The Famous Missions of California | Page 4

to give us
an idea of the horrible conditions of Spanish seamanship in the middle
of the eighteenth century. As for the San Joseph, she never reached her
destination at all, though where and how she met her fate remains one
of the dark mysteries of the ocean. Two small points in connection with
her loss are perhaps sufficiently curious to merit notice. In the first
place, she was the only one of the ships that had no missionary on
board; and secondly, she was called after the very saint who had been
named special patron of the entire undertaking.
The original plan, as we have seen, had been that Father Junipero
should accompany the governor in the second division of the
land-expedition; but this, when the day fixed for departure came, was

found to be quite impossible owing to the ulcerous sore on his leg,
which had been much aggravated by the exertions of his recent hurried
journey from Loreto to La Paz and back. Greatly chafing under the
delay, he was none the less obliged to postpone his start for several
weeks. At length, on the 28th of March, in company with two soldiers
and a servant, he mounted his mule and set out. The event showed that
he had been guilty of undue haste, for he suffered terribly on the rough
way, and on reaching San Xavier, whither he went to turn over the
management of the Lower California missions to Palou, who was then
settled there, his condition was such that his friend implored him to
remain behind, and allow him (Palou) to go forward in his stead. But of
this Junipero would not hear, for he regarded himself as specially
chosen and called by God for the work to which he stood, body and
soul, committed. "Let us speak no more of this," he said. "I have placed
all my faith in God, through whose goodness I hope to reach not only
San Diego, to plant and fix there the standard of the Holy Cross, but
even as far as Monterey." And Palou, seeing that Junipero was not to be
turned aside, wisely began to talk of other things.
After three days devoted to business connected with the missions of the
lower province, the indomitable father determined to continue his
journey, notwithstanding the fact that, still totally unable to move his
leg, he had to be lifted by two men into the saddle. We may imagine
that poor Palou found it hard enough to answer his friend's cheery
farewells, and watched him with sickness of heart as he rode slowly
away. It seemed little likely indeed that they would ever meet again on
this side of the grave. But Junipero's courage never gave out. Partly for
rest and partly for conference with those in charge, he lingered awhile
at the missions along the way; but, nevertheless, presently came up
with Portolà and his detachment, with whom he proceeded to Villacatà.
Here during a temporary halt, he founded a mission which was
dedicated to San Fernando, King of Castile and Leon. But the worst
experiences of the journey were still in store. For when the party was
ready to move forward again towards San Diego, which, as time was
fast running on, the commander was anxious to reach with the least
possible delay, it was found that Junipero's leg was in such an inflamed
condition that he could neither stand, nor sit, nor sleep. For a few

leagues he persevered, without complaint to any one, and then
collapsed. Portolà urged him to return at once to San Fernando for the
complete repose in which alone there seemed any chance of recovery,
but after his manner Junipero refused; nor, out of kindly feeling for the
tired native servants, would he ever hear of the litter which the
commander thereupon proposed to have constructed for his
transportation. The situation was apparently beyond relief, when, after
prayer to God, the padre called to him one of the muleteers. "Son," he
said - the conversation is reported in full by Palou, from whose memoir
of his friend it is here translated - "do you not know how to make a
remedy for the ulcer on my foot and leg?" And the muleteer replied:
"Father, how should I know of any remedy? Am I a surgeon? I am a
muledriver, and can only cure harness-wounds on animals." "Then,
son." rejoined Junipero, "consider that I am an animal, and that this
ulcer is a harness-wound . . . and prepare for me the same medicament
as you would make for a beast." Those who heard this request smiled.
And the muleteer obeyed; and mixing certain herbs with hot tallow,
applied the compound to the ulcerated leg, with the astonishing result
that the sufferer slept