Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 2.djvu/35

18 knee-deep in mud and water for about fix miles. The badness of our road rendered this part of our journey somewhat unpleasant. About dark we reached better ground, and soon after the night closed in, we arrived at the mission of S$ta$ Clara, which according to my estimation is about forty geographical miles from St. Francisco. Our journey, excepting that part of it through the morass, had been very pleasant and entertaining; and our reception at S$ta$ Clara by the hospitable fathers of the mission, was such as excited in every bread the mod lively sensations of gratitude and regard. Father Thomas de la Pena appeared to be the principal of the missionaries. The anxious solicitude of this gentleman, and that of his colleague father Joseph Sanchez, to anticipate all our wishes, unequivocally manifested the principles by which their conduct was regulated. Our evening passed very pleasantly, and after a most excellent breakfast the next morning on tea and chocolate, we took a view of the establifliment and the adjacent country.

The buildings and offices of this mission, like those of St. Francisco, form a square, but not an intire inclosure. It is situated in an extensive fertile plain, the soil of which, as also that of the surrounding country, is a rich black productive mould, superior to any I had before seen in America. The particular spot which had been selected by the reverend fathers, for their establishment, did not appear so suitable to their purpose as many other parts of the plain within a little distance of their present buildings, which are erected in a low marshy situation for the sake of being near a run of fine water; notwithstanding that within a few hundred yards they might have built their houses on dry and comfortable eminences.

The stream of water passes close by the walls of the fathers apartments, which are upon the same plan with those at St. Francisco; built near, and communicating with the church, but appearing to be more extensive, and to possess in some degree more comforts, or rather less inconveniences, than those already described. The church was long and lofty, and as well built as the rude materials of which it is composed would allow; and when compared with the unimproved state of the country, was infinitely more decorated than might have been reasonably expected, Apartments