Spanish and Indian Place Names

S PAN I SH AN D I N D IAN PLAC E NAM E S OF CALI FORN IA

MONUMEN T T O J UNI FERO S ERRA I N G OLD EN G A TE PARK H i s mem ory s ti ll r ests lik e a b en ed i ct i on over th e n ob le ! r State wh i ch h e r escued fr om s avag e y . THEI R M EA NI NG AND THEI R ROM /INCE

NELLI E VAN D E G RI PT SANCHEZ

AUT H O R O F

T H E L FE O F M R S R O E R LO S S E V E N S O N I . B T UI T

S A N F RANC I SCO A M RO ERTSON . . B 1 9 2 2 C o p y r ig h t 19 14 C o py r igh t 1922

B Rob r s y A . .M e t o n

R C E RO G H R I TE R : S A N FR CI S CO B U B U , P N AN LI B RARY R A UNIVERS I TY OF CAL IFO NI SANTA BARBARA

TO MY SON

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Th e auth or wi sh es to expr ess grat e ful appr eci ati on of ge n erous ai d gi v en i n th e p rep ar ati on of th i s b ook f m i b e b e . o P h . o ess o e a y H r rt E B lton , D Pr f or A r c n

Hi story i n th e Un i v er si ty of Cali forn i a.

w me i s so d ue to . . . oeb e Ackno ledg nt al Dr A L Kr r ,

ssi s a ofesso of h o o . a e . A t nt Pr r Ant r p logy, Dr H rv y M

a l ssi s a esso of omi o a . H l , A t nt Prof r Econ c B t n y, Dr

h . e i am ofess of a aeo o . A n Jo n C M rr , Pr or P l ntol gy, Dr ws esso of eo o n d i e ew C . a f a a dr L on , Pro r G l gy M n r l

o all of th e i e si of a i fo i a . oh gy, Un v r ty C l rn ; Mr J n

M. . ui a h e Z e h r i n e h a . . M r , F t r p y Eng l rdt, O F , Mr

h a es . u i of S an a i s o . . i sbu C rl B T rr ll, Fr nc c , A C P ll ry , an d m an y oth er p e r son s i n vari ous p art s of th e stat e for h ei ou s i n fu i sh i i f t r c rt e y rn n g p o nts of i n ormati on . For th e sou es use d i n th e w th e au h i s i n rc ork , t or eb e i n ea m easu e to th e a o i b a at d t d , gr t r , B ncr ft L r ry th e U i e si of a i i a an d to th e ma w i e s n v r ty C l forn , n y r t r m wh se wo s uo a i o s h a e b ee e s fro o rk q t t n v n fr ely u e d .

N ON E CAN CARE FOR LITE RATU RE IN IT S ELF W H O DO E S N OT TAK E A S PECI AL PLEA S U RE IN TH E S OUND O F NAM E S ; AND TH E RE I S N O PART OF TH E W ORLD WH ERE N O M E N

C LAT URE I S S O R ICH O ETIC L H ORO S IC , P A , UM U , AND P

T URE S Q UE A S TH E U NITED S TATE S O F AM ERICA .

TH E NAM E S O F TH E S TATE S AND TE RRITORI ES TH EM S ELV E S FO RM A CHOR U S OF S W E ET AND M OS T RO MANTIC VOCAB LE S ; TH E RE A RE FEW POEM S WITH A N O B LE R M U S IC

FOR E EAR S O G F L EF L L F E TH ; A N U , TUN U AND ; AND I TH

E O E R S LL R S E FRO E ES E R O E N W H M HA A I M TH W T N C NTIN NT ,

H I S V E RS E I LL E E RICH E H I S G E S S I G S O W B N D , PA N P N

TAN EO US L Y ITH TH E E S O F S T TE S CITI E S , W NAM A AND THAT WOU LD S T RI K E TH E FANCY I N A BU S IN E S S CI RCU LA R

RO B E RT LO UI S S TEV EN S O N .

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

I NTRODUC TION

CHAPTER I I CALI FORN I A CHAPTER III I N AN D A B OU T S AN DIEGO CHAPTER IV LOS AN GELES AN D H E R NEI G H BORS CHAPTER V I N T H E Vl Cl N I TY OF SAN TA B ARB ARA CHAPTER VI T H E SAN LU I S OB I S P O GROU P CHAPTER VII IN T H E N El G H B ORH OOD O F M ON TEREY CHAPTER VIII T H E SANTA CLARA VALLEY

CHAPTER IX AROUN D SAN FRANC I SCO B AY P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

CHAPTER X NORT H OF S AN FRAN CI SCO

CHAPTER XI T H E CEN TRAL VALLEY CHAPTER X I I I N T H E S IERRAS

P RONUNC I ATI ON O F S P AN I S H NA M ES

CHAPTER XIII FI NAL L I S T AN D I N DEX T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

LI ST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

F ac m g Page i ss i o of San i e o D e a a ou e i n 1 7 6 9 23 M n D g Alc l , F nd d

i ssi o of San o i o D e a a ou e i n 1 8 1 6 29 M n Ant n P l , F nd d

Arch way at Cap i str an o 3 9

i s si o of S an ab i e a e ou e i n 1 7 7 1 67 M n G r l Arc n g l, F nd d

M i ssi on of S anta Barb ara 9 1

i ss i o of S a a ez ou ed i n 1 80 4 1 1 3 M n nt In , F nd

i ssi o of S an ui s bi s o ou e i n 1 772 1 20 M n L O p , F nd d

i ssi of an i ue ou e i n 1 7 9 7 1 25 M on S M g l, F nd d

M ont er e y i n 1 8 50 1 3 5

Mi ssi o o f San a os o om eo ou e i n 1 7 70 1 3 9 n C rl B rr , F nd d

Int eri or of th e Q uadran gle at S an Carlos Mi ssi on 1 4 3

La P u nta D e Los Ci p r eses 1 49

i ssi o of S an ua au i s a ou e i n 1 79 7 1 55 M n J n B t t , F nd d

i ssi o of Sa a a a ou e i n 1 7 7 7 1 6 9 M n nt Cl r , F nd d

Th e P 3 10 Colorado ( R e dwood Tr ee ) 1 7 5

Th e Ci ty of Ye rb a B uen a ( S an Franci sco i n 1 8 4 6 1 84 7 )

i ssi o O f S an a i s o D e si s ommo M n Fr nc c A , c nly c alle d Mi ssi on D olor es

Th e Gold e n G at e

Th e Farallon es

Tamalp ai s P L A C E N A ME S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Th e i ssi o of S an afae ou e i n 1 8 1 7 M n R l , F nd d

N ap a Valley

M ount Sh asta

E l Ri o D e L os S antos R eyes ( Th e Ri v e r of th e H oly Ki n gs )

In th e Si erra N evadas

In th e Hi gh S i erras

E l Ri o D e L as Plum as ( F eath er Ri v er )

E l Ri o D e Los Am eri can os (Am eri can Ri v e r )

Sh or e of Lak e Tah oe

M ari p osa S equ oi as

V ern al F alls i ii th e Yos emi t e Vall ey

Map of th e Mi ssi on s

Kaw eah M ou ntai n s

Th e i ssi o o f u i si ma o e i o ou e i n M n P r C nc p t n , F nd d 1 880

Th e Tallac Trai l to Tah oe

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

INTRODU CTION

This volume has been pre pa red in the hope f e that it may serve , not only as a source o ent r tai n m en t ou r e also u to own peopl , but a s a seful o f u handbook for the schools , and as a sort to r ’ i s t s guide for those who visit th e state in s u ch numbers , and who almost invariably exhibit a lively interest in our Spanish and Indian place names . We of Ca lifornia are doubly rich in the matter of names , since , in a ddition to the Indian nomen clatur e e common to all the stat s , we possess the splendid herita ge left us by those bold ad v e n tur er s from Castile who ﬁrst s e t foot upon ou r th e shores . In these names spirit of our romantic past still lives a nd brea thes , and their sound is like an echo coming down the years to te ll o f tha t other day when the sava ge built his bee

on - S hive huts the river banks , and the panish caba llero jingled his spurs along the Camino R eal . A n d b e in wha t manner, it may well a sked , fo r e have we been caring this priceless herita g , to keep it pure , to preserve its inspiring history, 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

to present it in proper and authentic form for the “ instruction and entertainment of the stranger ” ou r well within ga tes , as as for the education of o u r own yo u th ? A s the most convincing answer u of to this q estion , some the numerous errors in u d eal works p rporting to with this subject , many of which have even crept into histories and use of books for the schools , will be corrected in these pages . In the belief that the Spanish and Indian names possess the greatest interest for the p ub “ ” lic, both tenderfoot and native , they will be l dealt with here a most exclusively, excepting a A very few of merican origin , whose stories are so involved with th e others that they can scarcely be omitted . In a ddition , there are a number that of A - S appear to be nglo axon parentage , but are in reality to be counted among those that have suffered the regrettable fate of translation into f English from the original Spanish . O such are C R Kings ounty and iver , which took their names from E l Ri o d e 10 3 S an tos Reyes (the River of the H R oly Kings) , and the Feather iver, originally

E 1 Ri o d e las Plum as (the Ri ver of the Fea thers) . In the search for the beginnings of these names through the diaries of the early Spanish explorers and other sources , a number of curious stories have been encountered , which are shared 4 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

with th e rea der in the belief tha t he will be glad to know something of the romance lying behind “ ”

of our . the nomenclature songful , tuneful land It is a ma tter of deep regret tha t the work t of mus necessity be incomplete , the sources of so u n information being so scattered , and often reliable , tha t it has been found impossible to ll i trace a the names to the r origin . f Indian words are especially di ficult ; in fact , as soon as we enter tha t field we step into the of h er e all misty land legend , w becomes doubt ' and uncertainty . Tha t such should be the case S C l is inevitable . cientific study of the native a i forn i an S O ' m an languages , of which there were y as to constitute a veritable B abel of tongues among the multitude of small trib es inhabiting this region , was begun in such recent times tha t but few aborigines were left to tell the story of an d their names , those few retained but a dim l of u n sati s memory of the o d days . In View the of e o f factory nature this information , stori s Indian origin will be told here with the ex press qualification tha t their authenticity is no t sci en vouched for, excep t in cases based upon tifi S c evidence . ome of the most romantic among th e i n ves them , when put to final test of such

ti ati on m elt . g , into thin air In a general way, it may be said that Indian names were usually

0 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

derived from villages , rather than tribes , and that , in most cases , their meaning has been lost .

of S In the case panish names , we have a rich mine in the documents left behind by the meth odi cal S paniards , who maintained the praise worthy custom of keeping minu te accounts of th e ir travels and all circumstances connected therewith . From these sources the true stories ' of the origin of some of ou r place names have been collected , and are retold in these pages , as

u u . far as possible , in the lang age of their fo nders alwa s r u n Unfortunately, the story can not v be to earth and in such cases , the names , with their l trans ation , and sometimes an explanatory para graph , will appear in a supplementary list a t the end of the volu me . The stories have been o f arranged in a series groups , according to their S an D geographical location , beginning with iego as the most logical point , since it was there that the ﬁrst mission was established by the illus tr i ous J un i er o S h i s torv p erra , and there tha t the of California practically began . The arrange f u ment o these gro ps is not arbitrary, but , in a S general way, follows the course of panish Em o pire , as it t ok its way, ﬁrst up the coast , then ou t branching into the interior vallev , and climb n i g the Sierras . S ome of the stories may appear as twice -told tales ” to scholars and other persons to whom 6

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

t most importan to the welfare , or even the very of existence , the exploring parties . For instance , the Mer ced (Mercy) River was so called because if was the ﬁrst running water encountered by the party after having traversed forty miles of the hot , dry valley . Then , as time passed and the country developed , towns were built upon the of banks these streams , frequently receiving n am es ' an d the same , these were often ﬁnally a dopted to designate the counties established later in the regions through which their waters

ﬂow . In this way Plumas County derived its R E l Ri o name from the Feather iver, originally d e las lum as C E l Ri o P , and Kings ounty from los R d e R eyes ( the iver of the Kings) . This way of naming was , however , not invariable . It sometimes happens that the name has dis appeared from the map , while the story remains , and some such stories will be told , partly for own their interest , and partly for the light they throw upon a past age . The frequent repetition of the same names in different parts of the state has made it i m pr ac ti cable to locate them all geographically, but the deﬁnition in on e case usually applies to all bear u ing the same name , although the circ mstances ff of the naming may be di erent . Among our S panish names there is a certain 8 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

class given to places in modern times by Ameri cans i n a praiseworthy a ttempt to preserve the of old u romantic ﬂavor the days . Unfort nately, an insufﬁcient knowledge of the syn tax and etymology of the Spanish language h as resulted m S in some i proper combinations . uch names , for Mon te i sta M r instance , as V ( ountain o Forest V ma i sta H V i o i sta R iew) , Lo V ( ill iew) , R V ( iver f V . o S iew) , etc , grate upon the ears a paniard , who would never combine two nouns in this way . The correct forms for these names would i sta d el Mon te V M be V ( iew of the ountain) , i sta d e la om a V of H i sta d e l V L ( iew the ill) , V i R R o V of . B ( iew the iver) , etc etween this class of S or modern panish names , more less faulty “ S in construction , given by paniards from Kan ” sas , as has been humorously said , and the real old names of the Spanish epoch about which a of genuine halo romance still clings , there is an immense gulf .

In the numerous quotations used in this book , the language of the original has generally been of retained , with no a ttemp t to change the form of expression . In spite the most conscientious ff e orts to avoid them , unreliability of sources may cause some errors to ﬁnd thei r way into these pages ; for these the author hopes not to be held responsible . 9

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

CALIFORNIA

th e of Cali n i First comes name for a herself, si n ar Don the p (peerless one) , as Quixote says

of D . sa his ulcinea This name , strange to y, was a matter of confusion an d conjecture for many s 1 862 yea r , until , in , Edward Everett Hale acci dentally hit upon the explanation since a ccepted by historians . S u everal theories , all more or less fancif l and - d far fetche , were based upon the supposed con struction of the word from the Latin calida o n ax f r (hot oven) , in reference either to the of C or ' hot , dry climate Lower alifornia , to the “ ” - sweat houses in use among the Indians . Such theories n ot only presuppose a knowledge of Latin n ot likely to exist among the hardy men wh o ﬁrst landed upon our western shores but also indicate a labored method of naming places quite contr ary to their custom of seizing upon some direct and obvious circumstance upon which to base their choice . In all the length and f brea dth o California few , if any, instances exist where the Spaniards invented a name produced

r - from the La tin o Greek in this far fetched way . 1 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

bi so They saw a g bird , they named the river where they saw it E l Ri o d e l d aro (the River of B or ff the ird) , they su ered from starvation in so L ﬁ a certain canyon , they called it a Ca ad a d e l Ham b e C of H r ( the anyon unger) , or they ’ reached a place on a certain saint s day, and so they named it for that saint . They were practical men and their methods were simple .

Mr . H In any case , since ale has provided us with a more reasonable explanation , all such theories may be passed over as unworthy of considera tion . While engaged in the study of S panish literature , he was fortunate enough to of old run across a copy an novel , published in 1 51 0 1 521 Toledo sometime between and , in which the word Californ i a occurred as the name of a fabulous island , rich in minerals a nd prec ious stones; and said to be the home of a tribe f A L as S er as d e o . mazons This novel , entitled g E s lan d ian A E s lan di an p (The dventures of p ) , G O was written by the author , arcia rdonez de Men talvo of , as a sequel to the famous novel A m ad i s o G aul of chivalry, f , which he was the translator . The two works were printed in the M ’ u . same vol me ontalvo s romance , although of small literary value , ha d a considerable vogue of among Spanish rea ders the day, and that its pa ges were probably familiar to the early ex 1 4

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of B D of l this expedition , ernal iaz speaks Ca i “ ” for n i a as a bay, and it is probable tha t the name wa s first applied to some definite point on the coast , afterward becoming the designation of the whole region . The name also occurs in ’ ’ Preciado s diary of Ulloa s voyage down the 1 539 coast in , making it reasonable to suppose that it was a dopted in the period between 1 535 1 53 9 C or and , whether by ortés some other per s on can not be ascertained . r C H i sto o Cali o n i D . a hapman , in his ry f f r , asserts his belief that the name was applied by F or tun Jiménez on the occasion of his discovery 1 3 3 -1 34 of the peninsula in 5 5 . B ancroft expresses the opinion that fol . the lowers of Cor tes may have used the name in derision , to express their disappointment in of finding a desert , barren land in lieu the rich of country their expectation , but it seems far more in keeping with the sangu ine nature of the Spaniards that their ima ginations should lea d them to draw a parallel between the rich island of of the novel , with its treasures gold and silver, and th e new land , of whose wealth in pearls and precious metals some positive proof, as well as many exa ggerated tales , ha d reached them . A n argument that seems to clinch the matter 1 6 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

of the origin of the name is the extreme i mpr ob ff ability that two di erent persons , on opposite of sides the world , should have invented exactly the same word , a t about the same period , espe i all as i c y such an unusual one Californ a. A s for th e of as etymology the word itself, it is yet an unsolved problem . The suggestion tha t it i s compounded of the Greek root kali (beau i n ix t ful) , and the Latin for (vaulted arch) , thus “ sk making its deﬁnition beautiful y, may be the so Cor tes true explanation , but even if tha t be , or his followers took it at second hand from M ontalvo and were not its original inventors . G D Professor eorge avidson , in a monograph on the Origin an d th e Mean i n g of th e Nam e Cali o n i a f r , states tha t incidental mention had been made as early as 1 849 of the name as oc ’ i n M G i ckn or curring ontalvo s novel by eorge T ,

H isto S an ish i te atu e Mr . in his ry of p L r r , but

Ticknor refers to it simply as literature , without any thought of connecting it with the name of the state . This connection was undoubtedly ﬁrst of Mr H thought by . ale and was discussed in his paper rea d before the Historical S ociety of Massachusetts in 1 862; therefore the honor of ’ the discovery of the origin of the state s name must in justice be awarded to him . Professor D of avidson , in an elaborate discussion the pos 1 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of sible etymology the word , expresses the opinion that it may be a combina tion of two G k all s n is reek words , o (beauty) and or (bird) , in reference to the following passage in the “ : f book In this island are many grif ins , which f can be found in no other part o the world .

Its etymology, however , is a matter for further on e investigation . The fact that seems certain is its origin in the name of the fabulous island of the novel . A curious discovery has recently been made of of Califer n e the occurrence the name , refer u Th e ring to an unknown heathen co ntry , in Ch an s n d e R lan d u o o , the famo s epic poem com m em or ati n g the exploits of the legenda r y h e ro

Roland in the wars conducted by Charlemagne .

This poem is very ancient , the ﬁrst mention of 1 066 M ’ it occurring in , and , considering ontalvo s of predilection for works chivalry, it is possible that he rea d this song, tha t his fancy was Califer n e attracted by the name , and tha t , with a change in the spelling to make it more S euphonious and more panish in form , h e a dopted it for his mythica l island of pearls and gold . There is no positive evidence , however , C C m tha t the two words , alifornia and alifer e , are identical , and the resemblance may be purely a ccidental . 1 8 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

It i s hop e d tha t researches now going on in S pain under the auspices of the Na tive S ons o f the Golden West may a t some fut u re time clear e up this whole subj ct . In the meantime it may w e ll s uf ﬁce for the fortuna te heritors o f the s plendid principa lity n o w known as Californ i a tha t this charming name became afﬁxed to it “ on e permanently, rather than the less tuneful Ne w A lbi n S i r D of o , which Francis rake applied to on it , and under which cognomen it appears ’ f some English maps o the date .

1 9 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

EL MAR PA CIFICO

(The Peaceful S e a)

Though the grea t sea which washes her long shore from end to end can scarcely be called a of C so i n se ar part alifornia , yet the two are p ably connected tha t a s well may one speak of D of D avid without Jonathan , amon without of C a e- old Pythias , as alifornia without her g

O . companion , the Paciﬁc cean On S e 26 1 51 3 tha t memorable day, eptemb r , , when B alboa gazed in triumph across the glit tering expanse of heaving waters sprea d out S S e a before him , he called it the outh , for , from on u his stand the isthmus , it lay to the so th of M as . S him oreover, the paniards ha d called all tha t part of the ocean lying to the north of the N S e a u isthmus the orth , it was nat ra l to call the f e An d part lying to the south o it the S outh S a. so it was known until seven years later, when M the Portuguese navigator, Fernao de a galhaes M ( agellan) , ma de his famous passage through M n o . the strait which w bears his name agellan , u a Portug ese of noble family, who ha d quar r ele d of u with the King Port gal , entered the c of S servi e the King of pain , and th e voyage 20 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

upon which he s e t ou t with severa l ships in th e vea r 1 51 9 was und ertaken with the express and particular p u rpose of ﬁnding a so u thern passa ge “ s i ce so to the p islands , tha t ships might make th e return voyage from them without the n ece s e e s i ty of unloading . Tha t th re wa s some vagu knowledge of the existence of a strait connecting the two oceans previous to this time is believed so as by historians , but , far the records Show , it

‘ is to Ma gellan tha t th e credit for its actual Hi s own u passage is d u e . acco nt of the voyage is unfortunately missing, but in his company on e A P i afe tta there was a volunteer, ntonio g , a nobleman of V enice who has left a detailed record of the entire j ourney around the world . A fter a long and tempestuous voya ge , during which many troubles and vicissitudes were suf fer e d A , the ﬂeet arrived opposite the tlantic of M u mouth the strait , and agellan j dged , by ou t of the strong current rushing it , and the large number of skeletons of dea d whales seen on th e S o the shore , tha t it led to other sea . grea t was his conﬁdence tha t he gave orders f r o a festiva l of rejoicing on all the ships . S ailing through the strait , past lofty mountains “ of P i afe tta laden with snow, which g says , I think tha t there is n o t in the world a more beau 9 , c o n e tiful oun try or better stra it than this , on 21 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

N 28 1 520 the afternoon of ovember , , they came “ sea : out into the other , where , he says We dis em b ou eh e d from the strait in order to enter the s ea grea t , to which we later gave the name of ” “ u on : D u Pacific . F rther he says ring three months and twenty days w e ran in an op e n s ea f r e I t w as o fu lly four tho u sand lea gu s . well e for nam d Pacific , during this time we met with ff no storm They su ered grea tly, however , lack o f from the fresh food and water, being reduce d to living o n Old biscuit d e cayed to pow of der and full grubs , and drinking wa ter that “ ” x was yellow and stinking. They a te o hides which they soaked four or five days in the sea and then p u t them on the embers and so ate “ f . ate u o them They a lso the sawd st wood , and of e ra ts , and , moreover , not enough them w re ” A s of w to be got. a consequence this retched fl u suf diet they became af icted with sc rvy, and fe r e d so u h e m ch tha t nineteen of them died , sides a giant Pa tagonian whom they ha d on board . This was but part of the price paid by thos e brave a dventurers who led the way to tha t magnificent body of wa ter which has become th e e highway between East and W st , and which , ’ besid e s being the brightest j e we l in California s u of u crown of bea ty, has been the means po ring

- untold riches into her lap the Paciﬁc Ocean , so 22

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

named by Ma gellan and his hardy companions . M It is not to be forgotten , however , tha t agellan and his crew gained their experience of this grea t ocean in tha t part of it where storms are infrequent . Later navigators complained of the inappropriateness of the name when they found themselves lashed by the fury of the terriﬁc tempests which sometimes rage across its vast surface in more northern latitudes . The Italian G C traveler, emelli areri , who made the voyage M A 1 697—1 698 ' from anila to capulco in , said “The S paniards and other geographers have given this the name of the Paciﬁc S ea but it does n ot suit with i ts tempestuous and drea d ful motion , for which it ought rather to be called R ” the estless . A N D A BO UT D I EG O

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

IN AND AB OUT SAN DIEG O

S an Like many other places in California ,

D i ego has ha d more than one christening . The ﬁrst was a t the hands of Juan Rodriguez 1 542 Cabrillo , who discovered the harbor in , and i t M . C named it S an M gu el ( S . ichael) abrillo was S a Portuguese in the panish service , who was sent to explore the coast in 1 542 by V iceroy M He N two endoza . sailed from ativida d with vessels , made a careful survey, applied names tha t for the most part have not been retained , and described the coast somewha t accurately as ‘ H e - far as Monterey . discovered a land locked ’ S an D and very good harbor , probably iego , ‘ n which he named S a Miguel . The next day he sent a boa t farther into the port , which was A large . very great gale blew from the west - u southwest , and south so thwest , but the port ’

. On being good , they felt nothing the return o from the north the party stopped a t La Posesi n , C on where abrillo died January third , from the No effects of a fall and exposure . tra ces of h i s

- t n last resting place , almos certainly on S a M C ’ iguel near uyler s harbor, have been found ; 27 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

and th e drifting sands have perhaps made such 0 a discovery doubtful . T this bold mariner, the C first to discover her coasts , if to any one , ali ” f r n i o a may with propriety erect a monument . ’ — B Hi sto o C li n i ( ancroft s ry f a for a. ) 1 602 S a V Then , in , came ebasti n izcaino , who changed the name from S an Miguel to S an “ D H e iego . was sent to make the discovery and demarcation of the ports and bays of the S outh ern S ea (Paci fic and to occupy for S C pain the alifornia isles , as they were then f ’ thought to be . From the diary o V izcaino s voyage we get the following account of his “ S an D : S arriva l at iego The next day, unday, of N the tenth the said month ( ovemb er) , we t' arrived a t a port , the bes tha t there can be in S S ea all the outhern , for besides being guarded h avm from all winds , and g a good bottom , it is in latitude It has very good water and fish of wood , many of all sorts , which we caught i s a great many with the net and hooks . There good hunting of rabbits , hares , deer, and many i On large quail , ducks and other b rds . the of was of twelfth the said month , which the day S an D d the glorious iego , the a miral , the priests , f fi on the o cers , and almost all the people , went A b u t Shore . was built , thus enabling the feast ” of the S efior S an Diego to be celebrated . 28

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

occasional white sail of some Philippine galleon seen ﬂitting like a ghost on its southward trip along the coast .

Then the Spaniards , alarmed by reports of the R encroachments of the ussians on the north , waked up from their long sleep , and determined to establish a chain of missions along the Cali for n i a coast Father Jun ip er o S erra was appointed president of these missions , and the ﬁrst on e of the chain was founded by him at S an 1 6 Diego in 7 9 . The name was originally applied “ ld ” to the O Town , some distance from the present city . The founding party encountered f great di ﬁculties , partly through their fearful ff su erings from scurvy, and partly from the tur bulent and thievish nature of the Indians in that

vicinity, with whom , they had several lively

fights , and who stole everything they could lay on th e their hands , even to the Sheets from beds D on e of of the sick . uring these attacks , the mission buildings were burned and on e of the ff padres , Fray Luis Jaime , su ered a cruel death , but all difficulties wer e ‘ fin ally overcome by the of S strong hand Father erra , and the mission on was placed a firm basis . Its partially ruined buildings still remain a t a place about si x miles th e from present city . TO to return the matter of the name , the titu 3 2 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

f an d of lar saint o this bay, later the mission and town , was the canonized Franciscan monk , a S an Diego de Alcal . This mild a nd gentle saint was a humble lay brother in a monastery of H e 1 400 1 463 Alcalain Andalusia . lived from to , and was canonized rather for his pious life and the miracles wrought through him before and after his death than for any high position held by him . Through his intercession the Infante An Don Carlos was healed of a severe wound . interesting story of a mira cle said to have been “ performed by this saint runs as follows : In

S eville a boy, fleeing from punishment a t the of hands of his mother , concealed himself inside an an oven d fell asleep there . The mother, not as dreaming that the boy w in the oven , filled it n A with wood a d lighted it . wakened with the of heat the flames , he cried for help , but the fire was now raging and it was too late to save him . ff The a licted mother, desperate with grief, ran into the streets shrieking like an insane person . Providence granted tha t S an Diego should be A passing a t tha t moment . fter consoling her an d of Our sending her to pray a t the altar Lady, he went with a great crowd and opened the of ! A oven . Wonder wonders lthough the wood w s b o a a lmost all consumed , the y came ou t safe ” and sound . 3 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

— In the translation of the name itself Diego it is rather curious that although all dictionaries S an D give it as James , ecclesiastics render iego s as S aint Di dacu .

CORONAD O B EA CH

B The name of Coronado each , the long spit of land forming the outer shore of the harbor of an D S iego , is said to have been suggested by the

Corona do Islands near it . These islands were of not , however, named in honor the famous V a C explorer, Francisco squez de orona do , as Mar many have supposed , but for Los Quatro tires Coronados ( the four crowned martyrs) , on N 8 th whose feast occurs ovember . The name C ﬁnally took the shorter form of orona dos , and its resemblance to that of the great conquistador led to some confusion . In all the history of Spain in western A merica there is nothing more romantic than the story of Va or the famous explorer , Francisco squez de C onado , who , with the delightful childlike faith of his race , marched through Texas and Kansas in u u of G an u i vi search of the fab lo s city r Q ra, “ where every on e ha d his dishes made of u wrought plate , and the j gs and bowls were of 3 4 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

! gold , and then marched back again Ima gine our hard -headed Puritan ancestors setting forth on such a quest !

S AN LUIS REY

u S an L ui s Rey d e Fran ci a ( S t. Lo is King of

France) , is the name of the mission situa ted in a charming little valley about forty miles north of S an Diego and three miles from the s e a . It ' 1 3 1 798 L asu én was founded June , , by Pa dres , S P e ri i ts antiago and y , and ruins may still be A seen upon the Spot . partial restoration has been made of these buildings and they are now Th e used by the Franciscans . exact circum of i ts stances naming have not come to light , but we know of its patron saint that h i s holiness was “ such tha t even V oltaire said of him : It is ” e scarcely given to man to push virtue furth r . B 1 21 5 of V orn at Poissy in , the son Louis III and B of C for lanche astile , h e became noted his of C saintliness , and twice led an army rusaders “ ” in the holy war .

