Monterey County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter III Historic And Prehistoric California 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 2, 2006, 6:25 pm Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California. CHAPTER III. HISTORIC AND PREHISTORIC CALIFORNIA. THERE is a certain glamour attaching to the history of Monterey and of California, as it runs back to a different civilization from our own, and to institutions which were established, not by Anglo-Saxons or Anglo-Americans speaking our own English vernacular, but by Spaniards and the descendants of Spaniards speaking only the Spanish tongue, who made California as thoroughly and truly Spanish as it would have been if it had actually been a part of Spain itself. While we know nothing of the history of California excepting the little we may learn from its valleys and rock-ribbed mountains prior to its discovery by Cabrillo in 1542, we know but little more of what happened here during the more than 200 years subsequent to that discovery. At long intervals, a few daring navigators sailed along this almost unknown coast, but did not penetrate into the interior. The placid waters of this portion of the Pacific ocean were seldom disturbed by vessels of any kind, and populous tribes of degraded Indians passed their low, dull existence, on a level, lower and less noble than that of the wild animals by whom they were surrounded, and who alone, from year to year and from age to age, had disputed their sway. Sin razon (without reason), as these Indians were aptly characterized by the Spaniard, and almost without the capacity for reasoning, or for intellectual development of any kind without aspiration, living in perpetual want, except so far as Nature supplied them with roots and reptiles and such wild animals as they could capture by the simplest devices; engaging in occasional tribal fights, their annals, even had they been recorded, would have possessed but slight interest to the civilized man. The "Digger Indian" of California was far below the Aztec of Central Mexico in the scale of being; and that we know nothing, or next to nothing, of his former history, is no great loss as we assume that he has done nothing worthy of being remembered. EARLY DISCOVERIES. The permanent occupation of Alta or Upper California by Europeans dates from the founding of San Diego Mission by the Franciscan Order of Friars, in the year 1769. This epochal event occurred 277 years after the immortal dreamer, Christopher Columbus, had discovered land in the new world, which he at first supposed was the East Indies, but which further discoveries demonstrated to have been on the opposite side of the globe from the India of the ancients, and which we now denominate as a part of the West Indies. Fifty years after Columbus' discovery, namely in 1542, that is to say just 350 years ago, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a native of Portugal, in command of two Spanish exploring vessels, was the first navigator to explore the coast of California, from San Diego northward. He discovered the bay of Monterey, November 17 of that year, and sailed as far north as Cape Mendocino. Cabrillo, who was a daring and skillful explorer, died January 3, 1543, at a small harbor on the island of San Miguel, off the coast of California. In 1602, sixty years after Cabrillo's voyage, Sebastian Vizcaino, sailing from Acapulco north, under orders of Philip III. of Spain in command of three ships, anchored, December 16, in Monterey bay, which he named in honor of the viceroy of Mexico, Gaspar de Zuniga, Count of Monterey. The first view obtained of the coast of Monterey by Vizcaino and his men, was on the 14th of December, when the fog which hal enveloped the coast lifted, and revealed the high mountain range, which they named Sierra de Santa Lucia. Soon after, they sighted the river which they called El Rio de Carmelo, in honor of the Carmelite priests who accompanied the fleet. Then they rounded the point which they called Punta de Pinos, a name it retains to this day, and entered the bay where they came to anchor; and on the 17th they held religious services in a tent under an oak near the beach but still close by springs of good water, in a ravine, which may still be identified. Many of Vizcaino's men were down with the scurvy, of which some had died; and it was decided that one of the vessels should be sent back to Acapulco with the sick; but nearly all the crew died before they reached 'that port. On the 3d of January, 1603, Vizcaino, with the two remaining vessels, sailed north on a further voyage of discovery. The following very interesting letter, written by Sebastian Vizcaino himself from Monterey during this visit, 290 years ago, is one of several documents recently discovered by Mr. Adolph Sutro of San Francisco, in the India archives of Seville, Spain, and translated and published, in both Spanish and English, last year (1891), in Los