* r 



j^XG • Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



The plan of the camp being approved, I was directed to mate it 

 the habitual order of encamping wherever the configuration of the 

 Iround would admit. The plan was the natural one to pro ect 

 ourselves from the night attacks of the enemy, who were all mounted. 

 The mode in which they designed to make their night attacks was 

 to drive into our camp a manada of wild mares, and then take ad- 

 vantage of the confusion they might create to deliver a charge. 

 Decemler 30.— We encamped at the rancheria of AIvear._ 

 Decemher 31.— We encamped at the San Barnardo, having gone 

 in three days only 30 miles. The ground passed over was the same 

 as that described in the last two days of our march into ban Uiego. 

 January 1.— To-day we obtained some fresh oxen and a few IresQ 

 horses, which enabled us to do better and to make 17 miles before 

 sunset Our road to-day diverged from that heretofore descnbecl. 



and laid over a rolling country, destitute of water and trees. Catte 

 were seen, in small numbers, covering the plains ^^^.^^^^-^^f ° gj 

 proving to us that the enemy had found it ^W^cticable to fumi 

 their boast, that we should not get a hoof from the day we left ban 



We" pitched our camp at the Indian settlement of Buena Vista, 

 passing by the way a deserted rancheria, where there was a puaai 

 of stagnant water, the only water on the route. , 



January 2.-Six and a half miles march brought us to the de 



sert. d mission of San Luis Rey. The keys of this mission were i 

 charge of the alcalde of the Indian village, a mile distant, ne ^ 

 at the door to receive us and deliver up possession. , 



There we halted for the day to- let the sailors, who suner 

 dreadfully from sore feet, recruit a little. ^ , ,y. 



This building is one which, for magnitude, convenience, anu 

 lability of architecture, would do honor to any country. _ ^^^ 



The walls are of adobe, and the roofs of well made tile, i 

 built about sixty years since by the Indians of the country, u^^^ 

 the guidance of a zealous priest. At that time the 1^>*'^"^ jes. 

 very numerous, and under the absolute sway of^ the «^Jf ^"i" ^jj^ns 

 These missionaries at one time bid fair to christianize tne u 

 of California. Under grants from the Mexican go^'^J^^^^^'^nced 

 collected them into missions, built immense houses, and com. ^^^_ 

 successfully to till the. soil by the hands of the Indians lor la^ 



efit of the Indians. ^ Ttorv ruler^ 



The habits of the priests, and the avarice of the ^1/1^^^^ ji,. 



of the territory, however, soon converted these missions 



struments of oppression and slavery of the Indian race. • ^ 



The revolution of 1836 saw the downfall of the priests, ap^^J^.^^. 



of these missions passed by fraud into the hands of P"^'^^* J^ lan^. 



uals, and with them the Indians were transferred as serfs ol tn ^ ^^ 



This race, which, in our country, has never been ^^.^^j^o 



slavery, is in that ilegraded condition throughout California, ^ ^^^\j 



the only labor performed in the country. Nothing can excee 



present degraded condition. . , ^^i 



For negligence or refusal to work, the lash is freely appiie"; 



