requiring immediate secularization of the missions; and a supplementary decree of November 26th authorized the adoption of such measures as might be necessary to assure colonization and carry secularization into effect, using "in the most convenient manner the revenues of the pious fund to furnish resources for the commission and the families now in this capital bound for that territory."[1] I may add that besides the vice-president, the diputado from California, the territorial gefe político, and the prospective comandante general, Padrés numbered among the adherents of his plan our old friends José María Herrera, now re-appointed sub-comisario of revenues, and Angel Ramirez, who was sent to take charge of the Monterey custom-house. Truly, the ayudante inspector's star was in the ascendant, all obstacles to the success of his schemes, whatever those schemes were, being apparently removed.
Respecting the organization of the colony itself, we have but little of original record. The terms offered were $10 to each family at the start, transportation by land to San Blas, three reals per day to each person for rations during the march, free passage by sea from San Blas to California, a farm from the public lands for each man, rations to the amount of four reals per day to each adult and two reals to each child for a year, and a certain amount of live-stock and tools — all the aid received after arrival, apparently in the nature of an advance, to be repaid by the colonists later. The system did not differ materially from that under which earlier colonists had come to California.[2] The
- ↑ Copies of the secularization decrees of Aug. 17th and Nov. 26th will be given in chap. xi. Figueroa’s regulations of Aug. 9, 1834, were in accordance with the former.
- ↑ The $10 advance, 37.5 cents for travelling, and free passage by sea, are mentioned in Híjar's original appointment. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 207-8. Most of the colonists in their statements say that the allowance for food, etc., on the march was 50 and 25 cents. Accounts rendered in Nov. 1834 show the ration in Cal. to hare been 50 cents, and 25 cents to children under 4 years; and the advance of live-stock to have been 4 cows, 2 yoke of oxen, 10 horses, and 4 sheep to each man. Implements included 2 ploughs and a variety of shovels, axes, hoes, crow-bars, etc. Id., ii. 274-80, See also Híjar's instructions, to be mentioned later.
