. ‘he comisionado was therefore or-
718 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
we have seen, been removed before 1791 to a short
distance from the original site, but there is nothing to
show that the buildings on the new site were of a
more substantial character; neither was there any-
thing noticeable accomplished in the way of manutfac-
tures.“
The settlers showed a spirit of insubordination early
in 1792, owing to popular dissatisfaction with Vallejo
as comisionado, but on his removal quiet was restored,
not to be disturbed in the same way until 1800 under
Castro’s administration. At this time a gang of idle
vagabonds committed all kinds of depredations, and
finally set the comisionado’s house on fire one night
when a ‘‘peaceable and lawful ball’ was in progress.
A detachment of soldiers was sent from San Fran-
cisco to restore order, which it is to be presumed they
accomplished, though we have no particulars.” Mean-
while in 1794 there had been fears of an Indian out-
break which gave rise to much correspondence and
caused unusual precautions. Tather Fernandez of
Santa Clara was accused of undue severity in connec-
tion with this affair, a charge not fully sustained when
Alférez Sal was sent to make investigations. No out-
dered to-distribute four suertes to each on condition of paying a fee of reconoci-
miento to the king, and of not selling without consent of the authorities. Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xii. 188-9. Dec. 29, 1798, governor to comisionado, each
lot to be 200 yards square, for which half a fanega of maize must be paid.
New settlers must pay same as old pobladores, and will get a title. Aftera
year and a day they may hold office. He who abandons his land loses all
improvements. Retired soldiers pay no reconocimiento, but their heirs must
pay. Jd., xxi. 177-8. Feb. 7, 1800, some settlers disposed to abandon their
lands or part of them. This must not be allowed. S. José, Arch., MS., iii.
63. »
47 Sept. 25, 1797, reference to a bridge over the creek. Prov. Rec., MS.,
iv. 257. April 3, 1799, if the people want a chapel they may use the commu-
nity grain to build it. Jd., iv. 292.
#8 Jan. 1795, Borica urges the people to tan hides and make saddles, boots,
and shoes, etc., which will be purchased at fair prices if of good quality. He
will have no idleness. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 220. Leocadio Martinez, carpen-
ter, was exiled-here in 1796. San José, Arch., MS., ii. 79. Oct. 28, 1798,
Larios and Ballesteros allowed to build a water-mill, Prov. Rec., MS. Ae af
283. July 1799, reference to Villavicencio’s weavery at San José. Jd., iv
300.
” Arrillaga, Papel de Puntos, MS., 188. Sept. 30, 1800, Castro to Sal, with
certificate of alcalde and Ramon Lasso. Oct. 2d, Sal to Arrillaga transmit-
ting the complaint. Dec. 13th, governor’s orders to Sal and Alberni, Prov,
St. Pap., MS., xviii. 4-8, 16.
ae
I a i ae
PUEBLO VS MISSION. 719
break occurred.” After 1797 a large part of the
military guard was withdrawn to provide for the new
foundations.
In 1797 there was a proposition to move the pueblo
to the western bank of the river, with a view to
escape the danger of inundation. It was favored by
Moraga, Vallejo, Alcalde Chabolla, and in fact by all
the settlers except four. Borica ordered Cérdoba to
examine the proposed site and make a plan for the
town, and the change seemed likely to be effected;
but after September the whole subject was dropped,”
probably in consequence of a controversy between the
ueblo and mission about boundaries. This quarrel was
the most notable local event of the decade. In April
1797 Father Sanchez of Santa Clara complained that
the townsmen were encroaching on the mission lands.
Borica thereupon sent the engineer Cérdoba to make
a survey and establish the boundaries, taking into
account the views of both friars and vecinos and also
the former survey of Moraga. Cérdoba reported in
August that the bound, so far as it could be deter-
mined from Moraga’s rather vague survey by meas-
uring 1,950 varas down the river from where the old
dam was said to have been, was within the mission
potrero, and that the padres refused to accept it in a
representation enclosed in the report. In this docu-
ment, addressed by Catalé and Viader to Borica,
great stress was placed on the rights of the natives,
and to the fact that some time in the future the lands
must be divided among the 5,000 native owners. It
5° Correspondence between Moraga, Argiiello, and Sal in Prov. St. Pap.,
MS., xii. 33, 49-53, 124-32, 189-91. May 16, 1797, guard to be withdrawn.
Prov. Rec., MS. ., iv. 213. Aug. 2, 1794, troops ordered to be drawn up under
arms, and all citizens to Saeanhie with officials to formally recognize Borica
as governor. S. José, Arch:, MS., iii. 23. May 20, 1797, Moraga to Vallejo,
statement of armament and ammunition. There was one mounted cannon.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 168-9; S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 48-9.
5! Jan. 8, 1797, Moraga to Borica. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 4. Jan. 10th,
Chabolla to B. Id., xvi. 24. May 11th, B. to Cordoba. Id., xxi. 257. Sept.
7th, Vallejo to B. Id., xv. 145. Sept. 26th, Vallejo says the alcalde has
directed the people to build across the river. Id., xvii. 241. No date, José
Maria Martinez says the settlers did not desire the removal. Id, xvii. 241,
720 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
was claimed that the mission had been in actual pos-
session of the lands in dispute for twelve years, and
instances were cited where controversies with individ-
uals had been decided by Moraga and others in favor
of the mission. Moreover, the natives, both Chris-
tian and gentile, were beginning to complain that they
were robbed of their lands.
Nothing more is heard of the matter for a year.”
In July 1798 the guardian of San Fernando college,
who was no other than Padre Tomds de la Peiia, for-
merly minister of Santa Clara, and to whom the mat-
ter had naturally been referred by the missionaries,
addressed a petition to the viceroy. In it he states
that Moraga founded the pueblo nearer the mission
than Neve had intended it to be. Neve had subse-
quently admitted this and promised to move the town;
but as during his administration no lands were as-
signed, no landmarks fixed, and no pueblo cattle sent
across the river, there had been no trouble.*? When
Tages came he determined to grant lands and fix
boundaries, and he did so notwithstanding the friars’
verbal and written protest and Junipero Serra’s en-
treaties, to which he paid not the slightest respect.
From that time troubles were frequent, and Fages,
the archenemy of the friars, seemed to take pleasure
in annoying them. In 1786, however, Palou on his
return to Mexico laid the matter-before the viceroy
and obtained a promise of relief or at least of investi-
gation; the river to be the boundary until a definite —
settlement should be made. Owing to the death of
the viceroy followed by that of Palou, the promise
52Tn the mean time, however, the padres of Mission San José complained of
damage done by pueblo horses, and Vallejo gave orders to remedy the evil,
though it was difficult to keep the horses off the lands where they had been
born and raised. Oct. 9, 1798, P. Barcenilla to Vallejo. Oct. 18th, Vallejo
to Borica. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 156-7. f
°° Neve, Instruccion que dd & Fages, MS., 147, seems to have pronounced
in favor of the half-way mark between pueblo and mission as the boundary.
‘ Declaro que la guardiaraya 6 lindero que divide los dos términos de Oriente
4 Poniente es la mediacion del terreno que intermedia entre las dos poblaci-
ones, correspondiendo 4 la mision la parte del Norte, y al Pueblo la del Sur,
donde pueden ponerse desde luego mojoneras.’
RE eit Sian as Te
SAN JOSE VS SANTA CLARA. 721
was not fulfilled; but during the time of Romeu and
Arrillaga, the mission had never recognized the old
landmarks, and without hinderance had built their
fences and used the land beyond those old bounds.
Now, however, the settlers were encroaching on the
lands thus occupied, and insisting on the limits fixed
by Fages. The petition calls for the river Guadalupe
as a dividing line, which will leave to the pueblo land
enough, and with which the mission will be content,
though its lands be less in extent and of inferior quality.
This petition was referred to Borica, who in Decem-
ber 1798 reported in favor of the padres, but suggested
that a part of the mountains toward the coast should
be reserved to the pueblo for a source of wood-supply.
On this basis the matter was settled, after some unim-
portant correspondence between local authorities, by a
viceregal decree of September 1, 1800, in favor of the
Guadalupe as a boundary, with a reservation of moun-
tain woodland to be avreed upon and clearly marked
to prevent future disputes. Captain Argiiello was
appointed commissioner for the pueblo, and- Padre
Landaeta for the mission, and in July 1801 the boun-
daries were surveyed and landmarks fixed. Thus the
missionaries were victorious.” I append in a note a
slight résumé of pueblo regulations at San José as
expressed in the correspondence of this decade.”
54San José, Question de Ltmites entre el Pueblo y la Mision de Santa Clara,
1797-1801. Varios Papeles tocantes al Asunto., MS. These papers include
April 30, 1797, complaint of P. Sanchez to Borica; May 11th, decree of B.
with instructions to Cérdoba; July 29th, examination of witnesses at San
José; Aug. 7th, Cérdoba’s report; Aug. 6th, 1epresentation of Catala and
Viader to B.; July 27, 1798, Petia, Peticion del I’. Guardian sobre limites de San
José y Santa Clara, 1798, MS.. Aug. 7th, Viceroy Azanza to B.; Dec. 3d, B.
to V. R., approving padre’s claims, in Prov. Rec., MS. vi. 110; Jan. 3d, April
1, 1800, Sal to comisionado of S. José. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 50, 56. Feb.
9th, Gov. to Sal. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 184. Sept. Ist, V. R.’s decree of settle-
ment. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ix. 10,11. Aug. 1, 1801, Carrillo to Arrillaga,
has received Argiiello’s report of July 31st. Sé. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS.,
i. 44. Aug. 3lst, Gov. to Carrillo, is advised of the establishment of the line
and of the settlers’ discontent. Governor to president to same effect. Prov.
St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxii. 3; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 15. Oct. 20, 1803,
padre asks permission to mark the boundaries with trenches. S. José, Arch.,
MS., iv. 100. Seealso Hall’s Hist. S. José, 57-80.
56 June 12, 1792, Argiiello to governor, only soldiers, justices, and travel-
lers may carry arms; boys must not go into the country without a guardian;
Hist. Cau., Vou. 1. 46
722 LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
At the mission of Santa Clara Pefia and Noboa
served as ministers until August 1794, when both
retired to their college, the former on account of ill-
health, the latter at the expiration of his term of ten
years. Padre Peiia during the later years of his
ail single males over 12 years old must sleep in the guard-house, for the pro-
tection of family peace; severe punishment for gaming. St. Pap., Sac., MS.,
i. lll. 1794, troops had to take care of their animals or pay for it, the sct-
tlers objecting. Arrillaya, Papel de Puntos, MS., 189. Dec. 4, 1795, Borica
approves that no grain be sown in community, but each settler contribute two
fanegas of wheat and two of corn each year. Prov. fec., MS., iv. 239. April
29, 1796, neither gentiles nor Christian Indians must be allowed to ride. S.
José, Arch., MS., ii. 65, 86. Nov. 5, 1796, B.’s orders that no gambling,
drinking, or illicit sexual relations are to be allowed, and Moraga must pre-
vent them or be dismissed. Jd., ii. 72. Sept. 3, 1796, no neophyte to be
allowed in the pueblo without a paper from the padre. Dept. St. Pap., S.
