History of California, Volume III, Part 76

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824

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13 Vicente Francisco Sarria was a Biscayan, born in Nov. 1767, at S.

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LA SOLEDAD.

time the mission had no resident minister, Padre Mercado of San Antonio having charge of its spirit- ual interests and making occasional visits from the

Estevan de Echabarris, near Bilbao, at which latter town he became a Fran- ciscan in Nov. 1783, serving at his convent as lector de filosofía for laymen, maestro de estudiantes, and lector de artes de religiosos. He left Cádiz in June 1804, and after four years' service at the College of S. Fernando, he was sent to California in 1809. His missionary service was at S. Cárlos in 1809- 29, and at Soledad in 1829-35; that is, these missions were his headquarters, he being absent much of the time on official tours. Autobiog. Autog. de los Padres, MS .; Sarria, Inf. sobre Frailes, 1817, MS., 76-7; Payeras, Inf., 18220, MS., 134-5, in which latter report he is highly praised, as of the most distin- guished merit and ability, fitted for the highest positions, and one who might with advantage be entrusted with a needed manual for Franciscans. In IS13-19 Sarría held the office of comisario prefecto of the missions-the highest in the province-and again filled the position in 1823-30, or perhaps a little longer, being also president in 1823-5. In the discharge of his official duties he proved himself as prelate the worthy successor of Serra, Lasnen, and Tapis, and associate of Señan and Payeras. Readers of my chapters on mission an- uals are familiar with his acts and views and writings, which space does not permit me to recapitulate here. In my list of authorities some half-a-dozen of his more notable productions appear, among which is a curious volume of manuscript sermons in his native Basque. He was a scholarly, dignified, and amiable man; not prone to controversy, yet strong in argument, clear and carnest in the expression of his opinions; less disposed to asceticism and bigotry than some of the earlier Fernandinos, yet given at times to fasting and mortification of the flesh; devoted to liis faith and to his order; strict in the ob- servance and enforcement of Franciscan rules, and conscientious in the perform- ance of every duty; yet liberal in his views on ordinary matters, clear-headed in business affairs, and well liked by all who came in contact with him. As prefect, no Californian friar could have done better, since in the misfortunes of his cloth he never lost either temper or courage. Declining as a loyal Span- iard to accept republicanism, P. Sarria was arrested in 1823, and his exile ordered; but his arrest, which lasted about five years, was merely nominal, and the order of exile, though never withdrawn and several times renewed, was never enforced. In S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 83-4, is a letter to the padre from his nephew in Spain, 1820, on family poverty and misfortunes. After 1830, old and infirm, but still actively engaged in local missionary duties, he lived quietly at Soledad, which he declined to leave in 1834 when the northern missions were given up to the Zacateeanos, especially as no resi- dent minister was assigned to this mission. Thus he was the last of the Fer- nandinos in the north, dying just before the secularization which put an end to the Franciscan regime. He died suddenly, perhaps fell while saying mass at the altar, on May 24, 1835, without receiving the final sacraments. Padre Mercado declared that his 'muerte violenta' was due to 'escasez de alimentos.' S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 120; and the tradition became somewhat prev- alent that he died through neglect of the administrator. Mrs Ord heard this version; see also Mofras, Explor., i. 389-91; E. C., in Revista Cientif., i. 328; Vallejo, Ilist. C'al., MIS., iv. 93. By these writers the death is dated 1838, and Mofras names the month as August, Vallejo says Sarria's death was caused by neglect on the part of the Mexican friars. The truth is, probably, that the aged friar, childishly insisting on remaining alone with his Indians, overtasked hisstrength and shortened his life, circumstances render- ing suitable care impossible. I do not credit Mercado's charges, or believe that there was an administrator in Cal. who would have maltreated a mis- sionary so widely known and loved. llis body was carried to S, Antonio and buried in the mission church, on the epistle side of the presbytery in the HIST. CAL., VOL. III. 44