PALA

ala al P , often misspelled p o , through an a cci dental resemblance to the Spanish word p alo 3 5 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

or (stick or tree) , is situated some ﬁfteen miles f an Re more to the northeast o S Luis y, and is the site of the sub - mission of S an Antonio de u 1 81 6 P e r i Pala , fo nded in by Pa dre y as a R e branch of S an Luis y. This mission was uniqu e in having a bell- tower built apart from the church , and many romantic stories have ” been told about the bells of Pala . It was located in the center of a populous Indian com u m nity, and it happens , rather curiously, that

‘ the word itself has a signiﬁcance both in Span S “ ” ish and Indian , meaning in panish spa de and “ ” R G D in Indian water . The everend eorge oyle , S an A pastor at the mission of ntonio de Pala , writes the following in regard to this name “ ‘ ’ The word Pala is an Indian word , meaning, Cu an i an M in the p ission Indian language , ‘ ’ n water , probably due to the fact that the S a R e R Luis y iver passes through it . The proper title of the mission chapel here is S an Antonio u de Pad a , but as there is another S an Antonio i s de Padua mission chapel in the north , to d ti n gui sh between the two some on e in the misty S past changed the proper title of the aint , and ‘ ’ ‘ ’ so we have de Pala instea d of de Pa dua . Some S writers say is panish , but this is not true , ‘ Pala for the little valley in no way resembles a spa de , and the P alan i an Indians were here long before 3 6 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

the Francisca n padres brought civilization , ” Christianity and the Spanish language . la i n Pa this case , is almost certainly Indian , i A c and ori ginates in a legend of the Lu seﬁos . on e of of cording to this legend , the na tives the n h i Temecula tribe went forth o s travels , stop ping at many places and giving names to them . “ n e of was O these places a canyon , where he ”

ala . Th e drank wa ter and called it p , water R eli i n O th e L ui seﬁ o I n di an s C g o f , by onstance f l D . o Ca . . Goddard ubois , in the Univ Publ of h n A E t . rch . and )

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

S an J uan Cap istran o ( St. John Capistrano) , was a t on e time sa dly mutila ted by having its off on as ﬁrst part clipped , appearing the map Ca ist an o p r , but upon representations ma de by Z oe th S . Eldredge it was restored to its full form f A by the Post O ﬁce Department . mission was i s founded a t this place , which near the coast about h alf way between S an Diego an d L os A S A N ngeles , by Padres erra and murrio , ovem 1 1 776 of our own ber , , the year glorious mem r on of o y . While the other side the continent k bloody war raged , under the sunny s ies of 3 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

California the gentle pa dres were raising altars “ ” to the Man of Peace . The buildings at this place were badly on D 8 1 8 12 wrecked by a n earthquake ecember , , yet the ruins still remain to a tt e st to the fact tha t this was at one time regard e d as the ﬁnest of all the mission structures .

S t. C was Its patron saint , John apistrano , a Franciscan friar wh o lived at the time of the A crusades , and took part in them . colossal statue of him adorns the exterior of the Cathe dral a t V ienna . It represents him as having a on e Turk under his feet , a standard in hand , and a cross in the other .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIST

There remain some names in the S an D iego group of less importance , yet possessing many points of interest , which will be included in the following list , with an explanation of their meanings , and their history wherever it has been possible to ascertain it . A ua Ti bia g (warm water, warm springs) , is in S an D C u For ff iego o nty . some reason di icult to e divine , this perf ctly simple name has been th e cause of great confusion in the minds of a num 3 8

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

ber of writers . In one case the almost incredibly absurd translation “Shinbone water” has been was given . It may be thought tha t this intended f as a bit o humor, but it is greatly to be feared S ti bi a that the writer mixed up the panish word , m “ ” whi ch si ply means tepid , warm , with the n f Latin name of o e o the bones of the lower leg, h i t e ti b a. In another case the equally absurd “ ” translation ﬂute wa ter h as been given . Where such a meaning could have been obtained is b e yond comprehension to any person possessing even a slight knowledge of th e S panish lan A ua Ti bi a n or guage . g is no more less than “ warm water , applied in this case to warm springs existing a t that place . This extreme case is enlarged upon here as an example of th e gross errors that have been freely handed out to a n unsuspecting public in the matter of our of place names . There are many more the same of ff sort , and the authors this inexcusable stu have been accepted and even quoted as auth or i ou s r ties the subject . Those of u who love ou C d n alifornia , in other wor s all of us , can ot fail to be pained by such a degradation of her romantic history . Ballen a (whale) is in S an Diego County at the of B V s west end allena alley, and a it i s a good i ts many miles inland name seems incongruous , 4 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

u ntil we learn from on e of i ts residents that it was so called in reference to a mountain in the valley whose o u tline along the top is exactly the shape of a humpbacked whale . “This place has probably no connection with B allenas a name applied to a bay in Lower Califor m a on account of its being a favorite ” Mr C resort of the Hu mpback whale . ( . harles

u . B . T rrill ) B n d M C of er e a, in erced ounty, is a misspelling

B errendo or B errenda . A B erren d o (antelope) . writer whose knowl edge of Spanish seems to b e wholly a matter of u the dictionary, conf sed by the fact that the “ deﬁnition given for berr en d o is having two C ” ff olors , has o ered the fantastic translation of “ E l Ri o d e los B err en d os as The River of the two A C . of olors lthough the idea such a river, like of a piece changeable silk , may be picturesque , be e n d o al the simple truth is that the word rr , u so tho gh not deﬁned in the dictionaries , is used in S panish America to signify a deer of the antelope variety and frequently occurs in that M st n o . Co a s sense in the diaries iguel , an engi neer accompanying the Portola expedition of “ 1 769 : Ha en la ti e r a ven ad os ver r en , says y r , d os be en d os m u h os li e b es n (also spelled rr ) , c r , co e os at s m on tes es j , g o y ratas (there are in the land 42 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

- deer, antelope , many hares , rabbits , wild cats and ra ts) On August 4 th this party reached a place forty leagues from S an Diego which they called B erren do because they caught alive a deer which ha d been shot the day before by the A C soldiers and ha d a broken leg . ntelope reek , E l Ri o in Tehama County, was originally named los B e en d s R of A d e rr o (The iver the ntelopes) , undoubtedly because it was a drinking place d A n frequente by those graceful creatures , and lo e te p V alley, in the central part of the sta te , must have received its name in the same way . ' E l Ca on box j (the ) , about twelve miles north of S an D east iego , p erhaps received its name from a custom the S paniards had of calling a - un a on deep canyon with high , box like walls , c j b x (a o ) . Cali en te Creek (hot C reek) is in the northern part of S an Diego County . Cam p o (a level ﬁeld) , also sometimes used in of the sense a camp , is the name of a place about - S an D forty miles east southeast of iego , just M Cam above the exican border . p o was an In s dian settlement , and may have been o called by the Spaniards simply in reference to the camp of Indians . Caﬁada d el auti sm o B (glen of the baptism) , so called from th e circumstance tha t two dying 43 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

native children were there baptized by the M Costan so padres , as told in the diary of iguel , 6 of 1 7 9 . D of the Portolaexpedition eath , when of was it came to the children the natives , often regarded as cause for rejoicing by the mission of aries , not , course , through any lack of human ity on their part , but because the Indian parents more readily consented to baptism a t such a so time , and the padres regarded these as many “ ” souls snatched from the burning . Carriso (reed grass) is the name of a village d and creek in S an Diego County . The grass calle i th e carriso is a sort of cane , and , l ke cane , it contains a certain amount of sugar in the sap of i t d I n s stems . This ha d been discovere by the of an d dians before the coming the whites , from this sap they manufactured a sort of sugar which they tra ded to the Mexicans for other articles . Ch ula Vi sta (pretty view) i s the name of a town near the coast , a few miles southeast of S an D . Ch ula M iego is a word of exican origin , t “ meaning pretty, graceful , at ractive . This name was probably ﬁrst used by the promoters during of 1 887 Mr . C B . the boom ( harles Turrill . ) La Costa (the coast) , a place on the shore of S an D north iego . C o ote Valle y y, situated just below the south 4 4 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

ern border of the S an Jacinto Forest Reserva C te of of e tion . oyo , the name the wolf W stern

A co otl. America , is an ztec word , originally g Cuyam aca is probably derived from the land of grant that name , which in turn took its name u am aca M from the C y ountain , which , according d to the scientists , was so calle in reference to the clouds and rain gathering around its sum A r . . mit . M . T T Wa terman , instructor in nthro lo Of C po gy a t the University alifornia , says the kwe word is derived from two Indian words , am ak (rain) and (yonder) , and consequently “ ” means rain yonder . The popular translation of it as “woman ’ s breast” is probably not based of on fact . There was an Indian village that an D name some miles northwest of S iego . D escan so (rest) is the name of a place north of an D so east S iego , called by a government surveying party for the rea son tha t they stopped here each day for rest . D ulz ura (sweetness) is the name of a place but a few miles north of the Mexican border “ ” of h i s line . Wha t there was sweetness in the tory of this desolate mining camp can n ot be discovered . En ci n i tas (little oaks) is a place on the coast about twenty miles northwest of S an Diego . ﬁf Escon did o (hidden) , a place lying about 45 p L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

teen miles from the coast , to the northeast of e on S an Diego . It is said to have be n so named A acco unt of its location in the valley . place a t another point was called Esc on d id o by the S paniards because of the diffi culty they e xp er i en ce d in ﬁnding the water for which they were anxiou sly searching, and it may be that in this case the origin of the name was the same . L a J olla of , a word doubtful origin , said by “ ” some persons to mean a pool , by others to be h o a from y , a hollow surrounded by hills , and by still others to be a possible corruption of “ ”

a . joy , a j ewel The suggestion has been made that La Jolla was named from caves Situated there which contain pools , but until some fur ther information turns up this name must re i s main among the unsolved problems . There a lways the possibility also that L a J olla means none of these things but is a corruption of some ff Indian word with a totally di erent meaning . More than on e place in th e state masquera des under an apparently Spanish name which is in reality an Indian word corrupted into some S panish word to which it bore an accidenta l ti n resemblance in sound . C or a (curtain) i s an of u example of this sort corr ption , it being de

Ko- li n rived from the Indian a. a un a d e l C o al of L g rr (lagoon the yard) . 4 6

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

am esa as one word , L , lies a few miles to the northeast of S an Diego . Mesa Gran d e (literally big table big table of S an land , is some distance to the northeast

Diego . i s S an D E l Ni d o (the nest) , southeast of iego , near the border . Potrero (pasture ground) is just above the t e os border line . There are many Po r r scattered over the state . r L e i s L a Presa (the dam o dike) . a Pr sa a few an D on S miles east of S iego , the weetwater R A ua D u l e S iver , no doubt called g c by the pan

i ar ds .

- L os R osales (the rose bushes) , a spot located in the narratives of the Spaniards a t about S an D seventeen leagues from iego , and two S M N leagues from anta argarita . othing in the new land brought to the explorers sweeter mem “ or i es of their distant home than the roses of ” Castile which grew so luxuriantly along their pathway as to bring forth frequent expressions of delight from the pa dres . This particular place we ﬁnd mentioned in the diary of Miguel Cos o “ tans , as follows We gave it the name of Caﬁada d e los R sales — o (glen of the rose bushes) , on accou nt of the great number of rose - bushes ” s we aw . 4 8 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Tem ula ec , the name of a once important In V dian village in the Temecula alley, about - fi R in h abi thirty ve miles south of iverside . Its tants suff ered th e usual fate of the native when the white man discovers the value of the land , and were compelled to leave their valley in 1 87 P i ch an a C 5, and remove to g anyon , in a desert region . Ti uan a C j , a place on th e border between ali for n i a M and exico , whose chief claim to fame , or ff notoriety, is the opportunity that it o ers for gambling and other sorts of dissipation to per sons who find things too tame on the northern side of the line . The name , variously spelled Ti an a Tiwana , Tijuana , and gu , is Indian in origin , its meaning unknown . It has been said “ ” sea h to mean by the , but this theory as not been verified . For years the name was cor “ ” r u ted S A p into Tia Juana , panish for unt Jane , but it has finally been restored to its original

Indian form .

L O S AN G EL ES A N D N E IG H BO RS

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

LOS ANGELES AND HER NEIG HB ORS

L s A n l s o ge e (the angels) . In the diary of M Cos tan so of A 2 1 769 iguel , date ugust , , we “ rea d : To the north - northeast one could se e or another watercourse river bed , which formed a wide ravine , but it was dry . This watercourse of joined tha t the river, and gave clear indica tions of heavy ﬂoods during the rainy season , as it h ad many branches of trees and debris on its

. d sides We halte a t this place , which was named La o i n ul H P rc u c a. ere we felt three successive ” earthquakes during the afternoon and night . This was the stream upon which the city of L os Angeles was subsequently built and whose of name became a part her title . Porciuncula was the name of a deserted chapel near A ssisi f S t which became the abode o . Francis de Assisi B after the enedictine monks ha d presented him , 1 21 1 about , with the little chapel which he

wa . L a o i n l called , in a pleasant y, P rc u cu a (the small portion) . By order of Pius V , in 1 556 the erection of a new ediﬁce over the Porciuncula o chapel was begun . Under the bay f the choir t is still preserved the cell in which S . Francis d i s died , while a little behin the sacristy the spot 53 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

d d where the saint , uring a temptation , is sai to - u have rolled in a brier b sh , which was then changed into thornless roses — ( Catholic Ency u clop e di a. ) In this story there is a curio s inter weaving of the history of the names of ou r two S an rival cities , Francisco in the north and Los

Angeles de Porciuncula in the sou th . Continuing their journey on the following a day, the Portol party reached the Indian Yan n a rancheria (village) of g , the site chosen for the pueblo established a t a later date . Fa ther Crespi writes of it thus : We followed the road lan d to the west , and the good pasture followed us ; a t about half a league of travel we en coun ter e d the village of this part ; on seeing us they out on came the road , and when we drew near as they began to howl , though they were wolves ; to we saluted them , they wished give us some seeds , and as we ha d nothing at hand in which to carry them , we did not accep t them ; seeing n this , they threw some handfuls o the ground and the rest in the air . August 2d being the feast day of Nuestra S eﬁ or a d e los A n eles V M g , as the irgin ary is S often called by the paniards , this name was given to the place . The actu al founding of the pueblo did not S 4 1 781 occur until eptember , , when G overnor 54

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

our i have been securely preserved down to t mes , furnishing indisputable evidence of the strange r of life that once existed on ou shores . Fossils a large numb er of pre - historic and later animals t have been taken ou , aggregating nearly a mil of lion specimens of bird and animal life , many A them hitherto unknown to science . mong them — are the saber tooth tiger , gigantic wolves , bears , of horses , bison , deer, an extinct species coyote , R i camels , elephants , and giant sloths . ema ns are also found of mice , rabbits , squirrels , several of of species insects , and a large numb er birds , as an d such ducks , geese , p elicans , eagles con dors . Among the most remarkable of these fossils

- are the saber tooth tiger and the great wolf . Specimens of the wolf have been found which are among the largest known in either living or ff extinct species . This wolf di ers from existing species in having a larger and heavier Skull and i ts j aws , and in massive teeth , a conformation that must have given it grea t crushing power . The structure of the skeleton shows it to have been probably less swift , but more powerful l b f than the modern wo f, and the grea t num er o bones found indicate that it was exceedingly n e common in that age . O bed of bones was un covered i n which the numb er of saber- tooth and 56 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

wolf skulls together averaged twenty per cubic A of yard . ltogether, the disappearance these th e C for great , ferocious beasts from alifornia ests need cause no keen regret . Next to the large wolf th e most common i s the - of sk ele saber tooth tiger, which one complete ton a nd a large number of bones have been a found . The skeleton shows the animal to h ve A been of about the size of a large frica n lion , and its most remarkable characteristic was the extraordinary length of the upper canine teeth , which were like long, thin sabers , with ﬁnely k serra ted edges . These teeth were aw wardly se i s plac ed for ordinary u , and it thought by scientists that they were used for a downward l stab through the thick necks of bu ky creatures , s such a the giant sloth . There is also an unusual of development the claws , possibly to make up f r of r e o th e loss grasping power in the j aws , sulti n g from the interference of the long saber of f teeth . It appears from the state many o the fossils tha t these teeth were peculiarly liable to of fracture , and accidents this sort may have led to the extinction of the species , the animal thus perishing through the over-development of n o e of its characteristics . Fossils of the extinct horse an d bison are com m on f , and a smaller number are found o camels , 57 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

e deer, goats , and the mammoth . The bison w re heavy - horned and somewha t larger than the ff f of . o existing species bu alo The camel , which an almost complete specimen h as very recently

e o u t R . C . S b en taken by Professor toner, of the of C University alifornia , was much larger than S the present day species . ince the above was put in type , a human skeleton has been taken from the vicinity of the La B rea bed . Whether B this Skeleton belongs with the La rea deposits , and wha t its comparative age in relation to i other human rema ns may be , are matters now being investigated by scientists . The preponderance of meat- eating ani mals in the La B rea beds has attracted the attention of scientists , who believe tha t these creatures were lured to the spot in large numb ers by th e strug gles and cries of their unfortunate prey caught of in the sticky mass the tar . In this way, a single sloth , or other crea ture , may have been the means of bringing retribution upon a whole pack of wolves — (Notes taken from an article S M of O 1 8 in the unset agazine ctober, 90 , entitled Th e D e ath T a th A s o e e C . Mer r p f g , by John f riam , Professor o Paleontology in the Univer si t C y of alifornia . ) The manner in which this great aggregation of animals came to a tragic en d in tha t long 58 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

past age i s exemplified in the way that birds an d o th er small animals are still occasionally caught in the treacherous asphalt an d there perish of miserably, adding their bones to those their unhappy predecessors . The La B rea beds furnish on e of the richest fields for paleontological research to be found anywhere in the world and it may be said; that S an d with her grea t equoias in the north , her of - reservoir pre historic remains in the south , California stands as a link between a past age and the present . The tarry deposit itself h as its own place in history , for it appears tha t the first settlers of L os Angeles were alive to the practical value of this supply of asphaltum lying ready to their hands , and used it in roofing their houses . Even the Indians , little as is the credit usually given them for skill in the arts a nd crafts , recognized of the possibilities this peculiar substance , and used it in calking their canoes .

L OS OJITOS

The story of L os Oj i tos (literally little eyes “ of but here used in the sense little springs , S An a situated about two leagues from anta ,

59 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

indicates that the pleasures of social intercour se were not altogether lacking among the Califor of M Costan so nia Indians . In the diary iguel , of f : the date o their arrival at this place , he writes “ We found no water for the animals , but there was sufﬁcient for the p eople in some little springs or small pools , in a narrow canyon close f to a native village . The Indians o this village were holding a feast and dance , to which they had invited thei r relatives of the Ri o d e los Tem blo es R of or S r ( iver the Earthquakes , anta D uring this time the travelers exp er i en ce d a series of earthquakes lasting several days . Ojo d e agua was commonly used by the Span i ar d s to mean a spring, but during the eight e en th century it was frequently used in America in the sense of a small stream of water rather than a spring .

SANTA ANA

On F d 28 1 6 the day, ri ay, July , 7 9 , of the arrival of the Portola expedition at the stream S an ta A n a now called the , which takes i ts rise in S an B M n the ernardino ountai s , and empties into of L the ocean a t a point southeast os Angeles , 60 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

S of four severe earthquakes occurred . peaking C this circumstance in his diary , Fa ther respi “ says : To this spot was given E l D ulc e Nom bre d e J es us d e los Tem blores (The Sweet Name of of Jesus of the Earthquakes) , because having experienced here a frightful earthquake , which was repeated four times during the day . The d ﬁrst , which was the most violent , happene a t ’ one o clock of the afternoon , and the last about ’ On e of en ti les four o clock . the g (unbaptized

Indians) , who happened to b e in the camp , and who , without doub t , exercised among them the of the office priest , no less terrified a t event than we , began , with horrible cries and grea t demon str ati on s H , to entreat eaven , turning to all points sol of the compass . This river is known to the ” A n on e of diers as the S an ta a. This was the rare cases where th e usual metho d of naming was reversed , and the soldiers chose the name f A S t. o the saint . nna was the mother of the V “ ” irgin and her name signifies gracious . of In the diary Father Font , companion of C A aptain nsa in his second expedition , this ref “ erence occurs : The river of Santa An a was so called because the expedition under Com mander Portolareached it on the day of Santa An a , and h e gave it this name . of C d P In the account aptain Pe ro ages , of the 61 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

on same expedition , the natives this stream are described as having light complexions and hair , ff and a good appearance , di ering in these par ti cular s from the other inhabitants of that r e gion , who were said to be dark , dirty, under n ot sized and slovenly . This is the only occasion when the Spaniards reported ﬁnding Indians of n e light complexions and hair in California . O account speaks of a red - haired tribe not far of S an an of north Francisco , d still another “ M white Indians at onterey, but , judging by the light of ou r subsequent knowledge of these of t aborigines , the writers hese reports must have indulged in exaggeration . On S of S A n a the outhern bank the anta , not of far from the coast , is the town the same name , and further inland i ts waters have ma de to bloom in the desert the famous orange orchards of R iverside .

SANTA MONICA

’ S an ta Mon i ca , situated a t the innermost point of the great curve in the coast line just west of L O S A ngeles , was named in honor of a saintly lady whose story i s here quoted from Clara ’ “ Erskine Clement s S tori es of th e S ain ts : Sh e was f t o S . A the mother ugustine , and was a 62

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

N 27 ﬁ ve leagues in circumference , on ovember , and before dropping anchor in a good cove as u which w found , a grea t n mber of Indians f - cam e ou t in canoes o cedar wood and pine , e made of planking w ll joined and calked , and or with eigh t oars each , and fourteen ﬁfteen

- Indians , who looked like galley slaves . They drew near and came on board our vessels with ou t any fear wha tever . We dropped anchor and on went on shore . There were the beach a great u n mber of Indians , and the women received us - with roasted sardines and a fruit cooked i n the ” manner of sweet potatoes . Mass was celebrated there in the presence of 1 0 5 Indians . The people were very friendly and the women led the white men by the hand into “ : their houses . The diary continu es These people go dressed in the skins of seals ; the women are modest but thievish . The Indians received us with embraces and bro u ght water

- in some very well ma de j ars , and in others like on ﬂasks , that were highly varnished the out side . They have acorns and some very large o f Skins , with long wool , apparently bears , ” which serve them for blankets . u The travelers fo nd here an idol , in the man of b u t ner the devil , without a head , with two d o horns , a g at the feet , and many children 64 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

painted aro u nd it . The Indians readily gave up this idol and accepted the cross in i ts stea d .

S t. C of atherine , patroness this island . was on e of the most notable fema le martyrs of th e R sh e oman Catholic church . We are told tha t of u of was royal blood , being the da ghter a - C Sh e half brother of onstantine the Grea t . was C converted to hristianity, and became noted for S h e her unusual sanctity . was both beautiful o and intellectual , and possessed the gift f elo q uen ce in such a high degree tha t she was able to confound fifty of th e most learned men ap p om ted by Maximin to dispute matters of r e li i n M o . g with her The same aximin , enra ged of ff of by her refusa l his o ers love , ordered tha t “ she be tortured by wheels flying in diff erent directions , to tear her to pieces . When they ha d con bound her to these , an angel came and sumed the wheels in fire , and the fra gments flew around and killed the executioners and 3 000 M b e people . aximin finally caused her to be hea ded , when angels came and bore her body

. S . to the top of Mt. inai In the eighth century a monastery was built over her burial pla ce . S C ( S tori es of th e S ai n ts . ) anta a talina is the patroness of educa tion , science , philosophy, elo uen ce of q , and a ll colleges , and her island has good reason to be satisﬁed with the name chosen b y V izcaino . 65 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

LAS ANIMAS BENDITAS

n s Of L as A im a (the souls) , which lay between S an Gabriel and the country of the Am ajab a r i n (Mojave) Indians , we ﬁnd the sto y Fray ’ Joaquin Pasqual Nu ez s diary of the expedition G M made in 1 81 9 by Lieutenant abriel oraga , to Am a ab as punish the marauding j , who ha d mur dered a number of Christian natives . This name was also used as the title of a land grant just south of Gilroy . The Moraga party arrived a t a point about a league and a half from Our La dy of Guadalupe i i of G uap ab t. We found the place where the Am ajabas killed four Christians of this mission S an G S an ( abriel) , three from Fernando , and some g en ti les (unbaptized Indians) . We found d the skeletons and Skulls roaste , and , a t about a

- gun shot from there we pitched camp . The next to day, after mass , we caused the bones be car d N rie in procession , the cross in front , Pa dre uez n chanti g funeral services , to the spot where they h ad . been burned There we erected a cross , a t th e foot of which we caused the bones to be buried in a deep hole , and then we blessed the sepulchre . We named the spot Las A n im as en ditas S Ma B (The Blessed ouls) . y they rest in peace ! 66

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

S AN G AB RIEL

S an Gab i el r , the quaint little town lying nine o f L O S A of Mi s miles east ngeles , is the site the n i l A n l t G A sion S a Gabr e rca ge ( S . abriel rch e S e 8 1 77 1 angel) , found d ptember , , by Pa dres m bOn S Ca and omera . This mission was placed

- S in a fertile , well wooded pot , in the midst of a i n s tr uc large Indian popula tion , who , under the tion of the padres , became experts in many arts ,

- such as sewing, weaving, soap making, cobbling, e t c . Their flocks and herds increased to such a n extent that they covered the co u ntry for many miles around . S an G The pa tron saint , abriel , was the second in rank o f the archangels who stand before the B Lord . Whenever he is mentioned in the ible , it is as a messenger bearing important tidings , and he is especially venera ted as having carried to the V irgin the message tha t she was to b e come the mother of Christ . S an Gabriel (man of G o d ) has a place in sev eral religions . To the Isra elites he was the angel of death ; according to the Talmu d he was the u He prince of fire and r led the thunder . set fire to the temple of Jerusalem ; appeared to Daniel and Zacharias ; announced to Mary the birth of 69 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

M . Christ , and dictated the Koran to ahomet The

- i last named prophet descr bes him very fully, mentioning among other things 500 pairs of on e wings , the distance from wing to another Hi s being 500 days journey . day in the church h — H H calendar i s March 1 8 t . ( ubert owe Ban croft ) Father Font says in h i s diary of the A nsa ex “ p edi ti on : S an Gabriel de los Temblores ( S aint Gabriel of the earthqu akes) was so called b e cause the earth trembled on the day when they ” reached that spot .

S AN FERNAND O

as of F It w in the valley S an ern an d o ( S t. Fer di n an d of L s ) , a short distance northwest o A ngeles , that the mission pertaining to the latter was S 8 1 797 place established , eptember , , by L asu én D m tz Pa dres and u e . The Camulos R R of ancho , the home of amona , the heroine ’ Mr s . H H elen unt Jackson s romance , was once f included in the lands o this mission .

S t. Ferdinand , King of Spain , in whose honor was this place named , was a notable warrior, as well as a saint , and he succeeded in expelling M o the oors from Toledo , C rdova and S eville . 70

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

or to the depth of a foot a foot and a half, over a spac e of abo u t twelve by seven or eight feet . In the center of this area two heavy posts ar e s e t u p three or four feet apart . These are con n ecte d a t the top by a log laid in their forks . lo Upon this g, and in the two forks , are laid some ﬁfty or more logs and sticks of vario u s dimensions , their ends sloping down to the edge of the excavation . It is probable tha t brush u covers these timbers . The whole is thoro ghly covered with earth . There is no smoke hole . on e of e The entrance is on the long sid s , directly facing the space between the two center posts , and only a few feet from them . The ﬁreplace is u between the entrance and the posts . It is j st possible to stand upright in the center of the N . C so house In orthern alifornia , the ca lled u sweatho se is of larger dimensions , and was pre ” e m minently a ceremonial or asse bly chamber . D r H B u o f . L . . nnell , in his history the dis cov er of Y e V y the osemit alley , gives us some interesting details of the use of the sweatho u se “ among the Indians of tha t region : The remains of these structu res were sometimes mistaken for tum u lt u of , being constr cted bark , reeds or grass , covered with mud . It ( the swea thouse) was used as a curative for disease , and as a con v en i en ce for cleansing the Skin , when necessity 7 2 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

demands it , although the Indian race is not

- noted for cleanliness . I have seen a half dozen or more enter on e o f these rudely constructed s we ath ouses through the small a pert u re left for Hot the purpose . stones are taken in , the aper ture is closed until suff oca tion would seem i m pending, when they would crawl out , reeking with perspiration , and with a shout , spring like A s acroba ts into the cold wa ters of the stream . for a remedial agent disease , the same course is pursued , though varied a t times by the burning f and inhalation o resinous boughs and herbs . In the process of cleansing the skin from impuri h ot . ties , air alone is generally used If an Indian ha d passed the usual period of mourning for a rela tive , and the a dhesive pitch too tenaciously clung to his no longer sorrowful countenance , he would enter a nd r e - enter the heated house until the cleansing ha d become complete . The mourning pitch is composed of the charred f r bones and ashes o the dea d relative o friend .

