USA > California > Monterey County > History of Monterey County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, and mines : with biiographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 4
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GREAT SLAUGHTER OF CATTLE.
Hitherto, eattle had been killed only as their meat was necdeil for use; or, at long intervals perhaps, for the hides and tallow alone, when an overplus of stock rendered such action neces- sary. Now they were slaughtered in herds, There was no market for the meat, and this was considered worthless. The creature was lassoed, thrown, its throat cut; and while yrt writhing in the death agony its hide was stripped and peggedl upon the ground to dry. There were no vessels to contain the tallow, and this was run into great pits dug for that purpose, to be spaded out anon, and shipped with the hilles to market.
' The blentient vessel In which Nupoloon escaped fram the late af Ribn -- 1615.
OF INDIANN.
NUMBER BY HoaSKU CATTLE.
NUSIEKIL
No. OF SHEEP, UNATH
HARVEST
BUHUELS.
1834.
2,600
80,000
2,800 10.000
700.20,000
1,500
5,000
1,601
3 HI
5,1100
21H 1,000
1,200
1,5 0
15,1100;
300
1,000
200
¥,000
4,000
San Luis Obispo .
Nostro Senum de la Soledadl.
500
41
8,000
San Juan Bautista ..
THIC
8,000
San Jose ....
4,000
1,500
1,250
211
3,001l
Sun Kofuch .
2,7110
500, 103,000
14,000
11,000 10,000
15,000
2, 001
7,000
3,500
10,0001 .. ....
1,000 10,000
Our Lady of Soledad.
2,136
718
1,541
499
San Francisco
HORSE -.
AMI SWISK.
400|100,IKXI
4,000 14,000
11,1100
22
FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE MISSIONS.
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 seraple un- ceremoniously to appropriate large herds of young cattle wherewith to stock their ranches. Such were the scenes being enacted on the plains.
MISSION BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
At the missious a similar work was going on. The outer buildings were unroofed, and the timber converted into fire- wood. Olive groves and orchards were cut down; shrubberies and vineyards torn up. Where the axe and vandal hands failed, fire was applied to complete the work of destruction. Then the solitary bell lett hanging on each solitary and dis- mantled church, called their assistants to a last session of praise and prayer, and the worthy padres rested from their labors.
When the government administrators came, there was but little left; and when they went away, there was nothing.
MISSIONS ORDERED ABANDONED.
1845 .- A proclamation of Governor Pico, June 5, 1845, provides :-
1. That the governor should call together the neophytes of the following-named missions: San Rafael, Dolores, Soledad, San Miguel and La Purissima; and in case those missions were abandoned by their neophytes, that he should give them onc month's notice, by proclamation, to return and cultivate said missions, which if they did not dlo, the missions should be de- clared abandoned, and the Assembly and governor dispose of them for the good of the Department.
2. That the missions of Carmel, San Juan Bautista, San Juan Capistrano and San Francisco Solano, should be consid- ered as pueblos, or villages, which was their present condition; and that the property which remained to them, the governor, after separating sufficient for the curate's house, for churches and their pertinents, and for a municipal house, should sell at publie auction, the product to be applied, first to paying the debts of the establishments, and the remainder, if any, to the benefit of divine worship.
3. That the remainder of the missions to San Diego, inelu- sive, should be rentedl at the discretion of the governor.
Governor Pico gave publie notice for the sale to the highest ladder of five missions, to wit; San Rafael, Dolores, Soledad, San Miguel and La Parissinn; likewise for the sale of the
remaining buildings in the pueblos (formerly missions) of San Luis Obispo, Carmel, San Juan Bautista, and San Juan Capis- trano, after separating the churches and their appartenances, and a curato's, municipal and school-houses. The auctions were appointed to take place, those of San Luis Obispo, Puris- sima and San Juan Capistrano, the first four lays of December following (1845); those of San Rafael, Dolores, San Juan Bau- tista, Carmel, Soledadl and San Miguel, the 23d and 24th of January, 1846; meanwhile, the Government would receive and take into consideration proposals in relation to said missions.
The final disposition of the missions at the date of' 1845 will be seen in the following:
TABLE SHOWING THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF MISSIONS.
No.
NAME OF MISSION.
Ilow TusroSED OF BY THE GOVERNMENT.
1
Som Diego.
Soll to Santiagn Arguello, June 5, 1810.
2
San Luis Rey
Sobl to Antonio Cot and Andres Pico, May 13, 1546.
Nem Juan Capistrano
Pueblo, all remainder soll to John Fiştır and James
A
San Gabriel.
