Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/666

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648
LOCAL ANNALS OF LOS ANGELES DISTRICT.

found all except the accounts in comparatively excellent condition on the occasion of his official visit in 1839; but matters were less satisfactory in the next year.


    prevent cattle-stealing. Id., 2. In July the admin. reports that horses are being constantly stolen, and that Ind. who have taken refuge at the mission are the thieves. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., i, 172.

    1836. The death of Padre Cabot and the probable return of P. Ibarra are mentioned elsewhere in this chap. Valle remained in charge of the establishment. In Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., ii. 23-9, is a records of the exploits of Rafael, or El Cuyuya, a locally famous robber, who was often arrested and as often escaped from the jail here and at Los Angeles and Sta Bárbara. All the power of the district seemed insufficient to keep him confined or to keep him separated from two of his favorite women, whom he always rescued from their imprisonment. 1837. In March Valle, who is highly praised by Duran and others, was succeeded by Anastasio Carrillo as majordomo. St. Pap., Mis., MS., vii. 67-8. In Jan. strange Ind., said to be aided by gente de razon, made a raid on the mission horses, some of which were recovered after two fights, in which several Ind. were killed and wounded. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., ii. 97-8. Mission funds, $2,000, taken for 'safe keeping' by the Angeles authorities in their efforts to resist Alvarado in Jan. This vol. p. 494. Southern garrison under Rocha stationed here, but the mission is captured by the northerners. Id., 495-501. In June Castro retires and Portilla for the south takes possession. Id., 521. 1838. The administration is given up in June by Carrillo to Capt. José M. Villavicencio. St. Pap., Miss., MS., viii. 13. Mission mares pledged to N. Mex. allies of the south for their aid. This vol., p. 555. Castro's force here in April. Id., 556. Alvarado and Carlos Carrillo at S. Fernando after the campaign of Las Flores. Id., 562-4. A permanent force to be stationed by Alvarado. Id., 569.

    1839. Villavicencio still administrator and military commandant; but Francisco del Castillo seems to have been in charge temporarily during a part of this year or the preceding. On the division into prefectures, etc., S. Fernando was attached to the Sta Bárbara partido, the boundary being between the mission and Cahuenga. Id., 585. From June 16th to the 24th, Visitador Hartnell was at this mission, where he found 416 Ind., well contented except with the granting to Valle of the mission rancho of S. Francisco, which they claimed to need. The crops were good and there were no grasshoppers or rust. Valle had not yet moved his family to the rancho. The clerk, Madariaga, was discharged as unfit for the place. Villavicencio's and Castillo's accounts were found in a confused and unintelligible condition. Hartnell, Diario, MS., 1, 2, 13, 74-7; St. Pap., Miss., MS. xi. 29-30. 1840. Villavicencio seems still to have held the office, but to have been absent much of the time, leaving affairs in charge of Juan Perez, and later Anastasio Carrillo. Hartnell made his visit Aug. 20th, 22d, but nothing is recorded of his acts and the results, except that it was the governor's interference with his orders removing Perez in favor of Carrillo that caused the visitador to resign his position on Sept. 7th at Sta Bárbara. Hartnell, Diario, MS., 15-16, 21, 65. Nothing known of mission affairs this year except the statistics given in the preceding note.