These remains of the funeral pyre . with the charcoal , are pulverized and mixed with the resin of the pine ; this hideous mixture is usually retained upon the fa ce of the mourner until it off - wears . If it has been well compounded , it may last nearly a year ; although the young,

- either from a super abundance of vitality, ex 73 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of or cessi ve reparative powers the skin , from

so . powers of will , seldom mourn long When the bare s urface exceeds tha t covered by the pitch , it is not a scandalous disrespect in the young to remove it entirely, but a mother will seldom remove pitch or garment until both are ” nearly worn ou t. ef ficaci This heroic treatment , while possibly ous in the simple ailments by which the Indians ff were most Often a licted , usually resulted in a great increase of mortality in the epidemics of smallpox following upon the footsteps of the n e of white man . O traveler speaks a severe sort of t intermit ent fever , to which the natives were so subject , and of which many died that hun dreds of bodies were found strewn about the H country . aving observed tha t the whites , even of when attacked by this fever, rarely died it , he was inclined to ascribe the mortality among - l tem es a . the natives to their great cure all , the c A number of places in the state bore this name , among them a small town lying between the sites now occupied by the flourishing cities of Oakland and B erkeley . Its citizens became discontented with the u n di gn ifie d character of the name , and changed it to Alden . T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

S AN B ERNARDINO

S an B ern ard in o is the name of a coun ty in of the southeastern part California , whose broa d expanse is mainly made up of volcanic d mountains , esert plains , and valleys without r timber o water . The name was first gi ven to the snow- capped peak , feet high , lying about twenty miles of of S an i s si t east the city Bernardino , which uate d of L os A sixty miles east ngeles , in the fruit of i s and alfalfa region . The name this town on e of the most regrettable examples of corrup v tion tha t ha e occurred in the state , having passed from its original sweetly flowing sylla bles through th e successive stages of S an B er d i n o e di n o l of , B r , until final y reaching the acme B er d oo vulgarity as , by which appellation it is f known to its immediate neighbors . If ideas o of - d d of romance , pleasant soun ing wor s , and fideli ty to history make no appeal to our fellow

Californians , let them rea d again the quotation an d from S tevenson given above , learn that a romantic nomenclature may sometimes b e a valuable ﬁnancia l asset .

n S t. B ern ar i n us S an B ern ardi o ( d ) , the pa tron ar ti saint of the places bearing his name , is p cu 75 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

lar ly remembered as the founder of the charit able institu tion known i n S panish as Mon te d e M n t d e Pi ed ad (hill of pity) , and in French as o i t u P é é , m nicipal pawnshops where money was loaned on pledges to the poor . These pawnshops S are still conducted in many panish towns , in

A merica as well as in Europe .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIS T

A bal n e i n t of o Po , some miles to the southeast S an u so Pedro bay, was no do bt named from the abundance of the great s ea snails called abalon e , whose iridescent shells , the abandoned dwellings of the dea d animals , almost compara - of- cov ble in beauty to the mother pearl , once ered the beaches of the California coast with a “ ” a glittering carpet . The word once is used d vi se dl our - A y, for , with usual easy going merican negligence we have permitted these creatures of s ea for the , valuable their edible meat as well as for their exquisitely colored Shells , to be nearly destroyed by Chinese and Japanese ﬁsheries . That the ﬂesh of the abalone formed a useful part of the food su pply of the Indians is evi d en ce d by the large number of shells to be found u in the mo nds along the shore . In the living 7 6 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

to sta te the abalone clings the rocks on the shore , and i ts grip is so tenacious tha t more tha n on e u unfort na te person , caught by the foot or hand e e S b twe n the hell and the rock , has been held there while dea th crept slowly upon him in the e Aba Shape of the rising tide . Th re is another on lone Point the northern coast . “ Agua Cali en te (literally hot water gener i n f a lly used reference to hot springs . O these on e on there are many in the state , the Indian R of R A eserva tion southeast iverside . gua Cali w s ente a originally a land grant . A lam i t s dlam o o (little cottonwoods) , from , a tree of the poplar family indigenous to Cali m h ear i n for ia . There are several places g this name in the state , one a short distance northeast n of S anta A a. A li s o (alder tree) is the name of a place on ' S Fe R L O S A the anta ailroa d , south of ngeles , near the shore , and was probably named for the Ran ch o Caﬁada d e los A li s os . It is probably modern . A z usa is the name of a place in Los Angeles L OS A County, twenty miles east of ngeles , and was originally applied to the land grant there . o f or It is an Indian place name a lodge , ranch

A s uksa- n a eria , the original form being g , the gn a an ending which indicates place . 7 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

B an di n i (a surname) i s the name of a place a of A on short distance south east Los ngeles , the

Santa Fé Railroa d . The founder of this family B S was José andini , a mariner of panish birth , n who came to Califor ia with war supplies , and Hi s son B an S an D . finally settled at iego , Juan of dini , was a notable character in the history H e f the state . held several public o fices , took part in revolutions and colonization schemes , an d finally espoused the cause of the United

S tates . Bancroft gives the following resumé of “ his character : Juan B andini must be regarded as on e of the most prominent men of h i s time in H e of California . was a man fair abilities and of of education , generous impulses , jovial tem er am en t p , a most interesting man socially, of famous for his gentlemanly manners , good of courage in the midst p ersonal misfortunes , and always well- liked and respected ; indeed his record as a citizen was an excellent on e . In his struggles against fate an d the stupidity of his compatriots he became absurdly diplomatic and H tricky as a politician . e was an eloquent ” M B n speaker and ﬂuent writer . embers of th e a dini family still occupy positions of respect and inﬂuence in the state an d have ma de some i m dd portant a itions to its historical literature . olsa k B (poc et) , a term much in use with the 7 8

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

I ts east of Riverside . application here has not been ascertained . Con ejo (rabbit) is the name of a number of on e S places in the state , of them in the anta C V al Monica Mountains , another in the entral

n S . ley, o the anta Fé road m on a Cuca g is an Indian name , derived from S an B C - a village in ernardino ounty, forty two as miles by rail east of Los Angeles . It w origin ally applied to the land grant at that pla ce .

D ua te . r , a surname A L as Flores ( the flowers) . t this place there l was once a large In dian village , cal ed in the ush m ai native language , the place of roses , from

ush la . , rose - G Garvan za (chick pea) . arvanza is a corrupt a ba word , possibly corrupted from g r n z o (chick on e pea) . The town name is a modern , given S not by paniards but by tenderfeet , and there is f r no known reason o its application . H erm osa (beautiful) is the name of a town in S an B C of ernardino ounty, and a beach in L OS A C of ngeles ounty, also a mine in Neva da

County . I n di a S , the panish word for Indian , is the of e R name a plac in iverside County , near Col ton . I x: Joya ( the j ewel) . 80 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Lagun a (la goon) .

th e La Mirada ( view) .

L s olin s - o M o (the mills , or mill stones) , a name applied to a place east of S an Gabriel by th of 1 81 9 t e Moraga party , who went ou from the mission on a punitive expedition against the N Am M . ajab a ( ohave) Indians Pa dre uez , who “ : n accompanied the party, says O the return we passed by a place where there was plenty of of water, below a hill red stone , very suitable

- for mill stones . The same name , probably for was similar reasons , applied to other places in on e S the state , among th em in onoma County, an M C C d ill reek in Tehama ounty , originally called E l Ri o d e los Moli n os (The River of the Mill-stones)

n t lvo of Mo a (a surname) , the name a place in

V C . entura ounty, near Ventura This name is interesting as being the same as tha t borne by th e h of L as S er as d e E s lan dian aut or g p , in which the fabulous island of Californ ia plays a lea ding part .

r i ett Ma a (a surname) , the same as tha t of the Mu noted bandit , Joaquin rietta , who once ter r oriz ed C alifornia with his depredations . The of M town urietta , however, was not named in of of honor this gentleman unsavory memory, 8 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

i r . M s but for M . J urietta , who still living in

S outhern California . L os Ni e tos (literally the grandchildren but

of N . in this case a surname , that the ieto family L os Ni e tos was a land grant taken up by Manuel

Nieto and José Maria V erdugo in 1 784 . n C Pasad e a, said to b e derived from the hip pewa Indian language . The full name is said to e o uan asad en a be W q P , and the meaning to be ” Crown of th e V a lley . Let no man believe in “ ” the absurd story that it means Pass of Eden . “ Professor Kr oeber says : No unsophisticated and very few civilized Indians would think of ‘ ’ calling any place th e crown of the valley . The phrase h as all the appearance of having been coined by an American ou t of Indian or imagin ” ary Indian terms .

Prado (mea dow) . The Pra do is also the name of a famous promenade in the city of

Madrid . In the present instance it is a modern name applied without much regard for i ts ﬁt ness . uen te L OS A P (bridge) , in ngeles County, was Ran h taken from the name of the land grant , c o d e l n a P ue te . u l as C P g r eek (ﬂeas creek) .

Re d on d o B ea h - c (round beach) , a well known L OS A i s su seaside resort near ngeles , usually p 82

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

an d re treated for seven days , pilgrimages were S to i es th e made to this submarine tomb . r of

S ain ts .) H S S an Jaci n to (S t. yacinth) was a ilesian nobleman who became a monk , and was noted as for his intellectual superiority, as well for his an i s piety . S Jacinto the name of a town in of Riverside County, thirty miles southeast R of iverside , in the fruit region , and the range of mountains in the same county .

S an J uan P oi n t (St. John Point) .

M . S an Mateo Poi n t ( S t. atthew Point) n o h r i u s S an On ofre ( S t. O p ) was a hermit saint whose chief claim to sanctity seems to have been that he deprived himself of all the comforts of “ an d for life lived sixty years in the desert , dur ing which time he never uttered a word except ”

saw . in prayer, nor a human face

S an ed o S t. on S an P r ( Peter) is Pedro Bay, - i x L s of os A . t twenty miles south ngeles S . Peter was a ﬁsherman of Capernaum who left his Hi s home to follow Christ and preach Gospel . “ H e t and S . Paul are called the two princes ” among the apostles . Much discussion has raged around the question of the place and circum f ’ o S t. h r i stance Peter s death , but Catholic au t o ties regard i t as beyond doubt that he was mar r R i n ty ed a t ome , though the exact spot there s ot 8 4 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

A certain . ccording to the S criptures the name “ ” “ on Peter signiﬁes a rock . Thou art Peter, ” M this rock have I founded my church . ( atthew , 1 6 S an It seems probable , however , that Pedro B ay was not named in honor of th e t S . S t. apostle Peter, but for Peter the martyr , B of A d th e ishop lexan ria , who was martyred in 3 1 1 V year . The fact tha t izcaino ﬁrst sighted the on N 26 th of bay ovember , the feast day the

Alexandrian saint , lea ds to this supposition . S aticoy was the name of a former Chumash Indian village on the lower part of S anta Paula R u C iver , in Vent ra ounty, about eight miles sea of i s from the . The present town S aticoy on S C R V the anta lara iver, in entura County, near

V entura .

S err a (a surname) , probably given in honor of the celebrated founder of the California mi s sions . l T E oro (the bull) . Trabuco Can yon (literally blunderbuss can i n yon) . This name originated the circumstance that the men in the ﬁrst expedition under Cap A t bu - tain nza lost a ra co (a short , wide mouthed n — D of gun) in this canyo iary Father Font . alle e d e valle i n cor r ectl V V r (green y) , y Spelled on l the map as Va Verd e . Valle Vi sta (valley view) i s in Riverside 85 P L A C E N A M E S OF C A L I F O R N I A

f n a i n t o S a c o . Co u nty, ﬁve miles northwest J This name i s modern and incorrect in construe tion . u o V Verd g was named for the erdugo family, of Ran h S an Ra ae l the owners the c o f , northeast of Los Angeles and near the base of the V erdugo M V u was on e of Mountains . José aria erd go the grantees of the Nietos grant in 1 784 . n t in t V Vi ce e Po (Point incent) . This point was 1 793 G V named in by eorge ancouver, the Eng of Iish explorer, in honor Friar V icente S anta M of f i aria , one the reverend fathers o the m s f B ” sion o uena V entura .

8 6

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

IN T HE VI CINITY OF S ANTA B ARBARA

S an ta B a ba a r r , the charming little town that dreams away its existence among the flowers of old on o f its gardens , the shore the sheltered stretch of wa ter formed by the islands lying to of the seaward , was named for a noble la dy H Sh e h e Di oscor us . eliopolis , the daughter of m C ca e converted to hristianity, and was in con sequence cruelly persecuted an d finally b e “ o n headed by her w father . The legend tha t her fa ther was struck by ligh tning in punishment for this crime probably caused her to be r e garded by the common people as the guardian saint against tempest and fire , and la ter, by as of - analogy, the protectress artillery men and ”— C . miners . ( atholic Encyclopedia ) For this reason her image was placed over the doors of w po der magazines , and her name came a t last to be applied to the magazines themselves , which are known to the Spanish people as n sa tabdr bar as . Thus is explained the apparent incongruity between the name of the gentle saint and the places for storage of the i n str u f ments o savage war . The channel between the 8 9 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

mainland and the chain of islands was entered 1 602 on 4 th of D by Vizcaino in , the day ecember, of S B a for which is the feast day anta rbara , and this reason the name was bestowed upon it . A t the time of the arrival of the Spaniards the shores of the S anta B arbara channel probably supported a denser native population than any other part of the state . Th e gracious climate and never- failing food supply furnished by the gen r s of e ou waters the ocean , enabled the Indians to live at ease . 1 542 When Cabrillo entered the channel in , “ he reported that : A great number of Indians issued from the bushes , yelling and dancing,

to . and making signs , inviting us come on Shore They laid down their bows and arrows and t os came o the vessel in a good canoe . They p or sessed boats , large enough to carry twelve - of fourteen men , well constructed bent planks ” and cemented with bitumen . These Indians were of a higher order of i n telli en ce g than those farther north , and were of skilled in some the arts , including the making of h r excellent pottery . They were expert fi s e men , using nets for the purpose , and often eat fish i ing the raw . They wore their ha r long, tied d a up with long cords , to which many small g gers of flint , wood and bone were attached . They 9 0

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

ha d some notion of music , using a primitive sort of of of ﬂute , or whistle , ma de the hollow bones birds . They lived in conical houses , which were covered well down to the ground . S When Father erra passed tha t way, more than two centuries later, he found the same con i ti on s of d population , counting a s many as H e twenty populous villages along the channel . was moved to bitter tears of grief over the delay in establishing a mission where so rich a harvest He of souls lay ready to his hand . died before of this dearest wish his heart was accomplished , yet S anta B arbara may j ustly claim the honor f for o his presence at her birth , he took part in of oc the establishment the presidio , which 1 783 of cured in , three years before the building ’ P alou s i e . o S e a the mission . In L f f rr he de “ scribes that occasion thus : The party traveled of along the coast the channel , in sight of the u islands which form it , and when they j dged it to b e about half way, about nine leagues from S an t Buenaventura , they s opped and selected a for site the presidio , in sight of the beach , which of there forms a sort bay, furnishing anchorage n for ships . O this beach there was a large v i l H of en ti les . lage g ere the cross was raised , S Father erra blessed it and the land , and held mass . The following day they began to cut wood 93 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

’ for the building of the chapel , the priest s house , ’ alm a en es ofﬁ ci als houses , cuartel , c (store h ou seS ) , houses for families of married soldiers ” and the stockade .

The mission , which is still in an excellent state D e of preservation , was not established until r 4 1 786 S cemb e , , although erra looked upon s C that location a the most desirable in alifornia , and spent the last years of his life in constant n efforts to urge o the authorities to the work . That his hopes were realiz ed to the full after his death , and that large numbers of natives , as well as the succeeding white parishioners , knelt before th e altar dedicated to the gentle S anta a B rbara , is evidenced by the deeply worn marks of several generations of feet to b e seen in the wide ﬂight of steps at the entrance . A legend has long gone the rounds that S anta B arbara is unique among the missions in having s e l within her gardens , hidden behind their c u d “ ’ of ing walls , a holy holies , where no woman s A foot is permitted to press the sacred soil . s a of matter fact , this convent varies in no wise from others in the particular of prohibiting the of sex r entrance of persons the opposite , male o female as the case may be , into their inner

Cloisters . S an B uen aven tu a Missi on r , a t the town now 94

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

their only purpose in coming here was to direct H ” their souls to eaven . The patron of this mission was originally n named Giovanni Fi da ga. When a child he fell

ll S t. very i , and was taken by his mother to s Francis to b e healed . When the saint aw him “ recovered he exclaimed : O buena ventura whereupon his mother dedicated him to G od by en aven tu the name of B u ra (good fortune) . It is a pity that a name of such happy augury should of be mutilated by the amputation its ﬁrst part , n ow en tu the town and county app earing as V ra.

AS UNCION

di of S di s In th e aries the panish pioneers , a tinct i mpression is conveyed that the California so Indians , far from being morose and taciturn , as their brothers in other parts of the United S tates are often portrayed , were rather a merry lot , and received the white men everywhere in their long journey up the coast , with music , feasting and the dance . In fact , we run across a complai nt now and then that their hospitality was sometimes so insistent that their guests suf fer e d of from loss sleep , the serenading being d r kept up uring the enti e night . 9 6 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

t of Their music , no doub the most primitive “ of sort , was produced by means a small whistle , sometimes double , sometimes single , about the d siz e and length of a common fife . It was hel in on e of the mouth by end , without the aid the l fingers , and on y about two notes could be ”— B l n i t. a . . sounded o ( ancroft , from C Farmer ) Along th e S anta B arbara channel the festivi ties i n honor of the strangers were especially i A t A s n i n A on l vely . u c o ( ssumption) , a point h five t e coast lea gues below Carpinteria , they enjoyed a reception of which we rea d in Cos ’ a of 1 769 tanso s diary of the Portol expedition , “ of A t 1 4 th ° d date ugus We reache the coast , of and came in sight a real town , situated on a or of on tongue point land , right the shore , which it dominated , seeming to command the waters . We counted as many as thirty large and capacious houses , spherical in form , well built and thatched with grass . We judged there could n ot be less than four hundred souls in the town . These natives are well built and of a good disposition , very agile and alert , diligent and skillful . Their handiness and ability were a t of their best in the construction their canoes , made of good pine boards , well joined an d of calked , and a pleasing form . They handle r these with equal skill , and three o four men go 9 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

ﬁ sh ou t to se a in them to , for they will hold

- r . u eight o ten men They use long, do ble bladed pa ddles , and row with indescribable agility and All fin swiftness . their work is neat and well i sh e of d , and what is most worthy surprise is that to work the wood and stone they have no other tools than those ma de of flint We saw of , and obtained in exchange for strings glass beads , and other trinkets , some baskets or of ff trays made reeds , with di erent designs ; of ff wooden plates , and bowls di erent forms and of so sizes , ma de one piece , that not even those ou t u turned in a lathe could be more s ccessful . of They presented us with a quantity fish , par ti cular ly the kind known as bon i to; it has as good a flavor as tha t caught in the tunny- fi sh cr i es C on of artegena de Levante , and the coasts of Granada . We gave it the name of L a A s un

’ ci on d e N u es tr a S eii or a (the Assumption of Our on Lady) , because we reached it the eve of tha t ” festival .

EL B AIL ARIN

E l B i l r i a a n . ( the dancer) This spot , one lea gue C from arpinteria , was named in honor of a — nimble footed Indian , who cheered the weary on as travelers their way, thus told by Fa ther 9 8

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

CARPINTERIA

Carp i n teri a is the name of a little cluster of houses near the shore about ten miles east of

S anta B arbara . It lies in a region once densely “ populated with natives of very gentle and mild ” of disposition . The story its naming is told by “ a : Not Fa ther Crespi , of the Portol party very far from the town we saw some springs of

e asphaltum . Thes Indians have many canoes , on e and a t that time were constructing , for which reason the soldiers named this town Car i n ter i a p (carpenter shop) , but I baptized it with of o u e the name S an R q .

MONTE CITO

Mon teci to (little hill or little wood) is th e of si x name a , small village about miles from S B a anta rbara . The country in this vicinity, through its extraordinary charm of climate and h as scenery, attra cted a large number of very d rich people , whose splendi country houses , in

- bizarre contrast , now occupy the self same spots where the Indians once raised their ﬂimsy huts f o straw . 1 00 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

While tr aversing the shore of S anta Barbara a 1 769 channel , the Portol expedition of took time to make trips to th e islands an d bestow of S C names upon them . The island anta ruz received its name from a rather trivial circum stance . By some chance the padres lost there a ff on en sta which bore a cross the d . They gave so it up as irretrievably lost , were th e more pleased when the Indians app eared th e follow ing day to restore it . From this they gave the H island the name of S an ta Cruz ( oly Cross) .

RANCHERIA DE LA ES PADA

Of the Ran ch eria d e la Espada (village of the C Fa es of a sword) , aptain g , the Portol expedi tion says : Two and a h alf leagues northwest i s Of Point Conception , another glen found with f 2 0 a population o twenty hearths , with 5 In

or . of dians , more less The natives the settle an d d s o ment here are extremely poor starve , i that they can scarcely live , be ng without canoes , t of in rugged land , and shor ﬁrewood . While h i s d here a soldier lost swor , leaving it carelessly 1 0 1

7 TD D I 1 7 V P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

so . B u t fastened , that they took it from his belt the Indians who saw this theft themselves ran of in p u rsuit of the thief, and deprived him the ” article in order that its owner might recover it . From this the place received the name of the

n h ia d e la s ada Ra c er E p , and the little story is still commemorated in the name of Espa da

Landing .

MATILIJA

Mati li a C e ek Mati li a S i n s V en j r and j p r g , in u C t ra ounty, derive their name from an Indian on e village , of those mentioned in the mission Th e as archives . name is best known applied to M the atilija poppy, that ﬂower of the gods which has its native habitat along the banks of th e creek . This giant poppy, by reason of its ex tra u ordinary size and delicate beauty, has a j st ’ claim to be called queen of all California s wild ”

S u of . ﬂowers , as the eq oia is king her trees It of is a perennial plant , shrubby chara cter , and of grows wild in the southern part the state , S M R from the anta aria iver southward , extend i n C g into Lower alifornia , where it sprea ds over large areas . It ﬂourishes in particular luxur i M ance in the atilija canyon , but the popular idea was that that spot its only habita t is erroneous . 1 0 2

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

sea that point of land extending into th e , a few miles north of Point Conception .

CAMULOS

m lo d Kam alas Ca u s, also spelle , was the name of an Indian village near S an B uenaventura . This village is among those mentioned in the i s of mission archives , and noted as the home H H R of Mrs . amona , the heroine elen unt Jack ’ son s romance . The meaning of the word Cam A r ulos . . , according to Professor L K oeber , is “ ” my fruit .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIST

L os A lam os (the cottonwoods) is in S anta a B f a . rbara County, northwest o S anta B rbara The dlam o is a species of poplar tree indigenous to Californiaan d widely sprea d throughout the state . A rgii ello Poi n t is on the coast of S anta B ar C bara ounty , just south of Point Pedernales . A of rguello is a surname , that a pioneer family, of Ar ii ello s which José Dario g wa the founder . “ For many years Don José was th e most promi 1 04 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

nent I nﬂuential and respected man in Califor nia A r gii ello Poin t was named by V ancouver in honor o f the Spanish governor .

- C B . . (Mr . harles Turrill )

o n e . E l Cojo (the lame ) This place , near Point so S Conception , was named by the paniards because they saw here an Indian chief who was lame . in t C n e i on Po o c p c , the point at the southwest a so ern extremity of S anta B rbara County, was “ named in reference to the immaculate con cep ” f V tion o the irgin . L os D os P ue blos ( the two towns) is on the f B a n coast a few miles west o S anta rbara . O O 1 6 1 542 C d an ctober , , the abrillo expe ition chored opposite two Indian villages here , and “A named the place L os D os P ue blos . lthough these villa ges were separated only by a small ff stream , their inhabitants were of a di erent race and language , those on one side being short , on thick and swarthy, and the other tall , slender of and not so dark . The depth the kitchen refuse a t the site of these two towns indicates that these Indians ha d lived here since the Christian era and were contemporary with the mound build ” r — Hi s to o n t B e s . S a a a ba a ( ry f r r Co un ty. ) B ancroft , however, has little faith in the extra ordinary antiquity ascribed to the Indian r e 1 05 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

mains found at this place , and says in regard “ to them : There was a tendency a t ﬁrst , as is

‘ i n su ch usual cases , to ascribe the channel relics

- to a pre historic race , but nothing indicating ” s u ch an origin has ever been found there . Gavi ota ( sea- gull) is on the shore a few miles west of S anta B arbara . Father Crespi mentions having given this name to another place further “ : down the coast We reached an estuary, on whose border stood a rancheria of ﬁfty- two For huts , with three hundred people . having sea- killed a gull here , th e soldiers called this La Gavi ta S an uis e place o , but I named it L R y d F A s n u i e ran cia. S a L s R ey it has remained on the map . Gaviota Pass is an important gap in the S anta

Inez range . Every on e who has crossed the bay of S an Francisco in the winter season must have r e joi ce d in the sight of the ﬂying convoy of those avi tas beautiful creatures , the g o , by which each

- ferry boat is accompanied . G oleta (schooner) is the name of a village in S B a C v anta rbara oun ty, se en miles west of S B a anta rbara .

- G uadalu e . S A p This name is panish rabic , but M A in exico it may represent certain ztec sounds . G u of uadal pe is strictly the name a picture , but 1 0 6

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

have been saved from peril by sea and land ’ of through the saint s intervention . Outside it “ ” S of G may be seen the famous ails uadalupe , f of a representation in stone o the sails a ship , which was erected by some sailors in expres sion of their gratitude for rescue from a ship wreck . M The name is a grea t favorite among exicans , C not only to designate places , but also as a hris C tian name for both men and women . In ali for n i a there is the town of Gua dalup e near the S B a C northern border of anta rbara ounty, and the river bearing the same name in S anta Clara S E l County, originally called by the paniards Ri o d e N u est a S eii or a d e G uad alu e r p , no doubt on D e because it was discovered her feast day, r 1 2 of cem b e th . The story the naming of this stream is given by Father Font in his diary of “ the Anza expedition of 1 776 : We set out from the Arroyo de S an Mateo at a quarter past seven in the morning , and a t four in the afternoon halted on the other side of a river which we Ri o G u h as called El de uadal pe . It its outlet in of the extremity the port , and for about a league on above its mouth is very deep , account of its waters being backed up and without current . Lomp oc is on e of the names of Indian villages taken from the mission archives . It is situated 1 08 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

f a on th e fif ty miles northwest o S anta B rbara ,

S outhern Paciﬁc Railroa d . N o o ui S B a C was j q , in anta rbara ounty, pre l f l s um ab y the name o an India n vi lage . L os Oli vos ( the olives) is in S anta Barbara

on C R . County, the oast Line ailroa d L a Pi edra Pi n tada (the painted rock) is about S B a H eighty miles from anta rbara . ere there or was a stone wigwam , forty ﬁfty yards in diameter, whose walls were covered with p aint ings in the form of halos and circles , with radia Hi sto o S an ta B ar tions from the center . ry f ba C un t ra o y.) P un ta G orda (fat or broa d point) i s on e of th e points of land running into th e sea from the S a I ts i i ts anta B rbara Coast . name ndicates shape . u t l i t n f P n a d e as R as (poi t o the rites) , per haps refers to some religious ceremony held upon that spot . La P urisim a Con cep cwn ( th e immaculate conception) was th e third of the channel m i s d on k sions . It was founde the south ban of the S Ri d S R anta Inez ver , then calle the anta osa , on D 8 1 787 s ecember , . The site i in S anta Barbara C of L ounty , near the town ompoc, and a short A distance from the coast . lthough it was the most mo dest of all the missions in its ar chi tec 1 09 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

r ture and dimensions , it ha d a ve y stirring his 1 8 1 2 tory . In a terrific earthquake , said to b e the most violent that has ever occurred in Cali u for n i a, reduced the church b ilding and the ho u ses of the Indians to ruins . The earth opened in several places , emitting water and black sand , and torrents of rain caused floods in the river un which completed the ruin . The fathers were dismayed , however , and went immediately to work to replace the first buildings , which were

' of wi th m or e of . a dobe , solid structures stone The next disaster was a revolt of the natives in 1 824 , during which the Indians used the church as a fort . They erected palisades , cut loopholes of in the walls the church and other buildings , on e or ol and mounted two rusty d cannon . When the attacking party appeared on the scene they were met by a lively ﬁre from the na tives inside the church , but their marksmanship was r so poor that little execution was done . The e f volt was soon put down , and a fairs at the mis old sion resumed their peaceful course , until , in 1 844 , an epidemic of smallpox broke ou t and caused the death of the greater proportion of 1 84 . 5 the Indians In the mission estate , except ing the church buildings , was sold to John G s m Temple by overnor Pico for a pa ltry u , and its old time glories were soon a thing of the 1 1 0

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Maltrato y A rr oyo d e S al si P ued es (mountain

- of ill treatment and creek of get ou t i f you can) . A of S an ta I n ez ( S t. gnes) is the name a river in S anta B arbara County which rises in the Coast Range and flows into the Pacific Ocean about ten miles north of Cap e Conception . The town of the same name is situated on this river . The Mission S anta Inez was founded S eptember 1 7 1 804 C G uti er , , by Pa dres Tapis , a lza da and u rez . It flo rished for a time , but was greatly 1 81 2 damaged by an earthquake in , was rebuilt and damaged again by the Indians in the revolt f 1 824 o , and its partially ruined buildings still remain to tell of a vanished past . Its patroness ,

S t. A was on e gnes , of the four grea t virgin mar Sh e R tyrs of the Latin Church . was a oman of maiden great beauty, and was condemned to S death by the sword , by the Prefect empronius , son on in revenge for her refusal to marry his , “ the ground that sh e was already afﬁ an ce d to a sh e B e husband whom loved , meaning Jesus . fore causing her death S empronius attempted to procure her dishonor by havi ng her conveyed to “ sh a house of infamy, but when e prayed to

Christ that sh e might not be dishonored , sh e saw before her a shining white garment which sh e on o put with j y, and the room was ﬁlled with great light . 1 1 2

T H E SA N L UI S O BI S PO G RO UP

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

shots , and experienced the ferocity of these ani u mals . Upon feeling themselves wo nded they u attack the hunter at f ll speed , and he can only escape by using the greatest dexterity . They do n ot yield except when the shot succeeds i n reaching the hea d or heart . The one that the soldiers killed received nine balls before falling, and did not fall until on e struck h im in the hea d . P of Captain ages , the same expedition , gives a similar account a spacious glen with a rivu let of very good water In said glen saw of they whole herds bears , which have ploughed up all the ground , where they dug to seek thei r livelihood from the roots that it pro an f duces . They are ferocious brutes , d o very f i n di ﬁcult hunting, throwing themselves with b credi le speed and anger upon the hunter, who of only escapes by means a swift horse . They do not yield to the shot unless it be in the hea d ” or heart . M Costan so of iguel , the same party, says

In the afternoon , as they ha d seen many tracks si x on of bears , soldiers went out hunting horse back , and succeeded in shooting one bear . It was an enormous animal ; it measured fourteen p ah n s from the sole of the feet to th e top of its head ; its feet were more than a foot long ; and 1 20

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

A ma de prisoner by the King of ragon , gave H e Louis and his brother as hosta ges . became 1 294 wearied of everything but religion , and in , when he was ma de free , h e gave all his royal rights to his brother Robert and became a monk H t . e as of the Order of S . Francis w then twenty l S B f two years o d . oon he was ma de ishop o

s e t ou t - Toulouse ; and he , bare footed and f H e clothed as a friar , to take his new O ﬁce . on went into Provence a charitable mission , and B r i n olles died a t the castle of g , where he was H e M born . was ﬁrst buried a t arseilles , then

V was . removed to alencia , where he enshrined Hi s pictures represent him as young, beardless ,

H h as ﬂ e r - - and of gentle face . e the u de lis em h i s or of broidered on cope , on some part his dress . The crown which he gave away lies a t ” his feet , while h e wears the mitre of a bishop . S to i e h in ts ( r s of t e S a . )

SAN MI G UEL

S an Mi ue l S t. M g ( ichael) , Situated about forty S an seven miles northeast of Luis Obispo , is the of M S an M 25 site ission iguel , founded July , 1 797 L asu én Si t ar , by Pa dres and j . It is said tha t “ the lands of ‘ this mission extended from 1 22 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

on the Tulares on the east to the sea the west , and from the north boundary of the S an Luis

Obispo district to the south line of S an Antonio . It ha d its work- shops and little factories where the good padres taught the Indians the useful 1 83 6 . was arts Its property confiscated in , and sold at auction in M S t. ichael , in whose honor this mission was “ i s t named , regarded as the first and mighties He o c m of all crea ted spirits . it was whom G d o missioned to expel! S a tan and th e rebellious H Hi s ffi angels from eaven . o ce now is believed two- t to be fold , including tha t of pa tron sain of C on the hurch earth , and Lord of the souls of the dea d ; presenting the good to G od and sending the evil and wicked away to torment . M i s In pictures S t. ichael always represented as young and beautiful , sometimes a s the Lord of e souls in pictures of d ath , sometimes in armor f as the conqueror o S atan .

