Colonial Expeditions to the Interior of California Central Valley, 1800-1820Cook, Sherburne Friend
History
Colonial Expeditions to the Interior of California Central Valley, 1800-1820
Cook, Sherburne Friend
California -- Discovery and exploration; California -- History -- To 1846 -- Sources; Central Valley (Calif.)
_24th day [of August]._ Very early, before breakfast, thinking that
we were opposite Soledad [Mission] and that the tule swamps and low,
flooded territory continued as far as the vicinity of San Miguel, we
decided to turn back. Taking now a westerly direction, after going four
leagues we had chocolate in a patch of brush and then going on in the
same direction for another six leagues we arrived at the place called
San Luis Gonzaga. Here we halted for the afternoon and also the
following morning, with the purpose of exploring this area, which
at first sight appears to be a good one.
_25th day [of August]._ As a matter of fact, this place was examined
and explored and no more water was found than a few pools and one short
creek, all of which together would not be adequate for a mission. The
pools are deep but the creek flows very little, although there are
indications that in the rainy season it fills up considerably. Moreover,
the wood supply is quite far removed and above all there are no heathen
Indians in the whole region as far as the rivers.
_26th day [of August]._ We left this place in the morning and took a
southwesterly course. After crossing a little plain for about a league
we began to climb the mountains, which carried us some six leagues,
including the plain just mentioned. We stopped at the foot of the range
along a creek which had no more water than a few scattered pools. In
just one of these we caught forty fish including six trout or little
salmon. After the siesta we kept on in the same direction for three
leagues and arrived at the stream called Ausaymas. This is already
the plain of San Juan Bautista, and is suitable for at least a rancho
because it has water, wood, and good land.
_27th day [of August]._ From here we set forth and, crossing the plain
in the same southwesterly direction for five leagues, we arrived at
Mission San Juan Bautista without difficulty, thank God, at about nine
o'clock of the same day. Here with a good breakfast we brought the
expedition to an end.
San Juan Bautista, Fr. José Viader
August 28, 1810
FATHER VIADER'S SECOND TRIP
_Report of Father José Viader_
From 19 to 27 October, 1810
Mission San José, October 19, 1810
_Viva Jesus._
My esteemed Father President, I inform you that at about two o'clock
this afternoon I left this mission in the company of Lieutenant Gabriel
Moraga, 23 other soldiers, and about 50 armed Christian Indians. After
going some six leagues to the northeast we halted to pass the night in
the valley of San José near a willow grove which contains good water.
_20th day._ From the valley to Pescadero, or Cholvones, we traveled
about nine leagues to the east-northeast[11] and arrived very late so as
not to be seen or heard. Soon we placed our people in position to attack
a dance [being carried on] by heathen Indians and fugitive Christians.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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