124 CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES. restrictions, to cause them to be employed among the white population. They were likewise forbidden to vagabondize about the country, in the exercise of those roguish propensities for which they are notorious. Numbers of half-educated Indians, formerly of the missions, are scattered among the untutored masses, and the "Christianos" possess great influence over the "Gentiles," although they are cordially hated by the latter. Although the Indians seem stupid and are naturally lazy, they are easily taught, and those of the missions were adepts in various trades, as well as agriculture, and some of them became priests, after receiving an education. Deprived of the beneficent instructions and wholesome restraints to which they had become accustomed, it is not surprising that many of those who were once the best of Indian Christians are now the very worst of horse-thieves, on the same principle that a relapse is more dangerous than the original disease. The most debased among them once proudly styled themselves "Californios del Presidio "-Californians of the mission-and they gloried in the guardianship of the good priests and the King of Spain. These missions would have been productive of immense good had they been preserved, and they have at least demonstrated that the Indians are susceptible of great improvement, and possess much aptitude for acquiring knowledge. The good fathers were earnestly devoted to the welfare of their docile pupils; and, although like all missionaries, they were fond of making proselytes, and sometimes used means to that end not entirely justifiable, still their conduct compares— perhaps I might say contrasts-most favorably with that of missionaries elsewhere, even those from our own country, boasting a faith which assumes to be more enlightened. From observation and inquiry, in every missionary country which I have visited, I have no hesitation in saying that the efforts of the Catholic fathers have been far more successful than those of any other Christian denomination in the work of POLYGAMY AND RAPE. 125 ameliorating the condition of uncivilized man, and the number of their converts-if that proves anything-is certainly greater than that of all the Protestant sects combined. I think I have seen enough of the world to know that religious intolerance and arrogance are peculiar to no sect, but depend upon the facilities for putting them in practice-and I have seen more stringent despotism exercised by Protestant than by Catholic missionaries. It is earnestly to be hoped that some time prior to the general conflagration, Christian sects will be at peace with each other, and that men will no more think of quarreling about speculative opinions in theology than about the cut of their noses. Men of the highest intellect, the purest morals, and the utmost honesty of purpose, have differed and will differ in matters of religious opinion; and men and women of no intelligence, full of sanctimonious pretensions and unreasoning bigotry, will consign the great lights of the age to the good offices of the Gentleman in Black, with as little ceremony as they would order a chicken to the gridiron. In the end, the mass of mankind will probably conclude with the Catholic poet, Pope, that "He can't be wrong whose life is in the right." Of course, it will never answer for our government to restore the mission property, or to have any, the remotest connection, with church matters; but now that all sects are at liberty to settle in California, on equal terms, it would be good policy on the part of the white population to encourage the return of the worthy padres to their shepherdless flocks. Polygamy is practised only by the chiefs, and seldom by them; but wives are repudiated and exchanged among them. They are much kinder to their women than most savages, and do not expect them to do much drudgery. Rape exists among them in an authorised form, and it is the cus tom for a party of young men to surprise and ravish a young girl, who becomes the wife of one of them. Nothing more clearly proves the native purity of woman, than the dread these poor creatures have of this horrid orgie, and it is to be hoped that the law will prevent and punish this most atrocious custom. A remarkable peculiarity of these Indians is their use of the 66 Tamascal" or sweat-house. It consists of a conical mound of earth, supported from the inside, and prevented from falling in, by rough beams and posts; and having but a single aperture which serves for an entrance. Every rancheria has one or more of these singular pyramids, according to its population; and no collection of even twenty or thirty Indians, is without its tamascal. It is generally situated near a pool or stream, and those who use it, rush from the tamascal into the water. These sweat-baths appear to be used as luxuries, are always resorted to on "Pui" or feast days, and by a singular superstition, are connected with their religious sentiments. They are also employed in the celebration of rites of a peculiar nature, analagous to those practised by the ancients in the mysteries of Pan and Apollo in the cave of the Parthenon. Men, women and children, of all sizes and ages, collect in a state of nature, around the smouldering embers, in the centre of the tamascal; and, closing the entrance, remain shut up together an incredible length of time, sometimes chaunting a low and monotonous strain. When the rite is concluded, the entrance is opened, and the whole congregation rush into the open air and make for the water, into which they promiscuously plunge in a state of profuse perspiration. After cooling off, they retire to their huts, and, rolling themselves into balls, remain torpid for hours. The use of these sweat-baths is prescribed for many diseases, and I have heard Californians say, that they derived benefit from a moderate sweat without the water-bath, in cases of neuralgia and rheumatism. All agree, however, |