Crespi. Serra embarked on the San Anto- | making so much noise with bells and guns, the Indians were slow to be recovered, and it was the 26th of December before a single baptism had taken place. Monterey was to be the home of the Father-President, as well as the Governor, both of whom were interested in exploring the neighboring country for the site of the intermediate establishment contemplated in the Viceroy's orders. So thoroughly was this performed that when the San Antonio, the same year, returned to Mexico, Serra wrote to the Chief of the Fran'ciscan College of San Fernando in Mexico, that so many were the good situations for missions, and so numerous the natives, that though a hundred missionaries should be sent, there would be sufficient employment for all. nio, which carried the chief part of the supplies, and which was forty-six days in sailing from San Diego to Monterey, the land expedition arriving first. Serra seems not to have been favorably impressed with Monterey, which had been selected for the capital, but spoke of it as "this horrible port," in his letters to a friend in Mexico. On the 3rd of June, the holy day of Pentacost, occurred the formal founding of the Mission of San Carlos, when all the officers and people were assembled at the foot of an oak tree, where an altar was erected, and the bells, being hung, were joyfully sounded. Serra says: "We then chanted the Veni Creator, blessed the water, erected and blessed a grand cross, hoisted the royal standard, and chanted the first mass that was ever performed in this place. We afterwards sang the Salve to our Lady, before an image of the most illustrious virgin which occupied the altar, and at the same time I preached a sermon, concluding the whole with a Te Deum. After this, the officers took possession of the country in the name of the King, our Lord (whom God preserve). We then all dined together in a shady place on the beach; the whole ceremony being accompanied by many volleys and salutes by the troops and vessels "; all of which noise greatly frightened the neighboring Indians. A faithful historian should, no doubt, correct a slight error of Father Junipero, in asserting that mass had never before been said at Monterey; for the truth was that this religious ceremony had been performed at this place by three Carmelite friars one hundred and sixty-eight years before the found ing of San Diego Mission, when Viscanio was exploring hereabouts; and hence, probably, came the name of San Carmelo which the river bore when Serra first beheld it; and it might justly be said that Fathers Andrew of the Assumption, Anthony of the Ascension, and Thomas of Aquinas, were the real first founders of the Upper California Missions. From their consternation at the proceedings of the missionaries and soldiers in This report had the desired effect. Ten Franciscan friars arrived at San Diego on the return of the San Antonio, March 12th, 1771. Not only were missionaries furnished, but church furniture and ornaments, besides ten thousand dollars in money to assist in establishing the missions proposed by Serra. When a portion of the recruits had reported themselves at Monterey, the President was eager to begin at once the Mission of San Antonio de Padua. Accompanied by Fathers Michael Pieras and Bonaventuara Sitjar, he proceeded to select a beautiful spot at the foot of the Santa Lucia Mountains, where the stream was shut in by towering cliffs, and the solitude was eloquent with romantic suggestions. Here, hanging his mission bells upon a lofty tree, Serra tolled them with enthusiastic joy, shouting to the natives to come and receive the religion he offered, and enjoy its great benefits. It is not probable that any came at that time. The usual ceremo nies were celebrated July 14th, 1771, and the two Fathers were left in this romantic wilderness with the embryo mission outfit, a few cattle and farm tools, seeds and provisions, furniture for a church"-which was at first but a hut of any description most convenient to construct-a few converted Indian servants and assistants, and a guard of a few soldiers. All the buildings were inclosed in a palisade to make them secure | writers have represented that out of repugfrom Indian attacks, which more than once threatened them in the first years. On returning from this expedition Serra decided to change the location of the San Carlos Mission from the port of Monterey, which he never liked, and which was not suitable for a farming establishment, to the valley of the Carmelo River, about four miles from the presidio. Here was all he could desire a stream of pure living water, pasturage for cattle, a lovely landscape, Italian skies, and invigorating breezes from the sea; and here was begun that establishment which was his home during the remainder of his active life. nance to a maternity often forced upon them by the whites, the Indian women strangled the offspring of the Spanish soldiery. Those who are more conversant with the habits of the degraded tribes of the Pacific Coast know that they also strangled the children of native parentage, to save themselves the trouble of taking care of and providing for them. This knowledge removes the odium which has been imputed to a Padre of San Gabriel Mission, at a later period, for punishing with exceeding severity the crime of child-murder. Not being able to reach any moral sentiment in the minds of his converts on this subject, he endeavored to effect a reform by other means. About this time, also, two of the newly arrived recruits, Father Pedro Benedict The climate or the Indians of San Gabriel Cambon and Angelo Somera, with a guard becoming distasteful to its founders, they of ten soldiers, set out from San Diego to retired to Lower California, while Fathers found the Mission of San Gabriel. The Antonio Paterna and Antonio Cruzado took site selected was on the margin of the Rio their places. Perhaps the situation was de los Temblores, near San Pedro Bay. As unhealthy; at all events, before any permathe cross was about to be planted, they were nent improvements were made, the Mission rushed upon by the natives, and, according was removed to its present site, several miles to priestly historians, saved as by a miracle, north-east of its first location, and where it by the sudden unfolding of the banner of grew and flourished. the Blessed