History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description, Part 7

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen, & Co.
Number of Pages: 894

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 7

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An inventory of the rich men of the presidio, bearing date 1793, was dis- covered some years since, showing that Pedro Amador was the proprietor of thirteen head of stock and fifty-two sheep; Nicolas Galindo, ten head of stock; Luis Peralta, two head of stock; Manuel Boranda, three head of stock; Juan Bernal, twenty-three head of stock and two hundred and forty- six sheep; Salva lor Youere, three head of stock; Aleso Miranda, fifteen head of stock; Pedro Peralta, two head of stock; Francisco Bernal, sixteen head of stock; Bartol Pacheco, seven head of stock : Joaquin Bernal, eight head of stork; Francisco Valencia, two head of stock; Berancia Galindo, six head of stock; Hermenes Sal (who appears to have been a secretary, or something besides a soldier), five head of stock and three mares. Com- puting these we find the total amount of stock owned by these men were one hundred and fifteen cattle, two hundred and ninety-eight sheep and seventeen mares.

Prior to considering the American Occupation of California it will be as well to introduce the reader to a few of the characteristics, manners, customs and mode of living pursued by the native Californians.

These were a half-caste race, between the white Castillian and the native Indian, very few of the families retaining the pure blood of old Castile ; they were consequently of all shades of color, and developed, the women especially, into a handsome and comely race. Their wants were few and

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

easily supplied ; they were contented and happy ; the women were virtuous and great devotees to their church and religion; while the men in their normal condition were kind and hospitable, but when excited they became rash, fearless, yet cruel, with no dread for knife nor pistol. Their generosity was great, everything they had being at the disposal of a friend, or even a stranger; while socially they loved pleasure, spending most of their time in music and dancing, indeed such was their passion for the latter, that their horses have been trained to curvet in time to the tones of the guitar. When not sleeping, eating, or dancing, the men passed most of their time in the saddle, and naturally were very expert equestrians ; horse-racing was with them a daily occurrence, not for the gain which it might bring, but for the amusement to be derived therefrom, and to throw a dollar upon the ground, ride by at full gallop and pick it up was a feat that almost any of them could perform.

Horses and cattle gave them their chief occupation. They could use the riata or lasso with the utmost dexterity; whenever thrown at a bullock horseman, or bear, it rarely missed its mark. The riata in the hands of a Californian was a more dangerous weapon than gun or pistol, while to catch a wild cow with it, throw her and tie her, without dismounting, was most common, and to go through the same performance with a bear was not considered extraordinary. Their only articles of export were hides and tallow, the value of the former being one dollar and a half in cash, and two in goods, and the latter three cents per pound in barter. Young heifers of two years old, for breeding purposes, were worth three dollars; a fat steer, delivered in the Pueblo of San José, brought fifty cents more, while it was considered neither trespass nor larceny to kill a beeve, use the flesh, and hang the hide and tallow on a tree, secure from coyotes, where it could be found by the owner.

Lands outside of the towns were only valuable for grazing purposes. For this use every citizen of good character, having cattle, could, for the asking, and by paying a fee to the officials, and a tax upon the paper on which it was written, get a grant for a grazing tract of from one to eleven square leagues of land: These domains were called Ranchos, the only improve- ments on them being usually a house and a corral. They were never inclosed; they were never surveyed, but extended from one well defined landmark to another, and whether they contained two or three leagues, more or less, was regarded as a matter of no consequence, for the land itself was of no value to the Government.

It was not necessary for a man to keep his cattle on his own land. They were ear-marked and branded when young, and these established their ownership. The stock roamed whithersoever they wished, the ranchero sometimes finding his animals fifty or sixty miles away from his grounds.

Grav

J. R. Thomas

THE N. W . PUBLIC L'UNVAN 1

ASTOR, LENOX AND TENTO FAT NS.

