mmediately volunteered to the extent of $217, if the work were paid for
at the rate of $1.75 per day.

With a desire to promote the good feeling aimed at in recent dealings
with the evicted Indians of Warner's Ranch, now located at Pala, the
bishop of the diocese sent them a priest. He, however, was of an alien
race, and unfamiliar with either the history of the chapel, its
memories, or the feelings of the Indians; and to their intense
indignation, they found that without consulting them, or his own
superiors, he had destroyed nearly all the interior decorations by
covering them with a coating of whitewash.

The building now is in fairly good condition and the Indians have a
pastor who holds regular services for them. In the main they express
themselves as highly contented with their present condition, and on a
visit paid them in April, 1913, I found them happy and prosperous.

CHAPTER XXXII

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE MISSION INDIANS

The disastrous effect of the order of secularization upon the Indians,
as well as the Missions themselves, has been referred to in a special
chapter. Here I wish to give, in brief, a clearer idea of the present
condition of the Indians than was there possible. In the years 1833-1837
secularization actually was accomplished. The knowledge that it was
coming had already done much injury. The Pious Fund, which then amounted
to upwards of a half-million dollars, was confiscated by the Mexican
government. The officials said it was merely "borrowed." This
practically left the Indians to their own resources. A certain amount of
land and stock were to be given to each head of a family, and tools were
to be provided. Owing to the long distance between California and the
City of Mexico, there was much confusion as to how the changes should be
brought about. There have been many charges made, alleging that the
padres wilfully allowed the Mission property to go to ruin, when they
were deprived of its control. This ruin would better be attributed to
the general demoralization of the times than to any definite policy.
For it must be remembered that the political conditions of Mexico at
that time were most unsettled. None knew what a day or an hour might
bring forth. All was confusion, uncertainty, irresponsibility. And in
the _melee_ Mission property and Mission Indians suffered.

What was to become of the Indians? Imagine the father of a family--that
had no mother--suddenly snatched away,