Life in a California Mission: Monterey in 1786

We are hoping to travel to California and hope to see some of the missions, so thought this book might be a good introduction. It was!

As other reviewers have also shared, the introduction of the book is much more informative than the journals; though both were worth reading. 21st century romanticism of the missions vs 18th century reality of life in the missions: I'm pleased to now know the difference. A short read, but was both easy and difficult as the reader is brought to reality.

In the 17th century, Spain and the Roman Catholic Church established the network of missions along the coast of California. The French explorer, Jean Francois de la Perouse visited Monterey in 1786, and found that the mission fathers treated Indians like the Negro slaves were treated in the plantations of the French West Indies which he had also visited.