Colonial Rosary: The Spanish and Indian Missions of California

263 Pages·2006·28.85 MB·English

by  Alison Lake

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Colonial Rosary
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COLONIAL
Swallow Press
Ohio University Press
Athens
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ROSARY
The Spanish and Indian
Missions of California
Alison Lake
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Swallow Press / Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio 45701
www.ohio.edu/oupress
© 2006by Alison Lake
Unless otherwise noted in the caption, all illustrations are © Alison Lake.
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved
Swallow Press / Ohio University Press books are printed on acid-free paper Ī
12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lake, Alison.
Colonial rosary : the Spanish and Indian missions of California / Alison Lake.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8040-1084-9(cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8040-1084-6 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8040-1085-6(pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8040-1085-4(pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Missions, Spanish—California—History. 2. Indians of North America—Missions—Cali-
fornia—History. 3. Spaniards—California—History. 4. Franciscans—California—History.
5. California—History—To 1846. 6. California—Social life and customs. 7. California—Race
relations. 8. California—Church history. I. Title.
F864.L1655 2006
979.4—dc22
2006006072
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In remembrance of a year of
birth, love, and progress.
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Contents
List of Illustrations xi
Foreword xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Tables xvii
Introduction 1
The Missions 1
About This Book 4
Understanding the Indians of the Missions 5
Terms and Definitions 6
1. Native California before the Missions 8
Natural Opportunism 10
Cultural and Political Division 11
Earth, Spirit, and Kin 14
2. All the World’s a Stage for Spain 19
Divine Rule and Foreign Policy 19
God’s Foot Soldiers 22
The Jesuits 23
A Precedent to Follow, and One to Avoid 24
Exploration of an Unknown Coast 27
The Bourbon Transformation, and Competition 29
3. Exploration and Settlement 32
By Land or by Sea 32
Establishing the First Missions in Alta California 34
First Meetings 37
Tangible Incentives for Conversion 40
4. Establishment of the Missions 43
Building and Stocking the Missions 43
Gathering More Recruits 48
Founding and Organizing the Missions 50
Bureaucratic Obstacles 51
vii
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viii Contents
5. The Messengers of St. Francis 55
The Franciscan Order 56
Father Junípero Serra 57
The Franciscan Perspective on Indians and Missionary Work 61
Challenges of Mission Work in California 62
6. Conversion and Mission Life 66
Role Models 67
The Reality of Conversion 69
Keeping Converts and Building a Settlement 70
Language 72
Music 74
Moral Obligations 75
Cycle of Work 77
7. The Women of Mission California 80
The Colonial Female Ideal 81
The Bottom Rung 83
Under Lock and Key 83
Female Work Roles 84
Colonization through Reproduction 86
8. Spanish and Mexican Settlement 88
Pueblos 91
Ranchos 92
The Spanish Settler Class and Culture 94
Spanish Culture 95
An Ethnic Hodgepodge 97
9. Colonial Soldiers and the Presidio 98
Presidios 99
Soldier of All Trades 101
Military Bearing and Gear 103
Forgotten Soldiers 104
10. Style and Layout of Mission Buildings 106
Building and Construction 108
Irrigation, Water Structures, and Roads 113
Human Handiwork 114
Outfitting the Church Interior 118
A Layout for Production and Daily Life 119
11. Farming 122
Farming Methods 124
Livestock 124
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Contents ix
Crops 126
Gardens 129
Food 130
Cooking Methods and Tools 132
Change in Nutrition and Eating Habits 132
The Change in Landscape 134
12. Mission Trades and Economy 135
Crafting Their Way to Heaven 136
Fueling the Mission and Colonial Economies 141
13. Indians of the Missions 145
Mission Indian Groups 147
A Conscripted Labor Force 148
Keeping and Recording the Populations 150
Indian Life 150
Indian Leadership 152
Rebellion and Violence 152
Resistance and Economic Benefit: Livestock Raiding 154
Escape 154
14. Changing Rule of the Missions 156
Land of Confusion 158
The Drive for Secularization 159
The Plan of Transfer 161
The Outcome of Secularization 162
15. The Decline of a Civilization 165
The Epidemic: A Fact of Life and Death 166
Inside the Mission 166
Social Effects 167
A Group Abandoned 168
Legislation That Meant Well 170
16. The Cycle of Decline and Restoration 173
The American Period and the Silent Years 174
Restoration and an Uncertain Future 178
17. Conclusion: The Colonial Rosary 186
Appendix A: Research and Resources 191
Appendix B: Additional Resources Pertaining to
California Indians 195
Indian Canyon 195
The Alliance of California Tribes 196