176 NEW SCHEME OF HIRING INDIANS CALIFORNIA. 



unjust. There was a dilemma, in fact between idleness and 

 tyranny ; but the viceroy conceived it his duty to endeavor once 

 more, with an honest zeal, to sustain the humane policy of freedom 

 which was recommended not only by the sovereign but by the reli- 

 gious orders who were supposed to know the natives best. Various 

 projects were adopted to harmonize their freedom with a necessary 

 degree of labor, in order to ensure them wages and support, whilst 

 they were preserved together in organized societies. After the 

 repartimientos were abrogated, the Indians were compelled to 

 assemble, on every Sabbath, in the public squares of the villages 

 and towns, where they made their contracts of service by the day. 

 The viceroy himself, anxious to prevent fraud, assisted personally 

 in the reunions at the plazas or squares of San Juan and Santiago. 

 But it was all in vain. The proprietors, land owners, and agents, 

 were opposed to the scheme. Brokers interposed, and, after 

 hiring the Indians at moderate rates in contracts made with 

 themselves, sub-let them to others on higher terms. And, at last, 

 it is alleged that the unfortunate natives, seeing the bad operation 

 of the viceroy's kind intentions in their behalf, and finding their 

 condition less happy when they had to take care of themselves 

 than when they were taken care of, appealed to the Count of 

 Monterey to restore the old system of repartimientos under which 

 they were at least spared the trouble of seeking for task-masters 

 and support. Indolent by nature ; creatures of habit ; and living 

 in a country whose bosom afforded them spontaneously most of 

 the luxuries required by such a class, they submitted to what, in 

 fact, was the greatest evil of their lot, because it relieved them of 

 the trouble of individual effort! 



In 1602, Philip III. commanded another expedition for the 

 colonization and exploration of the Californias. It departed in 

 three ships and a barque from Acapulco, on the fifth of May, 

 under the command of Viscaino. Torribio Gomez Corban was 

 the admiral of the little fleet, and Antonio Flores, pilot. From the 

 day of its departure, it was driven by severe gales, but, at length, 

 the port of Monterey was reached by the weary crews, who 

 continued along the coast until they arrived at Cape Blanco de 

 San Sabastian, somewhat beyond Cape Mendozino. There the 

 voyagers were sorely attacked with scurvy which thinned their 

 numbers to such an extent, that, of the whole, only six were able 

 to do duty. With this scant equipment of men, the vessels 

 reached Mazatlan, where the crews recruited their health ; and, 

 passing thence to Acapulco, the expedition once more landed in 



