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William Henry Hudson - The Famous Missions of California
was found that Junipero's leg was in such an inflamed condition that he could neither stand, nor sit, nor
sleep. For a few leagues he persevered, without complaint to any one, and then collapsed. Portolà urged
him to return at once to San Fernando for the complete repose in which alone there seemed any chance of
recovery, but after his manner Junipero refused; nor, out of kindly feeling for the tired native servants,
would he ever hear of the litter which the commander thereupon proposed to have constructed for his
transportation. The situation was apparently beyond relief, when, after prayer to God, the padre called to
him one of the muleteers. "Son," he said - the conversation is reported in full by Palou, from whose
memoir of his friend it is here translated - "do you not know how to make a remedy for the ulcer on my
foot and leg?" And the muleteer replied: "Father, how should I know of any remedy? Am I a surgeon? I
am a muledriver, and can only cure harness-wounds on animals." "Then, son." rejoined Junipero,
"consider that I am an animal, and that this ulcer is a harness-wound . . . and prepare for me the same
medicament as you would make for a beast." Those who heard this request smiled. And the muleteer
obeyed; and mixing certain herbs with hot tallow, applied the compound to the ulcerated leg, with the
astonishing result that the sufferer slept 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
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