USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
6. Among the said individuals will be distributed, ratahly and justly, according to the diseretum ot the political chief. the half of the movable property, taking as a basis the last inventury which the missionaries have presented ut all descriptions of cattle.
7. One-half or less of the implements am! seeds indispensable for agriculture shall be allotted to them.
8. All the surplus lands, roots, movable securities, aml property of all classes, she'll he under the charge and responsila ity of the steward or agent whom the political chet may name, subject to the disposal of the supreme Federal Government.
9. From the common mass of this property shall be provided the sulmtoner of the missionary monks, the pay of the steward and other servants, the expenses of religious worship, schools, and other matters of cleanliness or ornament.
10. The political chick, as the person charged with the direction of temporal concerns, shall determine and order beforehand the necessary qualifications, all the charges to be distributed, as well to carry this plan muito execution as for the preservation and increase of the property.
11. The missionary minister shall select the place which anits him best for his dwelling and that of his attemlants ampl servant ; he is also to be provided with I'niniture and necessary utensils.
12. The hbrary, holy vestments, and furniture of the church, shall be in charge of the missionary tomisters, under the responsibility of the person who officiates as sexton and whom the sand father shall selret), wine shall be paid a reasonable salary.
13. Inventories shall be made of all the property of each mission. with a proje'r separation and explanation of each description : n' the looks, charges, and dates of all sorts of papers ; of the credits, ligni- dated and nulupdated, with their respective remarks mat expluun- tions; of which a return shall be made to the Supreme Government.
1.01.ITICAL. GOVERNMENT OF THE VILLAGES.
14. The political government of the villages shall be organized in arconlinee with existing laws. The political chief shall take meas. ures for the election nml'establishment of' Boards of Magistrates.
15. The internal police of the villages shall be under the charge of the lourd of Magistrates; but as to the administration of justice in matters of dispute, these shall be under the cognizance of inferior judges, established constitutionally in the places wearest at hand.
16. Those who have been emancipated shall be aldiged to join in such laburs of community as are indispensable, in the opinion of the poditical chief. in the cultivation of the vineyards, gardens and fields, which for the present remain mapportioned, until the Supreme Government shall determine.
17. Emancipated persons shall render the minister such services us may be necessary for his person.
RESTRICTIONS.
JS. They shall not sell, mortgage, nor dispose of the lands granted lo them, neither shall they sell their cattle. Contracts made in contra. vention of these prohibitions shall be of no effect, and the Goverment shall seize the property as belonging to the nation, and the purchasers shall forfeit their money.
19. 1.mials, the proprietors of which die without heirs, shall revert to the natini.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
20. The political chief shall name the commissioners he may decm necessary lor carrying out this system and its incidents.
21. The political chief is authorized to determine any doubt or matter involved in the execution of this regulation.
22. Whilst this regulation is being carried into operation, the mis- sionaries are forbidden to kill cattle in any large number, except so far as is usually required fur the subsistence of the neophytes (cou- vertel Indians) without waste.
23. The unliquidated dehits of the missions shall be paid. in prefer- enee, from the common fund, at the places and upon the terus which the political chiel may determine.
PROVISIONAL. REGULATION FOR THE SECULARIZATION OF THE MISSIONS.
That the fulfillment of this law may he perfect, the following rules will be observeil :-
1×t. The commissioners, so soon as they shall receive their appoint- ment and orders, shall present themselves at the respective missions, and commence the execution of the plan, being governed in all things by its tenor and these regulations. They shall present their creden- tials respectively to the priest under whose care the mission is, with whom they shall agree, preserving harmony and proper respect.
21. The priest shall immediately hand over, and the convulsiones receive, the books of accounts and other documents relating to prop. erty elaine, liquidated and noliquidated. afterwards general invento. rie- shall be middle out, in accordance with the Bath article of this regulation of all property- such as houses, churches, workshops, and other heal things-stating what belongs to each shop, that is to say, utensils, furniture and implements; then, what belongs to the Inone. strad, after which shall follow these at the field, that is to say. prop- enty that grows, such as villes and vegetables, with an enumeration uf the shrubs uit possibles, mills, etc; after that the cattle and whatever apperta ns tu them; but as it will be difficult to count them, as well on account of their number, as for the want of homes, they shall be estimated by two persons of intelligence and probity, who shall cairn- Inte, as nearly as may be, the number of each species to be inserted in the inventory. Everything shall be in regular form in making the inventary, which shall be kept from the knowledge of the priests, and under the charge of the commissioner or aleward, but there shall be anu change in the order of the work nud servers, until experience shall show that it is necessary, except in such matters ns aro commonly changeit whenever it snits.
