HARRINGTON ] HISTORY OF BURTON MOUND 49 
MENTION IN THE ACCOUNTS OF THE FOUNDING OF THE PRESIDIO OF SANTA 
BARBARA, 1782 
Tt is not until the year 1782, in connection with the founding of 
the Presido at Santa Barbara, that we find further mention of the 
village of Syujttin. Fr, Palot in describing this event writes: * 
After marching about 9 leagues [from San Buenaventura], they [Governor 
Felipe de Neve, Fr. Presidente Junipero Serra, and soldiers] came to a place 
which they judged to be about half way to the end of the channel. Here 
the governor ordered the troops to halt. Then with the Fr. Presidente and 
some of the soldiers he explored the region and found a very favorable site for 
the presidio within view of the beach, which here forms a bay where vessels 
might anchor and where there was a large Indian village [SyujtGn]. The 
governor gave orders that camp be pitched in a suitable place; whereupon they 
began cutting timber for the large cross, for the little structure to be used as 
chapel, and for the altar. On the following day, it being a Sunday, the 
venerable father presidente blessed the site and the cross, which was then 
set up and venerated. He also celebrated the first holy mass, which the 
governor, the officers, and all the soldiers attended. Thereupon his reverence 
preached an eloquent sermon. The ceremonies concluded with the formal tak- 
ing possession of the site, not the slightest opposition being made on the part 
of the natives. 
Father Paloti states in his Noticias: ° 
The expedition set out from the Mission of the Seraphic Doctor [San Buena- 
ventura] in April, leaving as guard for the mission 15 leather-jacket soldiers 
with a sergeant. On the same day they reached the spot called, since the first 
expedition, San Joaquin de la Laguna. It is 10 leagues distant from the 
Mission of San Buenaventura and not very far from the beach, in 35 degrees 
and a few minutes. The presidio was established away from the beach and 
rancheria [Syujttn], at a good distance from the laguna [the Santa Barbara 
estero] on the edge of a grove of live oaks. It is said that the place looks 
dismal and that it has but little water. 
Bancroft says of the founding of the presidio:1?° 
The site chosen was on fhe shore of a small bay affording tolerably secure 
anchorage, at a place said to have been called San Joaquin de la Laguna in 
the first expedition of 1769, and near a large native town [Syujttn], which, like 
its temi, or chief, was called Yanonalit. ... The natives were more friendly 
than had been anticipated, and Yanonalit was willing to exchange presents. 
Work was at once begun and oak timber felled for the requisite shelters, and 
particularly for the palisade enclosure, 60 varas square, which was later 
replaced by a solid wall enclosing an area of 80 yards square. The natives 
were hired to work and were paid in articles of food and clothing. Yanonalit 
had authority over some 13 rancherias, and his friendship proved a great 
advantage. 
It was not until 1786 that the Santa Barbara Mission was founded, 
half a league northwest of the presidio. 
§ Francisco Palo, Relacion Historica de la Vida y Apostolicas Tareas del Venerable 
Padre Fray Junipero Serra, México, 1787, cap. LIV, translation taken from Engelhardt, 
Santa Barbara Mission, San Francisco, 1923, p. 33. 
® Francisco Palo, Noticias de la Nueva California, San Francisco, 1874, Vol. IV, p. 241, 
translation taken from Engelhardt, Santa Barbara Mission, San Francisco, 1923, pp. 33-34. 
10 Bancroft, California, Vol. I, San Francisco, 1886, p. 377. 