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

About the middle of March commenced the " Rodeo" season, which was fixed in advance by the ranchero, who would send notice to his neighbors, for leagues around, when all, with their vaqueros, would attend and participate. The rodeo was the gathering in one locality of all the cattle on the rancho. When this was accomplished, the next operation was for each ranchero present to part out from the general herd all animals bearing his brand and ear-mark and take them off to his own rancho. In doing this they were allowed to take all calves that followed their mothers, what was left in the rodeo belonging to the owner of the rancho, who had them marked as his property. On some of the ranchos the number of calves branded and marked each year appears to us at this date to have been enormous, Joaquin Bernal, who owned the Santa Teresa Rancho, eight miles south of San José, having been in the habit of branding not less than five thousand head yearly. In this work a great many horses were employed. Fifty head was a small number for a ranchero to own, while they frequently had from five to six hundred trained animals, principally geldings, for the mares were kept exclusively for breeding purposes. The latter were worth a dollar and a half per head ; the price of saddle horses was from two dollars and fifty cents to twelve dollars each.

In the month of December, 1865, a writer under the caption of " Yadnus," thus writes to the San Jose Mercury :-

" Not many years ago, in the agricultural counties, or, as they are more elegantly termed, in the parlor language of California, "Cow Counties," pre- vailed to a great extent the custom which has given rise to the following rough verses. Until the heavy floods and severe weather of the memorable Winter of 1861, had more than decimated their herds, it was the practice (in accordance with law, I believe), for the wealthy rancheros-men who counted their cattle, when they counted them at all-by the thousands, to hold, twice a year, rodeo (rodere), to which all who owned stock within a circuit of fifty miles repaired, with their friends, and often their families. At the appointed time, the cattle, for many leagues around, were gathered up by the horsemen, or vaqueros (buckaros), of the different stockmen, and driven into a large corral, where the branding, marking and claimning of stock occupied sometimes a week. At the largest rodeo I ever witnessed, there were gathered together some thirty thousand head of cattle, and at least three hundred human beings, among whom were many of the gentler sex. These rodeos were usually presided over by a 'Judge of the Plains,' an officer appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and whose duty was to arbitrate between owners in all disputes that might arise as to cattle- property, overhaul and inspect all brands of stock being driven from or through the county, and to steal as many 'hoobs' as he possibly could, without detection. In fact, the 'perquisites' constituted pretty nearly the

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

entire pay of this valuable officer, and if they all understood their business as well as the one it was my fortune to cabin with for a number of months, they made the office pay pretty well."

The following poetic description of a rodeo is well worthy the perusal of the reader :-

EL RODEO.

Few are the sunny years, fair land of gold, That round thy brow their circlet bright have twined; Yet, each thy youthful form hath still enrolled In wondrous garb of peace and wealth combined. Few are the years since old Hispania's sons Reared here their missions-tolled the chapel bell;

Subdued the natives with their priestly guns,

To bear the cross of God-and man as well.

Oft have the holy Fathers careless stood Within thy valleys, then a blooming waste; Or heedless, toiled among the mountain flood, That, rich with treasure, downward foamed and raced. Those times and scenes have long since passed away, Before the white man's wisdom-guided tread, As fly the shades before the steps of day, When in the east he lifts his radiant head.

But, still, thy valleys and thy mountains teem With customs common to the race of old ; Like Indian names bequeathed to lake and stream, They'll live while Time his restless reign shall hold. 'Tis of one such that I essay to sing, A custom much in vogue in sections here,

Till flood and frost did such destruction bring, That scarce since then was needed a rodeo.

Last night, at sunset, down the stream, I saw The dark vaqueros ride along the plain, With gingling spur, and bit, and jaquima, And snake-like lariats scarce e'er hurled in vain; The steeds they rode were champing on the bit, The agile riders lightly sat their "trees," And many a laugh and waif of Spanish wit Made merry music on the evening breeze.

Far out beyond the hills their course they took, And, where there lies in early-summer days, A lake, or slough, or, chance a pebbly brook, The coyote saw the camp-fire wildly blaze, All night they lay beneath the lurid glare, Till had upsprung morn's beauteous herald star, And then, received each horse the needed care, Quick o'er the plains they scattered near and far.

They come ! and thundering down the red-land slope. The fierce ganado madly tears along,

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

While, close behind, urged to their utmost lope, The wild caballos drive the surging throng. At headlong speed the riders keep the band, With yells, and oaths, and waving hats and coats, Till in the strong corral they panting, stand, And rest is gained for horses and for throats.

