By Jacob Baegert
Father Johann Jakob Baegert, S.J. (1717-1772) produced one of many maximum unmarried assets of knowledge on colonial Baja California that has come right down to us.
The Alsatian Jesuit arrived in Mexico in 1750 and, among 1751 and 1768, engaged in missionary actions one of the Indians of Baja California. almost immediately after the Spanish Crown issued a decree expelling all contributors of the Society of Jesus from the yank colonies, Baegert back to Europe the place he wrote his chronicle. in keeping with the writer, he penned his treatise "to fulfill the yearning interest of the folks, in addition to to refute the falsehood and defamations of a few of the writers" (p. 5). whereas Baegert wanted to supply his readers with a reputable account of Baja California, his reasons of authorship have been no much less, and seem from time to time to be much more essentially, directed to extolling the Jesuits at the one hand and vilifying their antagonists at the other.
The treatise is split into 3 sections, which respectively study the usual historical past, ethnography, and religious management of the Peninsula. additionally integrated are appendices within which Baegert spares little ink in assailing writers who had in his estimation awarded distorted studies of the land and its missionaries. the author identifies the various resource fabrics he accumulated for his paintings. whereas he consulted numerous written bills, Baegert's originality lies mainly in his astute observations and rigorous use of informants. but it truly is his observation at the natives that's of specific importance.
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Sample text
The four-footed wild animals in California are deer, hares, rabbits, foxes, coyotes, wildcats, leopards, ounces, and wild sheep. All of these animals are represented to some extent; of the first named there is a considerable number, but of the last four there are only a few. The hares are only half the size of those seen in Germany. If a newly seeded field of wheat or corn is not constantly watched day and night, deer and rabbits will eat it clean. This must be excused because the extreme and ever-present shortage of food makes it permissible in California to help yourself by using another person's property.
Except for a few, scattered, low-growing evergreen shrubs, no bush will bear < previous page page_18 next page > < previous page page_19 next page > Page 19 foliage, nor will the soil bring forth any grass until six to eight days after a good rainfall. This happens rather late in the year (as will be explained in the following chapter) and lasts no longer than three or four weeks, since the excessive heat and the burning sun quickly wilt everything green and cause the leaves to drop. There is not a day in California that does not bring a rather brisk wind, which surely begins to blow at noon, if not earlier, and continues on into the night.
But the California Indian cannot do likewise. So far nothing is known in California about glass production, and the native has to drink the water, cool or warm, just as he finds it. Yet he is strong and healthy. It seems that much depends on habits, and apparently necessity knows no law. At the time of the pitahayas (they are a juicy fruit which will be discussed in a later chapter) the California Indians can go for several days without drinking water. At other times, while traveling in waterless territory, they carry water with them, either in a turtle bladder or in dried intestines, which are, as a rule, thick as an arm.