CHAPTER XXI
CALIFORNIA AND ITS INHABITANTS
We kept up a constant connection with the Presidio, and by the close
of the summer I had added much to my made vocabulary, besides having
made the acquaintance of nearly everybody in the place, and acquired
some knowledge of the character and habits of the people, as well as
of the institutions under which they live.
California was first discovered in 1536, by Cortes and was
subsequently visited by numerous other adventurers as well as
commissioned voyagers of the Spanish crown. It was found to be
inhabited by numerous tribes of Indians, and to be in many parts
extremely fertile; to which, of course, was added rumors of gold
mines, pearl fishery, etc. No sooner was the importance of the country
known, than the Jesuits obtained leave to establish themselves in
it, to Christianize and enlighten the Indians. They established
missions in various parts of the country toward the close of the
seventeenth century, and collected the natives about them, baptizing
them into the church, and teaching them the arts of civilized life. To
protect the Jesuits in their missions, and at the same time to support
the power of the crown over the civilized Indians, two forts were
erected and garrisoned, one at San Diego, and the other at Monterey.
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