PA S O DE ROB LES

l th e Paso d e R ob es (pass of oaks) , known far th e and wide for its hot sulphur springs , where sick of many lands ﬁn d surcease from their

i s - e S an pain , situated twenty nin miles north of 1 23 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Luis Obispo . It was named for the reason indi t C ca e d by Father respi , who says in a valley I n the hollow of the S anta Lucia Moun L os R obles tains , called , for the great abundance h ” of these trees wit which it is populated . It should be explained that the r oble i s not the or - en in o evergreen , live oak , which is called c .

At Leland S tanford Jr . University the names of these two species of oaks have been rather poeti ’ — cally used for the students dormitories , Encina H for R H all the men , and oble all for the women .

1 24

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

S UPPLEMENTARY LIST

A o n e S an rroy Gra d (big creek) , a village in C of Luis Obispo ounty , ﬁfteen miles southeast

S an Luis Obispo . A t e ascad ro (boggy ground , quagmire) . A ven l a (a field sown with oats) . ’ B ach on (big craw) is the name of the point on the coast directly opposite the town of S an h as Luis Obispo , and a significance not alto S gether agreeable . The panish soldiers called ’ th e place B ach on from an Indian in the neigh b or h ood who was the unfortunate possessor of was so a n enormous goitre , which large that it n hu g down upon his breast . fi a e l si t h ear so Ca da d O o (glen of the little ) , called because some Indians from the mountains ff of O ered th e Spaniards a present a bear cub . Cayucos i s the name of a village in S an Luis of n Obispo County, eighteen miles northwest S a i s Luis Obispo . The word cayuco probably In ff dian in origin , and is used in di erent senses in o i different parts f Amer ca . In V enezuela it n means a small fishing boat , built to hold o e “

C . person , while in uba it means hea d As this i s n place o the shore , it was probably named in ff reference to Indian ﬁshing ski s . 1 27 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

f Ch o lam e (the name o an Indian tribe) .

s t . Cu e a (hill , mount , ridge , also family name)

Es teros (estuaries , creeks into which the tide

ﬂows at ﬂood time) .

Estero Poin t ( estuary point) .

Estrella (star) . ’ L op ez (a surname) . M o ff . Morr (headland , blu ) orro is the name S an O C of a hamlet in Luis bispo ounty, on the S an shore , twelve miles northwest of Luis

Obispo .

Nacim i en to (birth) . This word is generally used by the Spaniards in the sense of the birth f o Christ .

L os Osos ( the bears) . i ed as B lan as or P r c (white stones , rocks) , the name of a point on the coast .

i sm P o , an Indian word said to mean place of ” fish s i en , but this definition is not based upon c ti fi c authority .

o or P zo (well , pool) is the name of a village an in S Luis Obispo County .

n i o t S of S a S m e n ( S . imeon) is the name a S an C on village in Luis Obispo ounty, the Shore of Jolé n twenty miles south . It has a good har

S t. S bor . imeon , the patron saint of this place , “ on e was of the apostles , and is called the Prophet” because he was the translator of the 1 28

IN T H E N E IG H BO RH O O D O F MO NT E R EY

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

i - may wish , and also l ve oaks , oaks , rosemary, - of A rock roses , roses lexandria , good hunting of of rabbits , hares , partridges and flying birds diff erent sorts . The land is of mild temperature , f and o good waters , and very fertile , judging th e by the luxuriant growth of trees and plants , sa for I w some fruits from them , particularly an t of chestnuts d acorns , larger han those of i s - d Spain ; and it well populate with people , sa whose disposition I w to be soft , gentle , docile , H and very fit to be reduced to the oly Church . Their food is of many and various seeds that they have and also wild game , such as deer, of some which are larger than cows , also bears , and cattle and buffalo , and many others . The of Indians are good body, white of countenance, and the women somewhat smaller , and well of favored . Their dress is the people of the of beach , the skins of seals , of which there are d an abun ance , which they tan and prepare bet ” ter than in S pain . At fir st thought it would seem that V izcaino must have been in error about finding buff alo M at onterey, but investigation shows that in “ 1 530 those animals ranged through wha t is now New M O exico , Utah , regon , Washington , and B H ritish Columbia . ( an d book of A m eri can In di n a s .) Oregon is not so far away but tha t 1 3 4

P L A C E N ' A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of e cove a t the edge the pr sent town , it was de cided that not enough arable land existed at r of so that point for the suppo t the mission , the religious establishment was removed to Carmel B a y, while the Presidio and its chapel remained a t Monterey .

The Mission S an Carlos B orr om e o ( S t. Charles as 3 1 770 Mon B orromeo) w founded June , , a t ter e y, and in the following year was removed to R f . the banks o the Carmelo iver This church , now in an excellent state of repair, through the ff of A C e orts the late Fa ther ngelo asanova , is “ t n distinguished above all the o hers , for u der its altar lies buried all that is mortal of the r e ”

of un i er o S . mains its venerable founder , J p erra m é S t. C B or r o o b e Its patron saint , harles , f B longed to a noble family o Lombardy . eing son was a second , h e dedicated to the church a t a very early age , and soon rose to distinction , ’ - receiving the cardinal s hat at twenty three . The death of his elder brother placed the family fortune at his disposal , but h e gave it all in for charity, reserving for himself merely enough

on . brea d and water, and straw which to sleep

In public he gave feasts , but never partook of A t of them himself . th e time the plague in M ilan , when all others ﬂed from the city , h e Hi s remained to attend the sick . remains repose in a rich shrine in that city . 1 3 8

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

— h i s venerable founder, ardent enthusiasm “ They ! the founding party! departed for the M S anta Lucia ountains , taking priests for the of new mission , the required escort soldiers , and -five - all necessaries . Twenty leagues south south east from Monterey, they arrived at the hollow of cafiada this ridge , where they found a great , Robles which they called (oaks) , from the great number of those trees . Finding a level plain in cafiada on the same , bordering a river which S an A n ton i o they called , and which they thought for fl ow of to be a good site , the good water , f even in the dry month o July, which could be f conducted to the lands without di ficulty, all of S or agreed upon the choice this spot . erra dered the mules to be unloa ded , and the bells to S be hung up on the branch of a tree . A soon as they were hung up , he began to ring them , cry ‘ i n out HO ! G H g , entiles , come , come to the oly C u h rch , come to receive the faith of Jesus ’ Christ ! On e of the other priests remonstrated h was wit him, saying it idle to ring the bells in “ of S the absence the gentiles , but erra said , Let so ll me ring, let me relieve my heart , that a the wild people in this mountain range may hear ! ” It happened that some natives were attracted by the ringing of the bells , and came to witness the S first mass , which erra regarded as a good augury . 1 42

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

The following interesting paragraph on these Th e T e es o Cali or n ia trees is quoted from r f f , by n dr ol e s en A . of D e Willis Linn J p , sst Professor “ ogy in the University of California : C up ressus Macrocarp a is limited to two localities on the ocean shore at the mouth of th e Carmel River C near Monterey . The ypress Point grove ex tends along the cliff s and low bluffs from P es r C of cade o Point to ypress Point , a distance - of two miles , reaching inland about one eighth a mile . The Point Lobos grove is much smaller . The trees are scattered over the summ its of two d of headlands , and cling to th e e ges the cliffs , where on account of th e erosive action of the - d ocean , they are occasionally under mine and M i fall into the sea. onterey Cypress is most n ter esti n g for its remarkably restricted natural range and the exceedingly picturesque outlines characteristic of the trees growing on th e ocean As of shore . a result their struggle with violent storms from the Paciﬁc Ocean which break on the unprotected cliffs and hea dlands of Cypress

Point and Point Lobos , they present a variety and Singularity of form which is obviously connected with their exposed habitat , and lends a never two failing interest to these narrow localities . ' Of i tr e es th e the highly p cturesque , most com m on type is that with long irregular arms . S uch 1 46 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

trees recall most strikingly the classical pictures f M C of the Cedars o Lebanon . onterey ypress is of course a genuine cypress and Lebanon Cedar a genuine cedar ; the two do not even belong to f Yet th e same family o conifers . the popular story tha t the two are the same makes so strong an appeal to the imagination of th e tourist a t Monterey tha t the guides and promoters in the region wi ll doubtless never cease to disseminate A s it . a consequence the error goes into the an d daily press the magazines , and is evidently destined to ﬂourish in perennial greenness under f of the guise o fact . The wide dissemination this ﬁction is all the more remarkable in tha t in the of case all other unique features of the state , S Y our such as the equoias and the osemite , Cali forn i an s have evinced a remarkable pride in of i their possession , without thought invent ng a duplication of them elsewhere The matter of the age of these trees has been much i s of h exaggerated . It a tree rapid growt , and the older specimens are probably not more than l ” 200 or 3 00 years o d .

The above paragraph , quoted from a writer a cknowledged to be on e of the best authorities on the trees of California , is given here in full , in the hop e of correcting these two common M C — errors concerning the onterey ypress , the 1 4 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

on e that it is identical with the Cedar of Leba n an of n o , the other, exaggerated notion the A S great age of some of the trees . Professor

Jepsen justly remarks , the truth in this case is a greater matter for pride than the ﬁction .

POINT PINOS

L a P un ta d e Pi n os (the point of pines) is situ e M u ated a few miles from onterey , j st beyond i s of u Paciﬁc Grove . It one th e most picturesq e of of points on the coast , and is the location one

- the government light houses .

S ALINAS

When the Portola expedition of 1 769 arrived S R of at the alinas iver , they ma de the ﬁrst the series of errors which caused them to pass by of M z the bay onterey without recogni ing it , for r they mistook this stream fo the Carmel . The S alin as s for (salt marshes) , o called the chain - was Of salt water ponds lying along its course , known by various names before a permanent on e i ff became attached to it , appear ng at di er m as E l Ri o l ea i o S an ta D e l in a ent ti es E z r , f , and E l Ri o d e Mon t erey. 1 48

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

The town of S alinas i s the county seat of Monterey County and i s situated about eighteen of M of im miles east onterey, in the heart an

- portant agricultural , dairying, and sugar beet district .

S OLEDAD

l a M 1 43 S o ed d (solitude) , in onterey County, of S an miles southeast Francisco , is describ ed as “ a very dry plain , with few trees , swept by ﬁerce ” N winds and dust storms in summer . o wonder

d oledad -L on esom etown ! th ey calle it S , Ye t those same d ry plains proved to b e of fﬁ su cient fertility to warrant the establishment , 1 91 of of t fi r in 7 , the mission N ues ra S e o a d e la “ S oledad as Our S or , freely translated Lady of ” f rows , which became the center o a large and prosperous Indian community . The buildings of the mission have now fallen into almost com lete p decay .

In the diary of Father Font , companion of Captain Ansa in his second expedition to Cali for n i a 1 776 f f , in , this mention o the origin o the “ name of S oleda d occurs : A t the end of about si x i s S leagues the place called La oleda d , which they told me was so called because in the ﬁrst 1 51 ' ’ ? F I . AI CI EI NI AT LI IB ES () I (I II IQ IZF CI I I DI I .A

expedition under Portola they asked an Indian ‘ ’ S or what i ts name was and he replied oleda d , ” something that sounded like that .

PAJARO

M C u on P aj aro (bird) , a town in onterey o nty, on of the Pajaro River , which rises the slope the R i n Coast ange , and ﬂows westerly, fall g into M B a onterey y, derives its name from a circum stance told in the diary of the faithful Father “ : saw Crespi We in this place a bird , which the gen ti les (unbaptized Indians) ha d killed an d ff stu ed with straw , and which appeared to some ! of the party! to be a royal ea gle ; it was meas u r e d was from tip to tip of the wings , and found to meas ure eleven palms (nine feet and three inches) for which reason the soldiers called the E l i place R o d e l Paj aro . The scream of the eagle may still b e h eard in the more remote S C M parts of the anta ruz ountains , where the grea t birds are occasionally seen circling far or over head , perched in the tops of the tallest trees .

1 52

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

SAN JUAN B AUTISTA

h as S an J uan B auti sta ( S t. John the Baptist) suffered mutilation by the dropping of i ts last

as S an J uan . S an part , and usually appears Juan ll S an B is a sm a town in enito County, in a fertile

- n . an B R valley o the S enito iver, forty four miles sé A t southeast of S an Jo . this place the mission

S an B was 24 1 797 . of Juan autista founded , June , Although this mission passed through some as strenuous experiences , and w twice a ttacked ‘ h r y the Indians , and somewhat damaged by e eate d 1 800 d p earthquakes in , it is still mo erately an well preserved , d shelters within i ts hallowed walls a large and interesting collection of relics of old the mission days .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIST

A ua Am a osa g rg (bitter water) , a place in S an B enito County now known by its English trans “ ” B an d so lation , itter Water, called from min eral springs . A ﬁ o Nue vo (new year) is the name of a prom i n en t cape running out from the shore of S anta C C on e of - ruz ounty, where the coast light houses 1 54

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

’ cai n o s original narrative runs as follows : A d river of very good water but little epth , whose banks are well peopled with black poplars , very C tall and smooth , and other trees of astile ; and which descends from high white mountains . It E l Ri o d e Ca m elo was called r , because the friars ” of this order discovered it .

n h i ll C erro d e l Ve ado ( of the deer) . h l M C ua ar is a Village in onterey County , in 1 28 n the S alinas valley, miles southeast of S a h ual Francisco . The c is a wild plant of Cali m — - - — h uala for ia , pig weed or goose foot , and c r is a spot abounding in chual plants . 1 1 Corral (yard , enclosed place) . On October , 1 769 a , the Portol party stopped at a place about a R a league from the P jaro iver, where they con structed a fence between a lake and a low hill , in order to k eep the animals secure a t night with t f h i ou o . s the need many watchmen Palou , in “ i e o S e a : d L f f rr , says The ﬁrst expedition calle C o al this place the rr , on account of having built d there , with some sticks naile together , a pasture of k th e in the manner a yard , in order to eep of animals safe a t night . This was great assist for so ance , there were many sick tha t there ” n were ot enough ! people! to guard the animals . In diff erent parts of the state there were many

C or r als and Corrali tos (little yards) . S ometimes 1 58 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

n the enclosing fence was ma de of stones , whe an more convenient , d the enclosure was then called Corral d e Pi edra (stone corral) ; some a of an d times barrica de earth was thrown up , it was then called Corral d e Ti erra (earth cor C l e Ti e f ral) . orra d rra is the name o a well M n ld known ranch near onterey . I the days of o , many a joyous m eri en da (picnic) and barbecue was held at the Corral de Tierra Rancho . Cor S r ali tos (little corrals) is in anta Cruz County, fourteen miles east of S anta Cruz .

Gabildn Gavi lan i s , also spelled (hawk) , the of of name the long mountain ridge , a branch th e C R oast ange , which extends through the M S an counties of onterey and Benito . Mon G on zales ( a surname) . This place is in ’ ter e C S V n y ounty, in the alinas alley, seventee miles southeast of S alinas . d Gor a (fat , thick) L l as Gru las (the cranes) . In the diaries of the a of O 7 1 769 Portol expedition , date ctober , , we “ rea d We pitched our camp between some low saw hills near a pond , where we a grea t number ” h n ad o . Of cranes , the ﬁrst we seen this journey This was about four leagues from the Pajaro

River . lon of Jo , a word doubtful origin , which has i s been variously explained . It thought by some 1 59 ' P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of Jalé n er persons to be a corruption , a prop old S sa i s name , but panish residents y it an ”

d d . Indian word , meaning valley of ea oaks

i s Llan ada ( a plain , level ground) . This place in S an Benito County .

L s l s i s Laureles (laurels) . o Laure e the name d i of a ranch near Monterey . The wil laurel s a of shrub common to many parts the state . n Lobos (wolves) , generally used o this coast m r i n se - of lobo a o a or . in the sense ( wolf , seal) There i s a Pun ta d e L obos (seal poi nt) near Monterey which i s noted for the bold grandeur of for l its ocean scenery, as well as its sea s . L oma Pr i eta ( dark hill) is the name of a peak

S M . I ts k in the anta Cruz ountains dar form , d a d out n shape like truncated cone , stan s agai st th e sk y and may be seen from a long distance . “ ” Moro Cojo (literally lame Moor ) i s the name of - M h a well known ranch in onterey County . T e Spaniards were in th e habit of using m or o to an d mean anything black , in this case , accord old d as r ing to resi ents , the ranch w named fo a lame black horse that ran wild there . Nati vidad (nativity of Christ) i s th e name of M C on e a town in onterey ounty, about hundred of S an a miles southeast Fr ncisco . i in es S an B Pa c is in enito County . This i s a an d word of doubtful origin , many theories have 1 60

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of S an the county . The town Benito is on the f M R o . Salinas iver, sixty miles southeast onterey B It is said of S t. enedict that he became a hermit a e at the g of fifteen and fled to the wilderness , where he lived on brea d and water . While there he was tempted by the remembrance of a beau R tiful woman he ha d seen in ome , and to over come his wish to see her again “he flung himself of into a thicket briers and thorns , and rolled w s himself therein until he a torn and bleeding . At of S the monastery ubiaco they show roses , ” said to have been propagated from these briers .

S n u as S t. i s M a L c ( Luke) in onterey County,

of S . t s sixty miles southeast alinas S . Luke wa of the disciple of Paul , who speaks him as “ ” Luke , the beloved physician , but tradition re ports him to have been an artist , and that he of always carried with him two portraits , one S of M D the aviour and the other ary . oub tless for this reason he is regarded as the patron of f artists and aca demies o art .

S ur . S ur (south) Point (south point) , on th e o M i s coast south f onterey, a bold promontory where a light - house was placed by the govern of ment , in consequence the frequent occurrence f S ur R o Shipwrecks there . The iver runs through a region remarkable for the wild picturesque of ness its scenery, and for the strange tales told of happenings among its early inhabitants . 1 62 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Toro (bull) is the name of a ranch near Mon ter e d so y, sai to have been called after a wild bull . Tr es i n os S an P ( three pines) , a place in Ben C on e of S an ito ounty, hundred miles southeast m B r es Francisco . Post aster lack , of T Pinos , gives us the following history of the naming of “ this place : The name was originally applied i s ai i n es to what now known as P c , but when the railr oa d came to this place they appropriated of h as si the name Tres Pinos , hence it no g i ﬁ n can ce as applied to this town . The name was given the stopping-place n ow known as Paicines because of three pines alleged to have grown on the banks of the Tres Pinos creek near tha t place . Paicines , then Tres Pinos , was the scene of the Vasquez raid and murders in the early

k Uvas (grapes) , the name of a town and cree S C M d so in the anta ruz ountains , no oubt called from the abundance of wild grapes found in tha t locality .

1 63

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

THE S ANTA CLARA V ALLEY

th e S d S an ta Clara. When paniards passe through this valley, they were not slow to recog nize in it on e of those favored spots on the earth ’ s surface where climate and soil unite to S o produce the highest results . here they on e S C founded two missions , a t anta lara , and on e n s S C C a t S a Jo é . anta lara ounty was named of C by the first legislature alifornia , which first S an osé C thought of calling it J ounty, but finally decided to name it for the mission . n C on e S a ta Clara ( S t. lara ) stands in of the C most fertile valleys in alifornia , which is equiv alen t th e to saying in whole world , and is about - i - forty s x miles south southeast of S an Francisco . The mission was founded by Pa dres P efia and 1 2 M r 1 777 . urguia , Janua y , The buildings now standing are mainly modern , but a small portion of th e original structure being incorporated in i s them . The ceiling over the sanctuary original , an of d a small part the a dobe buildings . A Clara de sis , the sweet saint for whom this was r of mission was named , the daughte a Her nobleman . beauty and wealth brought her 1 6 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

r e many offers of marriage , all of which she d to fused , preferring to evote herself a religious Sh e of of life . became the founder the order ” as C Franciscan nuns , known the Poor lares , to which many noble ladies attached themselves . After reaching the ripe age of sixty years S aint ’

an . h e Clara s health began rapidly to decline , d s died in an ecstatic trance , believing herself H er called to Heaven by angelic voices . special i s symbol the lily, peculiarly appropriate for the patroness of the ever-blooming S anta Clara

Valley.

SAN JOSE

s t f S an J o é (S . Joseph) enjoys the distinction o having been the ﬁrst white colony planted in S the state by the paniards , although when we rea d the complaints of the pa dres concerning the highly undesirable character of its ﬁrst d settlers , recruite mainly from the criminal o S d classes f onora , the distinction woul seem to of be rather a doubtful sort . Spurred on by the old bogie of their fear of S foreign invasion , the panish government de d d of b e ci e to establish colonies white settlers , lieving that their hold upon the country would be rendered more secure by this means . Th e 1 68

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

of S an G d d d No pueblo José de ua alupe , foun e vemb er 29 1 777 M , , by Lieutenant José oraga , S an then in command a t Francisco , under orders N as on from Governor eve , w originally located a site about a mile an d a quarter distant from as 1 7 the present city, but w removed in 79 , in consequence of the discovery that the low-lying ground of its first location was often submerged during the winter rains . Th e people of the pueblo were compelled to tr avel a distance of three miles to attend mass a t the S anta Clara M an k ission , d in order to ma e this journey more M n o a greeable , Fa ther ag in de Catala laid ut the lam ed a a between the two places , planting a fine avenue of willow trees which once comforted the wayfarer with their grateful shade . The original trees have now practically all di sap p ear e d and others have taken their places in l o . part . The d alameda has vanished Not until 1 797 was the mission of S an José d d on foun e , a spot some fourteen miles distant th e h from pueblo . The pa dres ad no keen desire to place the missions in close proximity to the on d pueblos , fearing the evil influence the In ians of b a of i n a d class white men , besides other evitable complications , such as the mixing up

of . i t cattle Father Engelhardt , in his H s ory of th e Cali n i Missi on s th e of for a , tells story the 1 7 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

S an H e founding of the Mission José thus : er , S 1 1 1 797 L asuén on Trinity unday, June , , Fath er of raised and blessed the cross . In a shelter H M d d boughs he celebrated oly ass , and thus e i cate d the mission in honor of the foster-father

f St. . o Christ , Joseph The O ld church was unfortunately so shat ' ter ed by an earthquake in 1 868 th at it was torn down and replaced by a wooden ediﬁce . It should be made clear that two missio n s S an n were established here , anta Clara d S a S an osé as José , and that the latter was not at J , some maps represent it , but some fourteen miles distant from the town .

PALO ALTO

l A lt Pa o o (high stick , or tree) , in S anta Clara C of S an ounty, sixteen miles northwest José, once a stock farm where blooded horses were d of raise , now best known as the site the Leland S d U tanfor Junior niversity , is said to h ave r e cei ved i ts name from a tall redwood tr ee on th e S an an is ui t S t Fr c q o (little . Francis) creek . Thi s tr ee stands just a few feet from the railroa d A i s bridge near Palo lto station , and said by old residents to have originally been in the form of 1 72

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

m yards an d a half in circu ference at th e base , and the soldiers said that there were still larger of ones in the mountains . This description ’ Father Font s gives rise to a strong suspicion that the tree now so highly venerated is n ot the original Palo A lto from which th e place takes was its name . The name ﬁrst applied to a land grant .

LA S ALUD

La S alud (health) . In the name of this place , S an R n ot far from the Lorenzo iver, reached by a on 22 the Portol party October , there is a refer ence to on e of the heaviest of the afflictions from which the Spaniards suffered during thei r jour — ney up the state , serious sickness and many deaths from scurvy . To their great surprise , after a wetting received during a heavy storm os at this place , all the sick began to recover . C h i s d d of 22 tanso , in iary, ate October , says “ da The y dawned overcast and gloomy . The o r men were wet . What excited u wonder was for that all the sick , whom we greatly feared f that the wetting might prove harm ul , suddenly i found their pains very much rel eved . This was the reason for giving the canyon the name of L al a S ud . 1 74 THE PALO CO LO RA D O ( REDW OOD TREE ) ” d e or o a Fi r s t ob ser ve d an d n am e d b y G as p er P t l

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

D N L os . G . others . (W rummond orie , of atos )

S UPPLEMENTAIFY LIST

d of M A lm adén (mine , mineral) , a wor oorish Ne A d S C origin . w lma én , in anta lara County, where there is a quicksilver mine , is named after A m n f the famous l adé quicksilver mines o Spain . A S A lvi so (a surname) . lviso is in anta Clara C e of S an an d ounty, eight miles northw st José , A received its name from Ignacio lviso , a native of S 1 772 was onora , born in , who a member of ’ A of 1 - 6 H e s nza s party colonists in 775 7 . wa the A of C original lviso alifornia , and was the ’ f s h grantee o Ri n con d e los Estero Ran c o .

A r r oyo H on d o ( deep creek) .

C o te . C yo , the native wolf of California oyote A tl is an ztec word , originally coyo . The town of this name is situated thirteen miles southeast of S an José . Cu e ti n o S C C p r , a town in anta lara ounty, S of named for aint Joseph Cupertino , who was born in 1 603 in the Village of Cupertino in the h a kingdom of Naples . This saint d very lowly Hi m of beginnings , for , like whom h e was a saw devoted follower , he ﬁrst the light in a stable . In his youth he was subject to ecstasies , 1 78 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

an d d d the chil ren ridicule him , calling him “ A h e du open mouth . lthough he ad but little was ca tion and scarcely able to read , by means of supernatural light he was enabled to solve Hi s on e the most intricate questions . life was of long succession visions and ecstasies , which were sometimes so profound that he could not h eati n or be awakened from them by g, piercing h i s d or ﬂesh with nee les , burning it with can He dles . was once brought before the Inquisi on r e tion account Of these ecstasies , being d as on e d of gar ed possesse the devil, but he retained h i s calm and joyous spirit .

r Las Llagas ( the wounds o stigmata of S t. — i n Francis) , reference to the legend tha t S t.

Francis was supposed to have received , after a of of fast ﬁfty days , the miraculous imprint the wounds of the S avior in his hands , feet and side . L as la as of L g was the name a place near Gilroy, and was also given by the padres to Alameda

Creek .

‘ Madr ori o m ad on e , Often misspelled r , is the name given by the Spaniards to a very beautiful C i tree indigenous to a lifornia , which s thus de scrib ed by Fremont i n h i s Mem o irs : Another remarkable tree of these woods i s called in the u of u Madr oﬁa i s lang age the co ntry . It a beau tiful evergreen , with large , thick and glossy 1 79 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

digitated leaves ; the trunk and branches red

- dish colored , and having a smooth and singu lar l y naked appearance , as if the bark ha d been ff stripped o . In its green state the wood is brit

- tle , very heavy , hard and close grained ; it is said to assume a red color when dry, sometimes variega ted , and susceptible of a high polish .

