CHAPTER XI
PASTORAL PURSUITS
THE environment in which these early Californians lived was in perfect harmony with their pleasure loving and carefree spirit. A joyous lot, they loved the outdoors, and lived on horseback. The world never before saw, and has never since seen, such skillful and dashing horsemen. They were fond of music and dancing. Cupid was an exceedingly busy little person, and the spirit of the “Scarlet Letter” was confined to the Atlantic side of the continent. The noon-time siesta was universal, and midday and midnight were alike sacred to slumber. But they were not indolent. They shied at menial tasks, but were tireless in the larger activities of that period. These activities had to do mainly with stock raising, hunting, boating, fishing and flirting. A further essential to a clear mental picture of this unusual and unique period is an adequate conception of the result of the isolation of these early Californians in a land of abundance, under a genial sky, and subject to
the calming influence of the Mission. Writing of this period, Sepulveda says, “Settlers in a remote part from the center of government, isolated from and almost un-
aided by the rest of the Mexican states, and with very rare chances of communication with the rest of the world, they in time formed a society whose habits, customs and manners differed in many essential particulars from the other people of Mexico. The character of the new settlers assumed, I think, a milder form, more
independence, and less of the restless spirit which their
brothers in Old Mexico possessed. To this the virtuous and intelligent Missionaries doubtless contributed greatly.” There was no newspaper or periodical of any kind published in California in that day. The occasional passing ship brought meager and much belated news from other lands, while the horseman was the medium for the dissemination of local news and gossip. And yet these far away people were not lonesome. Socially in-
clined, fond of music and dancing, keenly enjoying outdoor sports, caring little for wealth and less for time,
they gave themselves over in goodly measure to the pleasurable things of life. Nor was all their time devoted to play. The daylight hours, save for the noon-time siesta, were actively and energetically employed. They knew not idleness. They worked and played with equal and unflagging energy. And from the viewpoint of history, they did a great and important work. They conquered a vast empire, and held it against the covetous longings of powerful nations. They preserved law and order throughout their vast domain, within whose boundaries
theft was rare,
and murder almost not at all. They were essentially an honest and peace loving people, with a hospitality that knew no bounds. Though manufacturing and banking were unknown, and agriculture received scant attention,
stock raising, the principal industry of the day, grew to remarkable proportions. Cattle, horses and sheep, in limited numbers, had been driven from Mexico over the Anza trail during the few years that perilous and hazardous trail remained open. These, especially the cattle, had multiplied with astonishing rapidity. The horses were of Andalusian strain, and in their new environment, developed unusual speed and endurance. The sheep were of less importance, though they grew to considerable numbers. Cattle raising was the big industry. To quote Robert Glass Cleland, “The natural conditions of California were so thoroughly congenial to cattle raising that the development of the industry was unbelievably rapid. Before the close of the century—that is before 1800—the hills and valleys from San Diego northward to the farthest point of Spanish occupation were covered with the offspring of the few hundred animals driven overland from Mexico by the early colonizing expeditions.” The industry was conducted at small expense. The cattle roamed at will over the hills and valleys where nature, without cost, supplied the grasses and wild grains upon which they fed. They literally took care of themselves except during the semi-annual rodeos in spring and fall, when the cattle were segregated as to ownership, and the calves branded. And even these rodeos or round-ups were converted into stupendous and magnificent festivals. Again to quote Cleland, “A round-up of this kind was one of the most picturesque events of early California life. The vast herd of cattle, sometimes half a mile from center to circumference, the
thick clouds of dust that rose from thousands of moving feet, the sudden dash after some escaping steer, the surprising feats of horsemanship which were performed continually by the vaqueros, the bellowing of frightened and maddened
bulls, the clash of horns striking horns,
the wild shouts and laughter of the cowboys, all lent an air of excitement and interest that the printed page cannot reproduce.” Gradually large tracts of land came into private control, and the California ranch of the Spanish era took
its place among the wonders of that wonderful time. Still there was little agriculture. Stock raising remained the great industry; the horse, saddle and bridle continued the chief industrial equipment; and the rodeo was the great semi-annual event.