3d. The commissioner, with the strwurd, shall ilspense with all superilnous expense, establishing rigid economy in all things that reymire reforu.
4th. Before he takes an inventory of articles hrlunging In the fichl. the commissioner will inform the natives, explaining to them with mildness and patience, that the missions are to be changed intu vil. lages, which will only be under the government of the priests, su far as relates to spiritual matters; that the lands and property for which each one labors ure to belong to himself, and to be maintained ml controlled by himself, withant depending on any our che; that th houses in which they live are to be their own, tor which they are to submit to what is ordered in these regulations, which are to be explained to them in the hest jarville manner. The lots will lu given to them immediately, to he worked by thein as the oth article of these regulations provides. The commissioner, the priests, and the steward, shall clause the location, selecting the brat and must conven. ient to the population, all shall give to each the quantity of ground which he can cultivate, according to his fitness aml the size of his family, without exceeding the warimum established. Each wne shall mark his land in such manner us may be mest agreeable to him.
5th. The rhims that are liquidated shall be paid from the mass of property, but neither the commissioner, nor the steward, shall settle them without the express order of the Government, which will inform itself on the matter, and according to its judgment determine this number of cattle to he uxsigned tu the neophytes, that it may be dour, as heretofore, in conformity with what is provided in the 5th article.
tith. the necessary effects and implements for labur shall he assigned in the quantities expressed by the 7th article, either individually or in common, as the commissioners ninh priests muy agree npon. The seeds will remain undivided, and shall be given to the neophytes in the usual quantities.
7th. What is called the "priesthood" shall immediately reast, female children whom they have in charge being handed uver to their lathers, explaining to them the care they should take of them, mind! pointing out their obligation as parents. The same shall be done with the male children.
Xth. The commissioner, according to the knowledge and information which he shall acquire, shall name to the Government, us soon as possi- ble, one or several individuals, who may appear to hima suitable and honorable, as stewards, according to the provisions of the 8th article, either from among those who now serve in the missions, or others. lle shall alan fix the pay which should be unsigned to them, according to the labor of each mission.
Uth. The settlements which are at a distance from the mission, and consist of more than twenty- five families, and which wouhl desire to form a separate community, shall be gratified, and appropriation af the funds and other property shall be made to them as to the rest. The settlements which do not contain twenty- live families, provided they be permanently settled where they now live, shall form a suburb. and shall he attached to the nearest village.
10th. The commissioner shall state the number of souls which carl village eoutains, in order to designate the number of municipal officers
30
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and cause the elections to be held, in which they will proceed cou- formably, as far as possible, to the law of June 12, 1830,
Ilth. The commissioner shall adopt all executive measures which the condition of things demands, giving an account to the Government, and shall consult the same upon all grave and doubtful matters.
12th. In everything that remains, the commissioners, the priests, stewards, and natives, will proceed according to the provisions of the regulation,
AUGUSTIN V. ZAMORANO, Secretary.
JOSE FIGUEROA.
Monterey, Aug. 0, 1834.
Still the missionaries had hope. The order might be revoked, as had former ones. A revolution might take place. A thousand things might happen to avert the threatened catastrophe. But the worst was yet to come.
During the year 1834, one Jose Maria Hijar was dispatched from Mexico with a colonization party, bound for Upper Cal- ifornia. These colonists were of both sexes, and each person was promised a gratuity of fifty cents per day, and rations, while upou the voyage, in addition to a free passage. Hijar also bore instructions from the government of President Farias to General Figueroa, to surrender the governorship to him (Hijar) on arrival.
The ship touched at San Diego, and here a portion of the , party disembarked. The remainder proceeded to Monterey, and, a storm arising, their ship was wreeked upon the beach. Hijar now presented his credentials, aml was astonished to find that a messenger overland from Mexico had already arrived, bringing news of Santa Ana's revolution, together with dis- patches from the new president revoking his (Hijar's) appoint- ment; and continning Figueroa in office.