Some measured nearly four feet in diameter , ” and were about sixty feet high . of u Mi lp i tas . This word is one the p zzles n among California names . O e deﬁnition given ” “ ” for it is little gardens , from milpa , meaning a corn patch . In tha t case the word must have M been brought from exico by the missionaries , for the California Indians ha d no form of agri u culture . These gardens were us ally placed at for a considerable distance from the missions , , was as fences were unknown in those days , it necessary to plant the crops beyond the range f For f an o . o S the cattle instance , the gardens A M ntonio ission were located miles away, a t M R what is still called the ilpitas eservation , at f S R the foot o the anta Lucia ange . This did not prevent damage by wild beasts , however, and to save the grapes when they were ripe from the bears it was the custom to build ﬁres around s o the Vineyards a t night . Even , it often hap pened that some hungry Old grizzly, bolder than 1 80

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

and praying with the sick and needy, founding and visiting hospitals an d doing various chari ” B S t. ties . Then there was Philip of ethsaida , h Hi er o oli s w o, going to p , found the people wor shiping a huge serpent , or dragon , which they thought to be a personiﬁcation of Mars . Then H e Philip took pity on thei r ignora nce . held up the cross and commanded th e serpent to di s i t l appear . Immediately g ided from beneath the as so altar, and it moved it sent forth dreadful an o dor that many died , and among them the s f on o the King ; but Philip restored him to life . Then the priests of the serpent were so wroth d with the apostle tha t they cruciﬁe him , and when he was fastened to the cross they stoned ” h i S to i e t a n ts . him . r s of e S ) M S an Martin ( S t. artin) is a town in S anta

f t. C o G . S lara County, Six miles north ilroy Martin has many legends connected with his

. a history Before he became a Christi n , he wa s a soldier and was noted for his kindness and char “ f 3 32 ity to his comra des . The winter o was so severely cold that large numbers perished in the

A of S t. streets of miens , where the regiment M n e artin was quartered . O day he met at the gate a naked man , and taking pity on him , he divided his cloak , for it was all he had , and gave half to the beggar . That night in a dream Jesus 1 82 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

on stoo d before him , and his shoulders h e wore the half of th e cloak tha t Martin ha d given the A n d beggar . he said to the angels who a ttended ‘ ? M him , Know ye who hath thus arrayed me y M servant artin , though yet unbaptized , hath ’ M done this . Then artin was immediately bap A i s ti z ed . gain it told of him that being invited “ su to to p with the emperor, the cup was passed M M artin , before his ajesty drank , with the ex ectati on p tha t he would touch it to his lips , as B t was the custom . u a poor priest stood behind M an artin , d to the surprise and admiration of r all , the saint p esented the full goblet to him , thus signifying that a servant of G od deserved more honor , however humble his station , than any merely earthly potentate ; from this legend h e h as b een ch osen the patron of all innocent ”

S t i es o th e S ain ts . conviviality . ( or f )

1 8 3

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

AROUND S AN FRANCIS CO B AY

is n F an . M S a r c co any persons , misled by an incorrect translation of a certain passage in ’ P alou s i e o S e a d L f f rr , have ascribe the naming f of o S an S t. the bay Francisco ( Francis) , to the a O f 1 769 of Portol expedition , but , as a matter fact , the outer bay, the great indentation in the of G G coast outside the olden ate , between Point R e eS ' an d M y ussel Point , ha d received this name many years before . In remonstrating with the Vi sitad or G en eral because no mission ha d been S t . C provided for Francis in Upper alifornia , “ A n d S erra remarked , is there no mission for ” r S e ﬁ r o S t. ? o Ga u Father Francis lvez replied , “ ' S i S an Fr an i sc ui e e m isi n u e h a a s e c o q r o , q g h alla s u p uerto y s e le p on dra (If S t. Francis t wants a mission , let him cause his port o be found and on e will be placed there for him) “ ” By his port Galvez referred to a port already discovered and named , but which had been lost of sight during the intervening years , and which t r e- he wished o have discovered . This is further carried ou t by the succeeding statements of 1 87 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Palou , in which he says that after failing to “ of M recognize the port onterey, they came to

S t. our the port of Francis , father, and they all knew it immediately by the a greement Of the descriptions which they carried , referring to descriptions obtained from the papers of the C accom an ﬁrst discoverers . Father respi , who p “ : All i ed the expedition , says the descriptions which we fo u nd here we rea d in the log- book of B the pilot Cabrera ueno , in order to form a f n judgment that this is the port o S a Francisco . S ch C m m an n t To make it all clear , the or o da e ordered that during the day S ergeant Ortega should go ou t with a party of soldiers to ex l r on p o e . Further in the same diary we rea d “ From the top of a hill we ma de ou t the grea t

' of sea estuary, or arm the , which probably has ” r v a width of four o ﬁ e lea gues . This is un doubtedly the ﬁrst occasion when the eye of a white man rested upon “ the grea t arm of the ” of S an sea , tha t is , the inner harbor Francisco as we now know it . It must be remembered tha t until the arrival of a S Portol , the paniards only knew this part of s e a the coast from the side , having no knowl edge of that great inland s e a known to us as the of S an a bay Francisco . When the Portol party came up by land on their futile search for Mon 1 88

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

ter e to S an y, they stopped camp a t a point near sen t ou t on e Pedro . Two parties were , under S ergeant Ortega going up the peninsula till they

G G wh i ch th e . reached the olden ate , a t y looked The other was a deer hunting party sent over the S an mountains lying between Pedro and the bay, who climbed Sweeny Ridge and from there saw a the inner bay . Portol did not accompany either of these parties and hence was n ot the ﬁrst to as see the bay . In fact , h e w awakened in the night to be told by his men that they ha d found B a grea t arm of the sea . u t afterwards Portola himself ma de two trips up and down the shore , S an Jose going as far as , and a t tha t time he H saw . e the bay was , therefore , an actual eye of witness the discovery, and though he was n ot se the very ﬁrst to e it , as the lea der of the ex p e di ti on he i s fully entitled to be called its dis coverer . Palou ascribed the failure of the party to rec o n i z e of M u g the port onterey, and the conseq ent continuance of their journey as far as S an Fran of cisco , to a direct interposition the divine hand , ’ alvez s of so that G promise a mission for S t.

Francis might be carried out . The honor of the christening of our world famous bay probably belongs to S ebastian Rod r i uez Cer m eﬂOn g , a Portuguese navigator, who 1 9 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

was commissioned in the year 1 595 by Philip II to search for safe harbors along the coast for r us vessels in the Philippine t a de . These ships ually shaped their return course so as to touch of C M ﬁrst at about the latitude ap e endocino , making a knowledge of the harbors south of of that point a ma tter grea t importance , espe i ll Cer m e ﬁé n c a y in stormy weather . ha d the S an A misfortune to lose his vessel , the gustin , n R o Point eyes , and was compelled to make his ff way home , with great peril and su ering, in a ’ h i s D e ote o R ela i n I ti n er small boat . In rr r y c o ( N A 24 1 596 ary and arrative) , under da te of pril , , “ he says : We sighted N ew S pain a t Cape Men d oci n o on N 4 1 595 ovember , We left th e of S an bay and port Francisco , which is called e by another name , a larg bay, in degrees , and the islets ! Farallones ! in the mouth are in 3 8 1 d A? degrees , the istance between the two

- ﬁv points of the bay being twenty e leagues . It is clear from this description that he referred to that great indentation in the coast between Point R on e to eyes and of the points the south , pos s ibl M y ussel Point , and tha t he gave the name of S an Francisco to it , displacing some other name by which it ha d been previously known . A t an y rate , if this is not the origin , it is likely of i B n to remain lost in the mists the Pac ﬁc . a 1 9 2

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Triana by name , who ﬁrst raised the thrilling “ ! t” cry of land land ; yet , nevertheless , the world justly awards the honor and glory of the di s v er C C u co y to hristopher olumb s , the lea der and the soul of the party, whose splendid imagina tion and unconquerable resolution ma de it p os sible . Although the Portola party ma de a partial examination a t this time of the shores of what “ ” s ea Ca they called the great arm of the , and p tain P ages returned for further explorations in 1 770 1 772 on , and a gain in , when he stood the present site of B erkeley and looked out through G G d the olden ate , the mission was not establishe 6 1 77 . until Father Palou was its founder , and he states in his Life of S er ra tha t the presidio was established with solemn religious services , “ S b 1 7 1 776 on of eptem er , , the day the impres f of t n o S . o sions the stigmata Francis , but of account a delay in receiving orders , the founding of the mission did n ot take place until n October 8 . O that day a procession was held f o S t. with the image Francis , and mass was celebrated by Father Palou himself .

S o they prayed and sang their hymns , in the year of while their hearts beat high with the of zeal of the missionary , and , happily, no echo the roll of drums and boom of minute guns 1 94 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

came to them across th e untro dden miles of of a mountain and plain , forest and prairie , th t separated them from the alien race on the other of rim the continent , for whom they were all unconsciously preparing the way to the posses f t sion o a grea principality .

No t natives were presen a t this mass , for the reason tha t in th e month of August they ha d been driven on their tule rafts to the islands of the bay and the opposite shores , by their ene S alson as mies , the , who lived about seven set leagues to th e southeast , and who ha d ﬁre to their ran ch eri as and killed and wounded S many of their people , the paniards not being able to prevent it .

- The first settlement was three fold , including of S an F an is d e A s is on the mission r c co , the a un a d e los D lo es of L g o r ( the lagoon sorrows) , on e the presidio , and the pueblo , separated from another by about a league . The Pueblo was a t Ye ba uen a first known as r B , in reference to the profuse growth of tha t vine about the locality . The change of the name is ascribed by General S Mem i s herman , in his o r , to jealousy of the town of B F an i s enicia , which was a t first called r c ca, ’ of G V in honor eneral allejo s wife , and was thought to bear too marked a resemblance to of S an the name the grea t pa tron , Francisco . 1 95 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

General V allejo himself states that the change of was ma de as a matter convenience , to bring of the three points the triangle , church , town ,

e on e . and presidio , all und r name Whatever the reason for the change , it is a matter of con for gratulation that it occurred , the name of the venerable saint carries a dignity more commem th e surate to a noble city than poetic , but less impressive Yerba B uen a. of S an F an i s o d e A s is o u The church r c c , p p lar l Mi ssi on D lo es y known as o r , still stands in a good state of preservation , having almost mir acu lously withstood the earthquake and ﬁre of 1 906 i ts , which laid low all proud mo dern neigh f i ts . O S t. bors patron , the gentle Francis , it may son be said that he was the of a rich merchant , but that he abandoned his riches , a dopted vows

‘ of foun d ed th e f poverty, and order o Francis “

. i n or cans While a trance , vision , after having d fasted for ﬁfty ays , he received the miraculous imprint of the wounds of the S avior on his ” Hi s hands , feet , and side . chief attributes were

an d . humility, poverty, love for animals In pic tures he i s always represented as accompanied by a pet lamb .

1 9 6

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

THE G OLDEN GATE

A S or lthough this name , not being of panish n o t Indian origin , is properly included in these S an pages , its close relationship to Francisco , and its position as the gate - way to the entire state , will not permit it to be passed by . In view of the comparatively recent origin of 1 844 the name , , and th e a ccessibility of the story, it seems strange indeed tha t any writer should have a dvanced the theory that the Golden G ate received its name from S i r Francis D rake , yet this wholly unfounded explanation h as . found its way into print In the ﬁrst place , it h as been pretty thoroughly established by historians tha t Drake never saw the inner har bor, and knew nothing of the narrow strait lea d h to . i s ing it In the report of voyage , written by “ of At 38 one his companions , we rea d : degrees G od toward the line , it pleased to send us into h arb or ow a faire and good , with a good wind to ur G enter the same . O enera l called this country Nova A lbi n two — on e o , and that for causes ; the

‘ of cliﬂ es in respect the white bankes and , which ly toward the sea ; and the other that it migh t f our have some a ﬁnity with country in name , ” f which sometime was so called . The white cli fs 1 9 9 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

under Point Reyes answer so well to this de scription that there can be little do ubt that ’ Drake s anchorage was in the small outer bay ’ D B a under that point , now known as rake s y ; to say nothing of the fact that the account of the voyage has n o word concerning the great land locked harbor, with a narrow strait as its only B an entrance , a circumstance so novel that , as u D n ot croft j stly observes , rake could have b failed to mention it ha d e known augh t of it .

All s of G old en ate di cussion the name G is , to moreover, brought an end by the fact that its C real author, John harles Fremont , gives a cir t n i l h i A cum s a t a account of it in s Mem oirs . fter sur an elaborate description of the bay, and its “ : B roundings , he says etween these points is the strait— about one mile broad in its narrow es t s ea part , and ﬁve miles long from the to the T I h bay . o this gate gave the name of C rysa lae or G G py , olden ate ; for the same reasons tha t the harbor of B yzantium ( Constantinople after wa h r r H n s C s oce as G . wards) called y , or olden or The form of the harbor and its a dvantages for en t e commerce , and that before it became an r ot u d to p of eastern commerce , s ggeste the name the Greek founders of B yzantium . The form of of S an the entrance into the bay Francisco , and A its a dvantages for commerce , siatic inclusive , 200

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

old Greek was quite in keeping with his char A s acter . to his reliability, a lthough it is quite possible that he colored events of a political character to suit his own purposes , in ordinary matters there seems to be no reason to doub t A t G his statements . all events , the name olden G ate does in fact appear upon his map of 1 848 as he says .

r V A to D . G G ccording allejo , the olden ate Yala a was called by the Indians p , pronounced “ e e - oo- loo- a wh i ch s ea p , means near the plunge , i s of sun s ea that , the plunge the into the , and “ may be freely translated as the S u nset S trait . f D r V The su ﬁx p a is said by . allejo to signify “ ”— m i h . Me s o t e Valle s near ( o r f jo , edited by

H . S an B u James Wilkins , Francisco lletin , Jan uary , The ﬁrst entrance through the Golden Gate ’ by a white man s craft of which history has any record was ma de by Cap tain Juan Manuel de A A 5 1 775 an Ca los yala , on ugust , , in the ship S r , T i s n d r i s alias o o e O a. It a romantic circum stance that the second name of this vessel means G r of olden Fleece . (For a detailed sto y this highly interesting voyage and entrance into the of S an s e e Ove lan d harbor Francisco , the r M n th l D o y for ecember,

202

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

e nam , since it has been devoted to the quite un - angelic business of quarantine station of S an

Francisco . of of 1 775 Palou , in speaking the expedition , “ says : They moved to the island which is in N st front of the mouth , which they called ue ra S enora d e los A n geles ! Our Lady of the An c gels! , on whi h they found good anchorage , on of and going land , they found plenty wood ” and wa ter . A story has found its way into print that the “ island was named from a miner who once se t ” tle d there , the writer probably mixing it up f A ’ o C S . with the name ngel s amp , in the ierras for ou r r o What a desecration island , with its “ ” Ou r of A mantic name of La dy the ngels , piously given to it by the S paniards in honor of the Virgin ! The island was in fact discovered and named A u 1 775 C M in ug st , , by ap tain Juan anuel de A e S an yala , the ﬁrst navi gator to ent r Fran B n A 27 th cisco ay through the G a te . O ugust a thanksgiving mass was celebrated on the beach of Our A of the island Lady of the ngels , and , ﬂ a S while the g of pain was waved , nine cheers were given for the King, no doubt to the intense surprise of the Indians looking on from the shore of the mainland . 206 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

YERBA B UENA ISLAND

Yerba B uen a (the good herb) is the name of a C dainty little vine native to the alifornia woods , h as which an a greeable aromatic odor , and was much in use among the Spanish as a m e di ci n al

to . herb , and to a dd a pleasant aroma their tea

Fremont , who , whatever else may be said of o him , ha d en ugh poetry in his soul to feel an expansive joy over the plant life of this ﬂowery “ : A land , describes it as follows vine with a la e ba buen a small white ﬂower , called here y r , i ts which , from abundance , gives its name to an fr e island and town in the bay, was today very n u on quent o our roa d , sometimes r nning the ”

or . ground , climbing the trees It is said tha t the Hupa Indians were in the habit of weaving the tendrils of this vine in their hair for the sake of the perfume . S ome talk h as arisen of late that this poetic and historic name is to be taken away from our on island . Commuters , when you pass it your ou daily journey, let your minds carry y back to th e day when the delicate tendrils of th e little ’ vine waved on the island s steep slopes , and its sweet scent was wafted on th e breeze from the 207 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

G G olden ate , and do not , I pray you , consent to

’ call i t G oat!

MARE ISLAND

Ma e I slan d S an B a r , in Pablo y, separated from V - allejo by a strait one half mile wide , a charm — ing spot with an unpoetic name , is another example of writers attempting to make difﬁ culti es so where none exist , and they would have u s believe tha t the name of this isle arose , like A V m a e sea. enus , from r , the part from the fact that this labored method of naming places , by seeking in th e Latin , was quite foreign to the of S custom the paniards , it happens tha t the u tr e story in this case is a t hand , and can b i m scarcely be dou ted , since it occurred in the

of Dr . V e mediate family all jo , who tells it thus “ - on In the early days , the only ferry boa t the V B waters near allejo and enicia was a rude one , made chieﬂy of oi l barrels obtained from whal ing ships , and propelled by sails . These barrels were secured together by beams and planking, and it was divided into compartments for the accommodation of cattle , to the transportation

of . On e which it was chieﬂy devoted day, while M B this boat was coming from artinez to enicia , a sudden squall overtook it , and the craft 208

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

ALAMEDA

It has been thought tha t this name may have been derived from the resemblance between on e Alameda creek , a t time thickly sha ded along i ts banks by willows and silver-barked syca alam eda mores , and an (an avenue shaded by of trees) , but since the primary meaning the “ ” i s word a place where poplar trees grow , from or alam o (poplar cottonwood) , it requires less stretching of the imagination to believe tha t some such grove of cottonwoods near the creek

. D of gave it the name Fray anti , in his diary the ” of A 1 795 exploration the lameda in , says “ e of A W came to the river the lameda , which has many large boulders , brought down by

ﬂoods , and is well populated with willows , At alders , and here and there a laurel . a little of distance from where the river runs , the tides ” the Estuary come . B h i s Hi sto o Cali o n ia ancroft says , in ry f f r , I “ 1 7 5 A V ol . : In 9 S ergeant Pedro ma dor ex ’ lor e d of S an B a p the eastern shore Francisco y, f A and in his report used the name o lameda . i s as It probable that he applied the name , it ha d on been applied before , to a grove the stream , ” since it is so used a little later . 21 0

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

- is a low, broad headed tree , commonly twenty to forty feet , but sometimes seventy feet high . on e The trunk is from to four feet in diameter , d - usually short , and parting into wi e spread or limbs , which often touch trail along the ” ground . This tree has little commercial value , i s for but highly regarded its hardy nature , which permits it to ﬂourish in exposed localities along the coast , where no other tree thrives , and for the perennial green with which it a dorns an otherwise often bleak landscap e — (Notes taken Th e Tr e es o Cali o n ia from f f r , by Professor

Willis Linn Jepsen , of the University of Cali f r n i o a. )

L OS FARALLONES

L os Fa allon es r , the three small islands stand - our ing like watch dogs at outer gate , about thirty- two miles due west of the entrance to the a all n bay, derive their name from f r o , a word “ s meaning a small pointed island in the ea. A lthough this word is commonly employed by S the panish to designate such islands , and its i s use in this case perfectly obvious , the state ment has been made that our isles were named P of for a certain erolla , one the early navigators , a theory entirely without value . 21 4 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

The Far allon es are frequented by multitudes of sea- on e fowl , which breed there and at time supplied great quantities of eggs for the S an or Francisco market . For some twenty years S G more the United tates overnment , owing to f e h as r o the contentions o rival gg companies , p h ibi te d the gathering and sale of these eggs .

MOUNT TAMALPAIS

To see th e su n s et e ama ai s ov r T lp , Wh se e e ea s u use wi h os mi s o t nt d p k , ff d t r y t , Blend e d th e c olors o f th e sea an d sky A n d m ade th e mou ntai n on e gr eat am eth yst ” i i h u s Hang ng aga n st t e s n et . — E d ward R owlan d S i ll.

Tamal ai s M C p (bay mountain) is in arin ounty, ﬁve miles southwest of S an Rafael ; it rises to a of 2606 s ea height feet above level , and domi nates S an Francisco B ay and the surrounding f on e of country , of ering the most magniﬁcent panoramas of sea and land to be seen anywhere ’ on the earth s surface . Its name is a compound of tam al ais two Indian words , (bay) and p

(mountain) . The resemblance of the latter word to the Spanish p ais (country) is though t by eth e n ologi s ts to be purely accid ntal . 21 5 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

r V of a D . allejo has an explanation th e me ning of this word which differs somewhat from the H on e given by ethnologists . e says it was origin Tem e l- a s e a ally called p (near the ) , and was corrupted into its present form by the Span f A Dr . V a i r s . a d ccording to allejo , the su ﬁx p Mem i s th e alle os signiﬁes nearness . ( o r of V j , S an B l H . u edited by James Wilkins , Francisco le ti n , January, The story often told by guides and other per r e sons that Tamalpais , because of a fancied semblance in the mountain ’ s outline to a woman “ ” i s lying down , means the sleeping maiden , f purely the product o a vivid imagination . A very remarkable circumstance in the history of this mountain i s the fact tha t it underwent a change of position a t the time of the great earth of 1 906 quake , of course in conjunction with the entire sheet of the earth ’ s surface upon which it

. On stands that occasion , the northeast and southwest sides of the rift slipped upon each other , ﬁrst carrying the sheet of land upon which “ Tamalpais rests to the north , then the spring ” back carried it back toward the south again . A ccording to the report of the S tate Earthquake “ C A s Investiga tion ommission , a consequence i s of the movement , it probable that the latitudes and longitudes of all points in the Coast Ranges ” have been permanently changed a few feet . 21 6

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

o th e old d S mountain , sitting in In ian stoicism , indifferent to the storms tha t sometimes lash its sturdy sides , the fogs tha t roll in a white billowy s ea around its foot , and earthquakes tha t shift its latitude and longitude some feet , has very appropriately received its name from the lan guage of the aborigines who once dwelt a t its base .

MOUNT DIAB LO

M un t D i abl o o ( devil mountain) is an isolated , of C R conical peak the oast ange , in Contra Costa - f County, about thirty eight miles northeast o n 3 849 S a Francisco . It rises feet above the level of the sea , and is the most conspicuous land f G mark in the central part o the state . eneral

M. G . V allejo tells the following story to account “ 1 806 for the name : In , a military expedition from S an Francisco march ed against a tribe B ol on es called the g , who were encamped at the

of . foot the mountain There was a hot ﬁght , N which was won by the Indians . ear the end of the ﬁght , a person , decorated with remarkable s plumage , and making strange movements , ud

d en l . A y appeared fter the victory, the person , d P u calle g (evil spirit) in the Indian tongue , de parted toward the mountain . The soldiers heard 21 9 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

that this spirit often appeared thus , and they ia l a named the mou ntain D b o ( devil) . These p p ear an ces continued until the tribe was subdued ”

M . by Lieutenant oraga , in the same year If this be the true story of the naming of D d Mount iablo , and there seems to be no goo P a reason to doubt it , it is quite likely that the y, “ ” r on e of o devil , was the medicine men who played upon the superstitions of the Indians by “ f pretending to be the spirit o the mountain . r V It is said by D . allejo that this mountain was regarded by the Indians as the home of the u P u i Devil , called in their lang age , and that the h i m medicine men claimed to be s agents . ( Me

oi s th e Valle os H . r of j , edited by James Wilkins , n B S a Francisco ulletin , January , There is perhaps no other name in the state so about which many legends have clustered . n e of on O of these stories , related in a history C tra Costa County published about twenty years ’ “ a o u : g , r ns as follows There is a legend that the B olb on es Indians brought to the Spanish pa dres gold which they ha d found in the rocky f o . recesses the mountain The good fathers , ‘ foreseeing in the abundance of the root of all ’ evil the ruin of their pastoral plans of settle ment , took all the gold thus gathered and placed of it in a tub water, after h aving secretly pois 220

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

enemy of souls might have very easily taken on the aspect of a bear . S till another story has it that the mountain is

- two horned , like the devil , and tha t this gave rise to the name . A nother has it that some vaqueros , who hap on saw of pened to be the mountainside , sparks ﬁre iss u ing from wha t they supposed to be solid ﬂ e d ' i n con rock , whereupon they terror, being f vi n ced that it was the home o the devil . The common belief among California Indians that peaks were the abodes of spi rits favors the theory that the name ha d its origin in some a Indi n tra dition , and makes the explanation off ered by General V allejo the most plausible among all those thus far presented .

SAUS ALITO

S ausali to (little willow grove) is on the west of S an B a M shore Francisco y, in arin County, si x of S an miles northwest Francisco . The name in its present form is incorrectly spelled , the S proper spelling being auzalito , diminutive of n sauzal (willow grove) . O some of the early as S maps it appeared aucelito , a form which h as no existence in Spanish grammar and is entirely 222 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

of b e incorrect , the diminutive sauce (willow) ing saucito . It is the name of on e of the most delightful of the rose - embowered towns around the bay where many of the business men of S an Fran cisco have their homes .

MARIN COUNTY

f M C S an O arin ounty, separa ted from Fran G G cisco by The olden ate , and noted for the of i ts beauty scenery , we get the story from 1 81 5 G . V . General M. allejo It appears tha t in ’ or 1 6 S an , an exploring party from Francisco L acati ut so d ha d a fight with the tribe , calle from a certain root used by them as food , especially D in the Petaluma V alley . uring this fight the was S an chief captured and carried to Francisco , but afterwards escaped , and kept up constant He hostilities in Petaluma V alley . was finally C converted to hristianity, and did good service on on for the whites as ferryman the bay, and account of his skill in navigating these wa ters , they called him E l Mari n ero (the sailor) ; it is thought that th e name of Marin County is a cor E l M i ruption of this word . ar n ero died at the n R 1 834 mission of S a afa el in . 223 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

TIB URON

’ Ti bu on M r (shark) is on the arin County shore , opposite S an Francisco . It has been facetiously suggested that this name may have been derived “ of from sharks the land variety, but it prob ably came from some story connected with those of the sea.

SAN RAFAEL

so Even in this land , prodigal with its ﬂowers i ts i ts S an from northern to southern borders , R - of M afael , the county seat arin County, ﬁfteen S an miles north of Francisco , is notable for the of i ts exceeding beauty gardens , where the lily ’ ’ an d the rose bloom from year s end to year s

en d . Raphael ( God heals) is the angel of the spirits of men , and it is his business to gather the souls of the dea d into the place where they are r e f H e served for the day o judgment . it was who taught men the use of simples to cure them of plagues and sicknesses after the ﬂood . The “ ” healer seems peculiarly ﬁtting as the patron saint of a place where nature h as done so much “ ” f r o the joy of living . 224

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Ra The mission of S an Rafae l Arcan gel (S t. h ael A 1 81 7 h as n ow p the rchangel) , founded in ,

n ot of . disappeared , a vestige remaining it asisten ia or It was ﬁrst established as an c , f n auxiliary, to the mission o S a Francisco , for the purpose of moving some of the people there , in the hope tha t there would be less sickness and fewer deaths in its milder climate . A spur of the Coast Range in S outhern Cali m a l n t in for ia bears the name of S an R fae Mo u a s .

BENICIA

B en icia (a surname) is the name of a town in S C olano ounty, on the north side of Carquinez S - S an trait , twenty eight miles northeast of Fran cisco . Its story may best be told in th e words of G S eneral herman , in the following quotation “ from his Mem oirs : We found a solitary a dobe

Mr . H house , occupied by astings and his family, m D r S of e bracing . emple , th e proprietor the ’ ferry . The ferry was a ship s boat , with a lateen si x or sail , which could carry eight horses . It took us several days to cross over, and during tha t time we got well acquainted with the d oc

tor a . He was , who was quite character about ' seven feet high . Foreseeing, as he thought , a 227 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

on great city the bay somewhere , he selected

Carquinez S traits as its location , and obtained of from General V allejo title to a league land , on condition of building a city to bear the name ’ r n i sc B A c a c a . of G eneral V allejo s wife , F enicia F n i s a At cor di n l a . g y, the city was ﬁrst called r c c S an n ow this time , where Francisco is was known as Yerba B u en a; n ow some of the chief of of men that place , knowing the importance a

s aw : so name , their danger , and changed the n D r S so t name to S an Fra ci sco . . emple was ou raged at their changing the name to on e so h i s nearly like town that he , in turn , changed ’ r s his town s name to the other name of M . i i B en a . V allejo , and c it has been to this day

LA S PULGA S RAN CHO

Las u l as Ran h o P g c (the ﬂeas ranch) , is near R C . of edwood ity The story this place , with its unpleasantly suggestive name , although of little importance in itself, is told here for the light it throws upon the manners and customs of the original dwellers in the land . Father Engelhardt , Hi st o th e Cali o n ia Mi ss i n s in his ory f f r o , de scribes their way of living thus : Their habita tions were primitive , in summer often but a 228

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

for ou t huts the night , they soon rushed with the ” cries of Ias p u lgas ! las p u lgas ! (the fleas ! the fl s t H e on ea . ) goes to say , for this reason , the soldiers called it the Ran ch eria d e las P ulgas of (the village the fleas) , a name borne by the ranch to this day . u o a e A u te ur d a Mon d e La Pero se , in his V y g , says the padres were never able to change this form of architecture common to the two Cali for n i as . The Indians said they liked open air , h e and that it was convenient , when the fleas con came too numerous , to burn the house and struct a new one , an argument not without merit .