Angeles, by the Historical Society of Southern California, by whose permission it is here reproduced. This letter is addressed to one of the Spanish princes of the royal family. A later letter, included among the documents unearthed by Mr. Sutro, and first translated and published by the Southern California Historical Society, is also appended, as in it Vizcaino, after his return to Mexico, gives to the king, to whom the letter is addressed, a more detailed, though slightly exaggerated, account of what he saw at Monterey and along the coast of California during his voyage of discovery to this terra incognita, nearly three centuries ago: VIZCAINO'S LETTERS. "Your Highness will have had notice already of how the Conde Monterey, Viceroy of New Spain, in conformity with the orders which he has from His Majesty, charged me with the exploration of the harbors and bays of the coast of the South Sea, from the port of Acapulco to Cape Mendocino, giving me for that purpose two ships, a lancha, and a barcoluengo, together with seamen and soldiers, arms and ammunition, and provisions for eleven months; that, in accordance with the orders given to me for that end, I sailed from Acapulco on the 5th of May of this year; that I have prosecuted said exploration, although with great difficulty and labor, because the navigation was unknown, and head winds were constant, while the aid of Providence and the good desire I have ever felt for serving His Majesty, availed me little. I have discovered many harbors, bays and islands, as far as the port of Monterey, a harbor which is in thirty-seven degrees of latitude, surveying all, and sounding and noting the sailing directions, according to the art of navigation, without neglecting any substantial thing concerning the same, and noting what the land and the numerous peoples dwelling therein seemingly promise. I send a copy to the said Conde, in order that he may transmit the information to His Majesty and to Your Highness. As to what this harbor of Monterey is, in addition to being so well situated in point of latitude, for that which His Majesty intends to do for the protection and security of ships coming from the Philippines: In it may be repaired the damages which they may have sustained, for there is a great extent of pine forest, from which to obtain masts and yards, even though the vessel be of a thousand tons burthen, live-oaks, and white-oaks for ship-building, and this close to the seaside, in great number; and the harbor is very secure against all winds. The land is thickly peopled by Indians, and is very fertile in its climate and the quality of the soil, resembling Castile; and any seed sown there will give fruit; and there are extensive lands fit for pasturage, and many kinds of animals and birds-as is set forth in the report referred to. "I advise His Majesty concerning the great extent of this land, and its numerous population, and what promise it holds forth, and what the Indians have given me to understand concerning the people of the interior, and of how gentle and affable the people are, so that they will receive readily, as I think, the holy gospel, and will come into subjection to the royal crown; and, since His Majesty is lord and master of all, let him provide as may seem best to him. As to what behooves me to do on my part, I will serve him till death. With regard to my having delayed longer than the time which was thought necessary for this exploration: Because of the many difficulties of which I have spoken, the greater part of the pro visions and ammunition which were furnished, has been expended; while, owing to the great labors which my crews have gone through, a number of men have fallen ill, and some have died so that for making the exploration at this time, as well of the region of Cape Mendocino as of the entire littoral of the Californias, as is called for, by my Orders, I have met with obstacles to the completion of all the work, without considerable succor in the way of provisions, people and ammunition, and speedy dispatch of these. Let the Admiral be advised by the said Conde of this, he asking him for what is necessary, and letting him know to what place, and at what time he must dispatch these things to me (sending to him also the map, report and sailing directions concerning all I have done in said exploration to the present time), so that Your Highness may order that the same be sent to me. I trust in God that I may do a great service to His Majesty, and that I shall discover great realms and riches. Of all that may be done I shall advise Your Highness as opportunities for doing this may present themselves, with truth and faithfully. May our Lord guard Your Highness, a ward so necessary to the Christian. I am the servant of Your Highness. "Harbor of Monterey, Twenty-eighth December, 1602. " SEBASTIAN VIZCAINO. " (A rubriea) LETTER NUMBER 2, BEING NO. 15 OF THE SUTRO COLLECTION. Letter to His Majesty from Sebastian