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LOCAL ANNALS OF MONTEREY DISTRICT.

autumn of 1834. There was but slight loss in popu- lation or in live-stock down to 1834, though crops were very small; but later Indians, animals, and prop- erty of all kinds rapidly disappeared. The population was about three hundred in 1834; and in 1840 it had dwindled to about 70, with perhaps as many more scattered in the district.14 The debt was large,

sepulchre nearest the wall, on May 27th. S. Antonio, Extracto, Muerte de Sarria, MS .; translation in Taylor's Discov. and Found., ii. no. 24, p. 199. Padre Ambris was told that years later Sarria's body was found to be intact.

14 Soledad statistics 1831-4. Decrease in pop., 342 to about 300. Bap- tisins, 140, rather strangely including more than half adults; 54 in 1833, 26 in 1831. Deaths, 150; 50 in 1834, 26 in 1832. Increase in large stoek, 5,000 to 6,200; horses and mules decrease 1,000 to 200; sheep, 5,257 to 5,000. Largest crop, 1,890 bush. in 1832; smallest, 784 (?) in 1834; average 1,200, of which 777 wheat, yield 10 fold; 253 barley, 7 fold; 84 maize, 25 fold; 21 beans, S fold; 58 miscell. grain, 6 fold.

Statisties of 1835-40. June 30, 1835, delivered to govt for national rancho in the past year, $1,513, and for the colony, $222. Dept. St. Pap., B. M., MS., lxxx. 11. Inventory of Aug. 12, 1835; eredits, $412; buildings, $1,764; implements, furniture, effects, etc., $3,234; church property (church, SS5, ornaments, etc., $3,347, library of 51 vol., $186) $3,618; ranchos, with live- stock and produce, $31,366; total, $47,297 (should be $40,394). St. Pap., Miss., MS., v. 57. Dec. 31, 1836, inventory without valuation, including a vineyard with 5,000 vines; ranchos of S. Lorenzo, S. Vicente, and S. Fer- nando; 3,246 cattle, 32 horses, 2,400 sheep; credits, $556, debts $677. Id., viii. 39-41. 1837. Salary list $1,240. Id., 43. Administrator's account for the year, dr $2,792, er $2,750, balance on hand $42. Id., 46. 1838. Admin. acet, dr $1,065, cr $929, on hand $136; also 1,306 animals, great and small. Id., 47. Pop. Dec. 31st, 168 souls. Id., 48. 1839. Jan .- Ang., equal receipts and expend., no balance. Id., 44-5. Feb., credits $556, debts SSS. Id., 46. March, due to employés, $1,587. Id., 77. May, June, ex- cess of receipts over expend., $34. Id., ix. 73-4. May. 544 cattle, 32 horses, 900 sheep. Id., 74. Aug. Sth, Hartnell's census and inventory; pop., 78; 45 cattle, 25 horses, 863 sheep, I mule, 1 ass, 156 fan. barley. Diario, MS., 28. Nov., debts $1,297. Pico, Pap. Mis., MS., 47-51.

Statistics of 1791-1834. Total of baptisms, 2,222, of which 1,235 Ind. adults, 924 Ind. children, 63 children de razon; annual average 50. Total of marriages 682, of which 11 de razon. Total of deaths 1,803, of which 1,207 Ind. adults, 574 Ind. children, 9 and 13 gente de razon; annual average 40; average death rate 9 per cent. of pop. Largest pop., 725 in 1805; males al- ways in excess of females, sometimes greatly so; children from 1-3 to 1-10. Largest no. of cattle, 6,590 in 1831; horses, 1,257 in 1821; mules, 80 in 1807; sheep, 9,500 in ISO8; swine, 90 in 1814; all kinds, 16,531 animals in 1821. Total product of wheat 64,234 bush., yield 12 fold; barley 13,956 bush., 16 fold; maize 18,240 bush., 90 fold; beans, 2,260 bush., 11 fold; miscell. grains, 13,012 bush., 27 fold.