Soll En Antianı Workman and Ilugu Reid, June 18, 1946.
6
San Fernando.
Rentrol to Amlres Pleo, for nine years from December, 143, ampl sold to Juan C'elis, June, 1840.
S
Santa Yines
Renled to Juaquin Carrillo.
11
San Mlynel.
I'neertaln.
San Antonio
Varaut.
14
Carmel dle Monterey
I'nehin,
15
San Juan Bautlata.
Furbip.
10
Kants Cruz ..
Vacant.
17
Santa Chira
In charge idf piricat.
San Jo-o.
In charge of pilest.
10
Dolurex, (San Francisco). ..
l'ueldo.
Sm Rafael
Mission in rbarge of priest.
I San Francisco Solano ....
Mis.lon in charge if priest.
LAWS FOR THE COLONISTS.
We make the following extracts from laws sent the colouists and bearing date Monterey, March 23, 1816 :-
" All persons must attend mass, aml respond in a loud voice, aud if any persons should fail to do so, withont good cause, they will be put in the stocks for three hours."
" Living in adultery, gaming and drunkenness will not be allowed, and he who commits such vices shall be punished."
Another order required every colonist to possess " two yoke of oxen, two plows, two points or plow shares (sce engraving of plow), two hoes for tilling the ground, and they must pro- vide themselves with six heus and one cock."
MUST COMPLY WITH PROMISE.
Government Order, No, 6, issued from Monterey, July 20, 1798, is " to cause the arrest of Jose Arriola, and send him un- SALE OF THE MISSIONS. der guard, so that he be at this place during the coming Sun- ilny, from there to go to Santa Barbara, there to comply with 1845 .- On the 28th of October, of the same year (1845), 1 his promise he made a young woman of that place to marry her."
The records do not inform us whether Jose fulfilled his agree- ment with the young lady or not'
1.a l'urisivin
Sold to John Tempde, December 6, 1846.
San Luis Obispo
Pueblo.
13
Soledad.
llonse tuol garden sold to sobranes, January 4, 1846.
San Buenaventuin
Subl to beeph Aruaz.
Santa Barbaru,
Benled for nine years, Irom June 8, 1848, to Nich's Dea.
18
MrKinhy, December 6, 1:45.
23
AGRICULTURE OF NATIVE CALIFORNIANS
Extract from a letter dated Monterey, June 3, 1799 :-
*
*
" I send you by the wife of the pensioner,
Josef Brabo, one piece of cotton goods and one ounce of sewing silk. There are no combs, and I have no hope of receiving any for three years. HERMENEGILDO SAL,
" Military Governor."
Just think of the colonists being withont combs for three years !
A. Bernal, by special license, March 6, 1799, "is permitted to drive to Branciforte, from San Jose, a few cattle and sheep belonging to his father, that the former may be able to take care of them."
Agriculture in Early Times.
FARMING in California was in a very primitive state up to its occupation by the Americans. What farming the Californians did was of a very rude description; their plow was a primitive contrivance, their vehicles unwieldy. Such articles of hus- bandry as reapers, mowers and headers had not entered their dreams, and they were perfectly independent of their advan- tages.
Grain was ent with a short, stumpy, smooth-edged sickle; it was threshed by the tramping of horses. One of their few evils was the depredations of the wild Indians, who would sometimes steal their horses, and then the cattle would have to perform the work of separation. The cleaning of grain was performed by throwing it in the air with wooden shovels and allowing the wind to carry off the chaff.
In a work published in London in 1839, by Alexander Forbes, are some interesting descriptions of the country about the Bay of Monterey, and the condition of farming as witnessed by him in 1833.
PLOW USED BY CALIFORNIANS.
The plow used at that time must have been of great antignity. It was composed of two principal pieces; une, called the main piece, was formed out of a crooked branch of timber cut from a tree of such a natural shape. This plow had only one handle, and no mould-buard or other contrivance for turning over the furrow, and was, therefore, only capable of making a simple cut equal on both sides.
The only iron about the plow was a small piece fitted to the point of the stile, and of the shape sven in the detached part of the engraving. The beam was of great length, so as to reach the yoke of the oxen. This beam was also composed of a nat- nral piece of wood, cut from a tree of proper dimensions, and had no dressing except taking off the hark. This beam was inserted into the upper part of the main piece, and connected with it by a small upright piece of wood on which it slides, and is fixed by two wedges; by withdrawing these wedges the beam was elevated or lowered, and depth of furrow regulateil.
