These were called Presidios, and divided the command of the whole
country between them. Presidios have since been established at Santa
Barbara and San Francisco; thus dividing the country into four large
districts, each with its presidio, and governed by the commandant. The
soldiers, for the most part, married civilized Indians; and thus, in
the vicinity of each presidio, sprung up, gradually, small towns. In
the course of time, vessels began to come into the ports to trade with
the missions, and received hides in return; and thus began the great
trade of California. Nearly all the cattle in the country belonged
to the missions, and they employed their Indians, who became, in fact,
their slaves, in tending their vast herds. In the year 1793, when
Vancouver visited San Diego, the mission had obtained great wealth and
power, and are accused of having depreciated the country with the
sovereign, that they might be allowed to retain their possessions.
On the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Spanish dominions, the
missions passed into the hands of the Franciscans, though without
any essential change in their management.
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