José, MS.. i. 67. Jan. 3, 1798, three keys to community granary, one kept
by comisionado, one by alcalde, and one by senior regidor. Prov. Rec., MS.,
iv. 263. April 30, 1798, comisionado not to meddle in administration of jus-
tice. Id., iv., 269-70. Dec. 13th, each invalid and settler, according to reg-
lamento, must keep two horses and equipments. J/d., iv. 286. Nov. 21, 1799,
Borica’s instructions to Castro on relieving Vallejo as comisionado. Details
on inventories, tithes, loan of seed, and moral supervision. San José, Arch.,
MS., vi. 40. August 22, 1800, Sol to comisionado. No one from Branciforte
to sow grain at San José. Alcalde has been instructed about those who beat
children. Comisionado to look after crops which are being neglected. Mules
won’t sell at any price. If Larios will not pay tithes he must not sow. San
José, Arch., MS., iii. 68. Oct. 4th, patrol after 11 Pp. m. to prevent disorders
and fires and arrest any one abroad without cause. A scouting party to be
organized for the country. Jd., ii. 65. Oct. 7th, if Heredia refuses to aid in
repairs to the depdsito, give him 40 days to leave the jurisdiction with all his
family and belongings. Ji., iii. 64. Only those duly registered as vecinos can
sow without special license. Jd., iii. 58. Oct. 15th, petitions can be sent only
through the comisionado. Jd., ili. 48. Oct. 25th, if Hernandez is found with
a knife he is to get 50 lashes; neither must he get drunk nor create scandal.
id, iv,
56 Tomas de la Pefia y Saravia, a native of Spain, left Mexico in October
1770, sailed from San Blas in February 1771, was driven to Manzanillo, came
hack to Sinaloa by land, and finally reached Loreto November 24, 1771, being
assigned to Comondu Mission. He came up to San Diego on September 1772,
serving there fora year, and subsequently as a supernumerary for short periods
at San Luis Obispo and San Carlos. From June to August 1774 he made a
voyage with Perez to the north-west coast, keeping a diary of the expedition.
After his return he remained as supernumerary at San Carlos and neighboring
missions until January 1777, when he became a founder of Santa Clara,
serving there until August 11, 1794, when he sailed for San Blas in the San-
tiago. In 1795 he received some votes for guardian of the college, and was
subsequently elected, since he held the position in 1798. He was also sindic
of the college from 1800 to Feb. 9, 1806, the date of his death. P. Pefia was
an able and successful missionary, but hot-tempered and occasionally harsh
in his treatment of the neophytes. He was accused before 1790 of having
caused the death of two boys by his blows; but after a full investigation the
charge was proven false, the Indian witnesses confessing that they had testi-
fied falsely, and some evidence being adduced to show that Commandant
Gonzalez, whom the padre had reproved for his immorality, had used his
influence in favor of the accusation. The formal decision was not reached
until 1795, after the padre had retired to Mexico; but he interceded with
ANNALS OF SANTA CLARA. 723
stay in California was a prey to that peculiar hypo-
chondria which affected so many of the early mission-
aries, amounting at the last almost to insanity. It
is possible that in his case this condition was aggra-
vated by serious but unfounded charges of having
killed two Indian boys by ill-treatment. The suc-
cessors In the ministry were Magin Catala,” and
Manuel Fernandez, but the latter served only a year,
being accused of excessive severity toward the natives,
and then came José Viader. For three decades I
shall have no further changes in ministers to record
at Santa Clara.
In 1800 this mission had a larger neophyte popula-
tion than any other in California, “showing a gain from
927 to 1,247, baptisms having nunibened 2,288, and
deaths 1,682, so that a margin of nearly 300 is left
for runaways. The baptisms in 1794 had been 500,
and 235 in 1796 had been the largest number of deaths.
Live-stock, large and small, had increased to about
5,000 each, Santa Clara being behind San Francisco
in this respect, and barely equal in agricultural pro-
ducts, which in 1800 amounted to 4,200 bushels. The
best crop was 8,300 bushels in 1797, the worst 3,200
in 1792, the average being 4,600 bushels. Wheat was
the authorities in behalf of his Indian accusers, who were released after pub-
licly apologizing to the ministers for their attempt to bring dishonor on the
order. President Lasuen in May 1794 spoke of his condition as being pitia-
ble, for he had became emaciated, talked to himself, appeared constantly
afraid, and showed other symptoms which caused fears that he might lose
his reason. Pefia had a patent as president in case of accident to Lasuen.
See Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., x. 150, 289; xi. 52, 220, 240; xii. 436; Sta
Clara, Lib. de Mision, MS.; Sta Cruz, Inb. de Mision, MS,, 10; Arch, Arzo-
bispado, MS., i. 39; Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 33-5; iv. 234; Prov. St. Pap., Ben.
Mil., MS., xix. 6; and Pefia, Cargo de Homicidio contra el Padre Tomés de la
Petia, 1786-95, MS. Of Diego de Noboa nothing is known save that he ar-
rived at San Francisco from Mexico on June 2, 1783, remained unattached at
San Francisco and Santa Clara until June 1784, when he became minister of
the latter mission and continued to serve there until he sailed with his asso-
ciate on Aug, 11, 1794.
Sept 3, 1796, Borica says that it is reported that Catala has threatened
the comandante of San José to destroy the houses if he admits Christian
natives to the pueblo. He does not believe any such reports. Magin is a friar,
not a Robespierre. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 169-70. Jan. 7, 1797, B. orders
Moraga and Vallejo to give satisfaction to Catala for their rudeness, and asks
the padre to bear a little with the manners of men who were not educated ‘en
el colegio de nobles ni en el Romano.’ /d., vi. 179-80.
724 . LOCAL EVENTS—SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
the leading product, and no barley was raised as a
rule.”
Vancouver describes the mission buildings as on
' the same general plan as at San Francisco, forming
an incomplete square of about 100 by 170 feet. The
structures were somewhat superior to those of San
Francisco, the church being long, lofty, and as well
built as the rude materials would permit. The upper
stories, or garrets, of the buildings and some of the
lower rooms were used as granaries, and there were
also two detached storehouses recently erected. Close
to the padres’ house ran a fine stream of water, but
in order to be near this stream the site had been
selected in a low marshy spot only a few hundred
yards from dry and comfortable eminences.” In fact
this very year of 1792 the friars had ee confined
for a long time to their house by a flood, and it had
been resolved to move the mission buildings some five
hundred yards to higher ground.® There is no further
direct record of the removal, and it is not likely that
the new church was ever moved, but a report of 1797
that the ministers’ houses, guard-room, storehouse,
and soldiers’ dwellings had been completed indicates
a transfer of such buildings as were on the lowest
ground." ‘The church had a roof of tiles and had
58 Supplies furnished to Monterey in 1795, $1,439; to S. Francisco, $212;
to Monterey in 1796, $2,147; in 1798, $800. In December 1797 had a draft
from Argiiello for $1,648. Ordered a bill of goods of $4,000 from Mexico.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 208, 206; xvii. 62; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 76. Fur-
nished supples to San Carlos in the hard year of 1795. Arch. Sta Barbara,
MS., ii. 229-30. Bean crop failed in 1795, raising price froin $2.50 to $3.50.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 67-8. The following items are from Vanconver’s
observations in 1792. Many thousand bushels of different grains in store.
Hemp and flax succeed well. Wheat yields 25 and 30 fold. Barley and oats
not raised because the superior grain could be produced with the same labor.
In the garden were peaches, apricots, apples, pears, figs and vines, though
the latter do not flourish. Immense herds of cattle; 24 oxen killed every
Saturday for food. Vancouver's Voyage, ii., 19-24.
59 Vancouver’s Voyage, ii., 18, 19.
June 30, 1792, Sal to Arrillaga, in St. Pap., Sac., MS., iii., 23. May 28,
1791, Fages to Romeu, the padres are forming a new establishment Prov.
St. Pap., MS., x. 150.
61 Aug. 17, 1796, Amador to Borica, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv., 170-1.
‘The padres’ houses had 8 rooms of 5 yds. each; guard- -house, 8 x 5; store-
-house, 5 yds. square; 5 soldiers’ houses, each 54 yds, There was also a corral
SANTA CLARA. | 725
been lengthened twenty-four feet in 1795. At the
time of Vancouver's visit some of the natives were
at work on adobe houses for themselves. Fourteen
of these dwellings, thatched, were completed in 1798,
nine more in 1794, and before 1798 nearly all the
married neophytes were thus accommodated.” The
cloth woven at. Santa Clara seemed to Vancouver of
a better quality than at San Francisco. In 1792 two
thousand hides were tanned, but very few of them
could be sold. Miguel Sangrador was the master
tanner and shoemaker; Cayetano Lopez the master
carpenter and mill-maker. It does not appear that
there was any water-power mill either at Santa Clara
or San José before 1800.%
36 yds. square with walls 6 feet high, built of stout timbers and adobes de
cajon.
62 Besides enlarging the church, a trench was dug in 1795, half a league
long, nine feet wide, and five feet deep. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ii. 78, 122.
Adobe houses for neophytes. Jd., ii. 16, 123. In 1798 they seem to have had
tile roofs. Argiiello’s report in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 59-60. Guard-
house finished in 1796. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 92. Vancouver was shown by
Pejia a ponderous black stone which was to be used for building and for mill
stones as soon as any one could be found capable of working it. Voyage, ii. 35.
63 Arch. Sta Barbara, MS., ii. 72-3; St. Pap., Sac., MS., ii. 9,10; Prov.
St. Pap., MS., xxi. 128-9. Aug. 1797, rastras made at San José for grinding
wheat. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 253. April 18, 1796, Borica orders Vallejo to
seek suitable stones for a mill; but on May 2d he was directed to suspend the
work. JId., vi. 187-8.
CHAPTER XXXIITI.
CLOSE OF BORICA’S RULE.
1800.
END oF A DECADE AND CENTURY—Borica’s PoLticy AND CHARACTER—INDUS-
TRIAL REVIVAL—FRUITLESS EFFORTS—GOVERNOR’S RELATIONS WITH
Friars, SOLDIERS, NEOPHYTES, AND SETTLERS—EFFORTS FOR PROMO-
TION—A KNIGHT OF SANTIAGO—FAMILY RELATIONS— LEAVE OF ABSENCE,
DEPARTURE, AND DEATH—ARRILLAGA AND ALBERNI IN COMMAND—LIST
oF SECONDARY AUTHORITIES ON EARLY CALIFORNIA HistoRY—LIsT OF
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA FROM 1769 To 1800.
Tue rule of Diego de Borica from 1794 to 1800
was a period rather of progress, or of effort toward
progress, than of events. Going beyond the routine
duties of his position, the governor devoted himself
faithfully and intelligently to the general advancement
of his province. No one of California’s few classes of
inhabitants was slighted or specially favored. Mais-
sionaries, neophytes, pagans, soldiers, and _ settlers,
each received sympathy, encouragement, and aid from
the government. No industry or institution was
neglected. Missions and pueblos, conversion and
colonization, agriculture and trade, civil and military
and ecclesiastical government, all received close atten-
tion. The neophytes were the weakest class and
received the most sympathy; the padres were the
strongest and required least protection; the settlers
were the most difficult to manage and received atten-
tion proportionate to the magnitude of interests in-
volved in the future prosperity of the country. If
the results of Borica’s efforts as presented in the pre-
ceding chapters were slight and unsatisfactory in
( 726 )
a
a ee
> pes
ine * jew
_-
&
si See “7 Se jars
THE GOVERNOR’S CHARACTER. 727
many respects as viewed from an Anglo-American
standpoint, this fact was due to inherent difficulties in
the problems presented for solution, to the spirit of
the times, to the nature of the raw material both
native and foreign, rather than to Borica’s shortcom-
ings or to inadequate royal provisions. Don Diego
was not a genius; he was a prudent, sensible man,
honest and zealous in the discharge of his public
duties.
_.I have already noted Borica’s arrival with his fam-
ily at Loreto, and in the autumn of 1794, at Monterey.