Record of events, etc. 1831. Status under Echeandia's decree, not car- ried out; Tiburcio Castro comisionado. This vol., p. 306-7. 1833. Election of an Ind. ayuntamiento. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt 1, p. 373. 1834. The padre reported destitute of means, and leading a hermit's life. Soledad was to be a parish of 2d class. This vol., p. 348. 1835. Secularization by Nicolás Alviso, who was majordomo and perhaps comisionado; also alcalde auxiliar. 1836. José M. Agaila succeeded Alviso at a date not given, and on Dec. 31st was succeeded by Salvador Espinosa, salary $500; Jose Ant.

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SAN JUAN BAUTISTA DE CASTRO.

and there were left only 45 cattle, 25 horses, and 865 sheep, though the inventory of 1835 had shown an estate valued at $36,000 besides the church property. Secularization was effected in 1835 by Nicolás Alviso, and the successive administrators were Jose M. Águila, Salvador Espinosa, and Vicente Cantúa. At the end of the decade the establishment was on the verge of dissolution, and I am not sure that the final order was not issued before the end of the last year.

At San Juan Bautista padres Felipe Arroyo de la Cuesta and Juan Moreno served together in 1831-2, and the latter remained till 1833, when Padre José Antonio Anzar took his place. The regular statisti- cal reports cease in 1832, when there were 916 Ind- ians on the register. As no extraordinary cause of dispersion is known, there may have been 850 neo- phytes in 1834. The only subsequent record is to the effect that the number of Indians emancipated- and there is no allusion to any others-in 1835 was 63, presumably heads of families and possibly repre- senting 250 souls, but probably much less. As an estimate, which is hardly more than a guess, there may have been 100 ex-neophytes in the immediate vicinity of the mission, and as many more scattered but not relapsed wholly to savagism in 1840.15 Secu-

Gaxiola sec. $120 (later $180). José Rosas, majordomo, $120. 1837-9. Espinosa still in charge. 1839. Hartnell's visit was in Aug. IIe found the Ind. complaining of both Espinosa and Rosas, the former taking mission cattle for his rancho, and the latter spoiling the crops by his obstinate ignor- ance. They wanted to be free, under a kind of supervision by Aguila, who had been well liked as administrator. Hartnell, Diario, MS., 28. Nov. 5th. Espinosa was succeeded by Vicente Cantúa. St. Pap. Miss., MIS., viii. 45. 1840. Cantúa still in charge; ordered in March to sell 6,000 tiles to buy food for the Ind. Dept. Rec., M.S., xi. 37.

13 Statistics of S. Juan Bautista 1831-4. There are no records after 1832, so that the figures for 1834 are only estimates. Decrease in pop. 964 to 850. Baptisms 144. Deaths 304. Decrease in large stock 7,820 to 5,000; horses and innles 324 to 200; sheep 7,000 to 4,000. Average erop (2 years) 2,029 bush., of which 1,380 bush. wheat, yield 11 fold; 403 bush. barley, 10 fold; 150 bush. corn, 25 fold; 49 bush. beans, 11 fold; 43 bush, miscel. grains, 3 fold.

Statistics of 1835-40. Inventory of May 1835; land $5, 120; live-stock, ineluding 41 horses, $1,782; implements, effects, etc., $1,467; total $8,369, to be distributed among 63 emancipated Ind. St. Pap. Miss., MS., x. 16. Inventory of church property; church $3,500 (?), ornaments, etc., $29,240 (?),

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LOCAL ANNALS OF MONTEREY DISTRICT.

