PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
359 
at bat and ball. Part of this dilference may arise from the habits of the CHAP. 
-Y TIT 
people, who are of different tribes. Langsdorff observes, that the In- 
dians of the mission of San Jose are the handsomest tribe in California, Nov. 
and in every way a finer race of men ; and terms the neophytes of 
San Francisco pigmies compared with them. I cannot say that this 
remark occurred to me, and I think it probable that he may have been 
deceived by the apparently miserable condition of the people of San 
Francisco. 
The children and adults of both sexes, in all the missions, are care- 
fully locked up every night in separate apartments, and the keys are 
delivered into the possession of the padre ; and as, in the daytime, their 
occupations lead to distinct places, unless they form a matrimonial alli- 
ance, they enjoy very little of each other’s society. It, however, some- 
times happens that they endeavour to evade the vigilance of their 
keepers, and are locked up with the opposite sex ; but severe corporeal 
punishment, inflicted in the same manner as is practised in our schools, 
but with a whip instead of a rod, is sure to ensue if they are discovered. 
Though there may be occasional acts of tyranny, yet the general cha- 
racter of the padres is kind and benevolent, and in some of the mis- 
sions, the converts are so much attached to them that I have heard 
them declare they would go with them, if they were obliged to quit the 
country. It is greatly to be regretted that with the influence these 
men have over their pupils, and with the regard those pupils seem to 
have for their masters, that the priests do not interest themselves a 
little more in the education of their converts, the first step to which 
would be in making themselves acquainted with the Indian language. 
Many of the Indians surpass their pastors in this respect, and can speak 
the Spanish language, while scarcely one of the padres can make them- 
selves understood by the Indians. They have besides, in general, a 
lamentable contempt for the intellect of these simple people, and think 
them incapable of improvement beyond a certain point. Notwith- 
standing this, the Indians are, in general, well clothed and fed ; they 
have houses of their own, and if they are not comfortable, it is, in 
a great measure, their own fault ; their meals are given to them three 
times a day, and consist of thick gruel made of wheat, Indian corn, and 