POINT LOB OS

oi n t bos lobo m a i n o P Lo (seal point , from r , s ea- u of G G on wolf) is j st outside the olden a te , the south side , near the spot where the seals crawling about on the rocks have long been one “ of the chief attractions of the famous Cliff H o u se .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIS T

A lam o (cottonwood tree) is the name of a C C C - place in ontra osta ounty, twenty four miles S an northeast of Francisco . 23 0 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

A lv o on e of arad ; a surname , that of the ﬁrst A governors of the sta te . lvara do is a village in on A C Alameda County, lameda reek , twenty four miles southeast of S an Francisco . Juan Bautista Alvara do was a central ﬁgure in Cali M m . He for ia history was born at onterey, Feb ’ r uar 1 4 1 809 27 on y , , and from occupied various f of of icial positions , including tha t of governor B the state . ancroft says of his chara cter and “ appearance : In physique D on Juan B autista of t was medium stature , s out build , fair com o f plexion , and light hair ; genial temperament , e of courteous manners , and rar powers winning to friends . There wa s much in his character H f i s . e o d praise , much to condemn was a man si ate d p habits , and engaged in intrigues , but in his favor it may be said tha t he ha d more brains , energy and executive ability than any three of his contemporaries combined ; he was pa triotic and with good intentions toward his country , n honorable in private dealings , and never e He as riched himself by his intrigues . w not per son all of y guilty having plundered the missions , only responsible through being governor a t that time . The accusations made against him of an unjust policy towards foreigners were entirely ” false . B olin as of M C , the name a town in arin ounty, 23 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

on B B a delightfully situated olinas y, eighteen n B miles northwest of S a Francisco . olinas is of B auli n es probably a corruption , an Indian A word of unknown meaning . la n d grant called

L os B auli n es was loca ted at the same place , and of was probably the name an Indian village . B olinas B ay appears on a map of 1 859 as B al lenas , giving rise to another theory that the name may have been corrupted from ballen as

(whales) . The fact that this name was in very common use among the Spaniards for bays fr e q uen te d by these sea mammals gives some color of plausibility to this theory . A nother suggestion is that it comes from bo lin a , a light wind , but no historical support has f r been a dduced o this theory .

Until further evidence is unearthed , this name must be placed among the doubtful , with the odds in favor of its being a corruption of the f B li n o au es . Indian name the land grant , P oi n t B on i to (pretty point) is the southern of M on extremity arin County, the north side of G G h as the olden ate . This name been corrupted un t d e B n e tes i from P o o (ha t po nt) , which was 1 6 given to it in 77 . It was originally named B on ete in reference to its resemblance to a sort of b at of an so worn by some the clergy , d it is ol called in the d Spanish documents . When a 23 2

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

The name has been immortalized by B ret Harte in his sketch called I n th e Carq u i n e z ood s of W , in which there is a ﬁne description a redwood forest .

s t ac C on tra C o a (opposite coast) , so called on count of its origi nal position directly opposite

S an Francisco . It should b e explained that the C name Contra osta , which scarcely seems appro r i ate p in its present application , was originally applied to the whole of the coast opposite S an A Francisco . fterwards the part directly facing S an Francisco was cut off to form Alameda of County, thus destroying the signiﬁcance the name Contra Costa . Mar ti n ez ( a surname) is the name of the - C C C n county seat of ontra osta ounty, and is o S B a - si x the south shore of uisun y, thirty miles S an M northeast of Francisco . Ignacio artinez was f f o o M 1 774 . a native the city exico , born in H e was a military officer under the Mexican C was comm n government in a lifornia , and a ’ dan te S an 1 822 27 B an at Francisco from to . “ croft says of him : He was not popular as a n ofﬁcer, being haughty and despotic , but as a rancher he is spoken of as a very courteous and M hospitable man . The town of artinez takes its name from him or his family . Merc e d Lake (Mercy Lake) is near S an Fran 23 4 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

cisco . This lake was discovered and named by a land party under Captain B runo Heceta in e 1 775 u es t a S . N ptember , Its full name is r

S enora d e la Merc ed ( Our Lady of Mercy) . Mon tara Poin t and Montara Mountains are in M the western part of S an Mateo County . ontara is a surname . Olem a , said to be a n Indian word meaning ” of M coyote , is the name a town in arin County, on e mile from the hea d of Tomales Bay, and h -ﬁv f n t irty e miles northwest o S a Francisco . a h e u P c co , a s rname , that of a pioneer family f of o California . The town Pacheco is in Contra C of S an Costa ounty, thirty miles northeast A G R Francisco . lthough overnor omualdo “ of B Pacheco , whom ancroft says that his record as of a citizen , in respect character, attainments on e and social standing was a good , was the of most prominent member the family, the as n ot town w named in his honor, but for S alvio

Pacheco , a man who served in many military “ f H e and civil o ﬁces . spent his life on Mount R Diablo ancho , on which is the town bearing ” hi s name . Pescad ero (ﬁshing place) is in a fertile valley an M C on of S ateo ounty, the coast about forty an four miles south of S Francisco . There are a e s number of Pescad ro in the state . 23 5 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

i n le i s A d d P o said to be an ztec wor , applie to any kind of grain or seeds , parched and ground . Of this ﬂour a very appetizing sort of gruel was of C C made . The town Pinole is in ontra osta M u of . Co nty, twelve miles west artinez It is the

e e . site of extensive powder works . S Index th f P ortola (a surname) . is e name o a town in n M e u of S a at o Co nty, and another in Plumas

County, which were named in honor of the f an B a celebrated discoverer o S Francisco y. It is unfortunate that this name is often m i sp r o o M n ou n ccd as Port la . any original signatures of this famous explorer are extant , showing con clusi vely tha t the accent was on the last sylla — ble Portola. Potrero (pasture ground) is on e of the districts n n f of S a Francisco . This is only o e o the many

P otrer os in the state . Presidi o is a word used by the Spaniards in of the double meaning prison or military post . It may be tha t the custom of using convicts as S soldiers , prevalent with th e panish , ha d some thing to do with this double usage of the word . of S an The Presidio Francisco , now a regular of S military post the United tates , although still C retaining its astilian name , is picturesquely and delightfully situated on the north end of the peninsula . There is also a government pre M sidio at onterey . 236

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

oration of the well -known story of the removal of a thorn from the foot of on e of those beasts of th e by Jerome , and the devotion lion to him S an G o i s f afterwards . er nimo the name o a M C small stream in arin ounty, noted for its salmon ﬁsheries .

G an M S an Gregori o ( St. regory) is in S ateo C - of Re d ounty, twenty four miles southwest R S t. G wood City . regory was a noble oman who devoted his wealth to charity, and turned his H e home into a hospital and monastery . was f elected to the high o ﬁce of Pope , and became the composer of what is called from him the “ ” Gregorian Chant . t S an L ean dro ( S . Leander) is in Alameda C on S an C ounty, Leandro reek , sixteen miles

an . t southeast of S Francisco S . Leander was at B of S i s on e of one time ishop eville , and the f patron saints o tha t city . as S an L oren z o ( S t. Lawrence) w a saint who suffered martyr dom by being roasted on a grid h e h i iron . The legend relates that said to s tor “ f mentors , I am now su ﬁciently cooked on this ” on side , turn me over and roast me the other . S an A C Lorenzo is in lameda ounty, twenty miles n southeast of S a Francisco . M S an Matéo ( S t. atthew) is th e name of a S an B a f county bordering on Francisco y, and o 23 8 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

of -on e a town on the west shore the bay, twenty f t M S . miles south o S an Francisco . atthew was H i a ebrew by b rth , a nd the author of the book of the S criptures tha t bears his name . C S an Pablo ( S t. Paul) is in ontra Costa C on S an B a ounty, Pablo y, ﬁfteen miles north of On e of east S an Francisco . the legends con ‘ t i s S an cerning S . Paul tha t the church called ’ R i s Paolo delle Tre Fontane , near ome , built over three fountains which are said to have sprung up at the three places where the hea d of

St. off Paul fell and bounded , after being cut by the executioner . It is said tha t the fountains

- vary in the warmth of the water , the ﬁrst , or

on e. the where the hea d fell , being the hottest ; or of the next , that the ﬁrst bound , cooler ; and the third still cooler . S an Q uen ti n (properly S an Quintin) is a vil M C on of S an lage in arin ounty, the west shore S an Francisco Bay, eleven miles north of Fran of cisco . This place , where the forbidding walls ’ the S tate s Prison shut out the light of Califor ’ nia s glorious sun from the unfortuna tes em ﬁtti n l of closed there , very g y bears the name a “ saint whose gloomy story runs thus : S an Quin n f H e e tin was the so o Zeno . became convert d an d gave up a high command which he held in R He the oman army, in order to preach . labored 23 9 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

B ff especially in elgium , and su ered death by ” n to i es o th e being impaled o an iron spit . S r f I t i s S ain ts .) probable , however, that the town r e was not directly named for this saint , but cei ved the name indirectly from Point Quintin , M was so on the arin coast , which called from an Indian chief of that region who ha d been thus christened by the Spaniards . R S an Ram an ( S t. aymond) is in Contra Costa H “ C . S t. Ra ounty, nine miles east of ayward y M an mond belonged to th e Order of ercy, d M B labored for the captives among the oors . y M the ahometans , among whom he was long a of captive . for the ransom his Christian breth h i s -h ren , lips were bored through with a red ot ” an d iron , fastened with a pa dlock , an effective , if cruel method of preventing him from preach ing the Christian faith .

fi ol l ! S uﬁ ol (a surname) . S u is a town in A a d C - si x n me a ounty, thirty miles southeast of S a ’ m oi Francisco . In Fremont s Me rs he refers to D on A S ufi ol f e ntonio , probably a member o th same family for whom this town is named . Tocalom a is a delightful secluded glen and M creek in arin County, not far north of S an

Francisco , where a hunting and ﬁshing preserve i ts is maintained . The word is Indian , but mean h as ing not been ascertained . 240

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

or able r conduct , pa t iotic zeal , executive ability, and freedom from petty prejudices of race or religion or sectional politics is more ” B t favorable than his . ( ancrof )

242 M N O RT H or W FRAN C I SC

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

b e nose , given to the chief as his appellation cause of the very large development of that

m a D r . feature of his face . The sufﬁx is said by “ ” “ ” or V allejo to mean va lley land , and thus S onoma would h ear the meaning of nose ” ' “ ” ar — Mem i s o th e valley, nose land , ( o r f H n alle as . S a V j , edited by James Wilkins , Fran B cisco ulletin , January, Altim i r a of Fray José , diarist an exploring ex “ i ti n 1 823 p ed o to that region in , says , We came to the plain called S onoma from the Indians who ” on e formerly lived there . The thing that is quite clear about this name i s that its origin is undoubtedly Indian . It has been said that Sonoma means valley ” of of the moon , in reference to the shape the of valley, but there is probably more poetry than of truth in this story . Th e California Indians lacked the imagination to have thought of such a name . A t S an Fr an ci sco d e S alan a this place , , the last of of the great chain missions , was founded July 4 1 82 3 . , The mission buildings have been put in a fair state of preservation and the church has been restored by the state .

24 6

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Mem i s th e alle as S u sun . V the y race o r of j , S an B l H . u edited by James Wilkins , Francisco leti n , January,

CARNE HUMANA

A mong the names of the old S panish land grants are many tha t hold a suggestion of inter esting and sometimes tragic tales , now lost in the f f Ca n e dim sha dows o the past . O such is r of H um an a (human ﬂesh) , the name a grant in

H . N C S t. apa ounty, near elena This spot may have been the scene of on e of those horrible acts of cannibalism to which the Indians of the entire

S . Ca outhwest were quite generally a ddicted . p P on e tain ages , in his diary of of the expeditions S an B a to Francisco y, mentions that this prae tice prevailed among the Indians of tha t region to a certain extent , but seems to have been con ﬁned to the eating of the bodies of enemies slain in battle , and only the rela tives of the slayer were permitted to take part in the ab horrent feast .

S ANTA ROSA

n t R - f S a a Rosa S t. o ( ose) , the county seat 250 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

C ﬁft - S onoma ounty , is y seven miles northwest of S an Francisco . A n interesting story is told of S anta Rosa de d Lima , said to be the only canonize female saint Ne h e of the w World . S was born a t Lima , in an d d d of Peru , was istinguished for her hatre vanity, and her grea t austerity, carrying these characteristics to such an extreme tha t sh e de stroyed her beautiful complexion with a com n pound of pepper a d quicklime . When her mother commanded her to wear a wreath of sh e s roses , o arranged it tha t it was in truth a H er crown of thorns . food consisted principally an d sh e of bitter herbs , maintained her parents k an by her labor, wor ing all day in her garden d all night with her needle . The legend relates that when Pope Clement X was asked to canon “ d : I n di n t ! ize her , he refuse , exclaiming a y S a a ” A s i com a llue ven rasas ! (A n Indian woman a saint ! That may happen when it rains roses ! ) Instantly a shower of roses began to fall in the an Vatican , d did not cease until the Pope was convinced of his error . This saint is the patron ‘ e ss of A merica , and is represented as wearing a thorny crown , and holding in her hand the ﬁgure of - the infant Jesus , which rests on full blown — S ta i es o th e S ai n ts . roses . ( r f ) 251 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

MEND OCINO COUNTY

n in C oun t Me d oc o y, in the northwestern part of the state , is distinguished for its extensive of forests of redwoo ds . The main belt these trees extends through this county, and they may here be seen in their highest development . They 1 00 340 vary in height from to feet , and reach a f diameter o from two to sixteen feet , having a

b . red , ﬁ rous bark sometimes a foot in thickness N otwithstanding their great size , the delicacy of th e of their foliage , which takes form ﬂat sprays ,

- u . gives them a gracef l , fern like appearance The age of mature redwoods is said to range from 00 1 3 00 5 to years . The special characteristics of of the wood these trees are , its durability when an om buried in the soil , d its resistance to ﬁre . C m er ci all i s for ur oses b ei n y it valuable many p p , g preferred to steel for water supply conduits , of saw- and , in the form dust , found to be better — than cork for packing fresh grapes (Notes

' Th e T ees Cali o n i a from r of f r , by Professor of Willis Linn Jepsen , of the University Cali a f rnia . ) Probably the ﬁrst written mention of these trees occurs in the diary of Gaspar de Portola, 252

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

The meaning of the word has not been posi l th ou h t ‘ b ti ve y ascertained , although it is g y eth n ologi s ts to be a possible corruption of Mak laks — : (people , community, literally, the encamped)

The Klamaths were a hardy people , who ha d many slaves captured from other tribes . The slave tra de seems to have been carried on quite i extensively among the Californ a Indians .

MODOC COUNTY

Mod o c , the county in the northeastern corner of i s the state , notable as having been the home of , the only California tribe that ever caused S G serious trouble to the United ta tes overnment . M The odoc wars are a matter of history . The Modocs were a ﬁerce tribe of Indians who

- of R lived at the head wa ters Pit iver, and the name is though t by some persons to mean “hea d ” “ ” of the river, or people , community, but eth “ n ologi sts are of the opinion that it means south ” people , probably used by tribes living north of M B . S the odocs ancroft , quoting from teele , in Af R 1 8 64 1 21 Indian fairs eport of , page , says “ Mad a S The word c is a hasta Indian word , and or means all distant , stranger, hostile Indians , and became applied to this tribe by white men 254 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

in early days from hearing the Shastas refer to them by this term . It does not appear tha t B ancroft ha d any genuine scientiﬁc authority for this statement .

T i bes Cali n ia Powers , in his r of for , states that Ma- d ak- us some persons derive this name from , the name of a former chief of the tribe under whose leadership they seceded from the Klam a th Lake Indians and became an independent A s as for tribe . it w common seceding bands to i n assume the name of their leader, Powers is li n c ed to accept this explanation of the name . Professor Kroeber says “Modoc means ‘ ’ or an d south , nothing more less , these people so on were called by the Klamath , their kinsmen ” the north .

SHASTA

To for S h asta account the name , a numb er of n theories have been a dvanced , no o e of which t A seems o be positively established . ccording to “ B of S r the ureau Ethnology, hasta may be a ca of S us -ti—Ica ruption , apparently the name of a well- known Indian living about 1 840 near the f Y site o reka . The name was applied to a group of N C i small tribes in orthern al fornia , extend 255 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

ing into Oregon , who were soon extinguished by the development of mining operations

B Nati ve Ra es S ancroft , in his c , says , hasta was apparently the name of a tribe living about 1 40 Y of 8 near reka , a tribe made up several

u . gro ps They were a sedentary people , living in u small ho ses , similar to those in use by the In dians on the coast immediately to the west . of Their food was made up acorns , seeds , roots , and ﬁsh , particularly salmon . The salmon was caught by net , weir, trap , and spear . Their arts - f were few . They ha d dug out canoes o a rather

. h ow broad , clumsy type The was their chief weapon , and their carving was limited to rude spoons of wood and bone . Painting was little used , and basketry was limited to basket caps for the women , and small food baskets of simple i form . The tr be soon succumbed to the unfavor of able environment the mining camp , and is now almost extinct The Shasta Indians We ah aw were known in their own language as , ‘ ’ a word meaning stone house , from the large i ” cave in the r country . “ S h as- ti -ka was probably the tribal name of i—r - th e Shasta Indians . Wa e ka (mountain) was ’ t S T i bes o their name for M . hasta (Powers r f l Ca iforn i a. ) Another theory a dvanced is that Shasta is a 256

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

corruption of th e Russian word tch astal (white r o pure mountain) , and still another that it h t comes from the French c as e (pure) , but it is likely that its resemblance to these words is

an d i ts d . purely accidental , that origin is In ian

of Whatever may be the derivation its name , th ere is no question that Mount Shasta with its - i for snow capped summit , has but few r vals scenic beauty among its mountain sisterhood . d It is an extinct volcano , with a ouble peak , and rises to a height of feet . There are minor n of glaciers o the northern slope . Fremont says “ it : The Sh as tl peak stands a t the hea d of the l f on e lower va ley, rising from a base o about

ou t of of . thousand feet , a forest heavy timber It ascends like an immense column upwards of M B feet (nearly the height of ont lanc) , the summit glistening with snow, and visible , of of from favorable points view , a t a distance 1 40 ” miles down the valley .

On S of of 1 848 a United tates map date , drawn by Charles Preuss from surveys made by P r e mont and other persons , the name appears h spelled as Ts astl.

M S Si ski ou C ount hasta is in y ounty, and is the most conspicuous natural feature in tha t of part the state . 259 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

SI SKIYOU COUNTY

of ' Except that it is Indian origin , nothing authentic has been obtained concerning S i sh i ou y , the name of the county in the extreme north S of the state . everal popular theories have been on e ff Si ski ou a dvanced , to the e ect that y means “ ” lame horse . If tha t b e true the word must have been introduced into th e Indian language of after the coming the Spaniards , since horses were unknown to the Indians before that period . A nother story, perhaps more pleasing than true , “ runs as follows : On the summit of a mountain O u in regon , j st over the divide , there is a beauti ful , level spot , watered by cool springs , which H overlooks the country for miles around . ere S R R the powerful hasta , ogue iver , and Klamath tribes used to meet to smoke and indulge in is dancing and games . They called the place S ‘ ’ ki - au y , the council ground . S i skiyou County is notable for its mountain scenery, and includes within its borders the M famous ount Shasta . A nother explanation of the name S i skiyou h as R been furnished by Edward C . oberts as coming r l D . R o d from eam , an physician who practiced 260

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Origin : This story looks too much like a typi — cal case of sub sequent folk etymology to engen der much conﬁdence . The usual assumption of an Indian origin , though not necessarily from a tribal name , is more credible . The source , if i s as aboriginal , , however , at least likely to have ” s been Oregonian a Californian .

TRINITY COUNTY

Trin i t Coun t received its name from Trini y y m da d Bay, which was discovered and na ed by C B E z e ta on S aptain runo , Trinity unday, in the i s year 1 775 . Trinida d the Spanish word mean ing Trinity . Trinity River was so named through the mis i taken belief tha t t emptied into Trinida d Bay . Trinida d is also the name of a village in Hum C on boldt ounty , the ocean shore , twenty miles f north o Eureka .

YREKA

Y eka th e - of Si ski ou r , the name of county seat y C d ounty, is an Indian wor , of which the spelling d has probably been corrupte , perhaps in a spirit of ai -r i -ka facetiousness , from the original W to 262 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

i ts V present eccentric form . arious theories have ff been o ered in explanation of the word , but the only on e apparently based on scientiﬁc data ” On e seems to be tha t it means north place . writer a dvances th e whimsical explanation that the word was formed by the transposition of the “ ” to b e letters in bakery, but fails explain wha t f “ o . comes the letter b This is , of course , but an idle invention . Y eka i s T i bes Cali r said by Powers , in his r of “ ” a n ia for f r , to be the Indian word mountain , M I t S . s especially applied to t. hasta former as i - — H spelling w Wa r i ka. ere is a contradiction between scientists .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIST

A u li n te vi l g a Ca e (hot water , hot springs) , a S C -ﬁve of lage in onoma ounty, forty miles north an S Francisco .

A lt - M uras (heights) , the county sea t of odoc f R C 1 1 0 o . ounty, miles north eno Pai n t Aren a (sandy point) is the name of the cape on the Mendocino coast , and of the village 1 1 0 of S an in that county, miles northwest Fran cisco . B od e a of d Don g , a surname , tha t its iscoverer, 263 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

B C Juan de la odega y Qua dra , aptain of the B B a schooner S onora , who sailed into odega y f 3 1 775 . o October , This bay, and the town S C Bodega Roads are in onoma ounty, about

- of n sixty four miles northwest S a Francisco . Governor Alvara do held the peculiar theory that this place was nam e d in reference to the wine cellars (bodegas) which were common there during the period of the Russian occupa tion , but the resemblance between this word and the name of the discoverer is purely accidental . The origin of the name is thoroughly au th en ti P a cated in the Spanish documents , including ’ Nati cias e lou s , and the bay is honored in b aring the name of on e of the bravest navigators that — ever sailed the S outhern S ea Juan Francisco de la B odega . ai n t Cab i llo of P r , a surname , that the cele br ate d S R Ca panish explorer, Juan odriguez brillo . Cali sto a on e g , of those hybrid words of which C alifornia has too many . This word was the of S invention amuel Brannan , an early settler , and is compounded of the ﬁrst syllable of Cali a of f rnia and the last S aratoga . It is given here r lest it be mistaken for Indian o Spanish . Ca ad e - z ro (hunting place) . Ch i l en a C of . ( hilean , native Chile) 26 4

P L A C E N A ME S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Pain t Lagun a (la goon point) . Or a Fi n a (ﬁne gold) is the name of a village in ki o C - ﬁve Si s y u ounty, twenty miles southwest of

Yreka . This name is in contrast to th e place called Or a Gran d e (coarse gold) in the sou thern part of the state . t lum a S P e a , the name of a town in onoma - of S an County, forty two miles northwest Fran of cisco . Petaluma was the name an Indian village situated near the site of the present town

A . B on S . a low hill , and according to arrett the word is compounded of p eta (ﬂat) and lum a

e talum a Dr . (back) , making P (ﬂat back) , but

V allejo has another explanation of its meaning . “ ” H e holds tha t the sufﬁx m a means valley or “ ” of land , and that Petaluma is a combination “ S u sun P e - talu- m a Oh ! three y words , , signifying ” “ ” r h — M m i o O ! . e s fair valley, fair land ( o r of th lle s H an e Va o . S j , edited by James Wilkins ,

Francisco Bulletin , January, “ Professor Kroeber says : P e talum a 'i s a Coast M “ ’ iwok Indian name meaning ﬂat back , no doubt from the appearance of the elevation on ” s which the village wa situated . am a i s f P northeast o Ukiah . Pomo was an Indian village on the east bank of the Russian R of V iver , in the southern end Potter alley, a

- ofﬁ ce short distance south of the post a t Porno . 266 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

‘ of The word is an ending, meaning people , vil ’ — of S . A . B . lage . ( arrett ) ’ Tam ales B a D y is just north of rake s Bay, in S Marin County . The word is a panish corrup t tion of the Indian am al (bay) . ki h i s - M U a th e county sea t of endocino County, an d i s on th e R R 1 1 0 ussian iver , miles northwest “ n i s of S a Francisco . The word said to be de akaia a rived from the Indian y , y (south) and k - i si x a a (valley) , the name of a village about ” miles southeast of th e present town of Ukiah .

26 7

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

THE CENTRAL V ALLEY

TEHAMA COUNTY

Teh ama Coun ty lies a t the extreme northern end of th e great Central Valley of the state . There is a village of the same name in the on S R county, the acramento iver , twelve miles southeast of Re d B luff . The name Teh ama was derived from an I n dian tribe , but the meaning of it has not been ff : ascertained . Two definitions have been o ered “ ” to of high wa ter, in reference the overflowing “ ” th e S R acramento iver, and low land , but these may be among those attempts to account for our names by making the name fit the circum a stances , method which has resulted in many All errors . that can be positively stated is that the word is of Indian origin .

COLUSA

Calusa is a county in the northern part of the - of Central V alley, and has a county seat the 271 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

on same name , situated the west bank of the R - ﬁve e of S acramento iver , sixty mil s northwest

S acramento . This name appears as Calus on the land grant an d located at that place , is said by Powers , in i es o Cali o n ia of his Tr b f f r , to b e a corruption Ka-r - si u , a tribal name , a more reasonable ex ff planation than any other that has been o ered . G i General Will reen , said to have known the tr be “ Ca well , was of the opinion that lusa meant the ” scratchers , in allusion to a strange custom ’ among these people of scratching on e another s i s faces . While it true that the prevalence of this i s d S C custom mentione by the paniards , aptain P of ages referring to it in terms great distaste , there is no scientiﬁc corroboration of that d eﬁn i C l tion for the word a usa.

YUB A

Yu ba is the name of a county in the Central of Y C - of S Valley, uba ity, the county sea t utter C Y R i s d ounty, and of the uba iver, which forme by the union of three branches rising in th e

S ierra Neva da .

Yu b was The name a ﬁrst applied to the river, the chief tributary of the Feather . The theory 272

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

YOLO

Yala is the name of a county in the northern of C V of part the entral alley, and a village near

Woodland . Yala or Yala , y, was the name of a Patwin d B tribe , and the wor is said by the ureau of Ethnology to mean “ a place abounding with ” rushes . In 1 884 there were still forty - ﬁve of the tr ibe Y living in olo County .

S OLANO

This county , situated in the Central V alley, of S an immediately northeast Francisco , was G M named , a t the request of eneral ariano V of of S ui allejo , in honor an Indian chief the sumes who had ai ded him in war against the of n other natives . The name this chief in his ow “ S em Ye ta tongue is said to have been , the F B H or S um - et-h a ierce one of the rave and , y , “ ” M Ar m escri the ighty , and , judging by the d p V of Dr . tion given him by allejo , h e must have been a living refutation of the common belief 274 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

tha t the California Indians were invariably

- squa t and ill formed , for he was a splendid

ﬁgure of a man , six feet , seven inches in height He and large in proportion . was converted to Christianity and received the name of the cele r ate d S b missiona ry, Francisco olano , as well as of agrant land containing acres , known as the Suisun Grant .

S UIS UN

S ui s un B ay is a body of navigable water con n ecte d with S an Pablo B ay by the Carquinez S i s of S an trait , and the outlet the Joaquin and S acramento Rivers . Suisun City is in S olano

' C on slou h ab ou t ounty, a g , ﬁfty miles northeast f of S an Fra ncisco . S uisun was the name o an on Indian village that bay, and the word is said “ ” by some persons to mean a big expanse . The name was probably ﬁrst given to the land grant . This region wa s th e home of an important tribe of Indians wh o h ad an interesting and tra gic history . Their religious capital , if such was N it could be called , a t apa , near which place there was a certain stone from which 275 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

they believed on e of their gods ha d ascended of into upper air, leaving the impress his foot G upon the stone . eneral Vallejo says that in 1 81 7 a military expedition under command of Lieutenant José Sé n ch ez crossed the straits of on of Carquinez rafts , for th e double purpose exploring the country and reducing it to Chris ti i n at an ty. O crossing the river they were S tacked by the uisun tribe , hea ded by their M S f chief alaca , and the paniards su fered con si d er able loss ; the Indians fought bravely, but d an h e ia were force to retire to their r c r , where , being hotly pursued , and believing their fate d sealed , these unfortunate people , incite by set own - their chief, ﬁre to their rush built huts , and perished in the ﬂames with their families . The soldiers endeavored to stay their desperate resolution , in order to save the women an d children , but they preferred this doom to that which they believed to await them at th e hands ” S u n of their enemies . The isun tribe is now e ti r el y extinct , a large number having been car

off ' fr i h tf l ried by a g u epidemic of smallpox .

D r . V allejo states tha t this tribe , a people de scribed by him as possessing many attractive d qualities , was estimate by his father to number A a t least persons in 1 83 5 . fter the grea t R epidemic , which was brought down by the u s 276

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

M it to be a branch , which he called Jesus aria , a name it long retained for that part of its o course . For this conclusi n he ha d some justi ﬁ cati on in the fact tha t at the point where the S acramento and the Fea ther come together it is the latter which makes a straight course S north and south with the lower acramento , whereas the upper S acramento ﬂows in at that point from the west .