Virgin. As their eyes fell upon the figure of Heaven's Queen emblazoned on the azure folds of that standard, the Indians were immediately checked, and instead of hostilities showed only friendship, and brought offerings to the Virgin, who they believed desired food and other gifts. a So far all went well. But in the early days a Spanish soldier treated scandalously woman of the tribe the Fathers were desirous of converting, and brought down the wrath of the Indians upon the Mission, which was attacked and nearly destroyed. The soldier was expelled and peace restored, says the historian; but the happy effect of that assurance is much deadened by the knowledge that this sort of violence was by no means uncommon, and that the Fathers either never seriously interfered with, or were not able to prevent, this conduct on the part of the soldiery, which grew worse instead of better as time advanced. Some Serra had now exhausted the means at his command, though not his zeal in missionary work. But one of the Fathers at San Diego, being driven to go to Lower California for provisions, brought back with him three other friars to replace some that had desired to be excused, and probably some other assistance of a material form : for soon after this accession Serra determined to establish the Mission of San Luis. Obispo; and having selected a knoll in a. beautiful plain, sheltered by low, wooded hills, and easy of access from the sea, the cross was here planted September 1st, 1772, and buildings immediately begun. In the following year the present church was commenced, of materials furnished by the neighborhood, and put into shape by native converts, directed by the knowledge and skill of the Fathers. This would seem to show that converts were now more easily obtained than at first; as to build a church, even such as that of San Luis Obispo, and all the other parts of a mission establish- good health; hunger, which in this country ment, required a good many laborers to be mortifies and has mortified so many poor industriously employed; and we know that people, has not been felt, either by me or the California natives were not given to in- the Fathers, my fellows. There is no fear dustry, besides not being possessed of any of being under the necessity of abandoning mechanical skill. any of the missions now established. The people are chiefly maintained by the Indians: and they live-God knows how." Further remarks show that garden vegetables and milk were the "two great sources of subsistence for these establishments." The question naturally arises at this point, How were so many converts obtained among a wild, unspiritual, and suspicious people? How could people who would not consent to taste Christian food be brought to live upon it daily? Serra indirectly answers this From these glimpses of early mission life latter query in a letter written less than a at Monterey, it would appear that in the month before the founding of San Luis three years already spent no efforts had Obispo. "Thanks be to God, I am in been made at farming; that some garden MISSION SAN DIEGO. (From a Photogragh by Watkins. Engraved by A. Krüger.) vegetables had been raised; but that food but one year, had not yet any souls in heavwas not sufficient for the few Spanish people en; but it had among its Indians many who about the missions, and that they lived off praised God, "whose name was in their the provisions of the Indians, who lived-mouths more frequently than in that of "God knows how," being deprived of their own scanty subsistence. This state of things was not encouraging; yet Serra was not in the least tempted to yield to these discouragements. The Indians, brought in contact with a strange race, with that fatality which attends the introduction of white people among the dark races, sickened and died. On this subject Serra touched but lightly in his correspondence. "The consolation is," he says, "that, troubles or no troubles, there are various souls in heaven from Monterey, San Antonio, and San Diego." It was consoling to know that if they brought death to the Indians, they saved their departing souls. San Gabriel, which had been established many old Christians." Yet neither could understand the language of the other; and Serra regrets his inability to learn strange tongues, imputing to his sins this defect, and saying how great a misfortune it was "where no interpreter or master of languages can be had until some of the natives learn Spanish, which requires a long time." This remark seems to refer more especially to the upper missions; for he adds that they had overcome this difficulty at San Diego, where they already baptized adults, and celebrated marriages. A little explanation here may not be amiss. When Serra said that the name of God was in the mouths of the natives more. frequently than in those of some Christians, | subjected to the rite. The mothers refusing, he uttered a literal truth; yet in a manner they were separated from the children until to deceive one not acquainted with the facts. maternal affection overcame every other The Indians were taught to say Amar a motive, and they consented for the sake of Dios, as a parrot might be taught to say it, being restored to their babes. The child without knowing its meaning. As this and mother being in the hands of the Chrisphrase constituted their whole vocabulary of tians, fathers and sons were gradually brought Spanish words, they doubtless often repeated to yield. Once consenting, they became it in their efforts to pronounce like their "Mission Indians." They were not wanted teachers, and always when the Fathers by their own people, and had they been, the were in hearing. soldiers stood ready to prevent their return, for now they belonged to the church, and would not be allowed to associate with the unbaptized. At the end of three years, according to Serra, they had "begun to explain to the youth in Spanish"; the young being more easily taught than their elders. "If they could return us a little assistance in another way, we should in a short time care little about the arrival of the vessels, as far as respects provisions; but as affairs stand at present, the missions cannot much advance; upon the whole," says Serra, "I confide in God, who must remedy all." This, too, requires that it should be stated why the coveted assistance was not