Vizcaino, dated at Mexico, on the 23d of May, 1603, announcing his return from the exploration and demarkation of the coasts of the Californias, as far as latitude 42° north: " In the past year of six hundred and two, (abbreviation of one thousand six hundred and two), by order of your Viceroy, the Conde de Monterey, I set out on the discovery of the coast of the South Sea, with two ships, a lancha, and a barcoluengo, with the requisite sailors and soldiers, armed and provisioned with everything necessary for a year. I sailed from the port of Acapulco, as I advised Your Majesty at the time, on the 5th day of May, of said year; and in conformity with the order and instructions I had, I explored very diligently the whole coast, not leaving harbor, bay, island or bight without sounding and delineating it in accordance with the rules of good cosmography, and the art of demarkation; for, as your Viceroy wrote to Your Majesty, I was accompanied by a cosmographer in whom confidence can be reposed, and cunning in the matter of geographical computations, in order that he might put down and note, in the most complete manner on map and chart, the result of the examination Your Majesty should, order, which the Viceroy now forwards, together with the delineation and reports concerning the whole. Among the ports of greater consideration which I discovered, was one in 37° of latitude, which I called Monterey. As I wrote to Your Majesty, from that port on the 28th of December, of said year, it is all that can be desired for commodiousness, and as a station for ships making the voyage to the Philippines, sailing whence they make a landfall on this coast. This port is sheltered from all winds, while on the immediate coast there are pines, from which masts of any desired size can be obtained, as well as live-oaks and white-oaks, rosemary, the vine, the rose of Alexandria, a great variety of game, such as rabbits, hares, partridges, and other sorts and species found in Spain, and in greater abundance than in the Sierra Morcua, and flying birds of kinds differing from those to be found there. This land has a genial climate, its waters are good, and it is very fertile-judging from the varied, and luxuriant growth of trees and plants; for I saw some of the fruits, particularly chestnuts and acorns, which are larger than those of Spain. And it is thickly settled with people whom I found to be of gentle disposition, peaceable and docile, and who can be brought readily within the fold of the holy gospel, and into subjection to the crown of Your Majesty. Their food consists of seeds which they have in abundance and variety, and of the flesh of game, such as deer (ciervos), which are larger than cows and bear, and of neat cattle and bisons, and many other animals. The Indians are of good stature and fair complexion, the women being somewhat less in size than the men, and of pleasing countenance. The clothing of the people of the coast lands consists of the skins of the sea-wolves abounding there, which they tan and dress better than is done in Castile; they possess also, in great quantity, flax like that of Castile, hemp and cotton, from which they make fishing-lines, and nets for rabbits and hares. They have vessels of pine timber very well made, in which they go to sea, with fourteen paddle-men of a side, with great dexterity, even in very stormy weather. 1 was informed by them, and by many others I met with in great numbers along more than eight hundred leagues of a thickly settled coast, that inland there were great communities, which they invited me to visit with them. They manifested great friendship for us, and a desire for intercourse; were well affected toward the image of our Lady, which I showed to them, and very attentive to the sacrifice of the mass. They worship different idols, for an account of which I refer to said report of your viceroy, and they are well acquainted with silver and gold, and said that these were found in the interior. And, as some port or place on this coast is to be occupied, none is so proper for the purpose as this harbor of Monterey. For the reasons given, this port can be made by ships on the return voyage from the Philippines; and if, after putting to sea, a storm be encountered, they need not, as formerly, run for Japan, where so many have been cast away and so much property lost; and, had this port been known previously, Your Majesty would not have been so badly served. The time of the occurrence of the seasons being known, from this place the interior can be reached and explored, such exploration promising rich returns; and proceeding along the coast, the remainder of it can be examined, for, although I went as far as the 42° of latitude, this being the limit fixed in my instructions, the coast-line trends onward to near Japan and the coast of Great China, which are but a short run away, and the same is the case with regard to Tartary and the famous city of Quinsay; and, according to