Fortunately a quantity of his private letters or blot-
ters of the same, were left in California and have been
preserved in the archives giving us a brief glance at
the man in his private capacity, as an agreeable com-
panion, a bon vivant, jovial and witty. The letters
also gave us Borica’s early impressions of California,
enthusiastically eulogized as the best country in the
world in which to live long and well.’ Unfortunately
the governor took better care of private correspond-
ence in later years, and from the beginning of 1795
his individuality is well nigh sunk in the generalities
of official communications, which nevertheless con-
tinue to show the good-humor, kindness of heart,
sympathy for all suffering, invariable courtesy, and
business-like good sense which always characterized
the man.? His relations with the friars were always
friendly and mutually respectful. At the first he
assured President Lasuen of his desire to avoid all
controversy between the secular and the missionary
authorities, a desire reciprocated by Lasuen,’ and sub-
sequently kept in view by both parties. » Lasuen
1 See chapter xxv. of this volume.
2 Garcia, in Taylor’s Discov. and Found., No. 25, ii. 145, speaks of Borica
as not liked by the people on account of his stiff and formal manners; but
there is nothing in contemporary records to show that such was the feel-
ing toward him. Romero, Memorias, MS., 18, speaks of him as noted for
kindness and courtesy in his intercourse with subordinates, though never per-
mitting neglect of duty to pass unrebuked.
' 8 Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 36. Yet in 1791 the bishop of Durango ina
letter to the viceroy had spoken very bitterly and sarcastically of Borica’s
mission policy in the Provincias Internas. Pinart, Col. Doc., MS., 7.
728 CLOSE OF BORICA’S RULE.
often deemed Borica too much disposed to hear and
credit the complaints of lying neophytes, but no
noticeable coolness ensued. Still Borica’s success in
maintaining harmony with the padres shovld not be
compared with the failure of his predecessors to their.
disadvantage; for to a certain extent that success
resulted from the fact that Neve and Fages had fought
the battle, and the missionaries had learned from ex-
perience that it was not wise as yet to renew the
conflict.
I find no evidence that Borica ever left the capital
during his rule of six years, though it is not unlikely
that he may have visited San José and San Francisco.
In July 1794, before coming north, he sent a petition
to the king for promotion, and in October 1795 received
his commission as colonel of cavalry. In these early
years he also cherished the hope of still further pro-
motion to a generalship, or at least to the governorship
of Sonora, Durango, or Zacatecas. To this end he
sent large sums of money to Spain to be used at court,
but his agent Miranda seems to have spent the money
to no purpose. He seems to have been a man of
wealth, or at all events his wife, Dofia Maria Magda-
lena de Urquides, had large estates in Nueva Vizcaya.®
Being a knight of the order of Santiago he acted on
May 5, 1796, as grand master at the initiation of the
Spanish naval officer Don Ramon de Saavedra, at
Monterey. President Lasuen served as prelate on
4 Prov. Rec., MS., v. 71; vi. 26; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xi. 1973-xiti. 5d;
xiv. 29; xvii. 2. Previous to his appointment as governor he had been ad-
jutant-inspector in Chihuahua, his pay in that position running to May 13,
1794. Id., xii. 174.
5 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 206, 215-16, 222-4, 227.
6 Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 124. His wife and daughter, a beauty of 16, were
very popular. Garcta, in Taylor’s Discov. and Found., No. 25, 11. José Maria
Romero, Afemorias, MS., 18, says Borica had a son of the age of about 15,
whom he knew, and whose name he thinks was Cosme. He may indeed have
had a son, for he wrote to the president on July 23, 17 ‘95, that his wife was
about to bear him ‘un Califérnico 6 una Califérnica,’ Prov. Rec., MS., vi.
147, but he could not have been 15 years old in California. He had a sister,
Bernarda de Borica, in Victoria, province of Alava, Spain, his native place;
and he sent her, April 27, 1795, a bill of exchange for 105 pounds sterling.
Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxl, 210, 225.
ee ee ee
ee, eee
PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE, 729
that occasion, and it was probably the only ceremony
of the kind that ever occurred in California.”
In April 1799 Governor Borica applied to the vice-
roy for leave of absence to recuperate his health. He
said he had served thirty-six years, twenty-five of
which had been spent in active campaigns against
Indian tribes and in tours of inspection of presidios,
mining-camps, and other settlements in the Provincias
Internas. Journeyings aggregating ten thousand
four hundred and seventy-five leagues almost exclu-
sively on horseback had given rise ‘to a malady which
demanded medical treatment. Hither a leave of ab-
sence or a permanent transfer to an easier position in
New Spain would be satisfactory as he had no wish
to return to Spain. The result was a grant of eight
months’ leave signed by the viceroy in June and made
known in California in September.* The document
provided that Arrillaga, remaining at Loreto, should
be governor ad wtervm, while Alberni, presumably by
virtue of his seniority of military rank over Arrillaga,
was to take the position of comandante de armas for
Alta California. It was the governor’s intention to
depart in October, but he was delayed by new orders
from Mexico until the beginning of the next year.
The viceroy instructed him, owing to the hostile atti-
tude of British vessels in the Pacific, not to avail
himself of his leave of absence “until the aspect of
things should change.”®
The 8d of January 1800 Borica announced his in-
tention to depart on the 12th or 15th, and the com-
mandants were notified to publish the accession of
7 St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 84-5; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiii. 3.
8 April 1, 1799, Borica to viceroy, in Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 123-4. Sept.
19th, B. to Arrillaga, Alberni, and the commandants. Prov. St. Pap., MS.,
xvii. 318; /d., Ben. Mil., xxiv. 12; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 174-5. Nov. 8th,
Arrillaga’s reply. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 291.
9 July 6, 1799, viceroy to Borica. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 344. Dec.
3lst, the V. R. ordered him to use his own discretion as to the need of his
presence in California. St. Pap., Sac., MS8., iv., 73; but this communication
could not have been received before B.’s departure, and possibly the preceding
one also failed to arrive.
730 CLOSE OF BORICA’S RULE.
Arrillaga and Alberni.” On the 16th of the same
month he sailed on the Concepcion from San Diego
with his family, Captain Grajera, and four retiring
padres. Grajera, as we have seen, died two days out
from port; of Colonel Borica after his departure we
know only by a brief note in a subsequent communi-
cation of the viceroy that he died at Durango July
19, 1800.% January 16th, the date of Borica’s de-
parture from California, may be regarded as the day
when Arrillaga’s third term of rule ad interim began.
There were no events connected with his rule for the
rest of 1800 that require mention here.
A. Spanish account of California published in 1799,
though relating chiefly to the peninsula, contains a
tolerably complete and accurate sketch of the north-
ern establishments; and the instructions left by Vice-
roy Azanza to his successor in 1800 contain frequent
allusions to Californian affairs and have already been
cited on special topics.” It will have been noticed
that my foot-notes form an index of authorities on
each succesive phase of the historic record—that is
of original authorities in manuscript and print; but I
have not deemed it best or worth the space required
to extend this indexing process to the secondary
authorities. Seven eighths of the events recorded in
10 Jan. 3, 1800, Borica to commandants. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 114. March
5th, Goycoechea to Arrillaga. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 23-4. March 8th,
Arrillaga and Alberni ordered to be recognized by Sal. S. José, Arch., MS.,
ili. 51.
11 Departure on the Concepcion. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 30; Prov. Rec.,
MS., xii. 1. He seems to have gone to San Diego by land after Jan. 3d, or
at least such had been his plan in September, when Sal had sent an order to
San José for pack-animals for the governor’s journey. S. José Arch., vi. 43.
Notice of Borica’s death in V. R.’s communication of August 14th. St. Pap.,
Sac., MS., ix. 70; Véreyes, Instrucciones, 201. In a letter of Padre Cortés
from Mexico dated April Ist, the V. R. is said to have advised the king to
continue Borica in office in California for five years longer. Arch. Sta Bar-
bara, MS., xii. 307. There is a vague reference to a settler who was severely
punished for an attempt to take Borica’s life. Gov. to V. R., Dec. 5, 1800.
Prov. St. Pap., MS.,. xxi. 50:
ae California, in Viagero (Zl) Universal, 6 Noticia del Mundo Antiguo y
Nuevo. Obra recopilada de los mejores viageros por D. P. HE. P. Madrid,
1799, tom. xxvi. 1-189. See also an article on California in Cancelada, Telé-
grafo Mex., 99-103.
ee
eS es
SECONDARY AUTHORITIES. | 731
this and the following volumes are here mentioned for
the first time; but the other eighth have been often
repeated on the authority of Palou, the old voyagers,
and a few documents, by modern writers. The works
of such writers I have fully studied and utilized, citing
them whenever there has been any reason for so
doing, but have not, as before stated, given a com-
plete index in my notes. Omitting many books that
contain a superficial account of early events or a mere
reference to them, I append in a note a list of works
that have some merit, many of them standard works
of real and recognized value, as the reader will see at
a glance. They are grouped here as_ secondary
authorities only because on the earliest period of his-
tory they add nothing to the original records in my
collection.”
Having thus reached the end of the decade and
century, I close my first volume of California’s annals
with a list containing the names of over 1,700 male
inhabitants of the province down to the year 1800.
The names have been collected with great care and.
labor from mission registers of baptisms, marriages,
and deaths; from company rosters, pueblo padrones,
and from thousands of miscellaneous documents in
the archives. That the list is absolutely complete
and accurate I cannot pretend, for a few of the regis-
; ie)
ters have been lost, and some names, especially of
1B Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS.; Bartlett’s Person. Nar.; Browne’s Lower
Cal.; Bustamante, Suplemento; Cal.,. Past, Present, etc.; Capron’s Hist. Cal. ;
Cronise’s Nat. Wealth; Diccionario Universal; Dwinelle’s Col. Hist. S. F.;
Farnham’s Life in Cal.; Forbes’ Hist. Cal.; Frignet, La Californie; Hart-
mann, Californien; Hayes’ Emigrant Notes; Hayes’ Mission Books; Hayes’
Scrap-books; [Hittell’s List. S. Francisco; Hughes’ Cal.; Humboldt, Essai Pol.;
Gleeson’s Hist. Cath. Ch.; Greenhow’s Or, and Cal.; Lassépas, Baja Cal. ;
Life of St. Francis; Lorenzana, in Cortés, [Hist.; Los Angeles, Hist. ; Mayer
MSS.; Mofras, Exploration; Morse’s Lilust. Sketches; Payno, in Revista Cien-
tifica; Randolph’s Oration; Ryan, in Golden Era; Shea’s Cath. Missions;
Shuck’s Cal. Scrap-book; Soulé’s Annals of S. F.; ‘Sutil y Mexicana, Viage;
Jaylor, in Farmer, and Bulletin; Taylor’s Discov. and Founders; Taylor’s
Odds and Ends; Tuthill’s Hist. Cal.; Vallejo’s Hist. Cal., MS.; Vischer’s
Missions of Cal. Also 40 or 50 county histories published within the past
ten years; and numerous newspaper articles, especially in S. /. Bulletin,
Call, and Alta, and Sacramento Union. 'There is hardly a paper in the state
that has not published some valuable matter with much of no value.
732 CLOSE OF BORICA’S RULE.
children, in the later years, are therefore missing.
Again some of the persons mentioned in connection
with the earliest expedition, especially those to whom
no special occupation is assigned, never came to Alta
California at all, or only came as vaqueros or escorts
to return immediately. Another source of error is
the uniformity of Spanish given names and the fact
that men were known at different times by different
names or combination of names to avoid confusion;
hence there is no doubt that my list contains a certain
number of repetitions. Yet it may well be doubted
if so complete a list of the earliest inhabitants can be
formed for any other state of the United States or
Mexico. My attempts at chronology are limited to
the separation of the names into four classes, putting
each person in the class in which his name first appears
in the records. Number 1 includes the earliest pio-
neers who came in 1769-73; number 2 those of
1774-80; number 38 those of 1780-90; and number 4
those of 1790-1800.
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Abella, Ramon, padre.‘
Acebedo, Francisco Ant., soldier.?
