70 VOYAGE TO THE 



lifornia, appears to have been considered by the autho- 

 rities in that country, as they overlook the introduc- 

 tion of goods into the towns by indirect channels, ex- 

 cept in cases of a gross and palpable nature. In this 

 manner several American vessels have contrived to 

 dispose of their cargoes, and the inhabitants have 

 been supplied with goods of which they were much in 

 need ; but had the navigation laws been strictly at- 

 tended to, the vessels must have returned unsuccessful, 

 and the inhabitants have continued in want. 



Far more liberal has been the hand of nature to this 

 much neglected country, in bestowing upon it a cli- 

 mate remarkable for its salubrity. The Spanish set- 

 tlers in California enjoy an almost uninterrupted state 

 of good health. Many attain the age of eighty and 

 ninety, and some have exceeded a hundred years. 

 There have been periods, however, when the small 

 pox and measles have affected the population, and par- 

 ticularly the Indians in the missions, who, unlike the 

 Spaniards, appear to suffer severely from diseases of all 

 kinds. The small pox many years ago prevailed to an 

 alarming extent, and carried off several thousand In- 

 dians ; but since the introduction of cattle into the 

 country, and with them the cow pox, it has not reap- 

 peared. Vaccination was practised in California as 

 early as 1806, and the virus from Europe has been 

 recently introduced through the Russian establish- 

 ment at Rossi. The measles have also at times 

 seriously affected the Indians, and in 1806 proved 

 fatal to thousands, while it is remarkable that none of 

 the Spaniards affected with the disease died. Dysen- 

 tery, the most prevalent complaint amongst the con- 

 verted Indians, no doubt arises in a great measure 

 from the coldness and dampness of their habitations. 



