PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 21 



but its owners were too indolent to throw it out. 

 San Jose, on the other hand, was all neatness, cleanli- 

 ness, and comfort ; the Indians were amusing them- 

 selves between the hours of labour at their games ; 

 and the children, uniformly dressed in white bodices 

 and scarlet petticoats, were playing at bat and ball. 

 Part of this difference may arise from the habits of 

 the people, who are of different tribes. Langsdorff 

 observes, that the Indians of the mission of San Jos^ 

 are the handsomest tribe in California, and in every 

 way a finer race of men ; and terms the neophytes of 

 San Francisco pigmies compared with them. I cannot 

 say that this remark occurred to me, and I think it 

 probable that he may have been deceived by the appa- 

 rently miserable condition of the people of San Fran- 

 cisco. 



The children and adults of both sexes, in all the 

 missions, are carefully locked up every night in sepa- 

 rate apartments, and the keys are delivered into the 

 possession of the padre ; and as, in the daytime, their 

 occupations lead to distinct places, unless they form 

 a matrimonial alliance, they enjoy very little of each 

 other's society. It, however, sometimes happens that 

 they endeavour to evade the vigilance of their keepers, 

 and are locked up with the opposite sex ; but severe 

 corporeal punishment, inflicted in the same manner as 

 is practised in our schools, but with a whip instead of 

 a rod, is sure to ensue if they are discovered. Though 

 there may be occasional acts of tyranny, yet the ge- 

 neral character of the padres is kind and benevolent, 

 and in some of the missions, the converts are so much 

 attached to them that I have heard them declare they 

 wonld go with them, if they were obliged to quit the 

 country. It is greatly to be regretted that with the 



