he neighbouring plantations are
watered by canals, which receive and carry in every direction the waters
of the San Antonio. Formerly the city contained fifteen thousand
inhabitants, but the frequent revolutions and the bloody battles which
have been fought within its walls have most materially contributed to
diminish its number; so much indeed, that, in point of population, the
city of San Antonio de Bejar, with its bishopric and wealthy missions,
has fallen to the rank of a small English village. It still carries on a
considerable trade, but its appearance of prosperity is deceptive; and
I would caution emigrants not to be deceived by the Texan accounts of
the place. Immense profits have been made, to be sure; but now even the
Mexican smugglers and banditti are beginning to be disgusted with the
universal want of faith and probity.

The Mexicans were very fond of gardens and of surrounding their houses
with beautiful trees, under the shade of which they would pass most of
the time which could be spared from bathing. This gives a fresh and
lively appearance to the city, and you are reminded of Calabrian
scenery, the lightness and simplicity of the dwellings contrasting with
the grandeur and majesty of the monastic buildings in the distance.
Texas had no convents, but the Spanish missions were numerous, and their
noble structures remain as monuments of former Spanish greatness. Before
describing these immense establishments, it is necessary to state that
soon after the conquest of Mexico, one of the chief objects of Spanish
policy was the extension of the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.
The conversion of the Indians and the promulgation of Christianity were
steadily interwoven with the desire of wealth; and at the time that they
took away the Indian's gold, they gave him Christianity. At first, force
was required to obtain proselytes, but cunning was found to succeed
better; and, by allowing the superstitions of the Indians to be mixed up
with the rites of the Church, a sort of half-breed religion became
general, upon the principle, I presume, that half a loaf is better than
no bread. The anomalous consequences of this policy are to be seen in
the Indian ceremonies even to this day.

To afford adequate protection to the Roman Catholic missionaries,
settlements were established, which still bear the name of missions.
They are very numerous throughout California, and there are several in
Texas. The Alamo, at San