larization was effected in 1835 by Tiburcio Castro, who was administrator through 1836, no successor being named. The inventory of the change shows a

library, 182 vol., $591, 6 bells $1,060, furniture of the choir $453, total $44,844. Id., vi. 10. June 6, 1835, paid to S. F. comp. since July 1834, $84, for the colony $135, besides $500 still due on colony account. Id., viii. 43. Inventory of 1835 (no month named), buildings $36,000; implements, goods and furniture $7,774; church property (church, fully described, $35,000, ornaments, etc., $7,740, library $461, bells $1,060, choir furniture $1,643) $45,904; vineyards, lands, and buildings outside the mission $37,365; ranchos, probably including live-stock (S. Justo $1,300, Todos Santos $1,755, S. Felipe $16,052) $19,107; credits $1,040; cash $222; total $147,413; deducting amount distrib. to Ind. $S,439, and debt $250, balance $138,723. Id., vi. 17-19. 1836. Jan. 1, 1837. Castro's general account for 1836; salaries (P. Anzar $265, Admin. Castro $262, Maj. Castro and Rios $149 and $171) $347. Ex- penses of house, etc., $155; goods and produce supplied to Ind. $312; total $1,315. Product of garden and vineyard $150, slaughter $270, due from the ship California $337, cheeses left over $134, total $011. Balance of (xpend. over receipts $404. Cattle and horses branded 175; sheep sheared 2,024; crops 607 fan. Cattle on hand 869, sheep 4,120. Credits in March $338, debts $1650. Id., viii. 49-51. Nothing for 1838-40.

Statistics of 1797-1834. Total of baptisms 4,100, of which 1,898 Ind. adults, 2,015 Ind. children, 2 and 195 gente de razon; annual average 103. Total of marriages 1,028, of which 53 de razon. Total of deaths 3,027, of which 1,70S Ind. adults, 1,203 Ind. children, 5 and 65 gente de razon; annual average 79; average death rate 9.35 per cent. Largest pop. 1,248 in 1823; sexes about equal to 1810, males largely in excess later; children } to }. Larg- est no. of cattle 11,000 in 1820; horses 1,598 in 1806; mules 35 in 1805; sheep 13,000 in 1816; swine 99 in 1803; all kinds 23,789 animals in 1816. Total product of wheat 84,633 bush., yield 15 fold; barley 10,830 bush., 19 fold; maize 18,400 bush., 88 fold; beans 1,871 bush., 12 fold; miscell. grains 2,640 bush., 10 fold.

Summary of events, officials, etc., 1831. Status of S. Juan under Eche- andía's decree, not carried out; Juan Higuera comisionado. This vol., p. 306-7. 1834. S. Juan and Sta Cruz to form a parish of 2d class under the reglamento. Id., 34S. 1835. Secularization, Tiburcio Castro being admin- istrator, or majordomo, and perhaps comisionado, though José Castro may have held the latter position, and Antonio Buelna also signs an inventory. Angel Castro and Joaquin Rios were subordinate majordomos. Felipe Amesti and Rafael Gonzalez are named as alcaldes Ist and 2d of the new pueblo. Doc. ITist. Cal., MS., i. 483; Mont. Arch., MS., ii. 2. July 27th, the gov. has learned that the Ind. have taken more property than was assigned to them. This must be corrected. St. Pap. Miss. & Col., MS., ii. 342-3. July 31st, Castro to gov. complaining that P. Anzar had taken the best rooms in addition to Il already held by him. The padre wishes the admin. and all the Ind. to devote themselves entirely to his service. St. Pap. Miss., MS., x. 15. Alvarado, Ilist. Cul., MS., ii. 212-18, says that secularization was successful here and at S. Antonio, though nowhere else, the Ind. being en- tirely freed, though watched, and making tolerably good use of their freedom and property. 1836. S. Juan was the headquarters of Alvarado and the revolutionists while preparing to oust Gov. Gutierrez, this vol., p. 433-4; and after the revolution the place began to be called S. Juan de Castro, in honor of the general, though the name was perhaps not officially used for two or three years. Id., 511. 1837. José Maria Sanchez juez de paz. Rev- olutionary plots and arrest of conspirators. Id., 512. March, the Ind. attacked the rancho of Jose Sanchez, killing two ex-neophytes and wounding Sanchez himself. Vallejo, Dor., MS., iv. 223. 1838. Ravages of the Ind., said to be fugitive christians accompanied by many gentiles, at Pacheco's

