236 IN THE OLD WEST 



than the Mission, and guarded but by three 

 vaqueros. Regaled with venison, and with a 

 smoke of his coveted tobacco, he rode off, 

 and made his way to the Mission without delay, 

 conveying the startling intelligence that a thou- 

 sand Americans were upon them. 



The next morning the thirteen doughty moun- 

 taineers quietly resumed their journey, moving 

 leisurely along towards the object of their expedi- 

 tion. 



It will not be out of place here to digress a 

 little, in order to describe the singular features of 

 the establishments formed in those remote regions 

 by the Catholic Church, as nuclei round which to 

 concentrate the wandering tribes that inhabit the 

 country, with a view to give them the benefit of 

 civilized example, and to wean them from their 

 restless nomadic habits. 



The establishment of Missions in Upper Cali- 

 fornia is coeval with the first settlement of South- 

 ern Mexico. No sooner had Spanish rule taken 

 a firm foothold in the Aztec empire, than the 

 avowed primary object of the military expedition 

 began to be carried into effect. " To save the 

 souls " of the savage and barbarous subjects of 

 their most Catholic majesties was ever inculcated 

 upon the governors of the conquered country as 

 the grand object to be sought after, as soon as 

 tranquillity was partially restored by the sub- 

 mission of the Mexicans ; and the Cross, the sacred 



