’ 795- Clofe by flood the church, which for its magnitude, architecture, and
internal decorations,' did great credit to the condruflors o f i t ; and pre-
fented a driking contrail between the exertioijs o f genius, and fuch as
bare neceflity is capable of fuggefting. The railing and decorating
this edifice appeared to have greatly attracted the attention of the fathers ;
and the comforts they might have provided in their own humble habitations,
feemed to have been totally facrificed to the accomplifhment o f
this favorite objeft. Even their garden, an objeft o f fuch material importance,
had not yet acquired any great degree o f cultivation, though
its foil was a rich black mould, and promifed an ample return for any
labour that might be bellowed upon it. The whole contained about
four acres, was tolerably well fenced in, and produced fome fig, peach,
applet and other fruit-trees, but afforded a very fcanty fupply of ufefui
vegetables ; the principal part lying wafle .and over-run with weeds.
On our return to the convent, we found a m o l excellent and abundant
repall provided o f beef, mutton, filh, fowls, and fuch vegetables
■ as their garden afforded. The attentive and hofpitable behaviour o f our
new friends amply compenfated for the homely manner, in which the
dinner was ferved ; and would certainly have precluded my noticing the.
didreffmg inconvenience thefe valuable people labour under, in the want
-of almofl all the common and moll necelfary utenfils of life, had I not
been taught to expeft, that this colony was in a very different flage of
improvement, and that its inhabitants were infinitely more comfortably
circumdanced.
After dinner we were engaged in an entertaining converfation, in
which, by the afliflance o f Mr. Dobfon our interpreter, we were each
able to bear a part. Amongd other things I underflood, that this
million was ellablilhed in the year 1775, and the Prefidio of St. Francifco
in 1778, and that they; were the northernmojlfeltlements, o f any defcription,
formed by the court o f Spain on the continentalJhore o f North-Wejt America,
or the ijlands adjacent, exclufive of Nootka, which I did not confider
as coming under that defcription any more than the temporary edablifh-
ment which, in the preceding fpring had been formed by Serf- Quadra near
cape Flattery, at the entrance of the draits of Juan De Fuea; and which
has
has been already dated to be intirely evacuated. J J T. he excurfions N„o v1e7m9=b-er,
o f the Spaniards feemed to be confined to the neighbourhood of e__,---- 1
their immediate place of refidence, and the direfl line of country between
one fiation and another ; as they have no veffels for embarkation
excepting the native canoe, and an old rotten wooden one, which was
lying near our landing place. Had they proper boats on this fpacious
fheet o f water,, their journies would not only be much facilitated, but
it would afford a very agreeable variety in their manner o f life, and help
to pafs away many o f the folitary and wearifome hours which they mud
unavoidaby experience. I underdood that the oppofite fide e f the port
had been vifited by fome foldiers on horfe-back, who obtained but lit-
* tie information; fome converted Indians were found living, amongd the
natives of the northern and .wedern parts of the port, who were edeemed
by the Spaniards to be a docile, and in general a well-difpofed people;
though little communication. took place between them and the inhabitants
of this fide. The miffionaries found no difficulty in fub-
jefting thefe people to their authority:. It is mild and charitable,
teaches them; the cultivation of the foil, and introduces amongd them,
fuch of the ufefui arts as are mod effential to the comforts of human
nature and focial fife. It is much to be wilhed, that thefe benevolent
exertions may fucceed, though there is every appearance that their pro--
grefs will be very flow; yet they will probably lay a foundation, on
which the poderity o f the prefent race may fecure to themfelves the enjoyment
o f civil fociety.
The next edablifhraent of this nature, and the. only one within our
reach from our prefent dation, was that of Su Clara, lying to the fouth--
eadward, at the didance o f about 18 leagues, and confidered as one day’s,
journey. As there was no probability of our wood and water being
completely on board in lefs than three or four days, I accepted the
offer of Sen1'- Sal and the reverend fathers, who. undertook to provide-
us horfes for an expedition to S'“ Clara the following morning. A t the
decline of day we took our leave, and concluded a vifit that had been
highly intereding and entertaining to us, and had appeared to be
equally grateful to our hofpitable friends.
On