CHAPTER IX.
SAN DIEGO DE ALCALA The story of the founding of San Diego by Serra has already been given.
It was the beginning of the realization of his fondest hopes.

The early troubles with the Indians delayed conversions, but in 1773 Serra reported that some headway had been made.

He gives the original name of the place as _Cosoy, in_ 32 deg.

43', built on a hill two gunshots from the shore, and facing the entrance to the port at Point Guijarros.

The missionaries left in charge were Padres Fernando Parron and Francisco Gomez.
About the middle of July ill health compelled Parron to retire to Lower California and Gomez to Mexico, and Padres Luis Jayme and Francisco Dumetz took their places.
San Diego was in danger of being abandoned for lack of provisions, for in 1772 Padre Crespi, who was at San Carlos, writes that on the thirtieth of March of that year "the mail reached us with the lamentable news that this Mission of San Diego was to be abandoned for lack of victuals." Serra then sent him with "twenty-two mules, and with them fifteen half-loads of flour" for their succor.