History of California

ife, where there is no gathering together of the inhabitants in great cities, no struggle to ma

s, soft skies, and gentle seas there lived, in the old days, a people who were indifferent to money, who carried the

it was thought the fertile character of the soil would lead the settlers to raise grain and other supplies, not only for themselves

, near the southern end of San Francisco Bay, and Los Angeles, near the famous valley of the San Gabriel River. In founding these two pueblos, and a third which w

part for the courthouse, town hall, church, granaries, and jail. Next were the lots for the settlers, who each had, besides his home spot, several acres of farming land with water, and the ri

be rented out, the proceeds to be used for the expenses of the government. Many people believe that

dually it was taken up by settlers or appropriated by officials until, when the place grew large and thriving, it was found t

first few years the pueblo was governed largely by the commissioner. Presidios, which were, at first, forts with homes for the commander, officers, soldiers, and their families, and were ruled b

fter several years, a Spanish officer was sent down from Monterey to convey to the Los Angeles settlers full title to their lands, he found that not one of the twenty-four heads of families could sign his name. Later a much better

r class of homes several feet of the space in the courtyard next the wall were covered with tile roofing, forming a shaded veranda, where the family were accustomed to spend the leisure hours. Here they received visitors, the men smoked their cigaritos, and the children made merry. In the long sum

s, up, muchachas, and kneel for your Alba!' The Alba was a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving for care during the night, with a plea for help through the dangers and temptations of the day. No excuse for lying abed was accepted; up, and on the floor we knelt, then she passed on to where the mayordomo, or foreman,

fore sleep could again overtake them there would probably come from a distant room

you?' he would call

es would sing-song in r

estion, 'Children,

e reply,

were all answered there was

y hollowed out in the center; grain was ground in this by rubbing with a smaller stone. It took a great number of tortillas to serve the large household. One Indian maid, kneeling beside a large white stone which served as table, mixed the meal, salt, and water into balls of dough. These

er his estate, looking after the Indian vaqueros and workmen. One gentleman, a member of a fine Spanish family which lived in the southern part of the state, used to ride out with his

ress, that they might be trained in both religious and domestic duties. Going to the gate of the courtyard, the Patrona would call, "To the brooms, to the brooms, muchachas," adding, if it were foggy, "A very fine morning

ress's eye. Some made garments for the ranch hands, those who were better work women attended to the making of clothing fo

achers, and the fathers and mothers generally had their hands too full to devote themselves to their children's educ

he master was often an old soldier in fantastic dress, with ill-tempered visage. The scholar entered, walked the length of the room, knelt before the cross or picture, recited a prayer, then trembli

driven to one point for the purpose of counting the animals and branding the young. Each stock owner had to be there with all the men from his ranch who could ride, nor must he forget his brand

semanship. Sometimes as the cattle were being gradually herded into a circular mass, an unruly cow or bull would suddenly dart from the drove and run away at full speed. A vaquero on horseback would immediately dash after the animal, and, coming up with it, lean from the saddle and seizing

ry heavy and exceedingly valuable. His white shirt was of thin, embroidered muslin, and the white stock, too, was of thin stuff wrapped several times around the neck, then tied gracefully in front. The jacket was of cloth or velvet, in dark colors, blue, green, or black, with buttons and lace trimmings of silver or gold, often of a very elaborate design. About the waist was tied a wide sash of soft material and gay color, the ends hanging down at the side. The breeches were of velvet or heav

as much visiting and social gayety. All who could, traveled on horseback; while the mother o

he nearest relative of the bride carried her before him on the saddle, across which hung a loop of gold or silver braid for her stirrup, in which rested her little satin-shod foo

jacket of as rich material as could be obtained. A bright-colored ribbon served for a sash, and a lace handkerchief or a muslin scarf was folded over the

rt-sleeved camisas or waists, and full gay skirts, their hair in straight braids hanging down over t