COS UMNE

C osum n e is the name of a village in S acra C - mento ounty, about twenty two miles south R east of S acramento . The Cosumne iver rises D C S N d in El orado ounty, near the ierra eva a , and enters the Mokelumne about twenty- ﬁve f f S miles south o the city o acramento . m n Cos u e is an Indian word , said to mean ” salmon , and was taken from the tribe who lived upon the river . The frequent occurrence of am n i um n e of the ending , or , in the names rivers in the S ierras h as led to the mistaken con “ ” clusi on f that the su ﬁx actually means river, A but we have the statement of . L . Kroeber, Professor of Anthropology in the University of

California , tha t , The supposition may be haz 278 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

am n i um n e arded tha t the ending , or , is origin a M ‘ ally iwok ending , with the meaning people ’ of of . Thus the meaning Cosumne may be “ ” of C0 5 0 M k l people the villa ge of , and of o e “ Mukk el umne , people of the village of , and so on through all the names having this ending . T i bes o Cali n ia Kas Powers , in his r f for , says “ ” s um -m i was the Indian word for salmon , and that this is the probable origin of the name

Cosumne . The B ureau of Ethnology has an interesting paragraph on the manners and customs of these “ Indians : They went ahn ost naked ; their houses m were of bark , someti es thatched with grass , and covered with earth ; the bark was loosened from the trees by repeated blows with stone hatchets , the latter having the hea d fastened to the handle with deer sinews . Their ordinary

- weapons were bows and stone tipped arrows . The women made ﬁn ely-woven conical baskets

f . o grass , the smaller ones of which held water Their amusements were chieﬂy dancing and

- foot ball ; the dances , however , were in some degree ceremonial . Their principal deity was n the su , and the women ha d a ceremony which ‘ ’ resembled the sun dance of the tribes of the upper Missouri . Their dea d were buried in n ow graves in the earth . The tribe is practically 279 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

R Am e i an A n extinct . ( Quoted from ice , in r c th r o olo 259 p gy, III , ,

SAN JOA QUIN

J oa uin Coun t for S an q y, famous its vast ﬁelds of C r of wheat , is a part the great ent al Valley, and the river of the same name rises in the S - val ierras , ﬂows north northwest through the ley and unites with th e S acramento River near s i t mouth .

was d of S t. The river name in honor Joachim , of Vi i the father the rg n . Lieutenant Moraga ﬁrst gave the name to a rivulet which springs S N an d from the ierra eva da , empties into Lake d d Buena V ista . The river erive its name from this rivulet . of S an The rich valley the Joaquin , two hun d red miles long and thirty miles wide , with its r wide , t eeless expanses where th e wild grasses k grew ran ly, was once a para dise for game . “ Fremont says : Descending the valley we trav f cled among multitudinous herds o elk , ante Of lope , and wild horses . S everal the latter which we killed for food were found to be very ” H fat . erds Of wild horses still range in Cali for n i a an N d eva da , and are sometimes captured for sale , ﬁne specimens bringing high prices . 280

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

STANISLAUS

S tan i slaus is the name of the county just of S an an of on i south Joaquin , d e of the tr bu th e S an taries Of Joaquin River . The S tanislaus R on e of f iver, the most important o the streams which take their rise in the wild and pi ctur r esque region Of the higher peaks Of the Sie ras , descends to the plains through rock-bound cati ons and joins the S an Joaquin in the cen of of tral trough the valley . It is the scene Bret ’ H Th e S i et on th e arte s humorous poem , oc y Up

S tan i slaus .

The word S tan i slaus is said to be derived of h e from an Indian chief tha t region , who came Christia nized and was baptized under the f n l H e Spanish name o Esta i s aa. was educated n at Mission S a José , but became a renega de , I n and incited his tribe against the Spaniards . 1 826 he was defeated in a ﬁerce battle on the h i An banks of the river n ow bearing s name . other theory is that the river was ﬁrst named S S fol by the Spaniards for aint tanislaus , and , th e lowing the usual course of procedure , name was afterwards applied to the county . There Of were two saints bearing this name , both 28 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

S Polish origin . tanislaus Kostka was born in 1 550 Poland in , and is one of the favorite saints t H e of that coun ry . was canonized for his saintly character, and is invoked for palpitations of the S of heart and dangerous illnesses . tanislaus H e i s Cracow was born in 1 030 . the patron saint H e ff of . Poland , and is invoked in battle su ered of B a violent death at the hands King oleslaw , whom he had reproved for his dissolute life . Fremont thus describes the scenery along the “ S : tanislaus Issuing from the woods , we rode about sixteen miles over Open prairie partly covered with bunch grass , the timber reappear i of R S ing on the roll ng hills the iver tanislaus , in the usual belt of evergreen oaks . The level was valley about forty feet below the upland , and the stream seventy yards broad , with the usual fertile bottom land which was covered n with green grass among large oaks . We e i n on e Of of camped these bottoms , in a grove ” the large white oaks previously mentioned .

MERCED

Merc ed (mercy) is the name of the county of S O f own south tanislaus , its principal stream , of - and its co u n ty seat . The river was named by 28 2

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

upon the ﬂoor of the valley, it takes on a serene air of maturity, and widens into a placid river , i ts current ﬂowing sluggishly between low, level ba n ks .

MADERA COUNTY

i s f Mad era (wood , timber) the name o the county to the southwest Of S tanislaus . It ocen was pies a stretch Of fertile land , and called Mad era by the Spaniards on account Of its heavy f growth o timber .

FRESNO COUNTY

F esn o ash - so to r ( tree) , called in reference of i s the abundance those trees in that region , an the name Of a county in the S Joaquin V alley, an in the heart of the grain d fruit country . R aisins and wine are its especial pro ducts . Its capital city and principal stream also h ear the of name Fresno .

KINGS COUNTY

n o This county, w appearing under its English d i ts form , originally receive name from the 284 I N TH E S I ERRA NEVA D AS

- Eas t e e th e s ot th e K n K er n e . t tt , Al p i g divid

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

TULARE COUNTY

ula e or T r (place of tules , rushes) is the name Of - of a county in the south central part the state , f C an o Tulare Lake in Kings ounty, d Of a town n r in th e S a Joaquin V alley . The county is e markable for the high mountain peaks Of the N on e A Sierra eva da , its north ast border . mong M these is ount Whitney, about feet in height .

Tula e ak e C on e r L , in Kings ounty, at time ﬁlled a shallow depression about thirty miles d m in length , and receive through a nu ber of small streams the drainage from the southern N part of the S ierra eva da , soon losing the of greater part this water by evaporation . It is now practically dry, as a result of the with d r awal for irrigation purposes of Kings an d

Kern rivers , and the territory formerly covered by it h as been to a great extent placed under was 1 cultivation . Th e lake discovered in 773 P by Commandant ages , while hunting for d e s er ter s th e M from presidio a t onterey, and called by him L as Tu les (the rushes) , from th e great of number those plants with which it was ﬁlled . In 1 813 Captain Mora‘ga passed through the 288 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

ll valley Of this lake , and named it Va e d e los l s of Tu e (valley the rushes) . The Tulare Indians exhibited both more cour age and more ingenuity than was usual among C S the tribes Of alifornia , and the paniards ha d on e n more than lively fight with them . O one of s these occasions , the Indian , seeing them selves worsted , retired into the tules on the river S bank , where they remained hidden . The pan i ar ds m , not wishing to expose themselves to u r necessary dange , surrounded the place a nd for o t waited hunger to drive the enemy u , but the Indians concocted a cunning scheme by u which they made good their escape . With n d expected skill , they constructe some manikins of the tules and then tossed them , unseen , into f the current o the river . When these imitation men floated into the view of the Spaniards they took them for the Indians trying to swim down an so stream , d followed after them along the M as . bank , shooting they ran eanwhile the In dians quietly decamped in the other direction . The Tular efios were in the habit of going across the mountains to the coast for abalones , an d it was their custom when on these trips to mark thei r trails to those coming after by plac “ ” of ing stones on the ground in the shape a v , the apex indicating the direction in which they 289 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

- were traveling . These sign posts of the old In dian trails are still occasionally found in th e of mountains that region , and no doubt many a h as wayfarer wondered about their meaning .

S UPPLEME NTARY LIST

A camp a (common pasture) is the name of a

S ee . village in S an Joaquin County . Final Index A rroyo B uen os A ires (creek Of the good airs) i s in S an Joaquin County . Cali en te (hot) is the name of a town in Kern

County . Ch i co (little) is the name of a town in B utte

- si x m County, ninety iles north Of S acramento . This place derives its name from the Rancho l Chico (the ittle ranch) , of which General John as A B idwell w the original grantee . The rroyo Chico and the town both took their names from h — B C . . the ranc (Mr . harles Turrill ) Ch w h i lla S an o c , a large ranch in the Joaquin i ts C I Valley, takes name from the howchilla n of M m dians , a branch the oquelumnan fa ily . Fremont refers to this name under a somewhat “ different spelling : The springs and streams hereabout were waters of the Ch auch i les and 290

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

N H : con seum of atural istory The pit oven , of sisting a hole excavated in the ground , heated as with ﬁre , and then ﬁlled with food , which w covered over and allowed to cook , was general A th ou h as in merica , g a rule it was employed ' only occasionally, and principally for cooking s vegetal substances . This method Of cooking Wa found necessary to render acrid or poisonous foods harmless , and starchy foods saccharine , and as a preliminary in dryi ng and preserving r M - c n sum food fo winter u se . ost Of the acorn o ing Indians of California cooked acorn mush

- — in small sand pits . The soap root was made palatable by cooking it in an earth - covered H heap . The upa cook the same plant for about two days in a large pit lined with stones , in which a hot fire is maintained until the stones and surrounding earth are well heated ; the fire of is then drawn , the pit lined with leaves wild grape and wood sorrel to improve the flavor of the bulbs , and a quantity Of the bulbs thrown to in ; leaves are then placed on p , the whole is ” covered with earth , and a big fire built on top . B t “ f r C . o M . harles Turrill states hat the meal the ground acorns was placed in shallow h ol i n lows the sand and water poured on it , by which means the bitter principle was leached out . Then the meal was placed in baskets and 29 2

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Teh a h a i c p , an Indian word of which the mean of ing has not been ascertained , is the name the mountain pass in Kern County across the S ierra N of eva da , which it approximately marks the southern limit , and of a town in the same - ﬁve of B county, thirty miles southeast akers

ﬁeld . “ In the famous Tah i ch ap ah Pass was a tribe e Ta-h i - ch a- a-h an - n a called by themselv s p , and

- h i by the Kern Indians Ta ch . This tribe is now — ’ l T i b s i n ia. extinct . (Powers r e of Ca for ) Vacavi lle is situated in a beautifu l and fertile i ts valley in S olano County . It received name from a family named Vaca who were at one M V time prominent in that region . anuel aca , of of N ew the founder the family, was a native 1 841 H e M C . exico , and came to alifornia in f was a hospitable man o good repute .

296 SI E RRAS

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

grandeur , much more imposing than that of the M cov Rockies . any of its higher summits are ” ’ a ered with perpetual snow . (Lippincott s G z e tteer . )

PIT RIVER

Among the many tributary streams that carry th e waters Of the S ierra Nevada down the west S P i t ern slop e into the acramento , the , often i tt on e O f im incorrectly spelled P , is the most i n portant , and , although not properly belonging of these pages , is included . for the sake the information to b e gained concerning Indian customs . The natives along this river were in the habit of digging pits near the banks to catch bear an d on deer, and , occasion , even their human ene t mies . The pi s were dug in the regular trails of animals , twelve to fourteen feet deep , conical in O shape , with a small pening at the top , covered S as with brush and earth . igns , such broken twigs , were placed as a warning to their own people , and sharp stakes were placed in the bottom to impale any creature that might fall of in . Another account this custom is given in ’ “ Miller s Life A m on g th e Mod ocs Pits from ten du I to ﬁfteen feet deep were g, n which natives 3 00 R I O D E LA S PLUM AS ( FEATHER R I VER) ‘ EL r r To this d ay th e vall ey of th e Feathe is a. favo ite haun t for ” wi ld d ucks an d g eese .

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

named E l Ri o d e las Plum as (the river Of the C A Ar ii ello Feathers) , by aptain Luis . g , who led 1 820 an exploring party up the valley in , and whose attention was attracted by the great num ber of feathers of wild fowl ﬂoating on the sur f face O f the river . Even to this day the valley o the Feather has remained a favorite haunt of the wild ducks and geese , as will be attested by the many hunters who seek sport there during h as the season . By an inconsistency, the county S lum as retained the original panish name , P , f A while that o the river has been mericanized . A n erroneous an d extremely far- fetched ex planation of the name has Often appeared in print to the effect that it was derived from a fancied resemblance between the spray of the river and a feather .

THE AMERICAN RIVER

Am er i an Ri ve The c r , another Of the names which have been translated from the original

Spanish , is formed by three forks rising in the N S Sierra eva da , and empties into the acramento f a t the site o the city of that name . The three branches forming it run in deep canyons , some t o times w thousand feet in depth , and the scen 3 04 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

ery along its course is of rugged an d striking character . The river wa s originally called E l Ri o d e los A m e i an s of A r c o ( the river the mericans) , prob ably from the presence on its banks of a com of pany western trappers , who lived there from “ 1 822 1 830 n ot to , and because it was the usual route of travel by which Americans entered the ” i s d B state , as state by ancroft and others . In Fremont’ s time it was still known by its

Spanish name , by which he refers to it in the “ following para graph : Just then a well-dressed d an d d In ian came up , ma e his salutations in very

- well spoken Spanish . In answer to our inqu iries he informed us that we were upon the Ri o d e los n S A m erica os, and that it joined the acramento N di d River about ten miles below . ever a name sound more sweetly ! We felt ourselves among of A our countrymen , for the name merican , in d of these distant parts , is applie to the citizens ” the United S tates .

EL DORADO COUNTY

A E l Dorad o (the gilded man) . lthough it is 3 05 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

known to most people , in a vague , general way, tha t the name E l D orado was given to this county on a ccount of the discovery of gold there , the romantic tales connected with the name are probably not so well known . The In of V New G dians Peru , enezuela , and rana da , perhaps in the hop e of inducing their oppressors to move on , were constantly pointing out to the S on e paniards , ﬁrst in direction , then in another , a land of fabulous riches . This land was said to have a king , who caused his body to be covered every morning with gold dust , by means Of an b e O ff odorous resin . Each evening washed it , as it incommoded his sleep , and each morning ha d the gilding process repeated . From this fable the white men were led to believe tha t the country must be rich in gold , and long, costly, and fruitless expeditions were undertaken in pursuit Of this phantom of E l D orad o . In time the phrase E l D orad o came to be applied to r e gions where gold and other precious metals A G en were thought to be plentiful . ccording to on e O eral V allejo , Francisco rellana , a com ﬁ cti panion Of the a dventurer Pizarro , wrote a E l D o ad o S A tious account of an r in outh merica , “ a region of genial clime and never- fa ding ver dure , abounding in gold and precious stones , where wine gushed forth from never- ceasin g 3 06

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

d - springs , whea t fiel s grew rea dy baked loaves of l bread , birds a rea dy roasted flew among the an d trees , nature was filled with harmony and ” A l sweetness . lthough o d Mother Nature has ” n ot yet provided us with brea d ready-baked ” or - C birds ready roasted in alifornia , her gifts to her children have been so bountiful that they may almost be compared to the fabulous tales f E l D o o o r ad d . , the gil ed man

PLACER COUNTY

la e P c r , the county in th e S ierras famous for

- its surfa ce gold mining, has a puzzling name for which no satisfactory explanation has yet been A found . lthough it has been used in Spanish countries for centuries in the sense of surface sub mining, dictionaries remain silent upon the d jcet . The theory Often a dvanced that the wor is a contraction Of p laza d e or o (place Of gold) O f of ah bears none the marks probability, and “ ” other tha t i t means a river where gold i s found n e l i s n ot supported by adequate authority . O O d Spanish dictionary gives the meaning Of p lac er “ as se an d d a a bottom , level of slight epth , Of ” or sand , mud , stone , and states also tha t the word i s sometimes used to designate places 3 09 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

where pearl diving is carried on . It may be that the word was extended from this usa ge to i n clu d e m placer ining, since in that case the gold is found in shallow pockets near the surface . h i s ff as T is theory O ered here a mere suggestion . Placer County has some of the most striking mountain scenery in the state , and has been the of theatre many remarkable events in its history , particularly those connected with the “days of of - In the town Placerville , the county seat of D El ora do County, there is an instance Of a change Of name from English to Spanish for the was H n better, for this place originally called a g tawn , in commemoration of the hanging Of cer “ ” b a n tain d men o a tree there .

THE TRUCKEE RIVER

The Tr ucke e Ri ver rises on the borders Of El

Dorado and Placer counties , and is the outlet Of

Lake Tahoe , discharging its waters into Pyra i mid Lake n Neva da . This mountain stream is justly celebrated for the wild charm of its seen ery . There is a village bearing the same name , N - in eva da County, well known to travelers t through being on the regular route to Tahoe . A k this place winter sports , tobogganing, s iing, 3 1 0

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

meaning can not b e ascertained with any degree “B i ” Of certainty . The deﬁnition g Water, the on e d usually given , is consi ered doubtful by ethnologists . Th e statement has been made by intelligent Indians now living on the banks Of

- the lake tha t the word , pronounced D aa by ” “ ” Ye t them , means deep and blue . it is much to know that this pearl among all lakes has a t least been fortunate enough to receive an i h digenous name , escaping by a narrow margin Of d the ignominious fate being calle Lake Bigler, f r Of o a former governor the state . It appears that Fremont was the ﬁr st to give to this body of water a name , and it is shown upon his map under the rather indeﬁnite title of Mountain A for Lake . fterward it was known a short time

B 1 859 Dr . as Lake igler . The story goes that in H de G enry root , while exploring the mountains , “ learned that tah - ao- cc meant a grea t deal O f water , and from this Tahoe was evolved as an n ot appropriate name , but did become attached of to the lake until the period the Civil War . During that time the Reverend Thomas S tarr “ ” m of S an King, the famous war clergy an Fran d cisco , visite the lake , and inspired by indigna D G tion against the emocratic overnor Bigler, b whom e regarded as a secessionist , he deﬁnitely Tah oe christened it , for which we may be grate 3 1 2 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

h i s ful to memory, regardless of the motives by as which he w actuated . i s Tahoe partly in Placer, and partly in El D orado , a t the eastern base Of the Sierra ‘ N f i ts eva da , a portion o waters also extending th e N i s - into state Of eva da . It twenty two miles an d an d h as long ten wide , an elevation of feet above sea level . It is especially remarkable for i ts great depth , being over feet deep .

AMADOR COUNTY

A a m dor, literally lover, but in this case a A surname . ma dor is the long, narrow county n D lying between Calaveras a d El ora do , and was probably named in honor O f the Amador D on A son family, either Pedro mador, or his , A to José Maria . Pedro mador is said have been “ ” S wh o a soldier of fortune in the panish army, 1 i s son M 1 77 . H came to California in , José aria , was also a soldier and a renowned Indian as as ﬁghter, and was known to be living late 883 1 .

CALAVERAS

Calaveras (skulls) is the name of a county in 3 1 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of S N the central part th e ierra evada , on the eastern border . This county is famous for its

G S . gold and copper mines , and its iant equoias of as The river, to which the name Calaveras w

of . first given , rises in the foothills the S ierra N eva da and flows southwest , emptying into the S an Joaquin about fifteen miles below S tockton . The river received its rather lugubrious name of M le a t the hands Captain oraga , who d the first expedition up the S acramento and S an M a Joaquin rivers . In his diary, orag says that the river tribes fought against those of the Sierr a for of possession the salmon in the stream , and that in on e battle as many as three thousand were said to have been killed and left on the A of field . great number Of skulls , relics this d M bloody conflict , were foun by oraga scattered an d along the creek bed , caused him to give it f l s the name o Las Ca avera . We find in Fremont a corroborating reference to th e salmon as a cause Of dissension among the Indians of tha t region : This fi sh ha d a large share in support ing the Indians , who raised nothing, but lived ‘ ’ A as on what nature gave . salmon water, they named it , was a valuable possession to a tribe or as village , and jealously preserved an inherit ” ance . Particular i nterest was aroused in the Indian 3 1 4

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

relics of this county some years ago by the ﬁn d “ ” of C ing the celebrated alaveras skull , pur porting to have been taken from the Tertiary deposit , a stratum in which no human remains ha d ever before been discovere d . A close ex i am nation into the circumstances , however, caused scientists to look with great doubt upon the assertion tha t the skull ha d been taken from th e Tertiary deposit . In the Han d book of Am eri can I n d ian s S I n , published by the mithsonian “ s ti t te : R e u , the following reference appears of mains aborigines are plentiful in this county, . emb edded in ancient river gravels , from which B r e gold was washed . y some scientists these mains were thought tO belong to the Tertiary A e to g , but their resemblance the modern Indian C makes this doubtful . The alaveras skull, still preserved in the Peabody Museum of Archaeol C Massach u ogy and Ethnology, a t ambridge , as to setts , w said have come from the gravels of 1 3 0 Bald Mountain , a t a depth of feet , but there are good reasons for suspecting that it was de rived from on e of the limestone caves so numer ous in tha t region .

TUOLUMNE

Tuo lum n e i s the name of the county in the 3 1 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

S of C ierras just east alaveras , and Of the river of S N which rises a t the base the ierra evadas , S an - ﬁve and ﬂows into the Joaquin , twenty of S of miles south tockton , a part its course run ning through a deep canyon . Here we have another O f the river names um n e ending in , already discussed under the m n A s C su e . hea ding of o stated before , um n e “ ” of probably means people , and it is held by ' some authorities that the meaning Of Tu olum n e “ f ” o or . B n is people the stone houses , caves a croft maintains this theory , holding that the “ i s of talm alam n e name a corruption , a group of or or of stone huts caves , collection wig ” h as wams . Objection been raised to this theory on the ground that the Indians Of California were

- not cave dwellers , but universally lived in ﬂimsy huts made of sticks and grass . This Objection is cleared away in some measure by a very inter esting paragraph in the diary Of Pa dre Pedro Muﬁoz M , who a ccompanied the Gabriel oraga expedition Of 1 806 into that region . The passage “ in question rela tes : On the morning of this day, the expedition went toward the east along f the banks o the river , and having traveled si x about leagues , we came upon a village called i s on Tau tam n e . This village situated some on steep precipices , inaccessible account of their 3 1 8

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

that holds within i ts borders two of the wonders of Y V the earth , the osemite alley and the Giant S S equoias . ome of these trees are three hundred feet high , thirty feet in diameter, and years Old , having unfolded their feathery fronds b e A fore Christ came upon the earth . ccording to “ Professor Jepsen , they are the direct descend

' ants of th e sp eci es dominant in the Tertiary ” an d f Period , thus are a living reminder o the plant life of that dim an d distant past of which the animal life i s pictured for us in the fo ss il remains of the mammoth and saber-tooth tiger B Of the La rea asphalt beds . Nearly every writer who h as attempted to account for the name Marip osa has fallen into the error Of ascribing it to the charming little

flower called the Mariposa lily . Fremont , with h i s intense appreciation Of the beauty of the wild flowers covering the whole country with a carp et of many hues a t the time of his passage “ On over the Sierra , says : some Of the higher of ri dges were fields a poppy which , fluttering i t and tremulous on s long thin stalk , suggests the an d idea Of a butterfly settling on a flower, gives to this flower its name of Mariposa (butterfly) and the flower extends i ts name to the stream . It is almost a pity to demolish such a pretty d story, yet it is unavoi able , for the true explana 320

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

' u-z i i -m ai -ti o-s a its original form , which was , ’ m ai - ti or uh -z i i -m ai - ti to , according the tribe using it , and the valley was never known by this A -wa-n i name to the Indians , but always as , f n from the name o their principal village . Co si d er i n g the grea t alteration of the name from its native form , it does not seem to be a matter Of vital importance whether it shall now be used on e Y or d Yo as word , osemite , in two wor s ,

S . emite , although the latter form was at one time d the more general usage , and is greatly preferre as d d by some persons . The valley w iscovere in S of U 1 851 by Major James D . avage the nited d S tates army, while chasing the In ians , who ha d a b ad habit of sallying forth from their hiding place in the valley to commit depredations . The Dr H B name was chosen by . L . . unnell , surgeon D is Of the expedition , who tells the story in his i t He of cover y of th e Yosem e . gave it the name an Indian tribe living there an d to whom this name ha d been given by other tribes , they call h - h -n e e ing themselves A wa . Their chief, Ten ei - a was y , said tha t when he a young man the Yosem i te or Yoh amite name , , ha d been chosen because the tribe lived in the mountains an d valleys which were the favorite resorts of the bears , and because his people were expert in He killing them . also said , p erhaps in a spirit 3 24 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

O f boasting, that the name was bestowed upon his tribe to express the idea tha t they were held in as much fear as the bears . This band of I n dians was said to have been originally composed of n outlaws or refugees from other tribes , a d d may have well deserve their evil reputation . of Indian names , few which can be sci en ti fic ally defined , have been given to many peaks an d wa terfalls in the valley . In the folder printed by the S outhern Pacific Railroa d Company more or less fanciful definitions are given for these names , for which there is no foundation in fact of Y Hun to except in the case osemite itself and , “ ” n ot which really does mean eye , though “ Ten a a was watch i n g eye . y Peak probably

- - ei a. named for the Yosemite chief, Ten y The . “ deﬁnition of P i -wa-ack as ca taract of di a ” ’ n i ts for monds is absurd o face , a moment s thought will remind any on e that diamonds were wholly unknown to the Indians Of tha t time an d place . “ - Ma ta (the canyon) , a generic word , in ex plaining which the Indians held up both hands ’ to denote perpendicular walls . (Powers n i Tri bes of Califor a.) “ Ti s -se-yak is the name of an Indian woman I d who ﬁgured in a legend . The n ian woman cuts her hair straight across the forehea d an d allows 3 25 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

dr O e the sides to p along her che ks , presenting a square face , which the Indians account the acme of female beauty, and they think they disco ver this square face in the vast front of S outh ” — ’ D . T i bes C li n i ome (Powers r of a for a.) “ Ch a-k a-n i - o- d eh p , translated as baby basket S P in the outhern aciﬁc folder, means literally “ ” “ ” ’ d o - or - g place dog house . (Powers Tr i bes of C li n a for ia.)

MONO

Mon a i s the name Of a county on the eastern of an Of border the state , d the lake near the f N eastern base o the Sierra eva da . This lake is fourteen miles long and nine miles wide , and is peculiar in having no outlet , its waters being t s rongly saline and alkaline . It lies feet above sea level and i s almost completely desti of tute animal life . Mon a h e This name , corrupted from c , the of name the Indians of this region , through its resemblance to the Spanish word m on o (mon key) , has been the cause of considerable con an d of fusion , a number of extravagant theories , such as the supposed existence of monkeys in or that country, the resemblance Of the natives th e to those animals , but the similarity between

' 3 26

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

two words is regarded by ethnologists as purely accidental . The meaning is Obscure , but it is said tha t the name was applied to some S h o sh on ean tribes of southeastern California by on th e their neighbors west .

INYO

I n o of y , a word unknown meaning, was the of of name a tribe Indians in the S ierra . Inyo C on ounty is the eastern border Of the state , N . I ts a djacent to eva da largest stream , is the O R O an wens iver, which ﬂows into wens Lake , O f other body saline water having no outlet . This county has the unenviable distinction of “ containin g within i ts borders the terrible Death ” V of so u n for tu alley, where the bones many nates have been left to whiten under the desert sun n ow , and which still claims a victim and then . This desolate valley is forty miles long, of sea lying far below the level the , is destitute of all vegetation , totally without water, subject to terriﬁc hea t , and in all respects well deserves i s i ts funereal name . Inyo unique in containing the highest and lowest points in the United S M D V tates , ount Whitney and eath alley, within sight Of each other . In other parts Of the county 3 29 P L A C E ‘ N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

the mountain scenery is of remarkable grandeur, and the gold mines in which it i s unusually rich are still worked with proﬁt .

AMAR GOSA RIVER

A m argasa (bitter) i s the very appropriate name Of a river of Neva da and southeastern C D V alifornia which ﬂows into eath alley, some A D times known also as the margosa esert . The ’ mountains lying northeast of the river s upper course are sometimes called the Amargosa M ountains . Fremont gives a characteristic pic ture of this dreary country in th e following “ paragraph : We traveled through a barren district , where a heavy gale was blowing about an d of the loose sand , , after a ride eight miles , reached a large creek Of salt and bitter water, running in a westerly direction , to meet the h a stream bed we d left . It is called by the S A m a osa of paniards rg , the bitter water the ” desert .