In the bitter discussion that followed, it came out that Hijar had been authorized to pay for his ship the Natalia, * in mission tallor; that the colonists were organized into a company, duly authorized to take charge of the missions, squeeze out of them the requisite capital, and control the business of the territory. The plan had miscarried by a chance, but it showed the missionaries what they had to expect. This was the final twig which fractured the spine of the dromedary !
With the energy born of despair eager at any cost to out- wit those who sought to profit by their ruin, the mission fathers hastened to destroy that, which through more than half a century, thousands of human beings had spent their lives to accumulate. A modern writer has said, that "Igno- rance in one moment, may destroy that for which Wisdom has spent a life-time." Surely the same may be said of avarice ; of despair; of hatred ; of revenge.
Hitherto, cattle had been killed only as their meat was needed for use; or, at long intervals perhaps, for the hides and tallow aloue, when an overplus of stock rendered such action
necessary. Now they were slaughtered in herds, by contract on equal shares, with any who woukl undertake the task. It is elaimed by some writers that not less than 100,000 head of cattle were thus slain from the herds of San Gabriel Mission alone. The same work of destruction was in progress at every other mission throughout the territory, and this vast country from end to end was become a mighty shambles, drenched in blood, and reeking with the odor of decaying earcasses. There was no market for the meat, and this was considered worthless. The creature was lassoed, thrown, its throat cut; and while yet writhing in the death agony its hide was stripped and pegged upon the ground to dry. There were no vessels to con- tain the tallow, and this was run into great pits dug for that purpose, to be spaced out anon, and shipped with the hides to market. All was haste, the maxim being "Save a portion of the wreek if possible, but at any rate destroy !"
Whites and natives alike revelled in gore, and vied with each other in destruction. So many cattle were there to kill, it seemed as though this profitable and pleasant work must last forever. The white settlers were especially pleased with the turn affairs had taken, and many of them did not scruple unceremoniously to appropriate large herds of young cattle, wherewith to stock their ranches.
Such were the scenes being enacted on the plains. At the missions a similar work was going on. The outer buildings were unroofed, and the timber converted into firewood. Olive groves and orchards were cut down; shrubberies and vine- yards torn up .* Where the axe and vandal hands failed, fire was applied to complete the work of destruction. Then the solitary bell left hanging on each solitary and dismantled church, ealled their assistants to a last session of praise and prayer, and the worthy padres rested from their labors.
When the government administradors came, there was but little left; and when they went away, there was nothing. This was the neophytes' share, and taking it, they retired to their huts of tule as did their ancestors of yore. Here they called a council, and discussed this problem :-
" In the light of sixty-five years' experience, if we must be civilized, then which form of civilization is the best ; Spiritual rulers, slavery, and the lash-with food; or civil government. freedom, and thieving administradors-with starvation?"
The discussion was conducted with great spirit on both sides, until the mecting adjourned to allow the members to hunt acorns for dinner. It never re-convened, and the question remains to this day undecided.
"Be it ever remembered to the credit of the Indians of San Gabriel, that when ordered by the priests to dig up the vineyards they refused point-blank. They cut down the orchards however. The vines were nearly all destroyed later by the Mexicans, who used them for firewood. Only a few remain. (See Hugo Reid's letters.)
CHAPTER XI.
EARLY SOCIETY.
The Indians-Their Comlition Dana's Description of Them-Immorality- Intoxication-The Mexicans-Dress-Manners-Speech-Mixed Blowby Loveof Finery-Silver-Commerce-Revolutions-Munler of an America -Refusal of Anthorities to Interfere-Action of American Residents- Judge Lynch-Murder of a Mexican-Abrilging the Course of Justice Fracas between Indians-A Difference-Vicious Character of the Mex cans Socially-Mr. Dana Criticized-Conflicting Statements-Criticism by J. J. Warner and B. D. Wilson.
IN anticipation of events to be hereafter narrated, it will be well, in passing, to glance briefly at the condition of society in those carly times, and to note the various clements of which that society was composed.
