46 REMARKS AND OPINIONS. 



sion of tliesc journeys, which are undertaken in 

 companies, apostates fall off, and new converts come 

 in. The first, some of whom become the bitterest 

 enemies to the Spaniards, the missionaries endea- 

 vour, on their excursions, to rega'in by gentle 

 means ; and if they do not succeed, they have re- 

 course to the armed force. Hence many of the 

 hostile events between the Spaniards and In- 

 dians. 



The Indians die in the missions, in an alarming 

 and increasing proportion. San Francisco con- 

 tains about a thousand Indians : the number of 

 deaths, in the last year, exceeded three hundred ; 

 it amounts already this year, (till October,) to two 

 hundred and seventy, of which forty occurred 

 during the last month. But the number of pro- 

 selytes must exceed that of the apostates and the 

 excess of deaths. Five missions were named to us, 

 which have been founded in this province, since 

 the time of Vancouver. On the other hand, 

 several of the missions of the Dominicans in Old 



Jiad remained behind the throng of departing Indians. They 

 did not return to the mission ; they laid themselves naked as 

 they were on the damp ground, on the shore near our tents, 

 without a covering from the stormy rainy nights. Their looks 

 were fixed on their blue mountains ; they saw their native 

 home ; and thus consoled themselves for not being able to 

 reach it. The fathers after a few days, observing them, sent 

 them back into the mission, addressing them with much mild- 

 ness. 