Then comes the breakfast ; soon the steer they kill, And quickly is the dressing hurried through ; The meat is cooked by rude, yet well-liked skill, And-all do know what hungry men can do. The Padron sits beneath yon old oak tree, Encircled by a group of chatting friends ; For, at rodeo, all one can eat is free, So all around in greasy union blends.

The breakfast finished, cigarettes alight, Unto the huge corral all hands proceed ; The strong-wove cinches are made doubly tight, And the riata's noose prepared for need. The fire is kindled, and the iron brand, Amid its coals, receives the wonted heat ; The Padron waves assent, with eager hand, And the dark riders bound to saddle seat.

Where yon dark cloud of dust is rising high, The swart vaqueros like the lightning dart, And singling out their prey with practiced eye, Rush him from the affrighted herd apart. Then whirls the lasso, whistling through the air, In rapid circles o'er each horseman's head, Till round the yearlings throat is hurled the snare Burning like a huge coil of molten lead.

Then, heedless of its struggles to get free, They drag it to the Major-domo's stand. Who, though of tender heart he's wont to be, Now, merciless, sears deep in its flesh the brand. The Spanish mother at her youngling's cry Comes charging down with maddened hoof and horn, While far and wide the crowd of gazers fly, And hide behind the fence-posts till she's gone.

In faith, it is a sight well worth to see, For those who like excitement's feverish touch ; And he, who can look on and passive be, Has ice within his nature overmuch. What frantic bellowings pierce the startled air, What clouds of dust obscure the mid-day sky, What frenzied looks the maddened cattle wear, As round and round, in vain, they raging fly!

These things and many more tend well to fill The eager cravings of the morbid mind ; Akin to passions that full oft instill

IIISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Feelings that prompt the torture of its kind ; But he who rashly seeks a closer view Of tortured calf, to mark each groan and sigh, Receives, full oft, rebuke in black and blue, Pointed with force to where his brains most lie.

By the time the rodeo season was over, about the middle of May, the " Matanza," or killing season, commenced. The number of cattle slaughtered each year was commensurate with the number of calves marked, and the amount of herbage for the year, for no more should be kept alive than the pasture on the rancho could support. After the butchering the hides were taken off and dried; the tallow, fit for market, was put into bags made from hides; the fattest portions of the meat were made into soap; while some of the best was cut, pulled into thin shreds, dried in the sun, and the remainder thrown to the buzzards and the dogs, a number of which were kept-young dogs were never destroyed-to clean up after a matanza. Three or four hundred of these curs were to be found on a rancho, and it was no infrequent occurrence to see a ranchero come into town with a string of them at his horse's heels.

Let us consider one of the habitations of these people: Its construction was beautiful in its extreme simplicity. The walls were fashioned of large sun-dried bricks, made of that black loam known to settlers in the Golden State as adobe soil, mixed with straw, measuring about eighteen inches square and three in thickness; these being cemented with mud, plastered within with the same substance, and whitewashed when finished. The rafters and joists were of rough timber, with the bark simply peeled off and placed in the requisite position, the thatch being of rushes or chaparral fast- ened down with thongs of bullock's hide. When completed these dwellings stand the brunt and wear and tear of many decades, as can be evidenced by the number which are still occupied throughout the county. The furniture consisted of a few cooking utensils, a rude bench or two, sometimes a table, and the never-failing red camphor-wood trunk. This chest contained the extra clothes of the women-the men wore theirs on their backs-and when a visit of more than a day's duration was made, the box was taken along. They were elcanly in their persons and clothing; the general dress being, for females, a common calico gown of plain colors, blue grounds with small figures being those most fancied. The fashionable ball-dress of the young ladies was a scarlet flannel petticoat covered with a white lawn skirt, a com- bination of tone in color which is not surpassed by the modern gala costume. Bonnets there were none, the headdress consisting of a long narrow shawl or scarf. So graceful was their dancing that it was the admiration of all strangers; but as much cannot be said for that of the men, for the more noise they made, the better it suited them.

