284 FROM OONALASHKA 



these new Christians. Every time some of those 

 who have the permission, run away; and they would 

 probably all do it, were they not deterred by their 

 fears of the soldiers, who catch them, and bring 

 them back to the Mission as criminals; this fear is 

 so great, that seven or eight dragoons are sufficient 

 to overpower several hundred Indians. 



Two large rivers flow into the bay of St. Francis- 

 co, of which tlie northern is the most considerable, 

 and is called by the Spaniards Rio-grande. This, 

 according to the account of the missionaiies, has 

 not its equal in the world, and is navigable for 

 the largest vessels ; its banks are fertile, the climate 

 mild, and the population numerous. The mission- 

 aries often make excursions on this river, in large 

 and well-armed boats, to procure proselytes to their 

 faith, in which, however, they seldom succeed, as the 

 Indians there are valiant and well-armed. After 

 taking another cup of chocolate, and thanking 

 the missionaries for their kind attention, we rode 

 away, and reached the Rurick in the evening just 

 as a courier had arrived from Monterey, despatched 

 by Don Paulo Vicente de Sola, governor of Old 

 California. He gave me a very polite letter from 

 the Governor, in which he assured me of his joy at 

 my safe arrival, and promised to come himself to 

 Francisco, as soon as his business permitted him, 

 to convince himself that all my wishes were com- 

 plied with. At the same time the commandant had 

 obtained leave at my request, to despatch a messen- 



