CHAP. it must be long before so great and desirable a change can be effected.
Nov.
182fi.
The experiment of liberating the Indians has been tried and has failed *;
and appearances certainly justify the assertion that the Indian is happier
under control than while indulging his free soul in the wilds of his
native country.
AVhat might seem a remarkable example of this w'as met with on
turning from the dwelling of wretchedness just described to a scene of
the greatest mirth and happiness amongst some converted Indians, who
were passing their holiday in amusement. Some were playing at takersia,
a game which, as already described, consists in trundling a hoop, or
rather a piece of wood with a hole in it, and in endeavouring to pierce
it with a short lance as it rolls. Another party were playing at a game
resembling hockey, and in various parts of the plain adjoining the mission
many others were engaged in pleasant recreations, passing their day
in exercise, content, and enjoyment.
In the neighbouring meadows there were several large herds of
cattle; and the geese settled there in flocks, as at the mission of
Santa Clara. The rocks, where they protruded, were ascertained by
Mr. Colhe to be sandstone conglomerate with a calcareous basis.
The welcome peal of the mission bell assembled the party at dinner;
but the padre, who for some time before had been earnestly engaged in
endeavouring to convert one of his heretic guests, was unwilling to quit
the train of theological disquisition which in his own opinion he had
almost brought to successful issue, until reminded by his other visiters,
who had not been accustomed to go so long without their breakfast,
that they required something more substantial.
I will not attempt to stimulate the appetite of my reader by enumerating
the various exquisite dishes which successively smoked on the
board of the generous priest, suffice it that there were many good ones,
as tbe padres in CaUfornia are careful to have their table well supplied
at all times of the year, and have an indulgence from the pope to eat
meat even during the greater part of Lent, in consequence of the dif
ficulty of procuring fish.
• T h e effect of emancipation on th e In d ian s is spoken of more a t larg e in an afte r p a rt
o f this work.
Having performed the honours of the table, padre Arroyo retired CTIAP.
Nov.
1826.
to indulge his usual siesta: this, however, caused but a brief suspension
to the efforts he most industriously continued to make for the
purpose of converting his heretical opponent to the true faith, reading
him innumerable lectures in refutation of the Lutheran and Calvinistic
doctrines, and in favour of the pope’s supremacy, infallibility, and power
of remitting offences.
It more than once occurred to the party—and I believe, not without
good foundation for their opiiiion-that it was the hope of success
in this conversion which occasioned all the little manoeuvring to delay
them, that I have before described. But having at length given his
pupil over as irrevocably lost, he consented to their departure on the
following morning. The padre appeared to be of an active mind, and
had constructed a water clock which communicated with a bell by us
bedside, and which by being arranged at night could be made to give
an alarm at any stated liour.
It was here that our travellers were surprised at the intelhgeiice
of the north-west passage having been effected by a Spaniard, and were
not a little amused at the idea of having stumbled upon the long-sought
north-west passage in an obscure mission of California. The padre,
however, was quite in earnest, and produced a work published by the
Duke of Almodobar, Director of the Royal Academy in Spain, iu which
was transcribed at full length the fictitious voyage of Maldonado. It
was in vain they endeavoured to persuade the padre that this voyage
was not real, seeing that it bore even in its detail all the marks of truth,
and that it emanated from such high authority. His credulity in this
instance affords a curious proof of the very secluded manner in which
these holy men pass their time, for it may be remembered that it was
in the very ports of California that both Vancouver and Quadra anchored,
after having satisfactorily proved the voyage in question to have been
a fabrication.
A still greater instance of the simplicity of the priest is related at
his expense by persons in the mission. A youthful Indian couple who
had conceived an affection for each other eloped one day, that they
might enjoy each other’s society without reserve in the wild and ro