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SANTA CRUZ.

valuation of $93,000, besides church property to the amount of $46,000, and over $8,000 distributed to the Indians. At the end of 1836, the mission estate had still about 900 cattle and 4,000 sheep, with a crop of 900 bushels, and a debt of $1,300. These are the latest statistics extant. Secularization appears to have been much more complete than at the estab- lishments farther south, there being no traces of the community after 1836. Constant depredations of savages with ex-neophyte allies from 1837 con- tributed to the work of ruin; but a little settlement of gente de razon sprang into existence, containing I suppose 50 inhabitants at the end of the decade; the name became San Juan de Castro; jueces de paz took charge of local affairs; and the town was honored by being made cabecera of the district in 1839, on the organization of the prefecture.

Padre Joaquin Jimeno continued his ministry at Santa Cruz till 1833, when he was succeeded by Padre Antonio Suarez del Real, who remained throughout the decade. In 1834 the neophyte pop- ulation had fallen from 320 to about 250, and appa- rently there was no very marked loss in live-stock or agriculture down to that time. 16 Secularization was rancho, where they killed Hipólito Mejía. They also burned J. M. Sanchez's house, and S. pursuing wounded seven of them. A few days later they attacked José Castro's rancho, and again visited Pacheco's, driving off horses and stealing all they could carry. There was much correspondence about an exped. against the savages, but no results are known. Vol. iv. 75. 1839. Juan Miguel Anzar juez de paz, with Antonio Castro as suplente. For pre- fecture see annals of Monterey in this chapter, S. Juan de Castro being the head-town of the district. April, buildings being prepared for the prefce- ture. C'astro proposes to establish a raucho nacional at S. Luis Gonzaga. Log. Rec., MS., iii. 87-92; Vallejo, Dor., MS., vi. 491. 1840. Anzar still juez de paz, with Manuel Larios as suplente. By Alvarado's regulation of March on missions, S. Juan was one of the establishments which the govt was to 'continue to regulate according to circumstances.' vol. iv. 60. July, organization of a patrol against Ind. between S. Juan and S. Jose. Dept. St. Pap., MS., v. 14; Id., Mont., iii. 85-90. Sept. Ist the S. Juan jurisdiction defined as extending from Natividad by Los Carneros and Pájaro to Las Llagas. Mont. Arch., MS., ix. 26-7.

16 Sta Cruz statistics 1831-2 (no figures for 1833-4). Decrease in pop. 320 to 284; baptisms 17; deaths 54; marriages 11; increase in large stock 3,363 to 4,095; horses, etc., 363 to 495; sheep 4,827 to 5,211. Crops 3,570 bush. in IS3]; 1,710 bush in 1832.

Statistics of 1834-10. Debt in Sept. 1834, $4,979; credits $1,877. St. Pap.,

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LOCAL ANNALS OF MONTEREY DISTRICT.

effected in 1834-5 by Ignacio del Valle as comisio- nado; and the value of the property when he turned it over to Juan Gonzalez as administrator at the end

