Whether or not the mortality rate was direct from murder and enslavement, or indirect through destruction of culture and disease, it is the contact that caused the vast majority of deaths.
California has always had periods of drought, the effects of which are greatly magnified through the recent population explosion. Are you suggesting that periods of drought, affecting a much smaller amount of people, is the sole or even major cause of the decline in the Indian population?
I don't know what caused them to die. I don't think that the drought was the sole or even major cuase, but it certainly would have exacerbated any other causes. It was prolly a lot of disease. I doubt that the missionaries
intended to cause all the death, and I doubt they would have been out there mudering them. But honestly, I don't know much of anything about it.
I just googled a bit and found that article, then re-read Coyote's statement, and he didn't actually say that the missionaries caused it.
It looked to me like he was doing a little trolling and Ichi fell for it hook, line, and sinker.