forthcoming. It is doubtful if the missions in their first years could show a voluntary convert. To the superstitious minds of the Indians, the desire of the Spanish Padres to put water on their heads seemed, no doubt, something uncanny. Perhaps they regarded it as a means of bringing them under some evil spell or power of witchcraft. It is asserted that they considered it a degradation; but to place their aversion to the rite upon that ground is imputing to them a greater sensibility than they possessed. If they lost caste with their own people by becoming Christianized, it was because they made themselves one with the strange enemy by being baptized into slavery to him-for that was what it meant. In this peculiar situation the Indians found themselves. From being free as air, they were suddenly without the power and almost without the motive to struggle. To labor they were unaccustomed, except to gather the spontaneous fruits of the earth; and this service they now performed, not only for themselves, but for their masters, the Spanish "people," to keep them alive, whom they must have wished dead. It is easy to understand why they were unwilling to return that assistance which the FatherPresident desired, and how difficult it would be to teach farming or any mechanical employment to such a people so situated. That the Spanish people about the missions feared an uprising among the converts Serra confesses when he says in his correspondence: "Some think that from mild lambs, which they are at present, they will one day return to be lions and tigers. This may be so, if God permits, but we have three years of experience with those of Monterey, and with those of San Antonio two years, and they appear better every day." How was it, except through terror of the soldiery, that these lions and tigers were held in a hated bondage? These chance expressions let in the light upon what would else be unconfessed as to the methods used to increase the numbers and improve the manners of mission converts in the beginning. There was no mystery about it afterwards. But, as already said, they were not voluntarily baptized. Every means was used to draw the Indians to the Mission-first by kindness and presents of gay cloth and ribbons. Having found that they could not be prevailed upon to consent to baptism, the presents were used simply as decoys; That San Luis Obispo proceeded at once and when the Indians were gathered by this to build a permanent church, and became means, the infant children were forcibly rapidly self-supporting, only shows that its founders resolved not to wait for the slow | erratic. He was not content with the visits of the moon at the door of his tent, but roamed abroad with her, leaving his sons to wonder and fear at his strange conduct; and finally they found themselves deserted for whole nights by both their father and the moon. One morning, after a long, dark night of sorrowing for the absence of their parent and his love, on rising with the Concerning the people whom the missionaries were expected to reduce to submission to Spanish authority, a few paragraphs dawn, they found a basket at the entrance might not be amiss. Serra found them to the tent, containing a new-born babe. utter barbarians, naked, living on seeds, Considering it was a girl-baby, they gave roots, and all kinds of flesh they could it a very cordial welcome. That evenprocure with bows and arrows; and when ing they had the pleasure of seeing the hard pushed for food, eating any living moon again, ascending full, bright, and things, down to snakes and crickets. Brave serene into the heavens, and once more her they could not have been; but sometimes gentle radiance illumined the darkness of fierce and tumultuous. Morality, as under- their tent at night. They now understood stood in the civilized world, was unknown that this female child was a gift to them to them; and they were at least as supersti- from their father and the moon, and chertious as those who came to teach them. ished her accordingly; and though their There are some pretty legends attributed father never returned to them, and the to these Indians, with many of the charac-moon retained her place in the heavens, they teristics attaching to them which distinguish were no longer lonely or languishing on Grecian mythology-the wildest imaginings united to the greatest license in affaires du coeur. The most poetical perhaps is the story of the origin of the first woman, which exceeds in ideality the story given in Genesis and enlarged upon by Milton. It runs to this effect: earth, since they had charge of the mother of mankind. [Some writer has flippantly remarked upon this legend, that it refers to the variableness of feminine character merely-all women being in this respect daughters of the moon. Comment would be superfluous.] A The two Great Spirits who primarily Another legend bears evidences of having created the earth and the animal world been translated by Christian authors. rested from their labors. The elder creator young girl of the tribe bore a child, whose then ascended into the heavens, leaving the father was the lightning. At its birth, this younger upon the newly organized earth to wonderful child could talk, and claimed to superintend affairs. Being lonely in the be the son of God. Being threatened with solitude of the uninhabited world, the youth death, he said, "Put me to death: in three resorted to the creative power vested in him, days I will arise again." In order to thwart and formed a number of sons for himself this purpose of arising from the grave, the out of the earth, whom he brought to life, people hit upon the plan of burning his and who resided with him in his wickiup, or body, which they did, thus preventing his tent of tules. They lived very happily reappearance. A schism then arose among together without other society; but one of them. Some said, "There is no longer any their chief pleasures was the nightly visit of the moon, who kept watch at their door while they slept, and whom they all regarded with great affection. At length the sons observed that the habits of their father were becoming God, because we have destroyed him." Others contended that his body only had been destroyed, but that his spirit had as cended into heaven. There is usually very little connection of thought or imagery in the Indian legends. |