Acebedo, José Antonio, soldier.?
Acebedo, Julian, soldier.?
Acedo, José, settler.*
Aceves, Antonio, child.?
Aceves, José Maria, child.?
Aceves, Antonio Quiterio, soldier.”
Aceves, Pablo, soldier.*
Acosta, Antonio, soldier.’
Acosta, José, Cat. vol.‘
Aguiar, Francisco.
Aguila, José, settler.*
guila, Juan José, child.*
Aguilar, Francisco Javier.}
Aguilar, Luis Antonio.}
Alanis, Antonio, child.
Alanis, Eugenio Nicolas, child.®
Alanis, Isidro.‘
Alanis, Maximo, soldier.
Alari, José, Cat. vol.4
Alberni, Pedro, lieutenant-colonel.*
Alcantara, Pedro, mason.*
Alegre, Antonio, soldier.?
Alegria, Norberto, soldier.®
Alipds, Juan N., soldier.
Altamirano, J osé Antonio, soldier.®
Altamirano, Liicas Domingo, child.?
Altamirano, José Marcos, child.?
Altamirano, Justo Roberto, soldier,’
Altamirano, Lucas, soldier. *
Altamirano, Juan, soldier.*
Alvarado, Juan B.}
Alvarado, Bernardino.
Alvarado, Ignacio, soldier.?
Alvarado, Francisco J. avier, soldier.
Alvarado, Juan B., child.
Alvarado, Fran. Ma. D. C., child.‘
Alvarado, José Vicente, child.*
Alvarado, Juan José, soldier.
Alvarado, Juan N. D., child.
Alvarez, Juan, soldier.?
Alvarez, Joaquin, soldier.?
lvarez, Luis, soldier.?
lvarez, Pedro, soldier.?
Alvarez, Felipe, convict.‘
lvarez, Doroteo.*
lvarez, José, artilleryman.‘
lvarez, Juan. artilleryman.*
Alvarez, José, child.
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800. 733
Alvires, Claudio, servant. ?
Alvires, Juan, soldier.’
Alvires, Estévan.
Alviso, Francisco, settler.?
Alviso, Domingo, soldier.?
Alviso, Anastasio Gerdénimo, child.*:
Alviso, Francisco Javier, soldier. *
Alviso, Francisco Solano, child. *
Alviso, Gerénimo Antonio, child.‘
Alviso, Ignacio, soldier.+
Alviso, Javier, settler.*
Alviso, José Antonio, child.
Alviso, José Gabriel L., child.
Alvitre, Sebastian, soldier.
Alvitre, Juan José Ma., child.4
Amador, Pedro, soldier.!
Amador, José Sinforoso, child.
Amador, José Fructnoso.®
Amador, Juan Pablo.®
Amador, José Maria, child.4
Amador, Marcos Antonio, child.
Amarrillas, Juan Angel, soldier.?
Amézquita, José Gabriei, child.?
Amézquita, Juan Autonio, soldier.?
Amézquita, Manuel Dom., settler.?
Amézquita, Florentino, settler.*
Amézquita, Gregorio, settler. *
Amézquita, Francisco Ma., settler.*
Amézquita, José, soldier.*
Amézquita, José Miguel, settler.4
Amézquita, José Reyes, settler.*
Amézquita, Serafin, settler.*
Amurrio, Gregorio, padre.
Antonio, Manuel, servant.?
Antonio, José Crispin, child.*
Antonio, Macedonio, soldier.*
Antufia, Manuel, soldier.?
Arana, José, soldier.
Aranguren, José, soldier.®
Arce, José G.!
Arce, Sebastian.!
Arce, Joaquin, child.?
Arceo, José, settler.
Archuleta, José Ignacio, servant. ?
Archuleta, José Norberto, child.?
Archuleta, Miguel Gerénimo, child,?
Archuleta, Gregorio, soldier.
Arellanes, Teodoro.‘
Arellano, Man. J. R., soldier.?
Arenaza, Pascual M., padre.
Argiielles, Francisco, artilleryman.*
Argiiello, Francisco Rafael, child.*
Argiiello, José Dario, alférez.®
Argiiello, José Gervacio, child.®
Argiiello, Luis Antonio, child.’
Argiiello, José Ignacio M., child.
Armenta, Cristdébal, settler.?
Armenta, Joaquin, soldier.?
Arriola, Alejandro, soldier.®
Arias, Francisco, settler.*
Armenta, José Ma., soldier.‘
Arriola, José Francisco, mechanic. !
Arriola, José Rafael B., child.+
Arriola, Rafael, convict. *
Arriz, Ignacio.!
Arroita, Francisco José, padre.®
Arroyo, José Manuel, smith.?
Arroyo, Juan Isidro, child.’
Arroyo, Vicente, soldier.®
Arroyo, Félix, child.
Arroyo, José, sailor.*
Aruz, Domingo, soldier.?
Aruz, Martin, settler.‘
Arvallo, Feliciano, settler.?
Avalos, Nicolas.?
valos, Joaquin, tanner.4
vila, Francisco. 4
vila, Adanto, child.4
Avila, Anastasio.
Avila, Antonio Ignacio.4
vila, Cornelio, settler. 4
vila, Ignacio.*
Avila, José, convict.4
Avila, José Antonio, settler.4
Avila, José Maria. 4
Avila, Miguel.
Avila, Santa Ana, soldier.4
Avis, Fructuoso, soldier.4
Ayala, José, soldier.’
Ayala, José C. D., child.*
Ayala, José Salvador, child.*
Ayala, Juan José G., child.
Ayala, Juan P. M., child.¢
Bacilio, Antonio, Cat. vol.
Badiola, Manuel Antonio.!
Balderrama, convict.‘
Ballesteros, Juan, soldier.’
Ballesteros, Juan Antonio, child.§
Ballesteros, Javier Antonio, child.
Banderas, José F. de la Cruz.*
Barajas, José, sailor.
Barbosa, José, settler.
Barcena, José, convict.4
Barcenas, Marcos, settler.
Barcenilla, Isidoro, padre.*
Barona, José, Padre.*
Barraza, Macedonio, soldier.®
Barrera, Juan Antonio, soldier.
Barrientos, José, Cat. vol.
Basadre y Vega, Vicente, settler.°
Belen, Miguel, servant.?
Bello, Mateo, Cat. vol.4
Beltran, Francisco Javier, soldier.”
Beltran, Joaquin, soldier.”
Beltran, Nicolas, soldier.?
Benavides, José Ma., settler.4
Beranzuela, Pedro, soldier.‘
Bermudez, José, soldier.*
Bermudez, José 8., child.*
Bermudez, Manuel Antonio, child.‘
734 INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
PRernal, Francisco, servant.!
Bernal, José Dionisio, soldier.?
Bernal, Juan Francisco, soldier.?
Pernal, Manuel Ramon, soldier.?
Bernal, Apolinario, child.’
Bernal, Juan, child.
Bernal, Ramon, settler.
Bernal, Bruno, child.
Bernal, Joaquin, soldier.‘
Bernal, José Agustin, child.
Gernal, José Cipriano, child.+
Bernal, José C. Cipriano, child.‘
Bernardo, José, settler.*
Berreyesa, Nicolas A., settler. ?
Berreyesa, Juan José, child.
Berreyesa, José Nazario, settler.
Berreyesa, José delos Reyes, settler.*
Blanco, Juan, smith. ¢
Blanco, Miguel.
Bojorges, José Ramon, soldier.?
Bojorges, Hermenegildo, child.?
Bojorges, Pedro Antonio, soldier,?
Bojorges, Francisco H., soldier.‘
Bonnel, Ramon, Cat. vol.!
Borica, Diego de, governor.‘
Boronda, Manuel, soldier.*
Boronda, Canuto José, child.*
Bosch, Buenaventura, setiler.®
Botello, Joaquin, tailor.
Bravo, José Marcelino, soldier.!
Briones, Ignacio Vicente, soldier.”
Briones, José Antonio, soldier.!
Briones, Ignacio Vicente, child.3
Briones, José Joaquin, child. ?
Briones, Felipe Santiago, child.§
Briones, Nicolas Maria, child.?
Briones, Marcos, soldier.®
Briones, Manuel, soldier.
Brito, Mariano, artilleryman.‘
Brito, Miguel, artilleryman.*
Bruno, Francisco, soldier.?
Buelna, Eusebio José J., child.?
Buelna, José Antonio, soldier.?
Buelna, Ramon, soldier. ?
Buelna, Eusebio J. J., child.
Buelna, José Raim, child.
Buelna, José Maria, child. 4
Bulferig, Gerdénimo, Cat. vol.!
Bumbau, Francisco, Cat. vol.!
Bustamante, José, soldier.’
Bustamante, Manuel, soldier.’
Butron, Manuel, soldier.?
Butron, Sebastian, settler.
Caballero, José, Cat. vol.4
Calixto, José, soldier.
Calvo, Francisco, soldier.®
Calzada, José Antonio, padre.®
Calzada, José, convict. 4
Calzada, José Dionisio, settler.
Camacho, José Antonio, soldier,!
Camacho, Tomas M., servant.!
Camacho, Juan Miguel, soldier.?
Camacho, Anastasio, soldier.?
Camacho, Antonio, soldier.?
Camarena, Nicolas, settler.*
Cambon, Pedro Benito, padre.?
Camero, Manuel, settler.®
Campa, Pedro, sailor.?
Campa y Coz, Miguel, padre.
Campo, José, Cat. vol.
Campos, Francisco, soldier.’
Cafiedo, Albino, soldier. ?
Cafiedo, José Manuel, settler.?
Cajiedo, Juan Ignacio, soldier.‘
Cafiizares, José, piloto.}
Cano, José, artilleryman.*
Cantua, Ignacio, soldier.?
Capinto, José Ma., tailor.
Capinto, Mariano, tailor.
Carabanas, Joaquin, soldier.?
Carabanas, Nicolas, soldier.?
Caravantes, José Salvador, soldier.®
Caravantes, Ventura, settler.*
Carcamo, José, Cat. vol.
Cardenas, Melchor, servant.?
Cardenas, Cristébal, servant.!
Cardenas y Rivera, Tadeo.
Cariaga, Salvador, soldier.?
Carlon, Hilario Ignacio, soldier.®
Carnicer, Baltasar, padre.‘
Carranza, Domingo, padre.*
Carrillo, Guillermo, soldier.
Carrillo, Mariano, sergeant.}
Carrillo, José Raimundo, soldier.!
Carrillo, Anastasio José, child.’
Carrillo, Carlos Antonio, child.®
Carrillo, Domingo Ant. Igna., child,‘
Carrillo, José Antonio E., child.
Carrillo, Luis, sailor.
Casasallas, Simon, Cat. vol.*
Casillas, Juan Manuel.!
Castaiieda, José.3
Castafieda, José Ruiz, soldier.®
Castelo, Agustin, soldier.!
Castillo, José, phlebotomist.*
Castillo, José, soldier. *
Castre, Antonio, soldier.?
Castro, Ignacio, soldier.?
Castro, Joaquin, soldier.?
Castro, José, servant.?
Castro, Isidro.?
Castro, José Macario, soldier.®
Castro, José Simon J. N., child.®
Castro, Mariano, soldier.
Castro, Mariano de la Cruz, child.®
Castro, Agapito, settler.*
Castro, Francisco, settler. *
Castro, José Joaquin, settler.
Castro, José 8. T., child.*
Castro, Simeon, settler.
y
‘
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—
ss
a
oa
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Cavaller, José, padre.!
Cayuelas, Francisco, Cat. vol.?
Cayuelas, Francisco, soldier.’
Cayuelas, Pedro, soldier.
Cervantes, Juan Pablo.!