Aeinn open ROMAN. THE ROMANCE
These ranches were of empire extent. Their boundaries were reckoned in leagues. Land was plentiful and the population small. And these ranchers lived like feudal barons. Chapman says, “On his ranch, the owner was like a little king, with many Indian dependents.
The sole economic basis of the ranch was stock;
of agriculture there was none. . . . His home and everything in it were at the disposal of his guests. It was even the custom to leave money in the guest chamber, which
the visitor was expected to take if he needed it, thus
delicately obviating the necessity of a verbal request for help. When the guest left, he could count on receiving a horse to carry him along his way.” The magnitude of ranch operations in that day may be inferred from the fact that the average thrifty rancher kept from one thousand to two thou- «<= sand head of horses, and from ten
thousand to fifteen thousand head of fF “a _ NYny,
SWEET
EYE
AY
cattle as his productive stock, upon |: wl Agi Sa Nl y))9) yyiyp ; nee = Ke A iN ee which he would not encroach me
in an emergency. Cattle were raised exclusively for their hides and tal: low, which were sold for export and
{/pay taken by the trading vessels that came at intervals to Monterey, and |¥
OLD A) SPANISH
less often to other ports. The rest of @ (aM)* ' the carcass was discarded as of no
value.
<SADDLE with.
HOUSING. It was the ranch, and its accompanying necessities in connection with the cattle industry, that carried the marvelous horsemanship of California to its highest degree of skill and perfection. From the beginning, the horse was the popular means
of passenger
transportation
in
that far off land. Indeed, it was almost exclusive in that regard. But it was left to the vaquero to develop and display those feats of spectacular skill and daring that fired the youthful ambition of the native sons of that day. All writers and historians emphasize this phase of life in California during the period of Spanish and Mexican rule. Richman says, “The early California ranch developed the most expert horsemen the world has ever known. His pride was his horse, his
saddle,
his
bridle
and
his
spurs.
To promote good fellowship or to greet his lady, the ranchero, while mounted, would sing and play the guitar, his steed stepping in time to the tune. For a wager, he would pick up at full dash a coin or a kerchief from the ground; nor was a pause needed to light a cigarette. It was, however, in throwing the lasso—an
instrument of twisted hide and horse hair—that the ranchero found the diversion most congenial to him. Sometimes his quarry was the grizzly bear, an animal which, despite its great strength, could be reduced by the lasso to helplessness.” Bancroft gives his version: “These were the equestrian days of California. The saddle was the second and lifelong cradle of the race. Riding began in early childhood. The boy, mounted by a friendly hand, sped away in exhilarating race, whirling the lariat—lasso—at whatsoever attracted his fancy, and speedily acquired skill
for veritable game. The saddle became an object of dearest pride, elaborate with stamped leather and glittering adornments which extended from the high pommel to the wooden stirrup, which was partly hidden by the leather cover that shielded the foot. When mounted the Californian was well favored. With only a lasso for a weapon, he ranked not as a soldier, but was
not the less venturesome and dashing in facing the wild herd, in bearding the grizzly, or in mounting and taming the wild horse.” Dana, in “Two Years Before the Mast” says, “The men in Monterey appeared to me to be always on horseback. There are probably no better riders in the world. They are put on a horse when only four or five years old, their little legs not long enough to come half way over the sides, and may almost be said to keep on him until they have grown to him.” And Colton confirms in his diary, written at the time, “A Californian is most at home in his saddle. His horse with long, flowing mane, arching neck, full flanks and slender legs is full of fire. He seldom trots, and will gallop all day without seeming to be weary. On his back is the Californian’s home. Leave him this home and you may have the rest of the world. When a child is born on a California ranch, it is at once
taken by a man on horseback, accompanied by godfather and godmother, to the nearest Mission for baptism. He is much on horseback during infancy, and by the time a boy is ten or twelve years old, he becomes an
expert rider. He literally rides from his cradle to his grave.” California’s pastoral period reached full flower only a short century ago; but so filled with history making events have been the intervening years that the story of those pastoral days reads like the pleasing and restful romance of some olden time.