he final acts of spoliation were
consummated.

The padres took the matter in accordance with their individual
temperaments. Some were hopefully cheerful, and did the best they could
for their Indian charges; others were sulky and sullen, and retired to
the chambers allotted to them, coming forth only when necessary duty
called; still others were belligerent, and fought everything and
everybody, and, it must be confessed, generally with just cause.

As for the Indians, the effect was exactly as all thoughtful men had
foreseen. Those who received property seldom made good use of it, and
soon lost it. Cattle were neglected, tools unused, for there were none
to compel their care or use. Consequently it was easy to convert them
into money, which was soon gambled or drunk away. Rapidly they sank from
worse to worse, until now only a few scattered settlements remain of the
once vast number, thirty thousand or more, that were reasonably happy
and prosperous under the rule of the padres.

CHAPTER IX

SAN DIEGO DE ALCALA

The story of the founding of San Diego by Serra has already been given.
It was the beginning of the realization of his fondest hopes. The early
troubles with the Indians delayed conversions, but in 1773 Serra
reported that some headway had been made. He gives the original name of
the place as _Cosoy, in_ 32 deg. 43', built on a hill two gunshots from the
shore, and facing the entrance to the port at Point Guijarros. The
missionaries left in charge were Padres Fernando Parron and
Francisco Gomez.

About the middle of July ill health compelled Parron to retire to Lower
California and Gomez to Mexico, and Padres Luis Jayme and Francisco
Dumetz took their places.

San Diego was in danger of being abandoned for lack of provisions, for
in 1772 Padre Crespi, who was at San Carlos, writes that on the
thirtieth of March of that year "the mail reached us with the lamentable
news that this Mission of San Diego was to be abandoned for lack of
victuals." Serra then sent him with "twenty-two mules, and with them
fifteen half-loads of flour" for their succor. Padres Dumetz and Cambon
had gone out to hunt for food to the Lower California Missions. The same
scarcity was noticed at San Gabriel, and the padres, "for a considerable
time, already, had been using the supplies which were on hand to found
the Mission of San Buenaventura; and though they have _drawn their belts
tight_ there remains to them provisions only f