The soldiers posted in the missions usually did not live there full time. More than likely, they rotated between the presidos and the missions. There were four presidos in California. They supplied protection to the missions and the missions supplied them with food. The soldiers at the missions were there to make sure that the Native Americans did not run away or revolt. If they did, it was the soldiers who punished them, usually with whipping. Very few soldiers were required to keep a revolt in check. It is said that in 1782 only 60 soldiers guarded 1,400 Native Americans beteween Monterey and San Diego.