These exert a protecting sway over about thirty-five thousand Indian converts, whoreside on the lands around the mission houses. Each of these houses has fifteen milessquare of land allotted to it, subdivided into small lots, proportioned to the number ofIndian converts attached to the mission. Some are enclosed with high walls; but ingeneral they are open hamlets, composed of rows of huts, built of sunburnt bricks; insome instances whitewashed and roofed with tiles. Many of them are far in the interior,beyond the reach of all military protection, and dependent entirely on the good will ofthe natives, which never fails them. They have made considerable progress in teachingthe Indians the useful arts. There are native tanners, shoemakers, weavers,blacksmiths, stonecutters, and other artificers attached to each establishment. Othersare taught husbandry, and the rearing of cattle and horses; while the females card andspin wool, weave, and perform the other duties allotted to their sex in civilized life. Nosocial intercourse is allowed between the unmarried of the opposite sexes after workinghours; and at night they are locked up in separate apartments, and the keys deliveredto the priests.
The produce of the lands, and all the profits arising from sales, are entirely at thedisposal of the priests; whatever is not required for the support of the missions, goes toaugment a fund which is under their control. Hides and tallow constitute the principalriches of the missions, and, indeed, the main commerce of the country. Grain might beproduced to an unlimited extent at the establishments, were there a sufficient market forit. Olives and grapes are also reared at the missions.
Horses and horned cattle abound throughout all this region; the former may bepurchased at from three to five dollars, but they are of an inferior breed. Mules, whichare here of a large size and of valuable qualities, cost from seven to ten dollars.
There are several excellent ports along this coast. San Diego, San Barbara, Monterey,the bay of San Francisco, and the northern port of Bondago; all afford anchorage forships of the largest class. The port of San Francisco is too well known to require muchnotice in this place. The entrance from the sea is sixty-seven fathoms deep, and within,whole navies might ride with perfect safety. Two large rivers, which take their rise inmountains two or three hundred miles to the east, and run through a countryunsurpassed for soil and climate, empty themselves into the harbor. The countryaround affords admirable timber for ship-building. In a word, this favored port combinesadvantages which not only fit it for a grand naval depot, but almost render it capable ofbeing made the dominant military post of these seas.
Such is a feeble outline of the Californian coast and country, the value of which is moreand more attracting the attention of naval powers. The Russians have always a ship ofwar upon this station, and have already encroached upon the Californian boundaries,by taking possession of the port of Bondago, and fortifying it with several guns. Recentsurveys have likewise been made, both by the Russians and the English; and we havelittle doubt, that, at no very distant day, this neglected, and, until recently, almostunknown region, will be found to possess sources of wealth sufficient to sustain apowerful and prosperous empire. Its inhabitants, themselves, are but little aware of itsreal riches; they have not enterprise sufficient to acquaint themselves with a vastinterior that lies almost a terra incognita; nor have they the skill and industry to cultivateproperly the fertile tracts along the coast; nor to prosecute that foreign commerce whichbrings all the resources of a country into profitable action. [Return to Contents].
