The decade the 1830's saw the
Mexican Californios everywhere on the defensive. From San Fernando
to the Bay Area~missions, ranchos, and towns were subjected to
a constant series of Indian attacks, with large numbers of horses
and cattle being taken and many people killed and injured. Valley
Indians, usually Yokuts but also Miwoks crossed Cholam Pass,
Panoche Pass, Pacheco
Pass and Tejon
Pass along the riverine area to raid almost at will. After 1833,
hardly a year passed without reports of such depredations and
petitions to the authorities for help. For example, in 1838 several
rancheros were killed near Monterey by Indians; in 1839 the grain
storehouse at Santa Clara was attacked; and in 1841 Mission San
Juan Bautista was under siege. At San Luis Obispo more than a
thousand head of stock were lost in a single raid. . . .