The long beam passes between the two oxen like the pole of a carriage, and no chain is used. A pin is put through the point of the beam, and the yoke is tied to that by thongs of rawhide. The plow-man goes at one side, holding the handle with his right hand and managing the goad and cattle with his left. The manner of yoking the oxen was by putting the yoke (a straight stick of wood) on the top of the head close behind the horns and tied firmly to their roots and to the fore- head by thongs, so that, instead of drawing by the shoulders, as with us now, they drew by the roots of the horns and fore- head. They had no freedom to move their heads, and went with the nose turned up, and seemed to be in pain.
With this plow only a sort of a rut could be made, and the soil was broken by successive crossing and recrossing many times. Plowing could only he done after the rains came, and an immense number of plows had to be employed.
MODERN FARMING TOOLS UNKNOWN.
The harrow was totally unknown, and a bush was drawn over the field to cover in the seed; but in some places a long,
PLOW USFH BY NATIVE CALIFORNIANS.
heavy log of wood was drawn over the field, something of the plan of a roller, lait dragging withont turning round. so as to carry a portion of the soil over the seed.
INDUSTRIES OF NATIVE CALIFORNIANS.
The Californians were not withont their native inanufar- tures, and they ulid not, as is generally supposed, rely altogether mpon the slaughter of cattle and the sale of hides and tallow. The missionaries had taught them the cultivation of the grape anul manufacture of wine. Hemp, flax, cotton and tobacco were grown in small quantities. Soap. leather, oil, brandy, wool. salt, soda, harness, saddles, wagons, Hankets, etc., were mann- factured.
Of California it may be truly said, that before the admission of foreign settlers, neither the potato nor green vegetables were enltivated as articles of food.
DURYING IN EARLY TIMES.
The management of the dairy was totally unknown. There was hardly any such thing in use as butter and cheese. The Untter was an excerable compound of sour milk and cream mixed together; the butter being made of the cream on top of the milk, and a large portion of the sour, beat up together by hand, and without a churn. It was of a dirty gray color and very disagreeable flavor, and always rancid,
24
GOLDEN AGE OF NATIVE CALIFORNIANS.
They had an awkward way of milking, as they thought it absolutely necessary to use the calf to induce the cow to give milk : so they let the calf suck for some time alone, and then lay hold of the teats as they could while the calf was still sneking, and by a kind of stealth procured a portion of the milk.
board by the Russian Governor, of most excellent Intter, fat matton, and good vegetables, all things most desirable to people arriving from a long voyage. They soon proceeded to Monterey, the capital of Spanish California, where they could find nothing but bull beef: neither bread, butter, cheese, or vegetaldes could be proenred. As late as 1834 Monterey was supplied with butter and cheese from the Russian settlement at Bodega.
PRIMITIVE THRESHING SUENE.
When the crops were ripe they were ent with a sickle, or any other convenient weapon, and then it became necessary to thresh them. Now for the modus operandi. The floor of the corral into which it was customary to drive the horses and cattle in 1 andler tu lasso them, from constant nse had become hardened Into this inclosure the grain would be piled, and upon it the memeka, or hand of mares, would be turned love to tramp out the grain. The wildest horses would be turned adrift upon the pile of straw, when would ensue a serne of the wild- - est confusion; the excited animals being driven, amidst the velling of the regnerus and the cracking of whips, here, there. and everywhere, around, arros, and lengthwise, until the whole was trampled, leaving naught but the grain and elall'. -
The most difficult part of the operation, however, was the separating of the grain from the that. Owing to the length of the dry season, there was no urgent haste to etfiet this: therefore when the wind was high vuongh, the Indians, who soon fell into the ways of the white pioneers, more especially where they were paid in kind and kindnes, would toss the trampled mass intu the air with large wooden forks, ent from the adjacent oaks, and the wind carried away the lighter chatl. leaving the heavier grain. With a favorable wind several bushels of wheat could thins be winnowed in the course of one day.
How insignificant this scene appears when contrasted with a San Joaquin farmer's ontfit of a 24-hourso renper and Chrusher combined, which is fully described further on in this work miul represented in several engravings.
GOLDEN AGE OF NATIVE CALIFORNIANS.
Mr. William Halley, says: Froin 1833 to 1850 may be set down as the golden age of the native Californians, Not till i,lien did the settlement of the rancheros become general. The missions were breaking up, the presidios deserted, the popula- tion dispersed, and land could be had ahnost for the asking. Never before, and never since, did a people settle down under the blessings of more diverse advantages.