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

The dress of the men was a cotton shirt, cotton drawers, calzonazos, sash, serape and hat. The calzonazos took the place of pantaloons in the modern costume, and differed from these by being open down the side, or, rather, the seams on the sides were not sewed as in pantaloons, but were laced together from the waistband to the hips by means of a ribbon run through eyelets, thence they were fastened with large silver bell-buttons; in wearing them they were left open from the knee down. The best of these garments were made of broadeloth, the inside and outside seams being faced with cotton velvet. The serape was a blanket with a hole through its center, through which the head was inserted, the remainder hanging to the knees before and behind. These cloaks were invariably of brilliant colors, and varied in price from four to one hundred and fifty dollars. The calzonazos were held in their place by a pink sash worn around the waist, while the serape served as a coat by day and a covering by night.

Their courtship was to the western mind peculiar, no flirting or love-mak- ing being permitted. When a young man of marriageable age saw a young lady whom he thought would make a happy help-mate, he had first to make his wishes known to his own father, in whose household the eligibility of the connection was primarily canvassed, when, if the desire was regarded with favor, the father of the enamored swain addressed a letter to the father of the young lady, asking for his daughter in marriage for his son. The matter was then freely discussed between the parents of the girl, and, if an adverse decision was arrived at, the father of the young man was by letter so informed, and the matter was at an end; but, if the decision of her parents was favorable to him, then the young lady's inclinations were consulted, and her decision communicated in the same manner, when they were affi- anced, and the affair became a matter of common notoriety. Phillis might then visit Chloe, was received as a member of her family, and when the time came the marriage was celebrated by feasting and dancing, which usually lasted from three to four days. It may be mentioned here that when a refusal of marriage was made, the lady was said to have given her lover the pumpkin-Se dio la cabalu.

The principal articles of food were beef and beans, in the cooking and preparing of which they were unsurpassed; while they cultivated to a cer- tain extent, maize, melons, and pumpkins. The bread used was the tortilla, a wafer in the shape of the Jewish unleavened bread, which was, when not made of wheaten flour, baked from corn. When prepared of the last-named meal, it was first boiled in a weak lye made of wood ashes, and then by hand ground into a paste between two stones; this process completed, a small por- tion of the dough was taken out, and by dexterously throwing it up from the back of one hand to that of the other the shape was formed, when it was placed upon a flat iron and baked over the fire.

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

The mill in which their grain was ground was made of two stones as nearly round as possible, of about thirty inches in diameter, and each being dressed on one side to a smooth surface. One was set upon a frame some two feet high, with the smooth face upwards; the other was placed on this with the even facet downwards, while through an inch hole in its center was the wheat fed by hand. Two holes drilled partly through each admitted an iron bolt, by means of which a long pole was attached ; to its end was harnessed a horse, mule or donkey, and the animal being driven round in a circle, caused the stone to revolve. We are informed that these mills were capable of grinding a bushel of wheat in about twelve hours! Their vehicles and agri- cultural implements were quite as primitive, the cart in common use being formed in the following manner: The two wheels were sections of a log with a hole drilled or bored, through the center, the axle being a pole sharpened at each extremity for spindles, with a hole and pin at either end to prevent the wheels from slipping off. Another pole fastened to the middle of the axle served the purpose of a tongue. Upon this framework was set, or fastened, a species of wieker-work, framed of sticks bound together with strips of hide. The beasts of burden were oxen, which were yoked with a stick across the forehead, notched and crooked so as to fit the head closely, and the whole tied with rawhide. The plow was a still more quaint affair. It consisted of a long piece of timber which served the purpose of a beam, to the end of which a handle was fastened ; a mortise was next chiseled in order to admit the plow, which was a short stick with a natural crook, having a small piece of iron fastened on one end of it. With this erude implement was the ground upturned, while the branch of a convenient tree served the purposes of a harrow. Fences there were none so that crops might be protected ; ditches were therefore dug, and the crests of the sod covered with the branches of trees, to warn away the numerous bands of cattle and horses, and prevent their intrusion upon the newly sown grain. When the crops were ripe they were cut with a sickle, or any other convenient weapon, and then it became necessary to thresh it. Now for the modus operandi. The floor of the corral into which it was customary to drive the horses and cattle to lasso them, from constant use had become hardened. Into this inclosure the grain would be piled, and upon it the monathu, or band of mares, would be turned loose to tramp out the seed. The wildest horses, or mayhap the colts that had only been driven but once, and then to be branded, would be turned adrift upon the straw, when would ensue a scene of the wildest confusion, the excited animals being urged, amidst the yelling of vaqueros and the cracking of whips, here, there, and everywhere, around, across, and length- wise, until the whole was trampled, and naught left but the grain and chaff. The most difficult part, however, was the separating these two articles. Owing to the length of the dry season there was no urgent haste to effect