eir rooms by their mother, the father attending in the same manner to th

light nights. There was also a game called cuatrito, in which the player

s always a basket of slugs sitting door. We liked them because they carried well, and we thought it nothing unusual to use the

pkin, from which the visitor was expected to help himself if he neede

l, a child who was naughty had for punishment to kneel in one corner of the dining room before a high stool, on which was an earthen plate, a tin cup, and a wooden spoon. It was w

hen came a wash-day frolic. Imagine wash day looked forward to as a delightful event! So it was, however, to many

white-haired Indian driver plodded beside with his long oxgoad. The great piles of soiled linen were fastened on the backs of horses led by other servants, while the girls and women who were to do the washing trooped along by the side of the carreta. Our progress was slow, and it was generally sunrise before we reached the spring. The st

put home-made soap on the clothes, dipped them in the spring, and rubbed them on the smooth rocks until they were white as snow. Then they were spread out to dry on the tops of the low bushes growing on the warm, windless southern slopes o

he mother country, the settlers of New Spain, especially of Alta California, having no encouragement to raise more than they needed for use at home. They could not sell their produce to ships from foreign countries, for the penalty for that was death to the foreigner and severe punishment for the

severe in regard to foreign trade, and finally the New England vessel

the young ladies sometimes went on board to select for themselves from the miscellaneous cargo the things they desired; but as they were general

ed. Often a ranchero would go down to the harbor with ten or fifteen ox carts loaded with hides, skins, and tallow, and return with ranch implements, furniture, dishes, sugar, other food, clothes, and ornaments of all kinds. Such laughing, chattering, and excitement as there was when the squeaking ox carts came into the courtyard! The whole household, from the

y, the large ship's boat would be sent up this creek to collect the hides and tallow; but if the season was a wet one, the roads would be too bad for the ox carts; then each separate hide was doubled across the middle and placed on the

was to sell the goods, but who had never been in California before and knew nothing of its customs. Down to the shore came a ranchero attended by servants and ox carts. He came on board and bought many things, intending to pay l

to the clerk, said: "Give this to your master and tell him it is a hair from the beard of Agustin Machado. You will find it sufficient guarantee." The clerk saw that he had made a mistak

s always an educated gentleman of good family, generally an officer of the army. The coming of a ne

ime they received little news of how the war was progressing. They only knew that no more money was sent up to pay the soldiers or the expenses of government, that

them were indeed wealthy communities, and the padres responded generously to the demand for help. For several years they furnishe

which came to the rescue. Their cotton and woolen goods were in great demand. Indian spinners and weavers were busy from morning until night ma

fornians, but after consultation held by the governor, his officers, the padre who was the president of the missions, and some of the leading citizens, it was decided that they were too far away from Spain to be able to resi

always wise or pleasing to the people. There were several revolutions with but little bloodshed. One governor was sent back to Mexico. At one time the Californians declared that theirs was a free state, and a young man named Alvarado was made governor. General Vallejo, who was his uncle, was

named Chapman, who had found life among his rough associates not so interesting as he had hoped it would be, so he deserted, but was taken prisoner by the Californians and imprisoned in a canyon near the present site of Pasadena. Later he was brought down to Los Angeles and set at liberty. He found the people of the pueblo planning to bu

und in their new stone mill from being dampened by water from the mill wheel. Knowing something of m

ing that the padres of San Gabriel were anxious to engage in this trade, built for them the first sea-going boat ever constructed in southern California. It was a schooner,

tega, whose home he had helped his pirate associates to attack, that he married her and lived to a good old age. The cou

ar there were many of these festivals. First there were religious exercises at the mission church; then in the great square there followed dancing, games, and feasting, in which all classes took some part. These happy church festivals ceased with the breaking up of the mission settlements. Some of the Indians disturbed

ey represented. In some, cattle were stabled. The mission bells were silent, and many

yous. A change had begun, and not many years later, with the coming of the Americans at the t