Two American officers, Sergeant; Alcade; Milk-Boy; ladies, dignitaries, soldiers, friars, acolytes, nuns, convent-girls, vaqueros, market-women, Spanish dancers, reapers, vineyardists, shepherdesses.

The scene of Act I is laid on the Island of Santa Cruz, off the coast of California, two hours' sail from the mainland. Act II, in the plaza of the town of Santa Barbara on the mainland, in front of the Mission Church. Act III, inside of the Mission Church.

Epoch, 1820, under the Spanish régime.

Vizcaino, the navigator, in a letter to the king of Spain written in 1603 remarked on the comliness and unusual intelligence of the Californian Indian girls. There was without doubt among some of these inhabitants a strain of the ancient Aztec race.

The literal translation of NATOMA is "The Maid from the Mountains."

The scene showa the hacienda of Don Francisco on the Island. A porch, left, with entrance showing the interior, with windows. Semi-tropic treatment, out of doors. Back-drop shows blue waters of the Santa Barbara Channel, with the dim line of the mainland in the distance. An arbor and a vine covered well are right, with a stone bench around part of the well. The main entrance shows its pathway, center. The scene is rich in coloring —a woodland dell.

Scene I

At rise of curtain, during the Prelude, Don Francisco is discovered on the porch, leaning against a pillar and looking toward the mainland. A horn is heard off stage.

ALVARADO, CASTRO, PICO & KAGAMA: (off stage)
Aïé! Aïé!

DON FRANCISCO: Can it be my daughter?

(Enter Alvarado, Castro, Pico, and Kagama.)

ALVARADO: Hail, Don Francisco, Hail!

DON FRANCISCO: Welcome, Juan Bautista, and also your good friends! Our island home is greatly honored by your coming.

ALVARADO: (Coming forward)
My friend and comrade, Don José Castro!

DON FRANCISCO: Welcome, Señor! your name is known to me.

CASTRO: Don Francisco, I salute thee!

ALVARADO:
Pico and Kagama of Santa Inez, both mighty hunters and brave fellows!

DON FRANCISCO: Caballeros, I greet you. So seldom do I leave this isle in my advancing years, you must regard me quite a stranger in the land.

ALL: At your service, Señor!

(Alvarado and companions take their seats.)

DON FRANCISCO: (Claps his hands; two servants appear on the porch)
Tortillas! Mescal! My guests will drink with me.

(The servants bow and exeunt into the hacienda.)

ALVARADO: We beg the privilege of a hunt upon the ranges of your hills, where bound the antlered stag and vicious boar.

DON FRANCISCO: My isle is yours. (Servants bring out small tables, etc.) Señors, my house is honored by your presence! (He lifts a flagon; all drink.)

ALVARADO: And Barbara, my fair cousin, I fain would greet her and present my comrades.

DON FRANCISCO: I would she were here to greet thee.

CASTRO: (Aside.) She has not come.

DON FRANCISCO: This is the day of her return. Her convent years are ended. Since early morn I've peered out o'er the water to find in every sail and white-winged gull the coming of my daughter. [Yet know I well, 'twill be eventide and when the summer's day has waned. Father Peralta will bring my daughter home.]

ALVARADO:

I offer a toast, good friends,
And bid you homage pay
To one whose beauty lends
New lustre to the day:
Barbara de la Guerra!

DON FRANCISCO: You fill my heart to overflowing.

ALVARADO: Come, we must away. The shadows deepen early in the mountains. Our sport awaits us.

DON FRANCISCO: Good luck attend you! I beg on your return to come this way. My house, my cellar, my boats, are at your command!

ALVARADO, CASTRO, PICO & KAGAMA: Adios, Señor! Adios, Señor!

(Exeunt)

DON FRANCISCO:

Oh child of love, oh child of grace,
I see in thee thy mother's face,
And like a perfume rare
Her gentle spirit fills the air.
My Barbara! My Barbara!