n thereafter went to supervise the work. He remained
until March, 1842, in charge of the community property, and then left
about half a dozen white families and twenty or more ex-neophytes duly
organized as a pueblo.

In 1843 San Juan was one of the Missions the temporalities of which were
to be restored to the Padres, provided they paid one-eighth of all
produce into the public treasury. In 1844 it was reported that San Juan
had no minister, and all its neophytes were scattered. In 1845 Pico's
decree was published, stating that it was to be considered a pueblo; the
church, curate's house and court-house should be reserved, and the rest
of the property sold at auction for the payment of debts and the support
of public worship. In December of that year the ex-Mission buildings and
gardens were sold to Forster and McKinley for $710, the former of whom
retained possession for many years. In 1846 the pueblo was reported as
possessing a population of 113 souls.

Twenty years ago there used to be one of the best of the Mission
libraries at San Juan. The books were all in old-style leather,
sheepskin and parchment bindings, some of them tied with leathern
thongs, and a few having heavy homemade metal clasps. They were all in
Latin or Spanish, and were well known books of divinity. The first page
of the record of marriages was written and signed by Junipero Serra.

[Illustration: CAMPANILE AND RUINS OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO.]

[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAPEL.]

[Illustration: INNER COURT AND RUINED ARCHES, MISSION SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO.]

[Illustration: BELLS OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO.]

There are still several interesting relics; among others, two
instruments, doubtless Indian-made, used during the Easter services. One
is a board studded with handle-like irons, which, when moved rapidly
from side to side, makes a hideous noise. Another is a three-cornered
box, on which are similar irons, and in this a loose stone is rattled In
the service called "las tinieblas,"--the utter darkness,--expressive of
the darkness after the crucifixion, when the church is absolutely
without light, the appalling effect of these noises, heightened by the
clanking of chains, is indescribable. In proof of the tireless industry
of the priests and Indians of their charge, there are to be found at San
Juan many ruins of the aqueducts, or flumes, some of brick, others of
wood, supported across ravines, which conveyed