22 VOYAGE TO THE 



influence these men have over their pupils, and with 

 the regard those pupils seem to have for their mas- 

 ters, that the priests do not interest themselves a little 

 more in the education of their converts, the first step 

 to which would be in making themselves acquainted 

 with the Indian language. Many of the Indians sur- 

 pass their pastors in this respect, and can speak the 

 Spanish language, while scarcely one of the padres 

 can make themselves understood by the Indians. 

 They have besides, in general, a lamentable contempt 

 for the intellect of these simple people, and think 

 them incapable of improvement beyond a certain point. 

 Notwithstanding this, the Indians are, in general, well 

 clothed and fed ; they have houses of their own, and 

 if they are not confortable, it is, in a great measure, 

 their own fault ; their meals are given to them three 

 times a day, and consist of thick gruel made of wheat, 

 Indian corn, and sometimes acorns, to which at noon 

 is generally added meat. Clothing of a better kind 

 than that worn by the Indians is given to the officers 

 of the missions, both as a reward for their services, 

 and to create an emulation in others. 



If it should happen that there is a scarcity of pro- 

 visions, either through failure in the crop, or damage 

 of that which is in store, as they have always two or 

 three years in reserve, the Indians are sent off to the 

 woods to provide for themselves, where, accustomed 

 to hunt and fish, and game being very abundant, they 

 find enough to subsist upon, and return to the mis- 

 sion, when they are required to reap the next year's 

 harvest. 



Having served ten years in the mission, an Indian 

 may claim his liberty, provided any respectable settler 

 \yill become surety for his future good conduct. A 



