258 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



had long since filled its usefulness as a place of Indian con- 

 version, and was more of a curiosity than otherwise. It lay 

 in a fertile valley, watered by Mission Creek, but which was 

 surrounded by barren hills covered by stunted shrubs. The 

 few buildings were in fair repair. The church was built of 

 adobe and roofed with tiles, the front -being stuccoed with 

 some show of ornament, with three bells in the gable. Inside 

 was a show of tinsel and glitter, and some rude paintings. At 

 right angles was a rough building with a piazza, which had 

 perhaps been the home of the Fathers who ministered to the 

 simple Indians. To the left of the church was a graveyard 

 full of graves, among which was that of Casey, the man who 

 slew Wm. Starr King, and who was hung by the vigilantes. 

 He had a monument with a complimentary inscription on it, 

 to the effect that he was more sinned against than sinning, 

 and that he was a martyr in his sudden suspension ; which 

 shows that no matter how bad you live, or how mean your 

 " shuffle off," there will be kind friends who will go to 

 considerable expense to lie in your favor. Fifty years ago 

 this was a rich mission, surrounded by flocks and herds, 

 and Indian converts by hundreds, who willingly did the 

 Fathers' bidding. Now it was nothing but a quiet resort for 

 excursionists. 



I give two sketches of this mission. The first was taken in 

 1854, and represents it with a " lean-to " the whole length, 

 next to the Campo Santo, or graveyard. A sketch I made of 

 it four years later shows this " lean-to " removed and the 

 space occupied by graves. The porticoed building on the 

 right of the main church was used as a drinking saloon and 

 hotel at the time of my visit. Since then a sense of shame 

 has caused this to be done away with, the building torn down, 

 and in its place arises a towered church which dwarfs the old 

 mission by its side. I give a representation of the new and 

 old churches, the former from a photograph. 