In the preceding pages we have treated quite fully of the aborigines, both in their wild state, and after their subjection to the missions. The decline of these establishments worker but little change in their condition, for though nominally free they were still practically serfs, at first under administra for. appointed by the Government to take charge of the missions and later to any one who would provide them with food, and receive their labor in payment. In his "Two Years Before the Mast " (1835-6) Richard H. Dana says :-
Of the poor Indians very little care is taken. The priests. indeed. at the missions, are said to keep them very strictly, aud some rules are usually made by the Alcaldes to punish their misconduct: yet it all amounts to bnt little. Indeed, to show the entire want of any sense of morality or domestic duty among them, I have frequently known an Indian to bring his wife, to whom he was lawfully married in the church, dowu to the beach and carry her back again: dividing with her the money which she had got from the sailors. If any ol the girls were discovered by the Alealde to be open evil livers, they were whipped. and kept at work sweeping the square of the presidio, and carrying onid and bricks for the buildings; yet a few reals would generally buy then olf. Iutemperance, too, is a common vice among the ludians. The Mexicans, on the contrary, are abstemions, and I do not remember ever having seen a Mexican intoxicated.
Further on, describing the Mexicans, he says :-
The officers were dressed in the costume which we found prevailed through the country .- broad-brimmed hat, usually of a black or dark brown color, with a gilt or figured baud round the crown, and lined under the rim with silk; a short jacket of silk or figured calico the European skirted body coat is never worn) : the shirt open in the neck: rich waist-coat, if any; pantaloons open at the sides below the kuee. laced with gilt, usually of velveteen or hroadcloth: or else short breeches and white stockings. They wear the deer-skin shoe, which is of a dark brown color, and (being made by Indiaus) usually a good deal ornamented. They have no suspenders, but always wear a sash round the waist, which is generally red, and varying in quality with the means of the wearer. Add to this the never Mailing parho, or the serapa, and you have the dress of the Californian. This last garment is always a mark of the rank and wealth of the owner. The gate de razon, or better sort of people, wear cloaks of black or dark blue broad- cloth, with as much velvet and trimmings as may be: and from this they go down to the blanket of the Indian, the middle classes wear ug a poncho, something like a large square cloth, with a hole in the midd'e Bor the head to go through. This is often as coarse as a blanket, but being beautifully woven with various colors, is quite showy at a dis- tance. Among the Mexican there is no working class (the lud ans being practically serfs and doing all the hard work): every rich wan -
Said to have lxen the identical vessel in which Napoleon escaped from the Isle of Elba-1815.
PACIFIC HOTEL, PASSENGER EATING STATION, ADJOINING THE DEPOT. W. N. MONROE, PROPRIETOR. LOS ANGELES, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
31
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
looks like a grandee, and every poor reamp like a broken down gen- tleman. I have often scen a man with a line figure and courteous manners, Thessed in browleloth and velvet, with a nuble horse com- pletely covered with trappings, without a real in his pockets, and absolutely suffering for something to out, *
*
*
*
*
*
The women wore gowns of various texture, silks, crage, calici, etc. male after the European style, except that the sleeves were short, leaving the arias bare, and that they were love about the waist. corsets uut being in use. They wore shoes of kid or satin, sashes or helts of bright colors, and almost always a necklace and earrings. Bonnets they had none. I only saw one on the court, and that he- longed to the wife of an American keu-optain who had settled in Fan Diego, mil had imported the chaotic mass of stray aml ribbon as a choice present to his new wife, They wear their huir ( which is ahnost invariably black or a very dark brown, hong in their necks, womirtimes louse, and sometimes in long braids; though the married women often chu it up on a high romb. Their only protection against the sun und weather is a large mantle which they put over their heads, drawing it chce around their faces when they go out-ul doors, which is generally only in pleasant weather. When in the house, or sitting out in front of it, which they often do in line wenther, they usually wear a sundll searf ar neckerchiefof a rich pattern A band, also, about the top of the head. with n proms, star, or other urnament in front, is common. Their com- plexions are various, depending, as well as their dress and manders, upon the amount of Somish blood they can lay claim