Cervantes, Guadalupe, soldier.‘
Cervantes, Pablo Victoriano, soldier.®
Chabolla, Marcos, soldier.®
Chabolla, Pedro R., child.
Chabolla, José, child.4
Chabolla, José Luis, child.
Chabol!a, Salvador.*
Chamorro, smith.?
Chaves, José Mateo, settler.4
Chaves, José, convict.4
Chavira, José Antonio, settler.
Chavira, Jose, convict.
Cibrian, Pablo, soldier. *
Cibrian, Leocadio, soldier.
Cibrian, Pablo Antonio, smith.
Ciprés, Marcelino, padre.*
Cisneros, José, servant.?
Clua, Domingo, Cat. vol.?
Contreras, Luis, muleteer.?
Contreras, José, soldier.
Cordero, Joaquin Ignacio.?
Cordero, Francisco.!
Cordero, Mariano Antonio, soldier}
Cordero, José E., child.?
Cordero, Fermin, settler.*
Cordero, Manuel, soldier.?
Cordero, José Dom., child.
Cordero, Miguel E., child.¢
Cordero, Pedro, settler.*
Cérdoba, Alberto, engineer.‘
Cornejo, Casimiro, settler.*
Cornejo, Casimiro, convict.
Corona, Francisco, soldier.
Coronel, Juan Antonio, muleteer.?
Cortés, Juan Lope, padre.
Cortés, José Antonio, soldier.®
Cortés, Nicolas, soldier. 4
Cortés, Nicolas Felipe, soldier.4
Costansé, Miguel, engineer.}
Cota, Antonio, soldier.!
Cota, Pablo Antonio, soldier.!
Cota, Manuel Antonio, child.?
Cota, Roque, soldier.?
Cota, Guillermo, sergeant.®
Cota, Juan Ignacio, soldier.®
Cota, Mariano, soldier.*
Cota, Nabor Antonio, child.’
Cota, Bartolomé José, child.‘
Cota, Francisco Atanasio, child.
Cota, José Manuel Ma., child.‘
Cota, José Valentin, child.*
Cota, Juan Francisco, child.
Cota, Manuel, soldier.
Cota, Pedro Antonio, child.+*
Crespi, Juan, padre.!
Cruzado, Antonio, padre.!
Cruz, Faustino José, soldier.®
Cruz y Sotomayor, Juan, soldier.®
Cuevas, Luis, settler.4
Dandricu, Andrés, soldier.
Danti, Antonio, padre.®
Davila, José, surgeon.?
Davila, Manuel, carpenter.’
Davila, J., soldier.’
Davila, José Antonio, smith.‘
Delgado, Alonzo, Cat. vol.
Diaz, Joaquin, soldier.?
Dominguez, Juan José, soldier.}
Dominguez, José Dolores, soldier.?
Dominguez, José Antonio, child.®
Dominguez, José Ma. D., child.®
Dominguez, Cristdbal, soldier. *
Dominguez, José Antonio, child.
Dominguez, José Asuncion, child.‘
Dominguez, José Francisco, child.‘
Dominguez, Remesio, setitler.*
Duarte, Alejo Antonio, soldier.}
Duarte, José Ma., soldier.!
Duarte, Pascual.!
Duarte, Francisco Javier, child.
Duarte, Juan José, servant.
Duarte, Leandro, soldier. *
Ducil, Sebastian, Cat. vol.
Dumetz, Francisco, padre.}
Encarnacion, José, soldier.®
Enriquez, Antonio, servant.’
Enriquez, Antonio Domingo, weaver.‘
Enriquez, Sebastian, child.*
Escamiila, Antonio Santos, child.‘
Escamilla, José, soldier. *
Escamilla, Tomas, convict.
Escribano, Sebastian, Cat. vol.
Fsparza, José Lorenzo, mechanic,
Espi, José de la C., padre.*
Espinosa, Antonio, soldier.?
Espinosa, Joaquin, soldier. ?
Espinosa, Juan, seryant.?
Espinosa, Gabriel, soldier.’
Espinosa, José Miguel, soldier.®
Espinosa, Salvador, soldier.’
Kspinosa, Tomas, soldier.®
Espinosa, Cayetano, soldier. *
Espinosa, José Gabriel 8.4
Espinosa, José Ma. E., child.*
Espinosa, José Pio, Cat. vol.*
Espinosa, Juan Antonio J., child.
Estévan, Pedrode S. José, padre.‘
Estévan, Antonio, sailor.!
Estrada, José Bonifacio, soldier.?
Estudillo, José Maria, soldier.‘
Fages, Pedro, lieutenant.
Faura, José, padre.*
Feliciano, Alcjo, settler.?
Feliciano, Hilario, child.
Félix, Claudio Victor.!
735
736 INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Félix, Anast. Ma., soldier.?
Félix, Doroteo, soldier.?
Félix, José Vicente, soldier.?
Félix, José Francisco, soldier.
Felix, Juan José Ignacio, child.®
Félix, Antonio Rafael, child.
. Félix, Victorino, soldier.®
Félix, Fernando de la T., child.4
Félix, José, child.
Félix, José Luciano, child.
Félix, José Vicente Valentin, child.
Félix, Juan.4
Félix, Juan Jose de G., child.4
T’élix, Leonardo Ma., child.
Félix, Pedro Antonio, child.
Fernandez, Gaspar Antonio, child.®
Fernandez, José Rosalino, soldier.
Fernandez, Pedro Ignacio, child.
Fernandez, Rafael Ma. dela C., child.
Fernandez, Victor, Cat. vol.4
Fernandez, Gregorio, padre. *
Fernandez, José Ma., padre.*
Fernandez, Manuel, padre.‘
Feyjoo, José, soldier.*
Ferrer, Pablo, Cat. vol.!
Figuer, Juan, padre.
Figueroa, Manuel, soldier.?
Figueroa, Salvador Ignacio, child.
Flores, Hermenegildo, soldier.?
Flores, Victoriano, servant.?
Flores, José Miguel, soldier.?
Flores, José Maria, soldier.®
Flores, José Teodosio, child.®
Flores, Bernardo, settler.
Flores, Diego.*
Flores, Francisco, soldier.
Flores, Isidro, soldier.
Flores, José Ma. de la T., child.4
Flores, Leandro José, child.4*
Flores, Pedro, soldier.
Font, José, lieutenant.
Fontes, Luis Ma., soldier.®
Fontes, Pedro, servant.?
Fragoso, Luis Ma., soldier.®
Fragoso, Rafael, Cat. vol.4
Franco, Juan, servant.?
Franco, José, convict.4
Franco, Pablo, convict.
Fuster, Vicente, padre.!
Galindo, Nicolas, settler.?
Galindo, Francisco A., child.?
Galindo, José Rafael, child.?
Galindo, Alejandro Fidel, child.®
Galindo, José Leandro, child.
Calindo, Juan Criséstomo, child.®
Galindo, Claudio, Cat. vol.
Galindo, José Carlos H., child.
Galindo, Venancio, soldier.
‘rallego, Cirlos, soldier.?
(salvez, Diego, Cat. vol.4
GAmez, Teodoro, soldier. *
Garaicoechea, José, corporal.
Garcia, Diego, padre.*
Garcia, Felipe, smith.?
Garcia, Francisco Bruno, soldier.?
Garcia, Francisco Ma., child.?
Garcia, Francisco P., soldier.?
Garcia, José Reyes, child.?
Garcia, Juan José, child.?
Garcia, José Antonio, soldier.?
Garcia, Pedro, settler.
Garcia, Pedro Gonzalez, smith.‘
Garcia, Carlos Ma.*
Garcia, José Antonio Inoc., child.‘
Garcia, José Hilario Ramon, child.4
Garcia, José de las Llagas, child.*
Garcia, José Ma. Cancio, child.‘
Garcia, José Ma. Desiderio, child.
Garcia, Julian.*
Garcia, Luz, soldier.+
Garcia, Nicolas, Cat. vol.4
Garcia, Pedro Antonio, child.
Garcia, Pedro Gonz., smith.*
Garibay, Jose Joaquin, child.*
Garibay, Vicente, soldier. *
Garracino, Pedro, soldier.?
Gerardo. (See Gonzalez G.)
German, Cris. Ant., child.8
German, Isidro, soldier.®
German, Faustin J., child.
German, Manuel Ignacio, child.
‘German, Juan, soldier.
German, Juan, child.
Giol, José, servant.?
Gili, Bartolomé, padre.
Giribet, Miguel, padre.®
Gloria, Jacinto, soldier.?
Gloria, José Ma., soldier.?
Gomez, Francisco, padre.!
Gomez, Nicolas, settler.?
Gomez, Francisco, soldier.
Gomez, José Antonio, Cat. vol.4
Gomez, Rafael, settler.*
Gomez, Rafael, convict.4
Gomez, Francisco, carpenter.$
Géngora, José Ma., soldier.}
Géngora, José Antonio, child.?
Gonopra, José Ma., soldier.*
Gonzalez, Antonio Alejo., soldier.?
Gonzalez, Inocencio, sailor.!
Gonzalez, Cirilo, servant.?
Gonzalez, José Antonio, soldier.?
Gonzalez, José Romualdo, child.?
Gonzalez, José Manuel, settler.?
Gonzalez, Mateo Jacobo, child.?
Gonzalez, Ramon.?
Gonzalez, Nicolas, soldier.?
Gonzalez, Alejandro, soldier.
Gonzalez, Bernardo, soldier.”
Gonzalez, Diego, lieutenant.’
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800. 737
Gonzalez, Felipe, soldier.®
Gonzalez, José Eusebio, child.®
Gonzalez, José Feliciano, soldier.®
Gonzalez, Mateo Jacobo, child.®
Gonzalez, Tomas, soldier.
Gonzalez, Alejo., Cat. vol.4
Gonzalez, Francisco, soldier.
Gonzalez, Francisco, padre.4
Gonzalez, José, Cat. vol.*
Gonzalez, José Rafael M., child.4
Gonzalez, Man. Ciriaco, child.4
Gonzalez, Juan, soldier.
Gonzalez, Pedro, mechanic. 4
Gonzalez, Rafael, child.‘ .
Gonzalez Gerardo, Rafael.!
Gonzalez, José Leandro, child.4
Goycoechea, Felipe, lieutenant.$ |
Grajera, Antonio, lieutenant.*
Grijalva, Juan Pablo, sergeant.?
Guerrero, Juan José.!
Guerrero, Joaquin, soldier.?
Guerrero, José, servant.?
Guerrero, José Antonio, soldier.?
Guerrero, Julian, soldier.?
Guerrero, Mateo, artilleryman.‘
Guevara, José, soldier.®
Guevara, José Canuto, child.*
Guevara, José Sebastian, child.4
Guevara, Sebastian, Cat. vol.4
Guevara, José Francisco, child.4
Gutierrez, Ignacio Ma., soldier.?
Gutierrez, Felipe, soldier.®
Gutierrez, Manuel, servant.
Gutierrez, Francisco, Cat. vol.4
Guzman, Isidro, soldier.*
Guzman, Juan Ma., child.
Guzman, Toribio, soldier.®
Guztinzar, Manuel, servant.‘
Haro, Felipe, Cat. vol.*
Hechedo, José Francisco.*
Henriquez, Antonio Dom., weaver.
Heredia, Bernardino, soldier.?
Heredia, José Bernardo, soldier:?
Hernandez, José Rafael.}
Hernandez, Vicente Antonio.?
Hernandez, Justo, soldier.®
Hernandez, Juan José Antonio, child.®
Hernandez, Felipe, settler.
Hernandez, Felipe, convict.‘
Hernandez, José Antonio, settler.
Hernandez, José, convict.4
Hernandez, J. José de la Luz, soldier.
Hernandez, Antonio, saddler.*
Hernandez, Juan Maria, saddler.4
Hernandez, Juan, convict.
