94 MISSION OF SANTA CLARA. 



us to Santa Clara, where the monks received 

 us in the most friendly manner, and exerted 

 themselves most hospitably, to make our visit 

 agreeable. 



The mission, which was founded in the year 

 1777, is situated beside a stream of the most 

 pure and delicious water, in a large and ex- 

 tremely fertile plain. The buildings of Santa 

 Clara, overshadowed by thick groves of oaks, 

 and surrounded by gardens which, though 

 carelessly cultivated, produce an abundance of 

 vegetables, the finest grapes, and fruits of all 

 kinds, are in the same style as at all the other 

 missions. They consist of a large stone church, 

 a spacious dwelling-house for the monks, a large 

 magazine for the preservation of corn, and the 

 Rancherios, or barracks, for the Indians, of 

 which mention has already been made. These 

 are divided into long rows of houses, or rather 

 stalls, where each family is allowed a space 

 scarcely large enough to enable them to lie down 

 to repose. We were struck by the appearance 

 of a large quadrangular building, which having 

 no windows on the outside, and only one care- 

 fully secured door, resembled a prison for state- 



