The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-05
Affairs In California.

CALIFORNIA, July, 1876.
JAMES O. BENNETT, Esq-The following letters are a
translation from the writing Of Californian in $780, at
the time the supreme government the ports lex.
cepting Monterrey Of California to foreign commerce
The natives, however thought otherwise Before that
date they had regular custouhouse but they then
established one in Monterey, and from that day to this
have received duties goods according to the tariff
of Mexico when the duties the article could not be-
found there as from prohibition other causes could
not be- they in every valued it and charged 80 per
cent on its cash price here he price for hides here be
ing higher) tariff Of Mexico has often been in use
when it has been rejected year. by new one in the
capala choice of the two last known have been
offered supercagoe rather than they should leave port
without entering The last cargo entered amounting to
$4,000 dollars, was paid one twelfh in money the re-
naming half in the same goods at the prices of
the place. and the other half in debts of the local
government-of the supreme government would be
worth less than blank paper the latter could be made
ever be entered in California under Mexican tariff of
any kind, or there may yet be many The letters for
In few years they will possess value than they DO
at present
changes as you are but POGO POGO going ahead
although not by steam magnetic wires should now
be stranger in my faherland, and have many longing
the United States coming to me- therefore need not
60 far to the VIII you send me two copies
Of each Herald containing Of the letters as one may
miscarryl
From your obed't, &c., PAIsANo
CALIFORNIA, July, 1896
The name ofUpper California given to the extension
lying between the s2d degrees of north
latitude bounded the east by the Pacific ocean, ana
the west by the sierro Madre rather by the
given the of New Albion, apparently with de.
sign to obscure the name it acquired its discovery.
ornia the ives, to the Pacific ocean, on the north to
the possessions Of the Americans and its eastern
boundary is not yet marked by government but it may
extend far Red River far the great noun
tain is called Upper and likewise New to distinguish
it from Old Lower California If we prefix its eastern
boundary at the great mountain its width will be little
more than 80 leagues, having stated its extreme from
north south at 200 leagues 20 to the degree Between
the aforesaid great mountain and the Pacific Ocean there
is another ridge of lower mountains running nearly
north and SOUTH parallel with the large mountain
the of the Tulares and those between the lower
range and the coast of the Pacific occupied by the
presdios, missions, and towns which about to de-
scribe.
Upper California, on account of It's ,small popu-
ation being able to take the of State in the
of which is under the charge of commandant
general who exercises the charge of superior political
President of the repubc and the general =. bns
ampy the legislature Of its centre ii has deputaton
made up of vocsls half of these individuals being
removed every two The superior political chief
presdes at their sessions The inhabitants Of the terri
tory divided amongst the presidios missions and
towns.
The necessity OF protecting the apostolic predicstion
was the obligatory for forming csc
which were established according to circumstances ;
that of San Diego the first Santa Barbara Monterey
and San Francisco built subsequently the form OF
all Of them is nearly alike and this is square, contain
made ofmud bricks in height about four YARDS in the in
terror of the square, and adjoining the wall in itsenre
circumference, dwelling houses for the comman-
dan officers troops &c twh a church andstorehouses
and at the entrance of each preside, barrack for
corps de guard
been sufficient their only object having been protect
the inhabitants from surprise by the wild Indians who
ceased Of the opinion that they had better be de-
molished they daily threatening complete ruin
and from the very limited spaces for habitaon must be
very ncommodous TO those whose fate is to reside in
them.
Outside of the presdios some private individuals have
built very neat houses, and have noticed great
emulation in thisibrsnch of industry have doubt
in a very short time We shall very considerable
towns in California
At the distance of at most two miles from the
preside, and to the anchorage is fort which has
few pieces OF artillery Of small cabre. The situation Of
the greater part Of them is very advantageous for the
defence of the port though the form Of the walls espla
nades and other imperectiom which may easily be
perceived make them very Insignificant. The general
has undertaken to reform these mperfections every
The garrison of each preside consists of eighty horse
soldiers called guerra besides these they have number
Of auxiliary troops and detachment Of artillery The
commandan Of each preside is the captain of its respec
tive company and besides the intervention military and
political he has the charge Of all relative
the marine. PAISANO.
CALIFORNIA, July, 1876.
The number Of missions in the territory Is twenty
They built at different epochs that of San Diego
being the frs built 1862 Its distance from the
preside Of the name is two leagues The rest
built according circumstances would permit The last
one was founded in 1922 under the name of San
Francisco Solan, and is the most northern of all.
The edices in of these missions, mere extern
sve than in others but in form they all nearly equal
They are all built Of mud bricks and the divisions
made necessity required In all of them to be
found commodeus habtations for the minister's store
houses keep their goods in, Offices for soap makers
weavers, blacksmiths, &C. with large open space in
s r Youths Of each ali
fees necessary for their institution Contiguous
to and communicating with the former is church,
forming part of the edce of each mission They are all
very proportionable and adorned with profuson.
The mass of Indians belonging to each mission, live
village is called ranchsria These, in of the mis-
sions made of very reduced quarters, built with
mud bricks while in others the Indians have been per-
mtted to follow their primitive customs building their
huts, which of conca shape, and at the do
not exceed four yards in diameter. The elevation of
these huts about two yards from the groundhey
built of rough sticks and covered with bulrushes
grass in such manner as completely to protect the in
habitants from all the incemences OF the weather In
my opinion these huts the most adequate to the
tura uncleanness Of the Indians the families often
renew them burning the old mme datey build
ing new ones with the greatest facility Opposite to
the rancheras and to the edihce of the mission
to be found small garrison, with proportonate
corporal and five soldiers with their families This
small garrison 10 quite sufficient to prevent any bad
tempts Of the Indians from taking effect there having
been some Wnlcn causes the INDIANS
have great respect for this small iorce One of these
pquets in mission serves for double object-besides
keeping the Indians under subjecton they post with
monthly correspondence, with any thing extra
that the government may require.
All the missions in Upper California under the
charge of religious of the order of San Francisco
At the present time the number fhese priests twenty
seven-most Of them are of an advanced age. Each
mission has OF these priests for its administration aud
he holds abse lutte authority The ting of the ground
the gathering Of the harvest the slaughterng Of cattle
the weaving of WOOL and every thing that
or in any way the misson Is directly under the
observation-disclosures of the priest without any other person
interfering in any way whatever, that IL any mission
has good fortune to be superintendent by industr
Gus and capable priest the Indians enjoy in abundance
all the real necessaries Of life at the time the
misery and nakedneSs Of the Indians in any mission
palpable proof Of the inactivity Of its director The
missions extend their possessions from extremity Of
the territory to the oner and have carried the limits of
one mission to those ofthe next Though they have
naed of so much land either for agriculture for the
mainte of their cattle they have all times laid
claim to the whole, strongly opposing any individual
who may have wished to settle himself on any piece Of
lar tofr tham be hOped that tho ne