Herrera, José, soldier. *
Higuera, Joaquin, soldier.?
Higuera, José Atanasio, soldier.?
Higuera, José Loreto, child.?
Higuera, José Manuel, soldier.”
Hist. Cau., Vou, I. 47
Higuera, Juan José, soldier.?
Higuera, José Ignacio, soldier.?
Higuera, Bernardo de la Luz, child.®
Higuera, Juan José, child.®
Higuera, Salvador, soldier.
Higuera, Tiburcio, child.®
Higuera, Tiburcio Javier, child.
Higuera, Gregorio Ignacio Ma., child.‘
Higuera, Hilario.
Higuera, José 1°, soldier.
Higuera, José 2°, soldier.*
Higuera, José Carlos Salv., child.*
Higuera, José Gerdnimo, child.‘
Higuera, José Ma., child.
Higuera, José Policarpo, child.*
Higuera, José Antonio.‘
Higuera, José Joaquin.*
Higuera, Manuel, soldier.
Higuera, Nicolas Antonio.
Higuera, Salvador, soldier.
Horchaga, José Hilario, child.’
Horchaga, José Manuel, child.®
Horchaga, Manuel, soldier.®
Hores, José, settler.’
Horra, Antonio dela C., padre.*
Hortel, Juan, Cat. vol.*
Ibarra, Francisco, servant.?
Ibarra, Andrés Dolores, child.®
Ibarra, Gil Maria, child.?
Ibarra, José Desiderio, child.’
Ibarra, Juan Antonio, soldier.’
Ibarra, -Ramon, soldier.®
Ibarra, Albino, soldier.*
Ibarra, Antonio, child.
Ibarra, Calixto José Antonio, child.
Igadera, José, con'vict.*
Igareda, José Gordiano, setiler.*
Iniquez, Juan, Cat. vol.
Islas, Miguel, soldier.
Isvan, José Albino, soldier.‘
Iturrate, Domingo 8., padre.
Izquierdo, José, soldier.?
Jaime, Antonio, padre.‘
Jaume, Luis, padre.?
Jimenez, Francisco, Cat. vol.
Jimenez, Hilario, soldier.4
Jimenez, Pascual Antonio, child.
Juarez, Francisco, soldier.®
Juarez, José Joaquin, child.‘
Juncosa, Dom, padre.!
Labra, Juan Antonio, soldier.!
Ladron de Guevara, José I., soldier.*
Landaeta, Martin, padre.*
Lasuen, Fermin Francisco, padre.}
Lara, José, settler.®
Lara, José Sostenes, child.*
Lara, Julian, soldier.‘
Lara, José Antonio Seferino, child.
Larios, José Ma., soldier.
Lasso de la Vega, Ramon, alférez.*
738
Leal, Isidro José, servant.?
Leiva, Anastasio, soldier.?
Leiva, Agustin, soldier.’
Leiva, José Andrés, child.’
Leiva, José Antonio Ma., soldier.?
Leiva, Juan, soldier.®
Leiva, Miguel, soldier.®
Leiva, José Antonio.4
Leiva, José Rafael, child.‘
. Leiva, Manuel Ramon, child.
Leiva, Rufino, soldier. ¢
Leon, José Ma., soldier.?
Leon, José Manuel, soldier.?
Lima, José, soldier.’
Linares, Ignacio, soldier.?
Linares, José de los 8., child.
Linares, Mariano de Dolores, child.®
Linares, Francisco, settler.*
Linares, Ramon, soldier.
Linares, Salvador, soldier.‘
Lineza, Miguel, Cat. vol.?
Lisalde, Diego.*
Lisalde, Félix, soldier,*
Lisalde, Juan Crisos. Antonio, child. *
Lizalda, Pedro Antonio, soldier.?
Llamas, Antonio, Cat. vol.
Lledo, Rafael, carpenter.‘
Llepis, José Mariano, servant.?
Lobo, José, soldier.?
Lobo, José Basilio, child.®
Lobo, Cecilio.
Lobo, Pedro.4
Lopez, Baldomero, padre.
Lopez, Jacinto, padre.*
Lopez, Juan Francisco, soldier.?
Lopez, Francisco, soldier.?
Lopez, Ignacio Ma. de Jesus.?
Lopez, Gaspar, soldier.?
Lopez, Joaquin, soldier.?
Lopez, José Ma., soldier.?
Lopez, Luis, soldier.?
Lopez, Pedro, servant.?
Lopez, Sebastian A., soldier.?
Lopez, José Antonio Gil, child.®
Lopez, José Ma. Ramon, child.®
Lopez, Juan José, child.®
Lopez, Melchor, soldier.®
Lopez, Juan, convict.
Lopez, Cayetano, carpenter.
Lopez, Claudio, soldier. *
Lopez, Carnelio Ma., child.4
Lopez, Ignacio, soldier.
Lopez, Estévan Ignacio, child.
Lopez, Juan José Trinidad, settler.*
Lozano, Pedro, Cat. vol.4
Lugo, Luis Gonzaga, soldier.?
Lugo, Francisco, soldier, ?
Lugo, Ignacio, soldier.?
Lugo, José Ignacio, child.?
Lugo, Seferino, soldier.?
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Lugo, José Antonio, soldier.®
Lugo, Salvador, soldier.®
Lugo, Ant. Ma., soldier.
Linge, José, Cat. vol.#
ugo, José Antonio, child.‘
Lugo, Juan Ma., child.¢
Lugo, Juan, servant.
Lugo, Miguel, soldier. *
Lugo, Pablo José, child.‘
Lugo, Ramon Lorenzo, child.
Lujan, José, alférez.*
Machado, José Antonio, child.’
Machado, José Manuel, soldier.®
Machado, José Agustin Ant., child.‘
Machado, José Hilario.
Machado, José Ignacio Ant., child.‘
Machuca, José, settler.
Malaret, Domingo, Cat. vol.?
Maldonado, Juan, Cat. vol.
Mallen, Manuel, Cat. vol.*
Manrique, Sebastian, soldier.
Manriquez, Luis, soldier.?
Manzana, Miguel A., Cat. vol.
Marin, Antonio, Cat. vol.
Mariné ySalvatierra, J., artilleryman.‘
Mariner, Juan, padre.®
Mario, Tomas, soldier.?
Marquez, Francisco Rafael, soldier.?
Marquez, José, soldier.*
Marron, Rafael, soldier.®
Martiarena, José Manuel, padre.‘
Martin, Juan, padre.*
Martinez, Luis Antonio, padre.‘
Martinez, Pedro Adriano, padre.‘
Martinez, Luis Maria, soldier.?
Martinez, Toribio, soldier.?
Martinez, Dionisio, servant.§
Martinez, José Ma., soldier.®
Martinez, Juan Ignacio, soldier.®
Martinez, Norberto, child.’
Martinez, Antonio, soldier.*
Martinez, Bartolomé Mateo.‘
Martinez, Gregorio, artilleryman.‘ |
Martinez, José, Cat. vol.
Martinez, José Leocadio, settler.
Martinez, José Ma., settler.
Martinez, Manuel, Cat. vol.
Martinez, Maximo.‘
Martinez, Maximo Ramon, child.‘
Martinez, Reyes.‘
Medina, José, artilleryman.‘
Mejia, Pedro. ?
Mejia, Francisco Javier, soldier.®
Mejia, Juan, soldier.®
Melecio, José, soldier.®
Mendoza, Manuel, soldier.?
Mendoza, José de los Reyes, child.‘
Mendoza, Manuel, Cat. vol.
Mendoza, Mariano, tilemaker.*
Mendoza, Mariano, José, weaver.‘
~
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Mendoza, Miguel, Cat. vol.4
Mequias, Juan Alberto, soldier.®
Mercado, Mariano, artilleryman.*
Merelo, Lorenzo, padre.*
Merino, Agustin, padre.
Mesa, Nicolas Ma., child.?
Mesa, Valerio, soldier. ?
Mesa, Dolores, soldier.®
Mesa, Ignacio, soldier.®
Mesa, Juan Antonio, soldier.®
Mesa, Luis Ma., child.’
Mesa, José Antonio, soldier. 4
Mesa, José Julian Antonio, child.4
Mesa, Juan José, servant.
Miguel, José, padre.®
Miranda, Juan Ma.., soldier,
Miranda, Alejo, soldier.’
Miranda, Antonio, soldier.®
Miranda, José Antonio, child.®
Miranda, Apolinario, child.*
Miranda, José Hilario, soldier.4
Miranda, José Mariano, Cat. vol.4
Miranda, José Santiago, child.
Miranda, Juan Criséstomo, child. 4
Miranda, Vicente Manuel, child.*
Mojica, José Ma., settler.4
Mojica, Vicente, settler.*
Molas, José, Cat. vol.}
Molina, Joaquin, settler.?
Molina, Pedro, soldier. ?
Monreal, José Antonio Nicolas, child. 4
Monroy, José, soldier.*
Montaloan, Laureano, soldier.’
Montaifia, Antonio, Cat. vol.}
Montafio, Antonio, soldier.®
Montero, Cesareo Antonio, child.§
Montero, Manuel, soldier.‘
Monteverde, Francisco, artilleryman.*
Montial, Juan Andrés, soldier.®
Moraga, José Joaquin, alférez.?
Moraga, Gabriel, soldier.®
Moraga, Vicente José, child.®
Moreno, F. S., soldier.
Moreno, Felipe Santiago, smith.‘
Moreno, Felipe, settler.®
Moreno, José, settler.’
Moreno, Juan Francisco, child.4
Moreno, Manuel, soldier.
Morillo, José Julian, soldier.}
Moumarus, Luis, Cat. vol.}
Mutfioz, Manuel, mechanic.®
Mugartegui, Pablo, padre.}
Murguia, José Ant., padre.}
Murillo, Loreto, soldier. ?
Murillo, Francisco, carpenter.®
Murillo, Juan, smith.’
Muruato, José, Cat. vol.4
Navarro, José Antonio, settler.®
Navarro, José Clemente, child.®
Navarro, José Maria, child.’
739
Nieto, José Manuel, soldier.!
Nieto, Juan José Ma., child.
Nieto, Manuel Perez, soldier.’
Nieto, José Antonio Ma., soldier.4
Noriega, José Ramon, soldier.!
Noriega, José Raimundo, soldier.?
Noboa, Diego, padre.®
Nocedal, José, padre.?
Obaye, José Antonio, soldier.?
Oceguera, Faustino, Cat. vol.4
Ochoa, Francisco Javier.!
Ochoa, Felipe, soldier.?
Ojeda, Gabriel.!
Olivares, José Miguel, soldier.?
Olivares, José Francisco B., child.®
Olivares, Pedro Alcantara, child.®
Olivas, Juan Matias, soldier.®
Olivas, Cosme.‘
Olivas, José Herculano, child.
Olivas, José Lazaro Ma., child.*
Olivas, José Nicolas, child.4
Olivas, Pablo, settler.
Olivera, José Ignacio, soldier.
Olivera, Juan Marfa, soldier.!
Olivera, Ignacio, servant.}
Olivera, Antonio Lucas Ma., child.?
Olivera, Diego Ant. de la Luz, child.§
Olivera, José Desiderio, child.®
Olivera, José, soldier.
Olivera, José Leonardo M., child.
Olivera, José Ma. Matias, child.®
Olivera, Maximo José, child.’
Olivera, Tomas Antonio, child.®
Olivera, Higinio, soldier.
Olivera, José Ant. Secundino, child.
Olivera, Rosalina Ma., child.‘
Oliveros, Liicas. 4
Olvera, Diego, servant.?
Olvera, Francisco, servant.?
Ontiveros, José Antonio, soldier.!
Ontiveros, Francisco, soldier.’
