t the southwest end. The whole building
was 120 feet long and 20 feet wide. The walls were about three feet
thick, and built of large pieces of rough sandstone and red bricks, all
cemented strongly together with a white cement that is still hard and
tenacious. It is possible there was no _fachada_ to the chapel at the
southwest end, for a well-built elliptical arched doorway, on the
southeast side, most probably was the main entrance.

It has long been believed that this was not the only Mission building at
Santa Margarita. Near by are three old adobe houses, all recently
renovated out of all resemblance to their original condition, and all
roofed with red Mission tiles. These were built in the early days. The
oldest Mexican inhabitants of the present-day Santa Margarita remember
them as a part of the Mission building.

Here, then, is explanation enough for the assumption of a large Indian
population on this ranch, which led the neighboring padres to establish
a chapel for their Christianization and civilization. Undoubtedly in its
aboriginal days there was a large Indian population, for there were all
the essentials in abundance. Game of every kind--deer, antelope,
rabbits, squirrels, bear, ducks, geese, doves, and quail--yet abound;
also roots of every edible kind, and more acorns than in any other equal
area in the State. There is a never failing flow of mountain water and
innumerable springs, as well as a climate at once warm and yet bracing,
for here on the northern slopes of the Santa Lucia, frost is
not uncommon.

CHAPEL OF SANTA ISABEL (SAN MIGUEL)

I have elsewhere referred to the water supply of Santa Isabel as being
used for irrigation connected with San Miguel Mission. There is every
evidence that a large rancheria existed at Santa Isabel, and that for
many years it was one of the valued rancheros of the Mission. Below the
Hot Springs the remains of a large dam still exist, which we now know
was built by the padres for irrigation purposes. A large tract of land
below was watered by it, and we have a number of reports of the annual
yield of grain, showing great fertility and productivity. Near the
present ranch house at Santa Isabel are large adobe ruins, evidently
used as a house for the majordomo and for the padre on his regular
visitations to the rancheria. One of the larger rooms was doubtless a
chapel where mass was said for the neophytes who cultivated the soil in
this region.

CHAPEL OF SAN ANTON