The Famous Missions of California | Page 5

that night in absolute comfort, and was perfectly
able the next morning to undertake afresh the fatigues of the road.
Of the further incidents of the tedious journey it is needless to write. It
is enough to say that for forty-six days - from the 15th of May to the 1st
of July - the little party plodded on, following the track of the
advance-division of the land-expedition under Rivera y Moncada. With
what joy and gratitude they at last looked down upon the harbour of
San Diego, and realized that the first object of their efforts had now
indeed been achieved, may be readily imagined. Out in the bay lay the
San Carlos and the San Antonio, and on the shore were the tents of the
men who had preceded them, and of whose safety they were now
assured; and when, with volley after volley, they announced their
arrival, ships and camp replied in glad salute. And this responsive
firing was continued, says Palou, in his lively description of the scene,
"until, all having alighted, they were ready to testify their mutual love
by close embraces and affectionate rejoicing to see the expeditions thus
joined, and at their desired destination." Yet one cannot but surmise
that the delights of reunion were presently chilled when those who had

thus been spared to come together fell into talk over the companions
who had perished by the way. History has little to tell us of such details;
but the sympathetic reader will hardly fail to provide them for himself.
The condition of things which the governor and the president found
confronting them on their arrival was indeed the reverse of satisfactory.
Of the one hundred and thirty or so men comprising the combined
companies, many were seriously ill; some it was necessary to dispatch
at once with the San Antonio back to San Blas for additional supplies
and reinforcements; a further number had to be detailed for the
expedition to Monterey, which, in accordance with the explicit
instructions of the visitador general it was decided to send out
immediately. All this left the San Diego camp extremely short-handed,
but there was no help for it. To reach Monterey at all costs was
Portolà's next duty; and on the 14th of July, with a small party which
included Fathers Crespi and Gomez, he commenced his northwest
march.

III.

In the meanwhile, says Palou, "that fervent zeal which continually
glowed and burned in the heart of our venerable Father Junipero, did
not permit him to forget the principal object of his journey." As soon as
Portolà had left the encampment, he began to busy himself with the
problem of the mission which, it had been determined, should be
founded on that spot. Ground was carefully chosen with an eye to the
requirements, not only of the mission itself, but also of the pueblo, or
village, which in course of time would almost certainly grow up about
it[2]; and on the 16th of July - the day upon which, as the anniversary
of a great victory over the Moors in 1212, the Spanish church solemnly
celebrated the Triumph of the Holy Cross - the first mission of Upper
California was dedicated to San Diego de Alcalà, after whom the bay
had been named by Sebastian Viscaino, the explorer, many years
before. The ceremonies were a repetition of those which had been
employed in the founding of the Mission of San Fernando at Villicatà;

the site was blessed and sprinkled with holy water; a great cross reared,
facing the harbour; the mass celebrated; the Venite Creator Spiritus
sung. And, as before, where the proper accessories failed, Father
Junipero and his colleagues fell back undeterred upon the means which
Heaven had actually put at their disposal. The constant firing of the
troops supplied the lack of musical instruments, and the smoke of the
powder was accepted as a substitute for incense. Father Palou's brief
and unadorned description will not prove altogether wanting in
impressiveness for those who in imagination can conjure up a picture
of the curious, yet dramatic scene.
The preliminary work of foundation thus accomplished, Father
Junipero gathered about him the few healthy men who could be spared
from the tending of their sick comrades and routine duties, and with
their help erected a few rude huts, one of which was immediately
consecrated as a temporary chapel. So far as his own people were
concerned, the padre's labours were for the most part of a grievous
character, for, during the first few months, the records tell us, disease
made such fearful ravages among the soldiers, sailors and servants, that
ere long the number of persons at this settlement had been reduced to
twenty. But the tragedy of these poor nameless fellows - (it was
Junipero's