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of the padres was to introduce a system of semi-slavery destructive to independence and self help, for slavery here, as elsewhere, only retarded the development of thrift and public spirit in the ruling class. The New Englanders, avoiding as much as possible contact with the natives, had only themselves to depend upon and in the endeavor to wrest a living from the soil in the antagonistic climate of the North Atlantic States developed energy, fortitude, and a certain cunning in making the most of circumstances.

The condition of the Indian under either civilization was deplorable in the

I Widow of General Vallejo.-Born Francisca Benicia Carrillo.

end, although, until the secularization of the missions, the work of the padres in civilizing and christianizing the savages, was the most wonderful missionary success since the time of the Apostles. There are various opinions as to whether the Church's treatment of the Indian was advantageous. If the fact be admitted that the land in the progress of events would be occupied, the Indian conquered, history fails to show a better treatment of the conquered race. When the missions were started, Spain had in view their secularization in ten years, supposing the natives would then be sufficiently civilized to take land and become good

2See "The Decline of the Mission Indians," OVERLAND for December, 1894, and January, 1895.

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citizens. In dealing with the subject the authorities seemed to forget how long is the process of evolution of any of our civilized nations from barbarism. The pastoral, agricultural, industrial stages should each be allowed two or more generations; to expect to run the whole gamut in ten, twenty, or even double those years was utter folly.

The term "secularization" in reference to the missions is often misunderstood. The grants given by the Spanish crown. for the use of the mission fathers were only temporary bequests, although they embraced a chain of the best land from San Diego to San Francisco, on which

Last Mexican Governor of California.

the padres erected buildings that took years to complete and were made to last, and devoted themselves to increasing the flocks, herds, groves, vineyards, build-1 ings, and water systems. Despite all their labors they, or rather their Church, could not claim any of the land. It was the idea of the Spanish government that when the Indians had been civilized and christianized they would settle upon as much of the mission lands as they required for themselves, and would take care of. The mission buildings and their dependencies alone should belong to the Church of Rome, with enough of the revenues from the sale of mission lands and property to pay a parish priest and cost of worship. All remaining property was to revert to the government, the padres themselves being expected to lay down their wealth and authority and pass to new fields of work.

The earliest settlers who gathered about the missions or founded the pueblos were generally of the uneducated class. When in 1786 Lieutenant José Dario Argüello was appointed commissioner to confer on the colonists of the pueblo of Los An

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geles full right and title to their lands, he found that not one of the twenty-seven could sign his name. Later, came men of education, cadets of good families of Spain. These, obtaining large grants of land, began the business of stockraising. In the towns the majority of the settlers were old soldiers, the educated class being the officers and their families. There were neither school-masters nor doctors in the country, and in lack of the latter, the people turned to the Indians for remedies. To this day hillside and common are to the native Californian replete with medicinal herbs, unknown to us, the curative properties of which are often wonderful.

In time, trade restrictions were gradually ameliorated, though an enormous tariff

still fettered commerce. As soon as there was a prospect of market for their products many of the ranchos became "haciendas," hundreds of acres being put under cultivation. In disposition the Californian was kind and jovial. He labored little save on horseback, yet, properly to attend to his leagues of land covered with thousands of cattle and horses, which were attended by a small army of vaqueros who had to be fed, sheltered, and supplied with dress and accouterments, required an active life from the patron, his sons, and major domo.

The hospitality of both ranchos and missions was unbounded. One could travel the length of the land and no money asked for, nor would it be received if offered; horses were furnished from one rancho or mission to another; food

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ARCADIA BANDINI DE BAKER.

and housing were given with ever a hearty welcome. In a gentleman's home it was customary to leave in the guest chamber a heap of silver coin covered by a cloth; from this, if the visitor were in need, he was expected to supply his immediate wants. It was considered a disgraceful act for any member of the household to count the guest silver. In 1829 a young American traveling with at Spanish party from Monterey to Los Angeles astonished all by offering money for fruit and other courtesies. A young Spanish girl voiced the general feeling when she exclaimed in contempt, "Los Ingleses pagan por todos,"-The English pay for every thing.

