History of California, Volume I, Part 66

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 852

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USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 66

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23 Aug. 31st, viceroy to Borica, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 49; Borica, Quince Preguntas sobre Abusos de Misioneros, 1798, MS.

21 Argüello, Respuesta á las Quince Preguntas sobre Abusos de Misioneros, 1798, MS. Dated San Francisco, Dec. 11th, and more favorable to the padres than the others. Goycoechea, Respuesta, etc., MS., Sta Bárbara, Dec. 14th ; Sal, Respuesta, etc., MS., Monterey, Dec. 15th; Rodriguez, Respuesta, etc., MS., San Diego, Dec. 19th; Grajera, Respuesta, etc., MS., San Diego, March 21, 1799.

25 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 rontine, 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 anthority is sometimes disregarded. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 105-6. 26 Feb. 6, 1800, guardian to president, in Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., xi. 284-7.

589

LASUEN'S REPORT.

less favorable to the friars.27 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.28 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 Bárbara 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 it was use-

27 Tapis and Cortés, Réplica de los Ministros de Sta Bárbara á la Respuesta que dió el Comandante Goycoechea á las quince preguntas de Borica sobre abusos de Misioneros, 1800, MS. Dated Oct. 30th. Other padres, not unlikely oue from each mission, sent in similar reports on the subject, but I have found none of the documents except this.

28 Lasuen, Representacion sobre los Puntos representados al Superior Gobierno por el P. Fr. Antonio de la Concepcion (Horra) contra 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 made 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.29

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 atote and pozole, but regular allowances of meat and milk, with fish occasionally, and always a plate

29 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 Bárbara, MS., xi. 120. Dec. 1798, Borica says that Sitjar of San Miguel teaches in the vernacular. Prov. Rec., 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.

591

TREATMENT OF INDIANS.

from the padres' table if asked for. The mission Indians were always fatter than the geutiles, 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 exeused 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 Bárbara 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

593

CRUELTY TO NEOPHYTES.

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 like 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. For the slightest 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 flogging, 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,30 affirming more- over that only at Santa Bárbara were women put in the stocks, and that they were very rarely flogged. They claimed that according to the laws they stood in loco parentis 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. Prou. Rec., MS.,. vi. 174.

HIST. CAL., VOL. 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.31

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 elass 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; Id., Ben. Mil., xxiv. 8-10. Instructions of the viceroy in 1793 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.

595

THE PRESIDENT'S CONCLUSIONS.

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.32

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 minutiæ 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

3? 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 Bárbara, MS., vi. 97-101. In 1793, Pedro A. de Anteparaluceta, canon of Puebla, left a legacy of $500 to the California missions, $36 apicce with $40 for Sta Bárbara and Soledad, and $60 for Sta Cruz. Id., 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.33

33 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

597

ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS.

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.64 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. 1-3. 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. Mngartegui, 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. Mugartegui, Carta de 1794, MS. April 30, 1791, the bishop of Sonora calls Lasnen'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 revenucs. Lasuch replies that the California padres have no revenne, except the stipend of $400 each, given as alms, and even with that they have nothing to do except to name the articles necded for the churches. A sindico 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 Bár- bara, MS., x. 61-8. I hear 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.

$4 Santa Bárbara Mission received alms for 757 masses said from 1794 to 1800. Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., ii. 134. The friars bad 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.35 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. 36

The performance of religious duties by the people was rigidly enforced, as is shown by many orders in the archives.37 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 numerous 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. Id., ix. 323-4. Dec. 7, 1800, Lasuen orders mass and te deum on the accession of Pope Pius VII. Id., xi. 148-9.

35 Dec. 20, 1792, Lasuen to Arrillaga. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 28-9. 1790, Señan refuses to bury María del Cármen Alviso in the presidio chapel. Prov. St. Pup., Ben. Mil., MS., xx. 5, 6. Two soldiers buried in the chapel at San Diego. Prov. St. Pap., Presidios, MS., i. 53, 60.

36 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 hisright of asylum. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 53. Mar. 29, 1800, commandant of Monterey orders a soldier to be given up for trial on bail. Id., ii. 5-6.

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History of California, Volume I, Part 66

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 852

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 852