428 SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY. [1841- 



after the minerals — probably for the reason that they did not 

 suppose there could be sufficient quantities found to render 

 the search profitable — and encouraged them to devote their 

 time to herding cattle and other agricultural pursuits. In 

 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from the possessions of Spain, 

 and were succeeded, in California, by Franciscan and Domini- 

 can friars. Deprived of the fostering care, the energy and 

 industry, of the followers of Ignatius Loyola, the mission 

 establishments began rapidly to decline, and the discoveries 

 which might ultimately have been made, under their auspices, 

 were reserved for a more enterprising people than the white in- 

 habitants who now made their way to the Californias. 



Adventurers from Mexico, from Spain, and the United 

 States, American and European seamen, emigrated thither, 

 and founded settlements on the inner shore of the Gulf, and 

 along the iron-bound coast of the Pacific, from Cape San 

 Lucas to the Bay of San Francisco.* Some few among them 

 appear to have been active and industrious, but the great ma- 

 jority speedily relapsed into habits of indolence and slothful- 

 ness. No extraordinary efforts were made to develop the 

 resources of the country ; considerable silver was discovered, 

 but as there was no mercury to purify it, that obtained was 

 of an inferior quality, and afforded a trifling profit. A rich 

 mine, called San Antonio, near La Paz, was wrought for 

 several years, and is said to have yielded handsome returns. 

 But the political dissensions that agitated the southern 

 departments of Mexico were felt in the Californias, perhaps 

 more than all, in the baneful influence which they exerted in 

 repressing the energies of the inhabitants, and curbing the 

 little spirit of enterprise that had previously animated them. 



For many years, there was scarcely the least improvement 

 in Upper or Lower California; and if any progress was made, 

 it was at a snail's pace. Hides and tallow formed the prin- 

 cipal articles of exportation from the upper province; but the 

 trade was small, and liable to frequent interruptions, by reason 



* The mongrel white population of Upper California was computed, in 1842 

 to be about 5,000, and the Indian? S3.000. 



