Diary of Father Pedro Font
Colonizing Expedition, 1775-1776
December l SP -- We remained here for the purpose of erecting a hut at the village of the chief Palma for the habitation of Fathers Francisco Garcés and Tomás Eixarch, who were to stay at this river. The chief Palma dressed himself in the suit that was given to him in the name of His Excellency the Viceroy.
December 2 SP -- The work of erecting the hut was continued, and for this reason we remained.
December 3 SP -- We set out from the bank of the Río Colorado at half-past ten in the morning, and, at midday, arrived at the village of the chief Palma, having travelled about one league, west by south. The rest of the day was occupied in finishing the hut.
December 4 SP -- We took leave of Fathers Francisco Garcés and Tomás Eixarch, and set out from the village of the chief Palma at half-past ten in the morning. At half-past two in the afternoon we halted near a pond belonging to the villages of the chief Pablo, a league beyond the Cerro de San Pablo, having travelled some five leagues, west by south.
December 5 SP -- We set out from the villages of the chief Pablo at ten o'clock in the morning, and, about two in the afternoon, halted near a pond of the Cojat villages, having travelled some four leagues to the southwest with many windings. From the Cerro de San Pablo the river makes a turn almost due south and is thence seen no more, as it is widely separated from the road, which leads along the valley.
December 6 SP -- We set out from the Cojat villages at ten in the morning, and, at two in the afternoon, halted at the Laguna de Santa Olalla, having travelled some five leagues to the southwest, although winding almost from south to west. We had just halted when Father Francisco Garcés arrived; he was on his way down the river to its mouth to visit the nations that inhabit the surrounding country.
December 7 SP -- In order that the horses and mules, which were in bad condition, might be refreshed with the good grass around this pond, it was determined that we should remain here. Many Indians of the Cajuenche nation, who live from here on farther down the river, came joyfully, and brought to the camp a great many watermelons, pumpkins, and other provisions, which they traded for beads. These Cajuenches do not differ from the Yumas in their customs, and their language is nearly the same, as is also that of the Jalchedunes up the river. I observed the latitude of this place and found it to be 32° 33'; so I say: At the Laguna de Santa Olalla, December 7, 1775, meridian altitude of the lower limb of the sun, 34° 28'.
December 8 SP -- It was decided to divide the people and pack-animals of the expedition into three parties, in order to make the long and difficult marches which were to follow; the first party, in which I went, was led by the commander; the second, by the sergeant; and the third, by the lieutenant. These were to set out from the stopping-place on succeeding days. A great many Indians came to the camp with their watermelons, etc., and, although all the crowd could not be seen at one time, I estimated from what I saw that the Yumas must have numbered about three thousand souls, and the Cajuenches somewhat more.
December 9 SP -- We set out from the Laguna de Santa Olalla at half-past nine in the morning, and, at half-past three in the afternoon, arrived at the Pozo Salobre del Carrizal, having travelled some seven leagues to the west-northwest. It is a miserable place, without pasture and with very bad water. Father Francisco Garcés took another road, down stream, with the intention of going as far as the mouth of the river.
December 10 SP -- We set out from the Pozo Salobre del Carrizal at half-past eleven in the morning, and, at half-past five in the afternoon, halted in a dry gulch, without either pasture or water, having travelled some seven leagues to the west-northwest.
December 11 SP -- We set out from the dry gulch at seven o'clock in the morning, and, at six in the afternoon, arrived at the Pozos de Santa Rosa, having travelled some fourteen leagues: about ten to the west-northwest; and the remainder, a little to the west and the greater part to the west-southwest. The water of these wells is good but scanty; and in order to get water it was necessary to work from the time of our arrival until noon the next day.
December 12 SP -- We set out from the Pozos de Santa Rosa at a quarter to two in the afternoon, and, at a quarter to five, halted in a dry gully, having travelled three leagues to the north.
December 13 SP -- We set out from the dry gully at nine in the morning, and, at half-past three in the afternoon, arrived at San Sebastián, which is a small village of the mountain Cajuenches, having travelled some seven long leagues to the north-northwest, with a slight inclination to the north.
December 14 SP -- The day broke very cold, and, in the middle of the forenoon it snowed, and while it was snowing the cattle arrived. It was decided to remain here until all the people of the other two parties of the expedition which were behind could gather.