Miss., MS., ix. 71. Nov. 14th, sub-comisario acknowledges draft of Deppe on the mission for $2,266. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. C. & .T., MS., iii. 11-12. Nov. 27th gov. orders prompt delivery of 13 blankets for troops. Sta Cruz, Rec., MS., 18. 1835. Inventory of Dec. Ist. Buildings $16,940, furniture, etc., $478, implements, machinery, etc., $2,163, huerta with 1,210 vines and 1,024 fruit-trees $2,173, live-stock at the mission $1,051, id. with tools at the ranchos (Matadero $5,104, Animas $1,125, Jano $1,050, Año Nuevo $10,302) $17,581, effects in store-house $3,291, produce $5,176, credits $3,338, total $52,191, debt $4,979, balance $17,212, besides church property as follows: building $3,030, ornaments, bells, cannon, etc., $23,505, library of 152 vols. $386, total $32,142 (another copy makes it $40,191). The live-stock noted above consisted of 3,700 cattle, 500 horses, 2,900 sheep, 18 mules, 10 asses, 2S swine. The chief creditor was Virmond, and the chief debtor the national treasury. The lands 2x11 1. and mostly fit only for grazing are not valued. Sta Cruz Rec., MS., 1-3; St. Pap. Miss., v. 54; vi. 40; Miscel. ITist. Pap., MS., no. 15. A newspaper scrap of unknown origin, often reprinted, makes the total $168,000, and lands $79,000. Property distributed among the Ind. from Aug. 24, 1834, to Dec. 1, 1835, $10,576. St. Pap. Miss., MS., ix. 66-7. December 11th, payment of $300 to Comisionado Valle for his ser- vices. Id., 69. April 22, 1837, live-stock 1,000 cattle, 460 horses, 2,000 sheep, 22 mules, 16 asses; 70 fan. grain; credits $3,040, debts $594, to Russ. Amer. Co. and N. Spear. Id., vii. 47-8; Pico, Pap. Mis., MS., 47-51. March 11, 1839, receipts since beginning of 1838, from sale of hides $1,120; expend. for salaries $1,465, besides cattle and horses delivered on order of govt. St. Pap. Miss., MS., ix. 72. Oct. 7th, Hartnell found 70 Ind., 36 cattle, 127 horses, and 1,026 sheep. Diario, MS., 44.

Statistics of 1791-1834. Total of baptisms 2,466, of which 1,277 Ind. adults, 939 Ind. children, 6 and 244 de razon; annual average 50. Marriages 847, of which 63 de razon. Deaths 2,035, of which 1,359 Ind. adults, 574 Ind. child., 45 and 47 de razon; aunnal average 44; average death-rate 10.93 per cent of pop. Largest pop. 644 in 1798. Males always in excess of females; children g to g. Largest no. of cattle 3,700 in 1828; horses 900 in 1828; mules 92 in 1805; sheep 8,300 in 1826; swine 150 in 1818; all kinds 12,502 animals in 1827. Total produet of wheat 69,900 bush., yield 18 fold; barley 13,180 bush., 21 fold; maize 30,500 bush., 146 fold; beans 9,250 bush., 57 fold; miscel. grains 7,600 bush., 28 fold.

Summary and index of events. 1831. Status under Echeandia's decree not enforced. This vol., p. 306-7. Jan., P. Jimeno reports election of neophyte alcalde and regidores approved by gov. Sta Cruz Rec., MS., 13. 1833. Jimeno succeeded by Real as padre. Duran favors partial seculariza- tion. This vol., p. 333. Lat. and long. by Douglas. Id., 404. Fortifica- tions to prevent smuggling recommended by Capt. Gonzalez. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 114. 1834. Ignacio del Valle as comisionado took charge on Aug. 24th, appointing Juan Gonzalez majordomo Oct. 31st. St. Pap. Miss., MS., x. 6; ix. 66; Sta Cruz Rec., MS., 12; Valle Lo Pasado, MS., 9- 10. Valle gave to the new pueblo the name Pueblo de Figueroa, which had been ordered by the gov. in Jan., and also gave Spanish surnames to the ex-neophytes. Sta Cruz and Branciforte were to form a parish of the 2d class. St. Pap. Miss., MS., 68, 71; this vol., p. 384. Sept. 15th, the padre, having given up the mission, asks the gov. for honse, etc., grain and other supplies for himself and horses, the care of church and wine, Ind. assistants for worship, a division of goods in storc, and that the comisionado shall not prejudice Ind. against the padre. Id., x. 6. Oct. 24th, gov. orders com. to settle the mission accounts at once. Sta Cruz Rec., MS., 23. Oct. 31st, gov. approves appt of majordomo at $40 inclusive of rations. Id., 12. Nov., the padre in-

