In This Way The
Battle Went On For Some Time, The Shark, In A Rage, Splashing And
Twisting About, And The Kanakas, In High Excitement, Yelling At The
Top Of Their Voices; But The Shark At Last Got Off, Carrying Away A
Hook And Liner And Not A Few Severe Bruises.
CHAPTER XXI
CALIFORNIA AND ITS INHABITANTS
We kept up a constant connection with the Presidio, and by the close
of the summer I had added much to my vocabulary, beside having made
the acquaintance of nearly everybody in the place, and acquired some
knowledge of the character and habits of the people, as well as of
the institutions under which they live.
California was first discovered in 1536, by Cortes, and was subsequently
visited by numerous other adventurers as well as commissioned voyagers
of the Spanish crown. It was found to be inhabited by numerous tribes
of Indians, and to be in many parts extremely fertile; to which, of course,
was added rumors of gold mines, pearl fishery, etc. No sooner was the
importance of the country known, than the Jesuits obtained leave to
establish themselves in it, to Christianize and enlighten the Indians.
They established missions in various parts of the country toward the
close of the seventeenth century, and collected the natives about them,
baptizing them into the church, and teaching them the arts of civilized
life. To protect the Jesuits in their missions, and at the same time
to support the power of the crown over the civilized Indians, two
forts were erected and garrisoned, one at San Diego, and the other
at Monterey.
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