223 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
some ground cleared and sown with maize; and comfort is 
slowly increasing among them. He spends three years among 
this slothful and stupid people, during which time he baptizes 
ninety adults, and about four hundred children. 
The Padres have now for many years sustained a limited 
intercourse with the Cochimies of Tierra de San Vincente. 
They have frequently expressed a strong desire to have a Pa¬ 
dre among them who would teach them to become Christians. 
But no opportunity has offered of founding a mission in their 
territory, till the year 1727, when Padre Juan Baptiste Luy- 
ando, a Mexican Jesuit of fortune, arrives at Loretto, and 
offers not only to endow, but to be the founder of a mission. 
His offers are gratefully accepted by the Padres. The seat of 
the mission has been selected by Padre Sistiaga of Santa Ro¬ 
salia Mulege, during his frequent visits among the Indians of 
that vicinity. To this spot, therefore, Padre Luyando travels, 
accompanied by nine soldiers, in January, 1728, and arrives 
on the twentieth of the same month. The natives having 
been expecting a Padre for some time, hail his arrival with 
much joy, and flock to his tent in great numbers. Many of 
them are already acquainted with the catechism, and nearly 
all have received some instruction from Padre Sistiaga. Pa¬ 
dre Luyando, therefore, finds his task comparatively easy. 
The Indians are very readily persuaded to destroy all their 
implements of sorcery and abandon the foolish and supersti¬ 
tious arts in which they have placed their faith. Some of the 
Catechumens return to their rancherias after receiving baptism, 
but many remain. The Padre has about five hundred at the 
mission during the first six months. At the end of this time 
his provisions beginning to fail, he despatches seven of his 
soldiers with letters to Loretto, asking supplies ; meanwhile 
the two that remain together with the Indians, commence 
building a church, which is finished and dedicated on Christ¬ 
mas day. The Padre’s heart is so encouraged by his success 
that he not only undertakes the instruction of all who come 
) 