Ontiveros, Juan de Dios, settler.*
Ontiveros, Juan Ma.#
Ontiveros, Pacifico Juan, child.
Ontiveros, Patricio, soldier.*
Ordmas, Cristébal, padre.®
Oribe, Tomas C., soldier.®
Orozco, José Manuel, servant.!
Ortega, José Francisco, sergeant.?
Ortega, Ignacio, soldier.?
Ortega, José Francisco Ma., child.?
Ortega, José Ma., soldier.?
Ortega, Juan, soldier.?
Ortega, Juan Cap. Ant. M. H., child.?
Ortega, José Ma. Martin, child.®
Ortega, Juan Cap , child.®
Ortega, Miguel, servant.®
Ortega, Francisco.‘
Ortega, José Miguel, child.4
Ortega, José Quintin de los S., child.‘
740
Ortega, José Vicente, soldier.4
Ortega, Antonio, convict.*
Ortega, Matias.
Ortega, Miguel, Cat. vol.
Ortel, Juan, Cat. vol.4
Osequera, Faustino, soldier.
Osio, José Ma., Cat. vol.4
Osorio, José, artilleryman.*
Osorno, Pedro, convict.
Osuna, Juan Ismerio.!
Osuna, Juan Luis, soldier.?
Osuna, Miguel, tailor.’
Osuna, José J oaquin, soldier.®
Osuna, José Ma.
Osuna, Juan Nepomuceno, child.
Otondo, Felipe, settler.?
Pacheco, Juan Salvio, soldier.?
Pacheco, Bartolomé Ignacio, settler.?
Pacheco, Rafael, convict. 4
Pacheco, Miguel, soldier.?
Pacheco, Bartolo, soldier.
Pacheco, Francisco, Cat. vol.4
Pacheco, Ignacio, child.?
Padilla, Juan, soldier.®
Padilla, Jacinto, Cat. vol.4
Pajarrales, settler.*
Palafox, José, Cat. vol.
Palomares, José Cristdébal, soldier.
Palomares, José Ramirez, soldier.®
Palou, Francisco, padre.}
Panella, José, padre.*
Parron, Fernando, padre.!
Paterna, Antonio, padre.?
Parrilla, Leon, lieutenant.
Patron, Antonio José, soldier.?
Parra, José, soldier.’
Parra, José, child.®
Parra, José Antonio, settler.®
Parra, José Miguel Sabino, child.’
Patifio, José Victoriano, soldier.
Payeras, Mariano, padre.*
Pedraza, José Antonio, settler.’
Pedro, José Antonio Ma.de8.T., child.?
Pedro, José Francisco de S. T., child?
Pedro y Gil, Rafael, storekeeper. *
Pefia, Francisco Ma., soldier.
Pefia, José Antonio, soldier.!
Pefia, Gerardo, soldier.?
Pefia, Luis, soldier. ?
Pefia, Eustaquio, child.*
Petia, José, artilleryman.*
Pefia, Teodoro, Cat. vol.4
Pefia y Saravia, Tomas, padre.}
Pengues, Miguel Sobrevia, Cat. vol.?
Peralta, Gabriel, soldier.?
Peralta, Juan José, soldier.?
Peralta, Luis Ma., soldier.?
Peralta, Pedro Regalado, soldier.®
Peralta, Hermenegildo Ignacio, child.
Peralta, Juan.4
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Peralta, Pantaleon, child.
Perez, Juan, captain of vessel.!
Perez, Crispin, soldier.?
Perez, José Ignacio, soldier.?
Perez, Antonio Irimeo, child.
Perez, Antonio Ma., child.4
Perez, Estévan.*
Perez, José Ma., soldier.*
Perez, José Ma., convict.
Perez, Juan Bautista, Cat. vol.4
Perez, Luis, soldier.*
Perez, Manuel, Cat. vol.4
Perez Fernandez, José, alférez.*
Perez de la Fuente, Pedro, settler.
Pericas, Miguel, Cat. vol.
Peyri, Antonio, padre.*
Pico, Santiago de la Cruz, soldier.?
Pico, Francisco Javier, soldier.’
Pico, José Dolores, soldier.’
Pico, José Ma., soldier.®
Pico, Juan Patricio, child.8
Pico, Joaquin, soldier.‘
Pico, José Antonio Bernardo, child.
Pico, José Vicente, child.
Pico, Mariano.*
Pico, Miguel, soldier.
Pico, Patricio, servant.‘
Pieras, Miguel, padre.}
Pifia, Juan Maximo, soldier.®
Pifia, Mariano, servant.®
Pifia, Pedro Rafael, child.®
Pinto, Juan Marfa, soldier.?
Pinto, Pablo, soldier.?
Pinto, Marcelo, soldier.’
Planes, Gerdénimo, Cat. vol.!
Plenelo, Valentin, Cat. vol.?
Pliego, José, settler.
Palanco, José, soldier.®
Pollorena, Pedro.?
Pollorena, Juan, child.*
Pollorena, Rafael Eugenio, child.*
Portella, Francisco, Cat. vol.}
Portol4, Gaspar de, governor.
Preciado, Venancio, servant.®
Prestamero, Juan, padre.}
Puga, Joaquin, servant.”
Puyol, Francisco, padre.‘
Prat, Pedro, surgeon.!
Puig, Juan, sergt. Cat. vol.!
Quesada, Manuel, soldier. *
Quesada, Manuel, Cat. vol.4
Quijada, Ignacio Ma., child.®
Quijada, Vicente, soldier.®
Quijada, José Nazario de la T., child.
Quijada, José Lorenzo, child.
Quijada, Simon, child.
Quintero, Luis, settler.®
Quintero, Clemente.*
Quintero, Teodosio.*
Quinto, Simon Tadeo.‘
*
\ INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Ramirez, Francisco, soldier.?
Ramirez, Bernardo, soldier.®
Ramirez, José Antonio, carpenter.4
Ramirez, José Guadalupe.4
Ramos, José, smith.®
Ramos, José, convict.
Ramos, Pablo Antonio, child.
Resa, Lorenzo, sailor. ?
key, Cristébal, Cat. vol.4
key, José, Cat. vol.4
Rey, Juan del, soldier.*
\ Reyes, Juan Francisco.!
Reyes, Martin, soldier.?
Reyes, Francisco, settler.®
Reyes, José Jacinto, child.’
Reyes, José, convict.
Reyes, José, saddler.*
Reyes, Maximo Julian, child.4
Rio, Francisco del.?
Rioboo, Juan Antonio Garcia, padre.
Rios, Feliciano, soldier. ?
Rios, Julian, soldier.?
Rios, Cayetano, child.®
Rios, Silverio Antonio Juan, child.
Rivera, Tadeo, soldier.?
Rivera, Joaquin, stone-cutter.4
Rivera, Salvador, stone-cutter.* |
Rivera y Moncada, Fernando, captain.?
Roberto, Justo, soldier.’
Roberto, Matias, child.’
Robles, Juan José, soldier.!
Robles, Manuel Ma., soldier. ?
Robles, José Antonio, settler.*
Roca, Carlos Pedro José, child.4
Roca, José, sergeant artilleryman.*
Rocha, Juan Estévan, soldier.!
Rocha, Cornelio, settler.*
Rocha, Cornelio, convict.
Rocha, José, Cat. vol.4
Rocha, Juan José Lor., child.‘
Rochin, Ignacio, soldier.’
Rodriguez, Manuel, carpenter.
Rodriguez, José, servant.?
Rodriguez, Pablo, settler.?
Rodriguez, Vicente, soldier.?
Rodriguez, Alejo Maximo, child.®
Rodriguez, Inocencio José, child.®
Rodriguez, Joaquin, soldier.’
Rodriguez, José Antonio, soldier.®
Rodriguez, José Fran. Ant. L., child.’
Rodriguez, José Ignacio, soldier.®
Rodriguez, José de Jesus [., child.®
Rodriguez, José Leon, child.®
Rodriguez, José Ma., child.’
Rodriguez, Sebastian, child.®
Rodriguez, Alejandro, child.
Rodriguez, Felipe Antonio, child.*
Rodriguez, José del Carmen S., child.
Rodriguez, José Brigido, child.*
Rodriguez, Juan, child.
741
Rodriguez, Juan Francisco, child.!
Rodriguez, Juan de Dios, child.*
Rodriguez, Manuel, cadet.*
Rodriguez, Matias, servant.4
Roman, José Joaquin, settler.*
Romero, Antonio, servant.?
Romero, Felipe, smith.?
Romero, Anselmo José Ignacio, child.®
Romero, José Domingo, child.*
Romero, José Estévan, soldier.®
Romero, José Ma. Basilio F., child.®
Romero, Juan Maria, child.®
Romero, Pedro, soldier.’
Romero, José Ant. Estévan, child.
Romero, José Gregorio, child.4
Romero, José Man. Secundino, child.‘
Romero, Juan Ma., soldier.®
Romero, Luis, soldier.*
Romero, Rafael, Cat. vol.4
Rosales, Bernardo, muleteer.}
Rosales, Cornelio, child.?
Rosales, José Cornelio, soldier.4
Rosalio, Eugenio, soldier.?
Rosas, Juan Hstévan.?
Rosas, Alejo, settler.®
Rosas, Baltasar Juan José, child.®
Rosas, Basilio, settler.?
Rosas, Carlos, soldier.
Rosas, José Alejandro, settler.’
Rosas, José Maximo, settler.’
Rosas, José Maximo, child.
Rosas, Gil Antonio, child.*
Rosas, José Dario, settler.
Rosas, José, convict.‘
Rosas, José Antonio, child.4
Rosas, José Antonio, soldier.4
Rosas, José Antonio Doroteo, child.4
Rosas, Leon Maria, child.
Rosas, Luis Maria, child.*:
Rubio, Ascensio Alvarez.}
Rubio, Bernardo.!
Rubio, José Carlos.}
Rubio, Juan Antonio, soldier?
Rubio, Carlos, soldier.’
Rubio, Fran. Ramon de la L., child.®
Rubio, Mateo, soldier.
Rubio, José Antonio, child.
Rubio, Luis Ma., child.‘
Rubio, Rafael Felipe, child.‘
Rubiol, Francisco, Cat. vol.*
Rubi, Mariano, padre.®
Rueda, Pedro. .
Ruelas, Fernando, soldier.}
Ruelas, Francisco, soldier.®
Ruelas, Venancio, Cat. vol.4
Ruiz, Antonio Vicente.}
Ruiz, Alejandro, soldier.?
Ruiz, Juan Ma., soldier.?
Ruiz, Diego Ma., soldier.?
Ruiz, Francisco Ma., soldier.4
742
Ruiz, Efigenio, soldier.®
Ruiz, Fructuoso Ma., soldier.®
Ruiz, Juan Pedro Jacinto, child.§
Ruiz, Nervo Pedro.
Ruiz, Pedro José.?
Ruiz, Estévan, bricklayer.4
Ruiz, Ignacio, soldier.*
Ruiz, José Hilario, child.
Ruiz, José Joaquin, child.
Ruiz, Manuel, mechanic.*
Ruiz, Santiago, mason.‘
Ruiz, Toribio, mason.‘
Saez, Nazario, settler.?
Saez, Justo, soldier.’
Saez, Juan, settler.‘
Saez, Miguel.#
Saenz, Ignacio, convict.‘
Sajo, José, soldier.’
Sal, Hermenegildo, soldier.?
Sal, Ignacio Francisco, child.¢
Sal, Domingo, child.+
Sal, Meliton, child.*
Salazar, Alonso Isidro, padre.‘
Salazar, Doroteo de la Luz, child.§
Salazar, Doroteo, soldier.®
Salazar, José Loreto, soldier.®
Salazar, Juan José, child.®
Salazar, Miguel, soldier.
Salas, Francisco, Cat. vol.
