Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/369

Rh Demands for supplies from the missions were often refused in 1835, both by the padres and by the comisionados, but always on the plea of absolute want of means. The changes of the last few years had left many of the establishments in such a condition that they could barely feed and clothe the Indians, who were not disposed to look at all favorably on any sharing of their earnings with the troops. To what extent, if any, the community cattle and other property were sacrificed in aid of the troops or for the furtherance of private interests I have no means of knowing; but I suppose that the swindling operations charged upon the government and the administrators, with much probability of truth, did not commence until later, and that in 1834-5 the authorities contented themselves for the most part with the legitimate taxes on mission products.

In respect to general regulations and progress of secularization, there is little to be noted in the annals of 1835. No approval of the reglamento came from Mexico, nor disapproval for that matter, and in California little or nothing was changed in the current system. Figueroa devised a plan for establishing separate ranchos at each mission for the support of the padre and of public worship; and even made a beginning at San Carlos and Santa Cruz. García Diego approved the measure warmly in May, perhaps had