„ ' 79-- flock has fprune from fifteen head of breeding •November. * 1 ° . ° cat.tle, which were difj_____>
tributed between this and two other millions, eftablifhed about the year
1778 ; that thefe animals muft be very prolific to allow of fuch an abundant
fupply. Their great increafe in fo Ihort a time is to be afcribed to
the rigid oeconomy of the fathers, who would not allow any to be killed,
until they had fo multiplied as to render their extirpation not eafy to be
•effefted. The fame wife management has been obferved with their fheep,
and their horfes have increafed nearly at the fame rate.
Although this village did not appear fo populous as that at St. Fran-
cifco, I was given to underfland that there were nearly double the number
o f inhabitants belonging to it ; and that in cohfequence of the many
unconverted natives in the neighbourhood of S'* Clara, feveral of the
Chriflian Indians of jjood charafter were difperfed amongft their countrymen,
for the purpofe of inducing them to partake, of the advantages
held: out to them, in which they had not been altogether unfuccefsful.
A ll who have offered themfelves as converts have been admitted and
adopted, notwithftanding the artifices o f feveral, who have remained in
and about the million until they have acquired a flock o f food.and clothing,.,
with which they have-decamped. This improper conducl has
however had no fort o f effeft on the benevolent minds’ of the fathers,
who have not only uniformly fupplied their, wants on; a fécond yifit, but
alfo thofe of many wandering tribes that would be at the trouble of.afking
their affiftance. :
Thus concluded .our morning’s entertainment, and we retired to dinner.
In the convent a mofl excellent and abundant repafl of the productions
of the country was provided, which were in the greatefl perfeftion.
The day palled to the mutual fatisfaftion of all parties, and we found
ThurSayaa. ourfelves under fome difficulty the next morning to excufe ourfelves
from accepting the preffing folicitations of thefe good people, to prolong
our flay at S“ Clara ; this, however, neceffity and not inclination
obliged us to decline. We took our leave at an early hour, highly gratified
by our reception and entertainment; which had amply, compen-
fated for the fatigue or inconvenience attending fq long a journey,
performed in a way to which we were fo little accuflomed.
The
The million of S“ Clara is fituated at the extremity o f the s.e . branch 179*-
- . A. ; . . J . November.
o f port St. Francifco, which terminates in a fhallow rivulet extending t__<— •1
fome diflance into the country, from whence, and the confines of the
port in its vicinity, S'* Clara is well fupplied with a variety o f excellent
filh.
T o the eaftward at the diflance o f about g leagues, near the fea coafl,
or rather on the borders of the bay of Monterrey, is the million o f S“
Cruz, very recently eflablilhed; and like thofe before defcribed governed
by three fathers of the order e f St. Francifco, and protefied by a corporal
and fix foldiers. As this eflablifhment was in its infancy I much
wifhed to have feen it, but as my leifure would not admit o f extending
our excurfion, we loll no time in proceeding to the fhips. Our road
back was over a more elevated country than that of the morafs, leading
through a continuation of the forefl of oaks, but greatly inconvenienced
by the many holes in the ground before noticed ; and our good friend
and guide the fergeant, apprehending that the approach of night might
make us liable to accident, was induced to conduct: us. through a lower
country, which he did not fufpefl to be fo wet and unpleafant as we
afterwards found it. We were however very fortunate in point of weather,
which during our three days excurfion was very mild, ferene, and
pleafant; and on our arrival at the fhip in the evening, I had the plea-
fure to find the Chatham near us at anchor.,
From Mr. Broughton I had the additional happinefs of underfland- Friday -3,
ing that all were well-on board and that during the time of our fepa- ®
ration he had- been employed in profecuting the examination of the
river Columbia, which was found to extend further than we had fup-
pofed. The particulars of this firry ey, together with thofe of Mr.
Whidbey’s examination, whom we expefled to meet at Monterrey,
and fuch information refpetiing a ctufler of iflands feen by the late
Lieutenant Hergeft as could be gained from his log-book and papers,
I (hall poflpone for future confideration and recital.
The arrival o f the Chatham in fome meafure haflened our departure.
Having by a very tedious procefs completed our flock of water,
and taken on board a fmall .quantity of fire wood, every thing was
V o l . II. E received