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

this; therefore, when the wind was high enough, the trampled mass would be tossed into the air with large wooden forks cut from the adjacent oaks, and the wind carry away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier grain. With a favorable breeze several bushels of wheat could thus be winnowed in the course of a day; while, strange as it may appear, it is declared that grain so sifted was much cleaner than it is now.

The government of the native Californian was as primitive as the people. There were neither law-books nor lawyers, while laws were mostly to be found in the traditions of the people. The head officer in each village was the Alcalde, in whom was vested the judicial function, who receive:l on the enactment of a new law a manuscript copy, called a bando, upon the obtain- ing of which a person was sent round beating a snare drum, which was a signal for the assemblage of the people at the Alcalde's office, where the Act was read, thus promulgated, and forthwith had the force of law. When a citizen had cause of action against another requiring the aid of court, he went to the Alcalde and verbally stated his complaint in his own way, and asked that the defendant be sent for, who was at once summoned by an officer, who simply said that he was wanted by the Alcalde. The defendant made his appearance without loss of time, where, if in the same village, the plaintiff was generally in waiting. The Alcalde commenced by stating the complaint against him and asked what he had to say about it. This brought about an altercation between the parties, and nine times out of ten the Justice could get at the facts in this wise, and announce judgment immediately, the whole suit not occupying two hours from its beginning. In more important cases three "good men " would be called in to act as co-justices, while the testi- mony of witnesses had seldom to be resorted to. A learned American Judge has said that "the native Californians were, in the presence of their courts, gener- ally truthful. What they know of false-swearing or perjury they have learned from their associations with Americans. It was truthfully said by the late Edmund Randolph, that the United States Board of Commissioners to set- tle private land claims in California, had been the graves of their reputa- tions."

They were all Roman Catholics, and their priests of the Franciscan Order. They were great church-goers, yet Sunday was not the only day set apart for their devotions. Nearly every day in the calendar was devoted to the memory of some saint, while those dedicated to the principal ones were observed as holidays; so that Sunday did not constitute more than half the time which they consecrated to religious exercises, many of which were so much in contrast to those of the present day, that they deserve a short description.

The front door of their churches were always open, and every person passing, whether on foot or on horseback, did so hat in hand; any forgetful-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

ness on this head caused the unceremonious removal of the sombrero. During the holding of services within, it was customary to station a number of men without, who at appointed intervals interrupted the proceedings with the ringing of bells, the firing of pistols, and the shooting of muskets, sustaining a noise resembling the irregular fire of a company of infantry.

In every church was kept a number of pictures of their saints, and a tri- umphal arch profusely decorated with artificial flowers, while, on a holiday devoted to any particular saint, after the performance of mass, a picture of the saint, deposited in the arch, would be carried out of the church on the shoulders of four men, followed by the whole congregation in double file, with the priest at the head, book in hand. The procession would march all round the town, and at every few rods would kneel on the ground while the priest read a prayer or performed some religious ceremony. After the circuit of the town had been made, the train returned to the church, entering it in the same order as that in which they had departed. With the termination of these exercises, horse-racing, cock-fighting, gambling, dancing, and a gen- eral merry-making, completed the work of the day. A favorite amusement of these festivals was for thirty or forty men on horseback, generally two but sometimes three on one horse, with their guitars, to parade the town, their horses capering and keeping time to the music, accompanied with songs by the whole company, in this manner visiting, playing and singing, at all the places of business and principal residences; and it was considered no breach of decorum for men on horses to enter stores and dwellings.

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History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description, Part 7

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1881 Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen, & Co. Number of Pages: 894

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen, & Co.
Number of Pages: 894