At the same time 516 neophytes were reported--not bad for two and a half years' work.
In 1798 the gentiles from the mountains twenty-five miles east of San Juan, the Ansayames, surrounded the Mission by night, but were prevailed upon to retire.

Later some of the neophytes ran away and joined these hostiles, and then a force was sent to capture the runaways and administer punishment.

In the ensuing fight a chief was killed and another wounded, and two gentiles brought in to be forcibly educated.
Other rancherias were visited, fifty fugitives arrested, and a few floggings and many warnings given.
[Illustration: RUINED WALLS AND NEW BELL TOWER, MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA] [Illustration: FACHADA OF MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA] [Illustration: MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, FROM THE PLAZA] [Illustration: THE ARCHED CORRIDOR, MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA] This did not prevent the Ansayames, however, from killing two Mutsunes at San Benito Creek, burning a house and some wheat-fields, and seriously threatening the Mission.

Moraga was sent against them and captured eighteen hostiles and the chiefs of the hostile rancherias.
Almost as bad as warlike Indians were the earthquakes of that year, several in number, which cracked all the adobe walls of the buildings and compelled everybody--friars and Indians--to sleep out of doors for safety.
In 1803 the governor ordered the padres of San Juan to remove their stock from La Brea rancho, which had been granted to Mariano Castro.
They refused on the grounds that the rancho properly belonged to the Mission and should not have been granted to Castro, and on appeal the viceroy confirmed their contention.
In June of this year the corner-stone of a new church was laid.

Padre Viader conducted the ceremonies, aided by the resident priests.