Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/713

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SANTA CRUZ.
695

of 1835 was $47,000, exclusive of land and church property, besides $10,000 distributed to the Indians. There is no record of subsequent distributions or of how the estate disappeared; but in 1839 Hartnell found only 70 Indians — with perhaps as many more scattered in the district — and about one sixth of the live-stock of the former inventory. Francisco Soto succeeded Gonzalez in 1839, and possibly the juez de


    sisted on having 10 rooms and the granary for a stable, but the gov. decided that he could have only the rooms actually needed, and that the granary could not be spared. St. Pap. Miss., MS., ix. 70. Nov. 17th, Valle has selected a room for the ayunt., one for the secretary, and one for a school. Id., 69. 1835. The governor's plan for a mission rancho for support of church not carried out. This vol., p. 351. May 21st, gov. calls for accounts of supplies to govt and to colony. Sta Cruz Rec., MS., 4. June 13th, majordomo to pay padre $20 for freight of lumber. Id., 4. Dec. 1st (or perhaps earlier) the property was turned over by Valle to Gonzalez as administrator, the secularization being deemed complete. Valle was paid $300 for his services. Id., 20. Inventories of Dec. 1st as given elsewhere, Asísara, an ex-neophyte, in Amador, Mem., MS., 90-113, spins a long yarn, perhaps true in some particulars, about P. Real's success in making away with much of the property secretly by night before Valle took charge, and of the process by which Valle, Soto, and Bolcof appropriated the rest. 1836. Spear's lighter running between Sta Cruz and S. F. vol. iv., p. 83. Forces recruited for Alvarado's army. This vol., p. 491. March, gov. orders that Ind. must comply with their church duties. Sta Cruz Arch., MS., 6. 1837. The oath to support centralism in July. This vol., p. 529. 1839. Francisco Soto succeeded Gonzalez as administrator in Jan., and in Oct. was ordered to turn over the property to José Bolcof, the juez de paz. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 3; Dept. St. Pap. Mont., MS., iv. 18, but perhaps did not do so at once. In Sept. Hartnell found the few remaining Ind. clamorous for liberty and a final distribution of property. They particularly wished to retain El Refugio and the mission puerta, which the padre also desired. They were bitter against their administrator; and José Antonio Rodriguez desired the position. Hartnell, Diario, MS., 8, 44. The French voyager Laplace, Campagne, vi. 272-84, devotes several pages to a melancholy picture of the establishment in its state of ruin, poverty, and filth, as compared with its former somewhat exaggerated magnificence. He found the administrator a man of fine appearance and manners, and he found a pretty ranchera willing to sell vegetables at a fair price, but this 'California dove' was frightened away by the appearance of P. Real. 'Vraiment il y avait de quoi d'effaroncher; car il serait difficile de rencontrer un individu au regard plus cynique, à la physionomie plus effrontée, à l'air plus débruillé que ce padre Mexicain, avec sa figure brulée, ses grands yeux noir à fond jaune, son chef convert d'un chapeau à larges bords et à moitie défoncé, sa robe de franciscain, autrefois blanche, maintenant souillée de mille taches, sans capuchon et retrousée jusqu'à la ceinture afir de laisser toute liberté aux membres inférieurs; enfir avec une escopette en bandoulière qui achevait de donner à ce costume quelque chose de pittoresque.' 1840. No record of the man in charge. According to the reglamento the govt was to continue to manage this ex-mission according to circumstances. Vol. iv., p. 60. In Jan., there was an earthquake, and tidal wave, carrying off a large quantity of tiles and bringing down the church tower. Id., 78; Mont. Arch., MS., ix. 24. March, gov. orders admin. to give up to P. Real the garden and distillery with the houses adjoining the church. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 9.