156 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
but they have proceeded hardly a league, when a squall comes 
on, which strands them on the beach. All now appear to be 
lost. But they save themselves in the long-boat 3 and when 
the tide rises, the galliot floats again, and proceeds on her 
voyage. A holy voyage is begun 3 its consequences are full 
of hope to man ! 
On the thirteenth they touch at San Bruno, in California, 
and at San Dionysio, ten leagues south of San Bruno. At 
the latter place, fifty Indians receive them with joy. A fine 
watering-place, discovered in a deep and fruitful glen, indi¬ 
cates the place for an encampment. The provisions, bag¬ 
gage, and animals, therefore, are landed, and the barracks of 
the little garrison built; a line of circumvallation is thrown 
up, in the centre of which a temporary chapel is raised ; be¬ 
fore it a crucifix, adorned with a garland of flowers, is erect¬ 
ed 3 and “ the image of our Lady of Loretto, as patroness of 
the conquest, is brought in procession from the galliot, and 
placed with proper solemnity.” On the twenty-fifth of Oc¬ 
tober, formal possession is taken of the country in the name 
of the King of Spain. 
Thus commences the religious conquest of California by 
Padre Salva Tierra 3 a voluntary exile from the highest cir¬ 
cles of European life 3 a great man, with a strong and kind 
heart 3 abandoning kindred, ease, and intellectual society, for 
the well-being of the stupid and filthy natives of the Cali¬ 
fornian deserts. 
The Padre now sends the galliot to Hiaqui for Padre 
Piccolo, some soldiers and provisions. Meantime he applies 
himself with unceasing assiduity to learning the Indian lan¬ 
guage and teaching religion. He pursues the same course as 
he would with stupid children 3 induces them to learn the 
prayers and catechisms, by rewarding attention and industry 
with something to eat. By thus addressing their strongest 
propensity as a stimulant for the acquisition of knowledge, 
he hopes to awaken and instruct their higher faculties of 
thought and sense of right. In the latter he, for a time, fails. 