December 15 SP -- At noon the sergeant arrived with the second party of the people of the expedition.
December 16 SP -- We expected the third party today, but it did not arrive, as it was delayed by the snow.
December 17 SP -- The lieutenant arrived in the afternoon with the third party, which had met with some delays on the road. I observed the latitude of this place, and found it to be 33° 8'; so I say: At the Ranchería de San Sebastián, December 17, 1775, meridian altitude of the lower limb of the sun, 33° 10'.
December 18 SP -- We set out from San Sebastián at one in the afternoon, and, at half-past four, halted in a bottom with some grass and without water, having travelled some four leagues, west by.north.
December 19 SP -- We set out from the bottom at nine in the morning, and, at half-past one in the afternoon, arrived at the Pozo de San Gregorio, a place with little grass and less water, having travelled some five leagues, west by north.
December 20 SP -- We set out from the Pozo de San Gregorio at nine in the morning, and, at half-past one in the afternoon, halted beside the Arroyo de Santa Catharina where the stream loses itself and disappears, having travelled very slowly some four leagues, west by north. Last night the cattle stampeded from lack of water, and made for San Sebastián.
December 21 SP -- We remained here, as those who were behind collecting the cattle had not arrived, and two soldiers with some animals were sent to meet them.
December 22 SP -- A little before nightfall, the sergeant arrived with those who had been gathering the cattle, of which some were lost.
December 23 SP -- We set out from the Arroyo de Santa Catharina at one in the afternoon, and, a little before three, halted at the Pie del Sauce, near the source of the stream, having travelled a long league, northwest by west. This place is in a canyon that runs on up, and through it passes the road that crosses the Sierra Madre de California.
December 24 SP -- We set out from the Pie del Sauce at half-past nine in the morning, and, about two in the afternoon, halted in the same canyon in a dry gully not very far from a small spring, having travelled some four short leagues to the north-northwest.
December 25 SP -- For the reason that on this holy night of the Nativity, a little before midnight, the wife of a soldier happily gave birth to a son, and because the day was very raw and foggy, it was decided to remain today.
December 26 SP -- We set out from the dry gully at a quarter past nine in the morning, and, about two in the afternoon, halted in a bottom near the rocks that form the pass of the Sierra Madre de California, called the Puerto de San Carlos, having travelled some three long leagues to the north-northwest, and climbed the slope as far as the summit, a distance that must be about one league. At about five in the afternoon we felt a shake, with phenomena of earthquake, which lasted but a very short time and was accompanied by an instantaneous and loud noise.
December 27 SP -- We set out from the bottom and the Puerto de San Carlos at a quarter to ten in the morning, and, at half-past two in the afternoon, halted in the beginning of the Cañada de San Patricio, near the source of its stream, having travelled some six leagues: about three to the northwest and the remainder to the west-northwest. Here the land is better than that just traversed, and the aspect of the country -- in contrast with that which lies on the other side -- changes entirely after leaving the Puerto de San Carlos.
December 28 SP -- This morning the woman recently delivered was found to be ill, and for this reason we remained here today. A soldier brought some stones which looked like mineral, and some were inclined to say that in these mountains, and lower down, there were mines, as the kind of rock so indicated. I observed the latitude of this place and found it to be 33° 37'; so I say: In the Cañada de San Patricio, [at the] source of its stream, December 28, 1775, meridian altitude of the lower limb of the sun, 32° 48'.
December 29 SP -- We set out from the Cañada de San Patricio at half-past nine in the morning, and, at half-past four in the afternoon, halted beside the Arroyo de San Joseph where the canyon that we were following terminates, having travelled seven long leagues, northwest by west, winding, with some deviation, to the north.
December 30 SP -- We set out from the Arroyo de San Joseph at a quarter past nine in the morning, and, at a quarter past two in the afternoon, halted in the Valle de San Joseph, at the foot of a hill, having travelled five leagues to the west-northwest.
December 31 SP -- We set out from the foot of the hill at a quarter past nine in the morning, and, at a quarter to five in the afternoon, arrived at the bank of the Río de Santa Ana, having travelled some eight leagues to the west-northwest, with some short turns, now and then, to the west.