PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
367 
they had places assigned to them apart from the males. After the bell CHAP, 
had done tolling, several alguazils went round to the huts to see if all 
the Indians were at church, and if they found any loitering within them, nov. 
they exercised with tolerable freedom a long lash with a broad thong 
at the end of it ; a discipline which appeared the more tyrannical, 
as the church was not sufficiently capacious for all the attendants, 
and several sat upon the steps without ; but the Indian women who 
had been captured in the affair with the Cosemenes were placed in a 
situation where they could see the costly images, and vessels of burning 
incense, and every thing that was going forward. 
I’he congregation was arranged on both sides of the building, 
separated by a wide aisle passing along the centre, in which were 
stationed several alguazils with whips, canes, and goads to preserve 
silence and maintain order, and, what seemed more difficult than either, 
to keep the congregation in their kneeling posture. The goads were 
better adapted to this purpose than the whips, as they would reach a 
long way, and inflict a sharp puncture without making any noise. 
The end of the church was occupied by a guard of soldiers under arms 
with fixed bayonets; a precaution which I suppose experience had 
taught the necessity of observing. Above them there was a choir con- 
sisting of several Indian musicians, who performed very well indeed on 
various instruments, and sang the TeDeum in a very passable manner. 
The congregation was very attentive, but the gratification they appeared 
to derive from the music furnished another proof of the strong hold 
this portion of the ceremonies of the Eomish church takes upon un- 
informed minds. 
The worthy and benevolent priests of the mission devote almost 
the whole of their time to the duties of the establishment, and have 
a fatherly regard for those placed under them who are obedient and 
diligent ; and too much praise cannot be bestowed upon them, con- 
sidering that they have relinquished many of the enjoyments of life, 
and have embraced a voluntary exile in a distant and barbarous country. 
The only amusement which my hospitable host of the mission of San Jose 
indulged in during my visit to that place, was during meal times, when 
he amused himself by throwing pancakes to the muchachos, a number 