the reports I received, there are to be found very numerous peoples, akin to those I have referred to: so the door will be opened for the propagation of the faith and the bringing of so many souls to a knowledge of God, in order that the seed of the holy gospel may yield a harvest among all these heathen. "Eleven months were spent on the voyage, during which noteworthy hardships were suffered; and, notwithstanding the unhappy experience of my men, who were all sick, and of whom forty-two died before our return to the port of Acapulco, I again offer to serve Your Majesty in continuing this exploration, as I did on the voyage to California, and on many others, of which I have given account to your Royal Council, in carefully and exactly prepared documents, which I have presented there; and I refer, furthermore, to others now forwarded, in which it is shown I have spent the greater part of my fortune and of my health. Yet the little of these remaining to me, as well as my person, is devoted to your royal service, with the constancy, love, and fidelity of a loyal vassal and servant of Your Majesty, who, I pray, will order the necessities of my men to be considered and that they be rewarded with boons from those powerful royal hands, and that the same be ordered to be done for the naval and military officers who accompanied me, their persons being recommended to your viceroy of this New Spain. God guard the royal and Catholic person of Your Majesty. "SEBASTIAN VIZCAINO. "Mexico, 23d of May, 1603." Although Vizcaino was anxious to return with another expedition for the occupation of Monterey, which accounts for certain exaggerations in this and other letters, he did not succeed in persuading the king to authorize the same and thus, as it turned out, very little was done for the exploration or settlement of California during the next 160 odd years. Vizcaino himself, returning from Japan some ten years later, sighted Cape Mendocino; but he never afterward returned to the coast of California. However, his discovery of Monterey bay, and his explorations along the coast, had been carefully recorded, and had thus become a distinct and valuable addition to the world's knowledge of these far distant and previously almost unknown and undefined shores of the boundless South Sea. At a later period, Philip III determined to dispatch Vizcaino on a second expedition; but the death of the latter prevented this plan from being carried out. Besides Cabrillo and Vizcaino, three other navigators had sailed along the coast of Upper California during the latter part of the sixteenth century, without adding very much to what was known by Europeans of this region, viz.: Drake in the year 1579, de Gali in 1584, and de Cermenon in 1595- the latter two sailing from the far West, on their return, respectively from Macao and the Philippine Islands. It seems somewhat remarkable that for over 200 years, from the expedition of Cabrillo in 1542, till the founding of the San Diego and Monterey missions in 1769-'70, no white people, so far as we know, settled in any portion of Alta California. Bancroft (Vol. I, p. 107) mentions a vague report by the Indians of San Luis Obispo, made to Father Figuer, in 1776, that about seventeen years prior to the establishment of the mission at Carmelo, "Twelve white men, dressed like Spaniards, landed from a boat and were subsequently cast away on the coast and perished." But we have no record that the missionaries encountered any Europeans here when they first came, in 1769, to take possession of the country which Cabrillo had discovered and claimed in the name of their sovereign, 227 years before. During all that long period, the innumerable fertile valleys of Alta California, which are now occupied by an advanced civilization, were given up to spiritless hordes of Indians and wild beasts; the useful grains and fruits and domestic animals, were unknown, for most, or all of these things were first brought here by the pioneers of 1769, and subsequent years. It requires some effort of the imagination to picture this fair land as wholly given over to hordes of wild Indians and wild animals, with no useful domestic animals, or fruits or grains, except only such as were purely indigenous to the country. Yet such undoubtedly was its condition at the time of the advent of the Franciscan Friars, 123 years ago, and for unnumbered ages prior to that epoch. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California. Illustrated. Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent Citizens of To-day. HENRY D. BARROWS, Editor of the Historical Department. LUTHER A. INGERSOLL, Editor of the Biographical Department. "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."—Macaulay. CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1893. File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/monterey/history/1893/memorial/chapteri165gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 20.6 Kb