The supercargo of a British ship from India, bound for the coast of Mexico, informed Alexander Forbes* in 1832, that on making the coast of California they touched at the Russian settlement, called La Bodega (Sonoma county), and which borders on the Spanish territory-or rather of right belongs to it, and although the part which the Russians possess is sterile in comparison to the fine plains occupied by the Spaniards. yet they found immediately on their arrival a present sent on | enp, and wild game in alununlance. No one was in a hurry. " Bills payable" or the state of the stocks troubled no our. and Arendia seems to have temporarily made this her seat. The people did not necessarily, even have to stir the soil for a livelihood, hecanss the abundance of their stock furnished 1 . them with food and enough hides and tallow to proenre money for every purpose. They had also the advantage of cheap and docile labor in the ludians, already trained to work at the missions. And had they looked in the earth for gold, they would have found it in abundance
The country was lovely, the climate delightful; the valleys were lilled with horses and cattle; wants were few, aml no one dreaded dearth. There was meat for the pot and wine for the
They were exceedingly hospitalde and socialde. Every onest was welcomed. The sparsity of the population made then rely on each other, and they had many occasions to bring them together.
MENTS OF FESTIVITY AND CAVITY.
Church days, hull-fights, reviews, we're all occasions of festiv- ity. Horsemanship was practiced as it was never before out of Arabia: dancing found a ball-room in every house, and mursje was not unknown. For a caballero to pick up a silver coin from the ground at full gallego, was not considered a frat: and any native youth could perform the mustang riling which was lately accomplished with such credit by young Peralta in New York To fasten down a mad bull with a lariat, or even sulalue him single-handed in a correr, were every-day per- formances, The branding and selecting of cattle in roches was a gala verasin.
While the young men found means to gratify their tastes for highly wrought saddks and elegant bridles, the women had their fill of finery. Furnished by the Yankee vowels that visitaal them regularly for trade every year. Few school were estab- lished, but the rudiments of education were given at home. The law was administered by Alenldes, Prefects, and Governor Murder was very rare, suicide unknown, and San Francisco was without a jnil
FAVORITE NATIVE MQt'en.
Wine was plentiful, und so was brandy. There was a native liquor in use that was very intoxicating. It was a sort of mognae, which was very agreeable and very volatile, and went
Sons a resident ed middleal. Sve porgu ill.
RESIDENCE AND RANCH OF H. MAYERS, CASTROVILLE, MONTEREY CO. CĂL.
98
25
INDUSTRIES AND HOMES OF CALIFORNIANS.
like a flashı to the brain. It was expensive, and those selling it made a large profit, This liquor was known as aguadiente, and was the favorite tipple until supplanted by the whisky of the Americanos. It was mostly made in Los Angeles, where the better part of the grapes raised were used for it.
THE ADOBE RESIDENCES.
-
The walls were fashioned of large sun-dried bricks, marle of that black loam known to settlers in the Golden State as a lobe soil, mixed with straw, with no partieularity as to spceies, measuring about eighteen inches square and three in thickness; these were cementeil with mud, plastered within with the same substance, and white-washed when finished. The rafters and joists were of rough timber, with the bark simply peeled off and placed in the requisite position; while the residences of the wealthier classes were roofed with tiles of a convex shape, plieed so that the one should overlap the other, and thus make a water-shed; or, later, with shingles, the poor contenting then- selves with a thatch of tule, fastened down with thongs of bullock's hide. The former moules of covering were expensive, anl none but the opulent could afford the luxury of tiles. When completed, however, these mud dwellings will stand the bunt and wear and tear of many decades, as can be evidenced by the number which are still occupied.
There were occasional political troubles, but these did not inneh interfere with the profound quiet into which the people Irul settled. The change from a monarchy into a republic se er viy produced a ripple. The invasions of the Americans did not stir them very profoundly. But they received such a Ni)"': in their slumber, that they, too, like their predecessors, the Innhans, are rapidly passing away.
-
SPANISIL OX-CART.
The form of the ox-cart was as rude as that of the plow. The pole was of very large dimensions, and fastened to the yoke and oxen the same as the plow. The animals had to bear the weight of the load on their heads. 'This addled greatly to the distress of the poor animals, as they felt every jerk and twist of the cart in the most sensitive manner ; and as the ronds were full of ruts and stones, it is a wonder that the animals' heads were not twisted off.