Salazar, José Marcos, settler.‘
Salazar, José, convict.*
Salazar, Miguel, soldier.‘
Samaniego, José Ma. Gil, soldier.®
Samaniego, Pablo Ant. Nemesio, child 3
Samaniego, Tiburcio Antonio, child.®
Samaniego, José del Carmen, child.*
Sanchez, Francisco Miguel, padre.
Sanchez, Joaquin, servant.?
Sanchez, José Antonio, soldier.?
Sanchez, Juan, sailor.?
Sanchez, Francisco, soldier.®
Sanchez, José Tadeo, soldier.®
Sanchez, José Segundo, soldier.
Sanchez, José Antonio, child.
Sanchez, Juan, soldier.
Sanchez, Juan Ma., child.
Sanchez, Vicente. *
Sanchez, Vicente Anastasio, child. 4
Sangrador, Miguel, tanner.
Sandoval, Antonio, servant.?
Sandoval, Gregorio Antonio, soldier.®
Santa Ana, José Francisco, child.
Santa Catarina y Noriega, M., padre.?
Santa Maria, Vicente, padre.?
Santiago, Juan José M., padre.§
Sarmiento, Francisco, Cat. vol.4
Sarco, José Joaquin, artilleryman.
Segundo, Angel, settler.*
Segura, Gregorio, smith.’
Seiian, José Francisco de P., padre.§
y
4
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Septlveda, Rafael, soldier.?
Sepulveda, Juan José, soldier.?
Septilveda, Francisco Javier, soldier.®
Sepulveda, Enrique.*
Sepulveda, Francisco Javier, child.‘
Septilveda, José Dolores, child.+
Sepulveda, José Enrique A., child.*
Sepulveda, José de Jos Dolores, child.*
Septilveda, Patricio.+
Sepulveda, Sebastian, soldier.
Serra, Junipero, padre.?
Serrano, Francisco, soldier.®
Serrano, Leandro José, child.’
Serrano, José Maria, Cat. vol.
Servin, José Isidro, Cat. vol.4
Sierra, Benito, padre.?
Silva, José, setiler.?
Silva, Hilario Leon José, child.? -
Silva, José Manuel, servant. ?
Silva, José Miguel, soldier.?
Silva, Juan de Dios J. S., child.®
Silva, Rafael, child.’
Silva, Hilario Leon José, child.4
Silva, José de los Santos, child.
Silva, José Ma., child.
Silva, José Manuel Victor, child.‘
Silva, Teodoro. *
Sinova, José, soldier.?
Sinova, José Francisco, servant.?
Sitjar, Buenaventura, padre.
Sola, Faustino, padre.
Soberanes, José Ma., soldier.}
Soberanes, Agustin, servant.?
Soberanes, José Ma., soldier.?
Soler, Juan, store-keeper.?
Soler, Nicolas, captain.’
Soler, Pablo, surgeon.*
Solis, Alejandro, soldier.?
Solérzano, Francisco, soldier.
Soldérzano, Juan, soldier.+
Solérzano, Juan Mateo, child.¢
Solérzano, Pio Antonio, child.‘
Somera, José Antonio F., padre.!
Sorno, José Nolasco, settler.
Sorde, José, Cat. vol.}
Sotelo, Francisco Antonio, soldier.?
Sotelo, José Antonio, soldier. ?
Sotelo, José Gabriel, child.
Sotelo, José Ma., child.’
Sotelo, José Antonio, child.
Sotelo, José Ma. Tiburcio, child.¢
Sotelo, Ramon, soldier.
Soto, Mateo Ignacio.}
Soto, Alejandro, soldier.?
Soto, Damaso, child.?
Soto, Francisco José Dolores, child.®
Soto, Francisco Ma., child.?
Soto, Ignacio, soldier.?
Soto, Isidro, child.?
Soto, Francisco Rexis, soldier.®
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Soto, Guillermo, soldier.®
Soto, Ignacio Javier.
Soto, José Joaquin, child.’
Soto, Mariano, servant.®
Soto, Antonio, settler. +4
Soto, José Ma. Ant., child.4
Soto, Juan.
Soto, Miguel, soldier. 4
Soto, Rafael.
Soto, Tomas. 4
Sotomayor, Alejandro, soldier,!
Sotomayor, José Criségono.,
Sotomayor, José Doroteo.
Suarez, Simon, lieutenant. 4
Talamantes, soldier.
Tapia, Felipe Santiago, soldier.?
Tapia, Bartolomé, servant.?
Tapia, Cristébal.®
Tapia, José Bartolo, settler.’
Tapia, José Francisco, soldier.
Tapia, Francisco, soldier. *
Tapia, José Antonio, child.
Tapia, Mariano, potter. *
Tapinto, Mariano, tailor.‘
Tapis, Estévan, padre.®
Tejo, Ignacio Antonio, Cat. vol.4
Ticé, José Joaquin, sergeant Cat. vol.4
Ticd, Fern. José Ma. Ign. M., child.
Tobar, Albino, settler.4
Toca, José Manuel, teacher. *
Toral, José Perez, cadet.*
Torres, Victoriano, settler.?
Yorres, Narciso, Cat. vol.4
Torres, Nicolas.
Torrens, Hilario, padre.®
Trasvifias, Antonio, soldier,!
Trujillo, José, Cat. vol.4
Ulloa, José Santos, smith.
Uribes, Miguel, settler.*
Ursetino, José, carpenter. ?
Uria, José Antonio, padre.4
Usson, Ramon, padre.
Valderrama, José Cornelio, settler.*
Valdés, Juan Bautista, soldier.?
Valdés, Antonio Albino, child.
Valdés, Antonio Ma. de Sta M., child.®
Valdés, Eugenio, soldier.’
Valdés, José Basilio, child.
Valdés, José Lorenzo, servant.®
Valdés, José Melesio, soldier.’
Valdés, Juan Melesio, soldier.’
Valdés, Luciano José, child.®
Valdés, Maximo Tomas, child.
Valdés, Antonio.+
Valdés, Crecencio.4
Valdés, Francisco, Cat. vol.4
Valdés, Gregorio. *
Valdés, José Rafael, child.
Valencia, José Manuel, soldier.?
Valencia, Francisco, soldier.®
743
Valencia, Ignacio.® °
Valencia, Juan Ignacio, soldier.®
Valencia, Juan Vicente Cris., child.8
Valencia, Manuel, settler.®
Valencia, Miguel Antonio, child.§
Valencia, José Antonio, child.4
Valencia, José Manuel, child.+
Valenzuela, Agustin, soldier.?
Valenzuela, José Julian, child.?
Valenzuela, Rafael, soldier. ?
Valenzuela, Angel, soldier.®
Valenzuela, Antonio Ma., child.’
Valenzuela, Gaspar José, child.®
Valenzuela, José.’
Valenzuela, José Antonio Ma., child.$
Valenzuela, José Manuel, soldier.®
Valenzuela, Antonio de Gr., child.‘
Valenzuela, Joaquin, child.*
Valenzuela, José Antonio Ma., child.4
Valenzuela, José Candelario, child.*
Valenzuela, José Ignacio. +
Valenzuela, José Rafael, child.*
Valenzuela, Juan, soldier. *
Valenzuela, Juan Angel, child.
Valenzuela, Juan Ma., child.
Valenzuela, Maximo.*
Valenzuela, Pedro, soldier.*
Valenzuela, Simeon Maximo, child.4
Valenzuela, Vicente, soldier.*
Valenzuela, Vicente Antonio, child.
Valenzuela, José Ma., child.®
Valenzuela, José Matias, child.$
Valenzuela, José Miguel, child.’
Valenzuela, José Pedro, soldier.®
Valenzuela, José Ramon, child.’
Valenzuela, Segundo, soldier.’
Valero, Ignacio, soldier. *
Vallejo, Ign. Vicente Ferrer, soldier,?
Vallejo, Juan José, soldier.?
Vallejo, José de Jesus, child.
Vanegas, Cosme.*
Varelas, Casimiro, settler.?
Varelas, Juan, child.?
Varelas, José Cayetano, child.§
Varelas, José Manuel, child.
Varelas, Juan, soldier. #
Vargas, Manuel, sergeant.®
Vazquez, Gil Anastasio, soldier.?
Vazquez, José Francisco, child.?
Vazquez, Juan Atanasio, soldier.?
Vazquez, Juan Silverio, child.?
Vazquez, José Tiburcio, settler?
Vazquez, Antonio, soldier. *
Vazquez, José, convict.*
Vazquez, Faustino.‘
Vazquez, Felipe.
Vazquez, Félix.*
Vazquez, Hermenegildo.*
Vazquez, José Antonio Pablo, child.4
Vazquez, José Timoteo, settler.‘
744 INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA, 1769-1800.
Vazquez, Julio Ma., child.‘ Villa, José Antonio Doroteo, child.
Vega, José Manuel, Cat. vol. Villa, José Francisco Antonio, child.‘
Vegas, Matias, soldier.? Villa, Pascual, soldier. *
Véjar, Pablo, carpenter.‘ Villa, Rafael.*
Véjar, Salv., carpenter. Villalba, Onofre, Cat. vol.4
Velarde, José Jacobo, soldier.? Villagomez, Francisco, soldier.?
Velarde, José Ma., soldier.® Villalobos, José, soldier.?
Velarde, Agustin.‘ Villalobos, José Ma., child.*
Velarde, José Luciano.* Villasefior, José, artilleryman.‘
Vegerano, José Ma., muleteer.? Villavicencio, Rafael, soldier.
Velasco, Fernando, soldier. Villavicencio, José Antonio, child.?
Velasco, José Ignacio Mateo, child. Villavicencio, Antonio, settler.
Velazquez, José.+ Villavicencio, Félix, settler.’
Velazquez, José Ma., convict.‘ Villavicencio, Pascual, settler.*
Velez, José Miguel, settler.? Villavicencio, José, soldier.*
Velis, José, Cat. vol.4 Villarino, Félix Antonio, settler,‘
Verdugo, Joaquin. Villela, Juan Manuel, soldier.?
Verdugo, José Ma., soldier.! Villela, Marcos, soldier. *
* Verdugo, Francisco Ma. dela Cruz. Viiials, José, padre.*
Verdugo, Mariano de la Luz, soldier.! Virjan, Manuel, muleteer.?
Verdugo, Florencio, soldier.? Vizcaino, Juan, padre.}
Verdugo, Ignacio Leonardo Ma,? Vizcarra, José, soldier.
Verdugo, Juan Diego, soldier.? Yorba, Antonio, Cat. vol.!
Verdugo, Juan Ma., soldier.® Yorba, Francisco Javier, soldier *
Verdugo, Leonardo, soldier.® Yorba, José Antonio.*
Verdugo, Manuel José, child.® Yorba, José Domingo, child.*
Verdugo, Anselmo José, child. Yorba, Tomas. *
Verdugo, Joaquin. Zambrano, Nicolas, soldier.?
Verdugo, José Francisco, child.* Zayas, José Salvador, soldier.®
Verdugo, Juan Andrés Dolores, child.* Zuiiga, Pedro B., child.?
Verdugo, Julio Antonio José, child.4 Zufiiga, Pio Quinto, soldier.?
Verdugo, Meliton José. Zufiga, José, lieutenant.®
Verduzco, Anastasio Javier.} Zufiiga, José Antonio, child.®
Viader, José, padre.* Zuiiga, José Valentin Q., child.®
Victoriano, soldier. ‘ Zufiiga, Serapio Ma., child.®
Vila, Vicente, captain of vessel.} Zufiga, Guillermo A., child.4
Villa, José, settler. Zuiiga, José Manuel, child.*
Villa, Vicente Ferrer, child.® Zuiiga, Ventura. *
Villa, Eleuterio.*
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