Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/374

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MISSION AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.

tainable data from which reports I shall give from time to time as occasion may require. Therefore I deem it best to present here for the period of four years a statistical statement like that which I have before appended to the annals of each decade. It is not, however, likely that the reports were as carefully made during the last few years as for earlier periods. Most of the padres were careless in the matter, and a few probably misrepresented the condition of their missions in respect of agriculture and live-stock.

In 1830 there had been 26 missionaries in charge of the 21 missions. In 1835 there were still 26, since 10 Zacatecanos had come to take the place of the 8 Fernandinos who died and the two who left the country. Only one, Padre Abella, was left of those who came before 1800.

The neophyte population decreased from 18,000 to 15,000, only one mission, San Luis Rey, showing a gain. San Luis had still the largest population, and as to the smallest there was close rivalry between San Cárlos and San Francisco. San Rafael showed the largest percentage of loss, but the figures in this case are not reliable, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz coming next. Baptisms numbered 3,500, an average of 875 against 1,300 for the past decade. Solano had the largest number, 555, followed by San José with 414 and San Luis Rey with 385; while Santa Cruz had only 23, and San Francisco perhaps less. Deaths numbered 4,250, an average of 1,062 against 1,445 for the past decade, San José having the largest number, 659, and San Francisco the smallest, 36.

In cattle there was a loss of 16,000 head, from 156,000 to 140,000; though 10 missions showed a gain, chiefly in the north. Horses decreased from 16,600 to 12,000; though 8 missions gained. Sheep decreased from 150,000 to 130,000, there being a gain in 8 missions. San Luis Rey still led in cattle and sheep, closely followed by San José and Santa Clara. The average yield of grain crops decreased from 57,-