The wheels of this cart were of the most singular construc- tion. They had uo spokes and were made of three pieces of timber, The midbille piece was hewn ont of a large tree, of size to form the nave and michelle of the wheel, all in one, The other two pivees were made of timber bent and joined by keys of wood. There does not enter into the construction of this cart a particle of iron, not even a nail, for the axle is of wood and the lynch-pin of the same material.
Walter Colton says: " The ox-cart of the Californian is quite
unique and primitive. The wheels are cut transversely from the butt end of a tree, and have holes through the center for a huge wood axle, as seen in our engraving. The oxen draw by the head and horns instcall of the chest; and they draw enormous loads.
" On gala days it was swept out and covered with mats: a leep body is put on, which is arched with hoop-poles, and over these a pair of sheets are extended for a covering. Into this the ladies are tumbled with the children, and they start ahead."
An old settler writes to us that " Many of our people will recollect the carts usedl in early days by the Californians. They usually traveled from place to place on horseback ; but when the family desired to visit a neighbor or go to town, the family coach was called into use. That vehicle consisted of two immense wooden wheels, ent or sawed off a log, with holes as near the center as convenient for the axle-tree, with a tongne lashed to the axle with rawhide thongs. Upon this a frame as wide as the wheels wouldl permit, an 1 from seven to twelve feet in lengthi, was placed, upon which was securely fastened one or two rawhides with the flesh side down, and a ride frame
OLD FASHIONED SPANISH OX.CAET.
over the top, upon which to streteh an awning, with rawhide thongs woven around the sides to keep the children from tumbling out.
" The female portion of the family, with the small children, would seat themselves in the cart, to which was attached a pair of the best traveling oxen on the ranch. An Indian wonkl drive, or rather lead the oxen (for he usually walked ahead of thein). In this simple, rude contrivance the family would travel twenty or thirty miles in a day with as much comfort, appar- ently, as people now take in riding in our modern vehicles. Sometimes several families would ride in a single cart, and visit their friends, go to town for the purpose of shopping, or to attend churel, ete."
SPANISH GRIST- MILL ..
Wheat and corn were generally ground or poumled in the common hand stone mortar; but in larger settlements horse- power was used in turning or rolling one large stone upon another, as shown in the engraving on page 27.
Water-power mills for grinding flour in Upper California were but few, and of the most primitive description; but none better are to be found in the other parts of Spanish America,
26
THE RUSSIANS OCCUPY CALIFORNIA.
not even in Chili where wheat abounds. These mills consist of an upright axle, to the lower end of which is fixed a horizontal water-wheel placed under the building, and to the upper enl of the mill-stone; and as there is no intermediate machinery to increase the velocity, it is evident that the mill-stone ean make only the same number of revolutions as the water-wheel. This makes it necessary that the wheel should be of very small diameter, otherwise no power of water thrown upon it could make it go at a rate sufficient to give the mill-stone the requisite velocity. It is therefore made of very small dimensions, and is eonstrueted in the following manner: A set of what is ealled cucharas (spoons) is stuck in the periphery of the wheel, which serve in place of float-boards; they are made of pieces of timber in something of the shape of spoons, the handles being inserted into mortises on the edge of the wheel, and the bowls of the spoons inade to receive the water, which sponts on them laterally and forces the small wheel around with nearly the whole velocity of the water which impinges upon it. Of this style of mill even there were not more than three in all Califor- nia as late as 1835.
Russians Settle in Sonoma County .*
1811 .- In January, 1811, Alexander Koskoff, took possession of the country about Bodega, Sonoma county, on the fragile pleas that he had been refused a supply of water at Yerba Buena, and that he had obtained, by right of purchase from the Indians, all the land lying between Point Reyes and Point Arena, and for a distance of three leagues inland. Here he remained for awhile, and to Bodega gave the name of Roman- zoff, calling the stream now known as Russian river, Slavianka.
-
Although repeatedly ordered to depart by the King of Spain, who claimed all the territory north of Fuea Straits, they con- tinned to remain for a lengthened period, possessors of the land.
FIRST PIONEER SQUATTERS.
And as General Vallejo remarks: " As the new-comers came without permission from the Spanish Government, they may be termed the pioncer ' squatters' of California." So far indeed was it from the intention of the un welcome Muscovite to move, that we find them extending their trapping expeditions nlong the coast, to the north and south, and for a considerable di: - tanee inland.
At Fort Ross they constructed a quadrilateral stockade. which was deemed strong enough to resist the possible attacks of Spaniards or Indians. It lind within its walls quarters for the commandant, officers, and men, an arsenal, store-houses, a Greek church surmounted with a cross and provided with a rhime of belly.
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