There were neither courts nor juries in the land; the word of a Californian was the only bond required. Even the

1 Oldest daughter of Don Juan Bandini.

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wary Yankee traders who frequented the coast, when foreign commerce was finally allowed, trusted them freely from one season to the next. An incident illustrating this trait is told by the Aguirre family. Don José Aguirre, who owned a trading vessel, once had as super-cargo a young man who was a stranger to Californian customs. While the ship, with cargo, lay in San Pedro harbor, the master being absent, Augustin Machado, a ranchero of considerable wealth in land and herds, but who could neither read

nor write, went on board to do some purchasing, his carts awaiting him on shore. When he had made his choice and was about having the goods conveyed to land, the supercargo asked him for either payment or guaranty. Machado did not at first understand that he was being distrusted; no such demand had ever before been made of any ranchero, where the buyer offered no money he being credited without hesitation. When at length it dawned upon the Californian, he drew a hair from his

beard, and gravely handing it to the young man, said with dignity, "Deliver this to Señor Aguirre and tell him it is a hair from the beard of Augustin Machado, you will find it a sufficient guaranty." The supercargo, crestfallen, placed the hair in the leaves of his account book and allowed the goods to be removed. Upon Aguirre's return he was deeply chagrined at the insult that had been offered to his friend.

The only form of dwelling in early California was the adobe with tiled roof; they were well calculated to keep out wind and heat, and are today in many respects the most suitable houses for the climate. Fancy can not paint anything more comfortable and agreeable than a well built, well ventilated adobe, surrounding a court in which are singing birds, falling waters, the perfume and bright colors of favorite flowers, while, to make the dream complete, from the gallery that encloses the whole structure, should come the sound of a guitar. The musician is dressed in jacket, sash, and slashed breeches, under his wide sombrero a black silk handkerchief tied smoothly about his head. Beside him on the wooden bench the grave and handsome señoras sit, while on the brickpaved floor dances a graceful señorita in full skirts and bright-hued reboso, her long dark braids falling down her back, over one ear a red rose snuggled amid the short curls, for the benefit of the handsome youth in picturesque array, her partner in la danza. Music, flowers, the tap, tap,of little slippers, the jingle of spurs, and perhaps, by good fortune, the moon furnishing the soft light for the scene, and we have Alta California in the golden days of old.

The interiors of the adobes were plainly furnished, the chief luxury was generally found in the bed furnishings, the decorations of la cama being the pride of VOL. xxvi.-2.

the señora, no matter how simple her domicile. Mr. H. H. Bancroft says,

It would be difficult to find in any age or place, a community that got more out of life, with less trouble, wear, and wickedness, than the inhabitants of pastoral California.

Even their commonest dress had a holiday air. The bullion-ornamented hats, the gay colors of the jackets and breeches; over all, when occasion required, that mantle par excellence, the manga. The gowns of the women of the higher class were of silk or satin in rich brocades. One señora, who was married early in the fifties, told me she had in her trousseau forty dresses of silk or satin. Of these gowns, the material of which might last a lifetime, she has but the remnants of two, one of brocaded satin the other corded silk, either of which puts to shame the flimsier products of today. I asked her what had become of all her dresses, shawls, and scarfs. She replied: My father died, I could only wear black, so I gave them away to my friends. I had always possessed everything I desired, and had no idea there would come a time when I should need to deny myself any article of dress. I fancied."

San Diego was considered the gayest town, noted for its entertainments. Only the year after the Church had prohibited, under penalty of excommunication, indulgence in that "new and scandalous dance, the waltz," it was brought into the colony from Europe, by Don Juan. Bandini, being first danced in San Diego, afterward becoming a favorite amusement throughout the territory. The dwellers in Santa Barbara were said to take a more serious view of life, the mission lending its influence to society, which was dominated in a great measure by the powerful family of De la Guerra y Noriega.

Meriendas, or picnics, were a favorite

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