The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-09
THE DAILY UNION.
From Fishers National Magazine,
SKETCH OF CALIFORNIA.

/ =
d Putnam, Broadway. Mr. Robinson resided a
| considerable time In that country. close OBJ
server, and both in the work above mentioned, and
10 this little sketch, has spread before his feow-ct
zens an amusing and instructive account Of part of
The western continent, which is increasingly AT.
tracing public attention.:
| The extensive tract Of country comprised under
TINS name, constitutes at present, part OF the Mex-
can republic, and was once included IN the vice
| royalty Of New Spain, IL extends from Cape ST.
Lucas, along the border Of the great Pacific ocean,
to the forty-second degree Of north latitude and is
bounded on the east by the gulf of California, the
| river Colorado, and the Indian territory.
La Weja, or Old California, was discovered in
1884 by an expedition 6tled out by Herman Corez.
Il consisted of two ships, commanded by fernando
Grijalba and Diego Bercerra de Mendoza, who being
separated during the first night Of their voyage, were
unable TO prosecute their discoveries together Senior
\ Grlalba, after navigating three hundred leagues
north Of Tehuantepec, made land near the southern
| extremity Of California and returned 10 New Spain
| Bercerra, less fortunate, was murdered by 0rtun
Jiminez, his pilot, who took the lead Of mutnous
faction on board, and fearing the wrath of Cortez
| continued his voyage in search of other land. Ar
irving nj place called afterwards La Bahia de SANTA
CrtIs, he landed and was attacked by the Indians
IN which conflict he and twenty Others persisted;
thus receiving the just penalty of their wiekedness
The crew returned 10 New Spain with the ship
and reported favorably of their discoveries, which
determined Cortez TO superintend in person another
expedition, wherein he ascertained that California
was not an island, had been supposed. Other
subsequent attempts TO explore the country, were
made by the yceroys Of New Spain, but no impor-
tant effort for rs settlement took place until the
1896 I'D 1909 The method Of colonization
~ the Spa,iiards was 10y establishing missionary
posts, and IN converting the Indians to christianity
whom they located at the various points Of their re-
ligIous conquesls In this performance the print
tive fathers suffered many trials, and in many in
stances, mauyrdom. Yet, notwithstanding, their
hopes were at length realized aud they triumphanty
beheld the subjugatOn Of the whole country to the
| banner or the cross.
Alta, or Upper California, was first visited by
Juan Rodriguez Cabrilo, Portuguese, under the
patronage Of the VIceroy Senior Don Antonio Mem
doza. Cabrlllo set sail a voyage to the north on
| the 9th June, l542, and anchored at most of the
ports along the coast far the forty-fourth de-
gree of latinIdei but particular attention was
drawn TO the settling and coonzlng the country I'M
al the expulsion Of the Jesuts from Lower Caiifor-
MIA, in 1867. The year following il was resolved
on by the Marquis de Croix, when Father Juni-
Pero Sierra received the appointment of missionary
president Sixteen brothers Of the same order nc.
eompaned Father Junipero, some Of whom were
destined to replace the Jesuts in Lower California
This holy brotherhood sailed from San Bias on the
18th March, l76S, and arriving at San Diego some
time In May, 1863, they commenced their apostolic
labors. The great length of time intervening from
the date Of their departure until that of their arrival
| In Alta California, WIS partially occupied at the
port of Loreto. military force under the com.
mand of Don Gaspar de Porlala was sent for the
protection Of the missionaries, and the same plan of
colonization and government was observed as in
the colonization of Lower California During the
administration Of Father Junipero, which continued
until his death, IN 1882 there were established eight
missions, and afterwards under other management
the number was incre ased to twenty one AS these
religious institutions hOurished, the directors of
them were occasionally succOred by remittances
from the Spanish government, and important do
nations were made and numerous estates were be-
queathed IN lands and houses, for the benefit Of
the missions, which were held fund known in
Mexico as La Fonda Piadosa de California This
fund was managed by the Convent of San Fernan-
do, and the proceeds, well the salaries of the
missionaries, to whom were assigned the sum of
four hundred dollars per annum, were RENTED an
nually to California.
The prevailing style of architecture observed in
erecting the missionary establishments has been
faithfully described IN work entitled "Lite in Cal
lorEla," but 1t may be interesting TO know how or
IN what manner they were conducted in the admin
lstratlon OF their temporal as well spiritual gov
eminent. The domains were always exten siye-
often from twenty to thirty square leagues and d.
vided out into separate farms for demonstrating cat
tie and for cultivation. The control over those es-
tates and the principal establishments was effected
by few soldiers and sergeant, who were subject
to the friars and whose quartet or barracks were i'm
mediatey opposite the front entrance. The Indians
were taught many trades, and variety of things
proved their progress in the arts. They manufac-
tured blankets, carpetIng, and a coarse fabric of
woollen for clothing; they also made hats shoes and
other necessary articles. Notwithstanding their
immense resources at home, they were yearly sup
piled with large quantities Of merchandise by for
eign vessels, many Of their establishments making
purchases to the amount of forty and fifty thousand
dollars, which were freely distributed among the
Indians, 30 that they were clad most Of them, after
. hav 8 ,ha c.,
as the priests, rose with the sun and went to mass
which lasted about an hour. During this ceremo-
ny the breakfast was prepared, which was usually
their iavorite df0e, or potage, with boiled dried
meat. After breakfast they went to their labors,
either In the workshop or the field At noon the
tolllng of a bell announced the hour for dinner
when the Indians quilted their work, and repaired
to receive their rations at breakfast time After
dinner they returned to their work until the eve
ming ceremony of prayer, when all repaired to the
church, and the supper of aole wound up the per-
formsnces of the day. The girls and widows were
kept in separate rooms while at work during the
day, and at night the unmarried of both sexes were
locked up separately; the keys being delivered al
ways to the missionary, who severely chastised anv
breach of this custom when detected Thus the In
dams were happy, and vcnerated the men who had |
made them so. |
The immense herds and focks belonging to the |
missionaries yearly increased their resources; and
they became OF important account to the govern |
ment nasmuch as it was almost entirely dependent
on them. At many of the establishments saw ac- |
counts against the government amounting to over
one hundred thousand dollars, besides many large |
amounts owned by individuals who were never ex-
pected to pay them. This did not, however, affect
the missions nor weaken them in the least, for their
possessions were continually increasing, and they
were prosperous indeed. But, alas this state Of
things exists no longer. Since 1884 the priests have
been deprived of their property, and the missions
have been entirely destroyed, under the scandaous
of certain hirelings of the govern
ment The following returns of 1894 and l842 may
be interesting: .~.
81. In 1884 the Indian population Of the 81 mis-
sions amounted to 30,650 in 1912 to ALSO.
"2. In the former year the number Of horned cat
tie was 424 900; in the latter %, 800.
W AT the same period the number of sheep,
goats and pigs, 32l 800 at the latter 81 500
"a. In 1884 the number Of horses, asses mules,
DC, was 81, 500; in 1912 il $500.
%. The produce in corn, &c, has decreased in
much greater proportion--that Of 70 to a."
These facts will prove the blind zeal on the part