164 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



ince. Full, however, of the wonderful miracle of Santa Clara of 

 Carmona, which had been brought to light through the agency of 

 the medallion at the end of his rosario, Fray Venabides must 

 needs return to Spain, and humbug poor old Fernando, and even 

 the more sensible Isabel, with wonderful accounts of the riches of 

 the country he had been instrumental in exploring, and of the ex- 

 cellent disposition of the natives to receive the word of God. Don 

 Juan Onate was, therefore, quickly dispatched to take possession ; 

 and in his train followed twelve Castilian families of sangre azul, 

 to colonize the newly acquired territory. The names of these still 

 remain, disgraced by the degenerate wretches who now bear them, 

 but in whom scarce a drop of blood remains which ever filtered 

 from the veins of the paladins of Old Castile. 



Then commenced the troublous times. The missions were up- 

 held by dint of steel alone ; and frequently the Indians rose, and 

 often massacred their white persecutors. The colonists were more 

 than once driven bodily from New Mexico, and were only rein- 

 stated by the aid of large bodies of armed men. 



In California, however, they managed these things better. The 

 wily monks took care to keep all interlopers from the country, es- 

 tablished themselves in snug quarters, instructed the Indians in 

 agi'iculture, and soon gained such an ascendency over them, that 

 no difficulty was experienced in keeping them under proper and 

 wholesome restraint. Strong and commodious missions were built 

 and fortified, well stored with arms and ammunition, and contain- 

 ing sufficient defenders to defy attack. Luxuriant gardens and 

 thriving vineyards soon surrounded these isolated stations : the 

 plains waved with golden corn ; while domestic cattle, thriving on 

 the rich pasture, and roaming far and near, multiplied and in- 

 creased a hundred fold. 



Nothing can be more beautiful than the appearance of one 

 of these missions, to the traveler who has lately passed the arid 

 and barren wilderness of the Northwest. The adobe walls of 