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SANTA CRUZ.

of 1835 was $47,000, exclusive of land and church property, besides $10,000 distributed to the Indians. There is no record of subsequent distributions or of how the estate disappeared; but in 1839 Hartnell found only 70 Indians-with perhaps as many more scattered in the district-and about one sixth of the live-stock of the former inventory. Francisco Sot: succeeded Gonzalez in 1839, and possibly the juez de

sisted on having 10 rooms and the granary for a stable, but the gov. decided that he could have only the rooms actually needed, and that the granary could not be spared. St. Pap. Miss., MS., ix. 70. Nov. 17th, Valle has selected a room for the ayunt., one for the secretary, and one for a school. Id., 60. 1835. The governor's plan for a mission rancho for support of church not carried out. This vol., p. 351. May 21st, gov. calls for accounts of supplies to govt and to colony. Sta Cruz Rec., MS., 4. June 13th, majordomo to pay padre $20 for freight of lumber. Id., 4. Dec. Ist (or perhaps earlier) the property was turned over by Valle to Gonzalez as admin- istrator, the secularization being deemed complete. Valle was paid $300 for his services. Id., 20. Inventories of Dec. Ist as given elsewhere, Asísara, an ex-neophyte, in Amador, Mem., MS., 90-113, spins a long yarn, perhaps true in some particulars, about P'. Real's success in making away with much of the property secretly by night before Valle took charge, and of the pro- cess by which Valle, Soto, and Bolcof appropriated the rest. 1836. Spear's lighter running between Sta Cruz and S. F. vol. iv., p. S3. Forces recruited for Alvarado's army. This vol., p. 491. March, gov. orders that Ind. must comply with their church duties. Sta Cruz Arch., MS., 6. 1837. The oath to support centralism in July. This vol., p. 529. 1839. Francisco Soto succeeded Gonzalez as administrator in Jan., and in Oct. was ordered to turn over the property to José Bolcof, the juez de paz. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 3; Dept. St. Pap. Mont., MS., iv. 18, but perhaps did not do so at once. In Sept. Hartnell found the few remaining Ind. clamorous for liberty and a final distribution of property. They particularly wished to retain El Refugio and the mission puerta, which the padre also desired. They were bitter against their administrator; and José Antonio Rodriguez desired the position. Hartnell, Diario, MS., S, 44. The French voyager Laplace, Campagne, vi. 272-84, devotes several pages to a melancholy picture of the establishment in its state of ruin, poverty, and filth, as compared with its former somewhat exaggerated magnificence. He found the administrator a man of fine appear- anec and manners, and he found a pretty ranchera willing to sell vegetables at a fair price, but this 'California dove' was frightened away by the appear- ance of P. Real. 'Vraiment il y avait de quoi d'effaroncher; car il serait difficile de rencontrer un individu au regard plus cynique, à la physionomie plus effrontée, à l'air plus débrnillé que ce padro Mexicain, avec sa figure brulée, ses grands yeux noir à fond jaune, son chef convert d'un chapeau à larges bords et à moitie défoncé, sa robe de franciscain, autrefois blanche, maintenant souilléo de mille taches, sans capuchon et retrousée jusqu'à la ceinture afir do laisser toute liberté aux membres inférieurs; enfir avec uno escopette en bandoulière qui achevait de donner à ce costume quelque chose de pittoresque.' 1840. No record of the man in charge. According to the reglamento the govt was to continue to manage this ex-mission according to circumstances. Vol. iv., p. 60. In Jan., there was an earthquake, and tidal wave, carrying off a large quantity of tiles and bringing down the church tower. Id., 78; Mont. Arch., MS., ix. 24. March, gov. orders admin. to give up to l'. Real the garden and distillery with the houses adjoining the church. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 9.

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History of California, Volume III, Part 76

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 824

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824