to, which also settles their social rank. Those who are of pure Spanish blood, having never inter-umrried with the aborigines, have elcar brunette com- plexious, sometimes even as fuir ns those of Enghsh women, There ure but. few of these families in Califomin, being antly those in olli. rinl Alations, or, who, na the expiation of their terms of ollice, havr settled here mjam property they urquird; and others who have been Imnished for State offenses, These form the upper class, inter-marry. ing, und keeping up an exclusive system in every respect. They enn he listingnished, mi only by their complexion, dress, and manners, It also by their speech; for, rulling themselves Castilians, they are very ambi- tions of speaking the pure Castilian, while all Spanish is spoken in a smoowhat corrupted dlindret by the lower classes. From this upgor elias they go down by regular shiples, growing more and more dark and mohly, until yom rime bcthe pure Indian, who runs nhout wish noth- ing upon him It a sinh peer of cloth, kept up by n wide leather strup drawn round his waist. Generally speaking, each person's enste ix decided by the quality of the bhud, which shows itself too plainly In br concealed, at first glaser. Yet the least drup of Spanish blood, if it he only of Qundroon or Octoroan, is sufficient to raise one from the position of' n serf, and rutitle him to wear a snit of clothes, -hoots. hut, clank, xpurs, long kuife. al compdete, thou: h course and dirty as may le, and to call himself Esmond, and to hold property, if he can get uny.
The fondurss for dress among the women is excessive, and is some. times their ruin. A jarsent of a fine mantle, or a necklace, or pair of car rings, gains the favor of the greater part. Nothing is more com- mon than to see a woman living in a louer of only two rooms, with the ground for n floor, dressed in spangled satin shoes, silk gown, high rnb, and gilt, if not publ. car-rings and necklace. If their husbands do not dress them well enough they will amm receive presents from others. They used to spend while days on board our vessel, examin- ing the fine clothes and ornaments, auml frequently making purchases at a mtr which would have made a semnstress or waiting-maid in Besten open her eyes.
Next to the love of dress, I was most struck with the fineness of the voices, and beauty of the intountions of Inth sexes. Every common ruthinn looking fellow, with a słonebed hat, blanket chak, dirty under- dress, and soiled leather leggins, appeared to me to be speaking elegant Spanish. It was a pleasure simply to listen to the sound of the hunignage, before I ronhl attach any meaning to it. They have a good deal of the Creule drawl, but it is varied by an uecasional extreme rapidity of utterance, in which they seem to skip from consonant to consmant, natil lighting upon n broad open vowel, they rest upon that to restore the balance of sound. The women carry this peculiarity of speaking to a mmuch greater extreme than the men, who have more evenness and staleliness of utterance. A common bullock-driver. on
horschack, delivering a message, -remed to speak like an ambasador at a royal audience. lu fact, they sono-time- appeared to me to be a people un whom a curse had fallen, and stripped them of everything but their pride, their manner, and their voices.
Another thing that surprised me was the quantity of silver in circu- lation. I never, in my life, saw so much silver at one time, as during the week that we were at Monterey. The truth is, they have no credit wystem, no banks, and no way of investing money but in cattle. Besides silver, they have no circulating medium hnt hours, which the Mailur- call "California bank notes." Everything that they buy they must pay for by one or the other of these means. The hide- they bring down dried amt doubled. in clumsy ox-carta, or upon moules' backs. and the money they carry tird up in a handkerchief, titty or : hundred dollars and half- dollars."
+
The Californians are an idle, thriftles people, and can make noth- ing for themselves, The country abound- in grapes, yet they buy, at a great price, bad wine made in Boston and brought round by us, and retail it among themselves at a real (12), cents by the small wine- phes, Their hides, too, which they valne at two dollars in money. they larter for something which costs seventy five cents in Boston ; and bmy shoes fas like as bot madr of their own hides, which have been carried twiec round Cape Horn) at three and four dollars, und ' chicken skin boots' at lifteen dollars a pair. Things sell, on au average, at an advance of nearly three hundred percent njom the Boston prices, This is partly owing to the heavy duties which the Government, in their wisdom, with an idea, no doubt, of keeping the silver in the country, has laid upon imports. These duties, and the enorions expenses of' so long a voyage, keep all merchants hut thuse of heavy capital from engaging in the trade."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.