S UPPLEMENTARY LIST

A lt a (high) is a village in Placer County, sixty S eight miles northeast of acramento , two miles 3 3 0

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

which will some day cease to b e a valley and of n become a lake , as the people S a Francisco have succeeded in obtaining the permission of the United S tates Government to turn it into a ’ An reservoir for the city s water supply . ex planation Of the meaning of the word Hetch Hetchy has been Obtained through the kindness of M : John uir, who says I have been informed by mountaineers who know something of the Indian language that Hetch Hetchy is the name of a species of grass tha t the Tuolumne Indians for used food , and which grows on the mea dow a t the lower end of the valley . The grain , when o t an ripe , was gathered and beaten u d pounded ” into mea l in mortars . The word was originally H t h tch i e spelled a c a .

n h a lan a ﬂ at- A C La c P ( boat) is in mador ounty, r Mr and its sto y is thus told by . Junius Farns “ S : worth , an Old resident of tockton This town i s located across the Mokelumne River from B ar Poverty , a name given to a gravel bar in the river which was exceedingly rich in placer an d of gold , to which thousands early day miners were attracted . Those who came from the north side of the Mokelumne centered in Lancha Plana and reached Poverty B ar by

- f ﬂ at or . S means o a boat , ﬂa t ferry The panish soon designated the settlement on the north 3 3 2 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

as bank of the river Lancha Plana , as it was the ” ﬂ at- point a t which the boa t tied up . Moquelum n e is the name of a river which S A rises in the high ierra in lpine County, ﬂows th e S an southwesterly and empties into Joaquin . The word i s a corruption of the Miwok Waka lum i toh Th , the Indian name of the river . e Moquelum n e family was ma de up of an aggre ati on of g tribes which occupied three sections , on e lying between th e Casum n es and Fresno M S an N rivers , another in arin , onoma , d apa counties , and a third occupying a small area in — O f C . A the south end Lake ounty ( . L . Kroeber, A A 4 n th V NO . in merican rop . III , , The Miwoks constituted the great body Of this fam ff con ily, the di erent branches of which were f M n ecte d by a similarity o languages . The iwoks are described as being quite low in the scale Of “ an d h as civilization , it been asserted that this tribe Of Indians a te every variety of living creature indigenous to their territory except the of - skunk . The skins jack rabbits were rudely woven into robes , and they bought bows and arrows from the mountain Indians for shell of money . Cremation the dea d was usual , and all possessions of the departed were burned with them . Their names were never afterward mentioned and those who bore the same names 3 3 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

h changed t em for others . Widows covered their d faces with pitch , and the younger women singe ” as their hair short a sign Of widowhood . A n i n Mu - l ( Han d book of m erican I d a s .) k k e was of of the name the principal village this tribe , “ ” um n e of and if does in fa ct mean people , Moq uelum n e may be people of the village of k— ” Mu kel . Pan am in t Ran ge Of mountains was named for Sh o the Panamint tribe , who belonged to the sh on e an d d family, and live aroun the Panamint

V C C . alley, in Inyo ounty, southeastern alifornia Many unfortunate seekers after gold have lost their lives in this desolate mountain range . P i n to Ran e or d so g (painted spotte range) , called because of the variegated colors Of the

i s . rocks . This range in Inyo County

A t A - S an n dr eas ( S . ndrew) is the county seat Of Calaveras County, and is situated near the R fift - of S ac Calaveras iver , y six miles southeast was on e ramento . Placer gold mining at time A on . S t. extensively carried here ndrew, the f patron saint o this place , was the brother of an d S imon Peter , was the first called to be an H e f apostle . suf ered martyrdom by being cruci fi e on on e d , supposedly a cross shaped like the h H e that bears i s name . is the patron Of the of Order Of the Golden Fleece , and the grea t 3 34

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

CAMINO REAL

’ Cam in o Real (royal road , or the King s high C R way) . The amino eal was the roa d connect was of ing the missions , and the chief means intercourse between the different settlements ’ during the early years Of the state s history . After American occupation the roa d fell into r disuse , but a t present is being reconst ucted along the Old route , with many extensions and on e f e branches , and will , when ﬁnished , be o th

ﬁnest in the United S tates .

3 36 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

PRONUNCIATION OF S PANISH NAMES

Wh i le i t s carc ely falls wi th i n th e provi nc e of th i s book to e nter i nto an elab orat e di scussi on of th e matt er of o u i a i of S a i sh ames i t i s h ou h d e pr n nc t on p n n , t g t si ab e to ese a few of th e si m es u es wi h r l pr nt pl t r l , t som e e am es so h a e s s u a uai ed wi h th e x pl , t t p r on n cq nt t language may avoi d at least th e worst of th ose p i t- falls i i i set for th e r n exp er enc ed feet by our n omenclatur e . It sh ould b e m enti on ed th at i n Cali forni a th e Sp ani sh m e i a u sa e a h e h a th e as i i a i s o owe A r c n g , r t r t n C t l n , f ll d i i f th n Th e u es of r o i n th e pron u nc at on O e c a d z . r l p ’ n un ci ati on quot e d h er e ar e th ose gi v e n i n Ram sey s

e b s e e a e a ed as e el e au h o i . t xt ook , g n r lly r g rd xc l nt t r ty

VOWELS

s u d s i e a i n ah mi dwa b e wee th e i sh A o n l k , y t n En gl

i n ath e an d h a i n at. am e P ala o ou e a f r t t f Ex pl , , pr n nc d ' P ah lah .

s u ds i e a i n h a i ts sou d b ei s i h var E o n l k y, n ng l g tly ' i i to si ua i o . am le R od e o r o ed accord ng t t n Ex p , , p ’ - n ou n ced R a day a.

s li e ee i n bee . am e i s ta o u ed I soun d k Ex pl , V , pr no nc '

Vees tah .

i e a i n h o e. am e Con t a Costa O sou n d s l k p Ex pl , r , ’ ’ h i s ame i s fr e pronou nc e d Can e tr ah Coas t ah . T n u ed b usi th e sh sou d O f o qu ently mi sprono nc y ng ort n ,

as i n n ot. m L P un r i n ule . a e a ta o U sou n d s li k e u r Ex pl , , p ' n oun ce d L a P aon tah . 3 3 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Y wh e a we i s e ui a e to i . Y i s o si de e , n vo l, q v l nt c n r d w wh e s a i a e as i n th e c on a vo el only n t nd ng lon , y ( u i an d or at th e en d of a w as i n le law j nct on ) , ord , y ( ) , b ut i s som eti m es u se d i nt erch angeably wi th I at th e b e i i O f a w as i n S an Ysi d o ou e S an g nn ng ord, r , pron nc d ’ - E e se c a a an d s m e i m es s el ed I si d o. h e r , o t p l r In ot r c ases i t i s a con son ant an d i s pronou nc e d li k e th e y i sh i n th e Engl yard .

CONSONANTS

Only th ose con son ant sou nd s di fferi ng from Engli sh usage n eed b e m e nti on e d h er e . e an d i t i s u e C h as two sou nd s . B fore e i prono nc d i e 3 i n s eat h a i s i n S a i sh - me i a u sa e ex l k , t t , p n A r c n g ; ’ m es e o u e S e o an d Cima r o a pl , C rr , prono nc d r r , , p ' all h e ases 0 h as th e sou n oun ced S ee m ah . In ot r c nd ’ O f k e am es Car los u e Kar loc e Color ad o ; x p l , , prono nc d , , ' u ed Ko- lo- ah ao ea h a as i n h o e prono nc r ( c long, p ) , ' ues ta u ed Kwes tah an d C uz u e C , prono nc , r , prono nc d

Kroos .

h h as th e s u of ch i n h u h . am e Ch i co C o nd c rc Ex pl , , ' pronounc ed Ch ee k o . D i s s i h s e e an d wh e u i b e wee l g tly oft n d , n occ rr ng t n vowels an d at th e en d of word s i t i s almost li k e th i n ’ h n am es An d ad e u ed Ah n -d ah -di h a t e . Ex pl , r , prono nc r y,

- - an d oledad ou ed S ole a d adi h . S , pron nc y e n d i h s h s f G h as two sou nd s . B efor e a i t a t e oun d o ’ m es ma s as i a e h . a Ge u ed tron gly p r t d Ex pl , r n , prono nc ’ ’ - Ha e mah an d i o u ed h ee o . all h e r n , g r , prono nc r In ot r

ases i t s u ds li e i n o . am es Gavi ota Goleta c o n k g g Ex pl , , ,

Guadalu e G an ada. ue an d ui th e u i s e u a l p , r In g g r g l r y 3 38

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

sou s ar e u e d sh o an d i s e e wi h nd prono nc rtly cr ply, n v r t th e drawli n g ci rcumﬂ ex sou n d som eti m es h eard i n i h u oi E n gli sh . W t o t g ng i nto th e c ompli cati on s of th e i i si o s of s ab es i t m a b e s a e d h a th e u da d v n yll l , y t t t t f n m e ntal pri nci ple i s to m ak e syllables en d i n a vow el as far as ssi b e e am es D o-la-r es n ot D o- lor -es po l ; x pl , ( ) ,

- - - - S a li n as ( n ot S al i n as ) .

ACCENT

All word s en di ng i n n or s or a vow el ar e r egularly a e ed on th e e to th e las s ab e e am es cc nt n xt t yll l ; x pl , '

S ausali to Altii r as c am en . All h e s ar e a e ed on , , ot r cc pt ’ ’ th e as s ab e e am es S an Ra ael A ven al . l t yll l ; x pl , f , In wo s wi th e ab e u es n o m a i s use but rd follo ng ov r l rk d, i n th e e e i s wh i h ar e m a th e s ess mu s b e xc pt on , c ny, tr t i i a ed b th e w i e a e . am es P o tola n d c t y r tt n cc nt Ex pl , r , ' a a ol lam o a eles . J n , , ng

ARTICLES

In th e Sp ani sh lan guage arti cles agr ee wi th th ei r s f h e d eﬁ n noun s i n gen d er an d n umb er . Th e form o t i te arti cle ar e el ( si n gular ) an d los (plural) for th e m as u i e la si u a an d las u a for th e fem c l n , ( n g l r) (pl r l) i i e . am es E l P o tal th e a or a e L as n n Ex pl , r ( port l, g t ) , Gatos th e a s L a P az th e ea e L as Vi e es th e ( c t ) , ( p c ) , rg n ( i virg n s ) . 3 40 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

LIST OF NAMES MO ST LIKELY TO BE MISP RO NOUNCED W , ITH THEIR PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION

’ o ou e S a i sh m e i pr n nc d Ah g wah . p n A r c an s O ften m i spron ounc e th i s word by leavi ng out ’

th e a li i t ah wa. g , c l ng ' u - - Ag an to Ah g wah h ee ta. ' Alam ed - - a Ah lah may dth ah . n ’ — L as A g eles L ac e Ah n g h e ll ess . ' Asun c i an Ah -s oo -s ee-an wi h th e n , t

a o as i n h o e . l ng, p ' ' E l Ca a E l Kah -h an w i h th e a j n , t

o as i n h o e . l ng, p ' ' - - Camin o Real Kah m ee n o Ray ah l . ' anad a ah - ah dth a wi h th e C K n y , t d sli gh tly soft e n e d li k e

i h i n th en . ' - - - Carp i n teri a Kar p een tay r ec ah . ' - Carqui n ez Kar kee n ess . ’ - Con ejo Ko n ay h a. ’ - Corral Kore rah l . ' - Dolor es Da la r ess . ’ F ah - ah l - o n e s s i n Farallon es r y , a i sh - me i a Fa Sp n A r c n , ' - r ah ya n ess . ’ L ace Gah tos th e a o Los Gatos , l ng,

as i n h op e . ' - - Guadalup e Gwa dah loa p ay. 3 4 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

' L a olla L a Hole ah or i n S a J y , p n ' - m e i i sh a Ha ah . A r c n , y ' L a J oya L a H a yah . ’ L a u ta L H n J n a oa tah . ’ ’ L a un a S e a L — n g c ah g oo ah S ay cah . ’ L a un i tas - - g L ah gao n ee las . ' - - Mati lija Mah tee lec h ah . ' Me ed Mar e-s cath wi h th e d rc , t sli gh tly soft en ed li k e th i n th en . ' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 May sah . ' O h o wi h th e s , t j trongly

aspi rat e d . ' - P ah h ah r a.

’ ’ as a Robl P P es ah s o Ro blace . ' P o tola - - r P ar ta lah . ’ P u t - n a Ar en as P aon tah Ah ray n as . ’ - - - Rodéo Ro d ay o, n ot r o d ee a. ' ali n as - S S ah lee n as . S an Ger an im ah Ha -r a-n -m a S n y ee o . ’ an a i t H - S J c n o S ah n ah s ce n to. ' S an oa ui h -k J q n Sah n W a een . ' an H - S Jasé S ah n o say . ’ - S an Juan B auti sta S ah n Wh an B au tees ta. ’ an u l a H - - S J i n S ah n oo lee ah n . ' ' L - - S an ui s Obi sp o S ah n L oa e es O bees p o. ' - S an Mar ti n Sah n Mar teen . ’ S an ui n ti S ah ee - tee o o Q n n K n n , c ll ll s u q ui a y p elled Q en ti n . ’ S ah n ta Fay . ' - S ah n ta E e n ess .

’ S ah E e - s ee dr o a s n , l o s l e I s p el d i dro. ' - S oan yale . 3 42

MA P O F T H E MI S S ION S

ar . U s ed b y th e co u r t esy of F ath er E n ge lh dt

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

FINAL LIST AND INDEX

A balon e ( the great sea-snail of the Pacifi c

C . S ee 6 oast) page 7 . A am a c p (common pasture) . S ee page 290 . “ ” This name is used here in the sense of camp , an d was given by th e S outhern Paciﬁc Railroa d to years ago , in reference a camp of wood chop C pers and hinese which was located there . A alita c (acolyte) is in Imperial County . A d elaida C ( a feminine hristian name) , a vil S an O C lage in Luis bispo ounty . A d elan te n o to (onward , forward) , w changed N N apa Junction , is in apa County . This place was called A d e lan te in the hope that i ts location on Napa River would cause it to become the principal city Of the valley .

- Ad o be ( sun dried brick) . Agua (wa ter) i s in very common use in refer ring to springs , usually accompanied by a qual

S ee 34 1 . i s ifying a djective . page This word usually mispronounced by Spanish Americans .

S ee 1 54 . Agua A m argosa (bitter water) . page

li en te h ot . S ee Ag ua Ca (hot water, spring) pages 77 and 263 .

Agua Cayen do (falling water) .

l e . Agua D u c (sweet water, fresh water) 3 49 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

A ua F ia g r (cold water, cold spring) . A ua H edi on d a g (stinking water, sulphur spring) . A ua e d el Cen ti n el or g j a (water hole , watering of place the sentinel) the title Of a land grant . A ua d el Medi a i g (m ddle spring) . A ua i to g j (little water hole) . Near Monterey, in a delightful little glen , there were a number of or these springs , water holes , where the women were in the habit of doing the town washing, kneeling upon the ground and wash ing the clothing directly in the springs . This place was called L as Aguaj itos (the wa ter S “ holes) , by the panish residents , and washer ’ A as woman s canyon by the mericans . In the p of d toral days California , entire families climbe ox- into their carts , made with solid wooden b as wheels , and , provided with a liberal lunch “ ” k et d M , ma e a picnic Of blue onday under the f A t S ee green trees o L as guaji os canyon . page 34 1 M Agua Mala (ba d water) Creek . In onterey

County . A an sa - gua M (still water, smooth running cur n e for rent) . O writer, wha t reason does not “ ” appear, deﬁnes this as house water . This

C C . place i s in S outhern alifornia , near olton S An a R The term was applied to the anta iver, f on account o its silently ﬂowing current . 3 50

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Valley was known to th e Indians , from th e name A -wa- n i Of this principal villa ge , , which stood of Y directly at the foot osemite Fall . A lam eda or (an avenue sha ded by trees , a cottonwood grove) . This word is derived from dlam a , a poplar tree known in the West as cot

ton wood . S ee 21 0 4 pages and 3 1 . L as A lam i tos ee (the little cottonwoods) . S 77 page . A l m a o . ee 0 (cottonwood) S page 23 . L os A lam os y Agua Cali en te ( the cottonwoods and hot spring) , the title Of a land grant . A l ald e of c (mayor, justice the peace) . This place is in th e southern part Of Fresno County . A l t see ca raz (pelican) , page 205 . A ss n A Ri le a dro ( lexander) . This place is in v r e si d e County . A lh am b a L O S A r , near ngeles , is said to have A been named for the famous lhambra Of Spain . The A lhambra was an ancient palace and fort ress of the Moorish monarchs of Granada in S 1 248 S outhern pain , probably built between and 1 4 A “ 3 5 . The word signiﬁes in rabic the red , and was perhaps given to this building in allusion to the color Of the bricks Of which the outer walls “ are constructed . Th e marvelous beauty Of the architecture of this structure has been greatly i h jured by alterations , earthquakes , etc . , yet it still remains the most perfect example Of Moorish art 3 52 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

i n its ﬁnal European development . A curious example of corruption is fo und in the name of A C f lhambra reek , situa ted near the town o M C C artinez , ontra osta County . The question na turally arises as to wha t possible connection there could be between an Obscure little stream in California and the famous Old Moorish palace A S of the lhambra in pain . Investigation shows tha t there is , as a matter of fact , no connection of a t all , and that the true story the name runs as follows : In 1 772 Captain Fages passed that way a t the hea d of an exploring party and named this stream Arroyo del Hambre (hunger t creek) , in reference o the destitution Observed among the Indians in the neighborhood . From l h m b e al h am b e A d e a r to r , then to lhambra is n ot a very long or difﬁ cult road for careless of people to travel . Unless the name the place in Los Angeles County is modern the same car i ts ruption may have occurred in name , and its origin may have no connection with the famous

Moorish pa lace in Spain .

E l A lisal (alder grove) .

see 77 . A li sa (alder) , pa ge

L as A lisas ( the a lders) . 1 8 S e e e 7 . A lm adén (mine , mineral) . pag

S ee 330 . A lta (high ) . page S an B A lta Lom a (high hill) , in ernardino i s of County, an example improper arrangement 3 53 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of S . L m A lta panish words It should be a a , in accordance with the usage Of the Spanish lan guage in placing the a dj ective after the noun . A lt i ll on e av e (high town) , in Calaveras , is more Of the unfortunate examples of comb ining the two languages— the S panish alta and the i ll French v e .

A lta (high) is near S an Francisco . L as A ltos (the heights) is about fifteen miles from L os G atos .

t S ee 263 . A l uras (heights) . page S e 1 e 23 . A lvarad o (a surname) . page

S ee 1 78 . A lvi so (a surname) . page

S ee 3 1 3 . A m ad or (a surname) . page S ee 3 0 A m os . arg a (bitter) page 3 .

i S e e 304 . A m eri can R ver . page

A n a a a I slan d . c p This name is Indian , but the “ popular story that it means vanishing island , n ” disappearing isla d , is probably not authentic . “ ’ A n acap a i s a corruption of V ancouver s Indian Of E n n e ea ah name the island , p ; the engraver E n eca ah on th e spelled it p chart, and subsequent compilers have endeavored to give it a Spanish ”— G eo . D n i te t tes C t form . ( avidson in U d S a oas an d G eod etic S ur vey. ) A n ah uac was the name of an Indian village in S an D iego County .

A n drad e (a surname) . This place is near

Calexico . 3 54

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

sides , but is applied as well to shallow streams

ﬂowing through level co u ntry . A r r oyo d e la A lam eda (creek of the cotton wood grove) . A f rroyo B u en os A ir es (creek o the good airs) .

S e e page 290 .

A r r oyo d el B urr o (jackass creek) . A r r h i e e S 290 . oyo C co (little creek) . page A rroyo d e los D olor es (creek of the sorrows) . Dolores Creek in S an Francisco was so named “ ” of S because this was the Friday orrows . A rroyo d e los Gatos (creek Of the cats — wild cats) .

A S e e 1 27 . rroyo Gran d e (big creek) . page 1 8 S e e 7 . A r r oyo H on d a (deep creek) . page ' f A rroyo d e la Lagun a (creek o the lagoon) . A i rroyo Med a (middle creek) . A rroyo d e las Nu ec es y B olbon es (creek of the B olb on es h as walnuts and ) . This name , which been retained up to the present time in the of w English guise Walnut Creek , was besto ed by S G M ergea nt abriel oraga , who led a party on

' an exploring expedition into the interior in 1 1 0 B lb on es B ol on es A u 8 . o gust , , or g , was the name of a tribe of Indians living in that vicinity .

A r r oyo d e l N orte (creek Of the north) .

A r r oyo Pasaj ero (creek roa dway or passage) .

It is in Fresno . 3 56 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

A i n s a rroyo P o (piny creek) . It is in Fresno C ounty . A rroyo Real d e las Agu ilas (creek of the camp

Of the ea gles) . ' A rroyo d e l Rod e a (creek of the cattle round up ) . A S e o . S ee 1 57 rr yo co (dry creek) pa ge . A r r oyo d e l Toro (creek of the bull) is in Ri v er s i d e C ounty . A s alt f ( , as h alt o asphalt) incorrectly spelled p o , is in southwestern Kern County . A i ’ sun n . S ee 96 34 c o (ascension) pages and 1 . A t s - a ad e . S ee 1 27 c ro (bog mire) page . The Atascadero i s on e of the largest ranches in the sta te , comprising acres . A ven a (oats) is in Inyo County . A ven al S e e 1 2 (a field sown with oats) . page 7 . A ven l a es (fields of oats) . A vi la S an (a surname) , eight miles from Luis O was bispo , probably named for a pioneer fam A ily of Los ngeles . There is a city Of the same S e name in pain , a place not d for its romantic history and its ancient fortifica tions , which still f remain on e of the mura l wonders o the world . S A zu l (blue) . In the foothills Of the anta Cruz Mountains in Santa Clara County there are of A some springs of water bearing the name zul , sk and the blueness Of the water, rivaling the y th e as it runs away from springs , makes the 3 57 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

n ol name seem appropriate . O some d maps the S anta Cruz Mountains are marked as Azul

(blue) Mountains . A s 7 S ee 7 . i s f z u a. page This the name o a A A place in Los ngeles County . ccording to a A “ S correspondent , zusa is said to mean kunk H ” ill . (Kroeber, p . E l B il in ee 8 a ar (the dancer) . S page 9 . alboa O C B , in range ounty, is presumably named in honor of the famous discoverer of the O V Nufi ez Pacific cean , asco de Balboa , who first set eyes on the glorious expanse of waters to the west of the great American continents on

S 26 1 51 3 . eptember , When h e descended the mountains and ﬁnally stoo d on the shore of the new sea he took possession O f it in the name of “ ” S S S ea the King of pain , calling it The outh , in N S ea A contra distinction to the orth , as the tlan I t as tic was then called by the Spaniards . w i ts left for Magellan , seven years later , to give it — permanent appellation E l Mar P aci ﬁco ( the se peaceful a) .

_ l n e e 41 Bal e a (whale) . S page . all or ull M S C B y, B y ountains , in hasta ounty In near the Trinity line , is from the Wintun dian bali (pronounced and means ” B Y B spirit . ully Choop , allo Bally, and ully

Hill in Shasta County have the same origin .

(Kroeber, p . 358

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

A f 1 6 D O 77 . r nza expedition ( ia y of Father Font , p . 1 n ee 57 . B la ca (white) . S page In early days an A merican named Thomas White lived near Hi s the present town of B lanco . name was trans S blan a lated into the panish form for white , c , by the native residents , and the place became known by that name . B aca (mo u th) in this case refers to th e mouth R N of C . the Truckee iver , in eva da ounty L a B aca d e la Canad a d el Pi n ole (the mouth f was Of the valley o the cereal meal) . This a i ts land grant , which received peculiar name from the fact of the Spaniards having been com p elle d to live on pinole while they awaited the return Of a party with supplies from Monterey .

S ee i n le 23 6 . P o , page

B aca d e la Playa (mouth of the beach) . B aca d e S an ta Man ica (mouth of S anta Man ica) . 6 S e e 2 3 . B od ega (a surname) . page B lin as of B aulin es o , probably a corruption , an 2 1 ee 3 . Indian word . S page B ls - i n a a (pocket) , Often used to mean a shut ”

S e e 78 . place . page

L a B alsa (the pocket) is near Newport B each .

L as B olsas (the pockets) . Land grant in

Orange County . B ls Ch am isal d or o a d e (pocket of the wil cane , 3 60 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

reeds) . The chamisal , sometimes incorrectly ch em i sal spelled , is deﬁned in the dictionaries as or C wild cane , reed , but in alifornia , a t least , it “ is applied to a shrub attaining a height Of s i x I ts or eight feet . thickets are almost impassable except by bears or similar animals , a s the low ff branches are and very sti and tough . In some places men are only able to penetra te it ” — Mr . C B . . by crawling . harles Turrill ) l h i Bo sa C ca (little pocket) . B ls l s or i n s f o a d e as E c p a (pocket o the perch . ) B alsa Nue va y Moro Cojo (new pock e t and M M lame oor) . The word oro was often used to mean anything black , as , for instance , a lame M C R black horse , for which the oro ojo ancho ,

M to . near onterey, is said have been named i B alsa d el Pajaro (pocket of the b rd) . B ls l ot e M C o o a la S a ada a a d e P r ro , y oro j gr

Fam i li a (pocket O f the pasture , and the lame i s m Moor or the Holy Family) . This the co bined r name Of several land g ants .

B alsa d e S an F e lip e (pocket of S t. Philip) .

Bon i ta (pretty) is in S an Diego County .

S e e 232. B on i to (pretty) . page B ar B aran d a Cr e ek is in Monterey County .

onda is the name Of a pioneer family . r k i s S C B arregas (sheep) c ee . It in anta ruz

County .

S ee 55 . La Br ea (the asphalt) . pa ge 3 6 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

B r n o co . B (wild , rough) Flat ronco was the name usually applied to the small , wiry horses C on formerly in use in alifornia , especially the f r cattle ranges . These horses were valued o i to their endurance and speed , but were nclined be unruly . ’ l B u h a ee 2 E c n (the big craw) . S page 1 7 . B uen a a k un sati sfac P r (good park) , a rather of S tory mixture panish and English , is in u Mex Orange County . Park is commonly sed in l P o o ta et . . . ca ico ; e g , Popo Park a t p p y n B ue a Vi sta (good view) . B ueyes (oxen) . L as B u os rr (the donkeys , or jackasses) , is in

S an Luis Obispo County . C all d C ek of ab a a re (creek the horse drove) . n It is in S a Luis Obispo County .

Cabeza (hea d) .

D os Cabezas (two hea ds) . R Cabe d e an t of S t. za S a Rosa (hea d ose) .

C e S ee 7 . ab zon (big hea d) . page 9 Cab i ll of on r o (a surname) , the name a cape f S ee 264 . the coast o Mendocino County . page The name of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is on e of C the most eminent in the annals Of alifornia , for he was the ﬁrst white man to set eyes on her

S ee 27 . shores . page Cadi N z , between eedles and Barstow , was probably named for the well -known Spanish 3 62

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

i 4 Cal en te C e ek S e e 3 . r . page This creek was s o named beca u se its water is warm .

Cali o n i S e e 1 3 . f r a. page C li s t 4 S ee 26 . a oga. page Caln e va C lva and a da are two more hybrids , ma de up of syllables from California and N e va da . Calo th e O i s r , near regon line , likely to cause confusion by its resemblance to the Spanish word calor (b e at) ; this Calor is on e of those composite words to which Californians are so of regrettably a ddicted , and is made up the ﬁrst syllables of California and Oregon . Calp ella was named for the chief of a village of situated just south the present town , near ’ r M Po no , in endocino County . Th e chief s name K l l was a p e a. l on Ca z a is another trap for the unwary , through i ts resemblance to the Spanish word calz on es (breeches) it is on e more of those bor der towns bearing names made up Of the syl lables Of C i two state names , in this case , al fornia A and rizona . Cam an h e C C c , a post town in alaveras ounty, so of C was named in honor the great amanche , r C o omanche tribe , whose remarkable qualities are thus described by Father Mor ﬁ in h i s Mem a i as d e Texas r , a document written about the “ year 1 778 : The Comanche nation is composed 3 64 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

of five thousand fighting men , divided into five f tribes , each with a di ferent name . They are very superior to all the others in number of people , extent of the territory that they occupy, of modesty their dress , hospitality to all who visit them , humanity toward all captives excep t A paches , and in their bravery , which is remark i n able even the women . They live by hunting i s and war, and this wandering disposition the worst Obstacle to their reduction , for it induces N to . en them steal evertheless , they are very g er ous so with wha t they have , and proud tha t on e alone is capable of facing a whole camp of enemies if he cannot escape without witnesses ” B to his flight . oth spellings are used in the original records . r a Camar i tas (small cabins o rooms) . The p plication of this name h as not been ascertained . It may refer to India n huts seen by the S pan i r d s or ff . a , may have a totally di erent meaning

Cami n o (roa d) is in Eldora do County . ’ Cam in a R eal (royal road , or the King s high

S e e 3 3 6 3 41 . way) . pa ges and

Camp o (a level ﬁeld , a camp , the country) .

S ee page 43 . M E l Camp o (the ﬁeld or camp) , places in arin and S an Diego Counties . Camp o d e los Fran c eses (ﬁeld or camp of the

Frenchmen) . 3 65 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Cam o s eco C p (dry ﬁeld or camp) , in alaveras

County . Cam u los or K m l 1 a u as . S ee 04 . , page Can tua C e ek r is in Fresno County . Cantua is a family name . Ca ad n a (valley or dale between mountains) . In California Caﬁ ad a is commonly used in the f o . S e e 341 sense canyon page . Ca l i nada d e os A l sos (valley of the alders) . Cafi ada el B u tism d a o (valley Of the baptism) . e S e page 43 . Canada d e los Cap i tan ci llas (valley of the lit tle captains) . Canad a d e la Carp i n teria (valley of the car

- en ter . S e e 1 p shop) page 00 . Ca ad e los h n a d C ac es (valley of the pigs) . “ Cach e M , used in the sense Of pig, is a exican i sm , said to have originated in the state Of

Sonora . Canada d e l Car te d e Mad era (valley of the

- woo d cutting place) . Canada G obern ad ora (valley of the gob er n a C dora , a certain plant native to alifornia) . It i s in Orange County . Caii ada d el Ham br e y las B olsas (valley Of hunger and th e pockets) , a name said to have been given to this canyon because some Spanish of soldiers nearly perished starvation there . A als or -i n b a is a pocket , shut place . 3 66

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Canada Tortuga (valley of the turtle) is in B a S anta rbara Co u nty . Canada d e los Vaq ueros (valley of the cow boys) . Ca ad a e d e A o o d e la u i sim a Can n V r , y rr y P r cep ci an (green valley and creek of the i m m acu late concepcion) . Ca a Y C ‘ p y, in olo ounty, is from the Indian “ ka ai . . p , meaning stream (Kroeber, p 3 Ca i st n S ee 7 . p ra o . page E l Ca i tan of p ( the captain) , the name a preci Y pice in the osemite V alley . Ca i tan p (captain) , the name Of a ﬂag station I as for in S anta B arbara County . t w named a C O ranch owned by aptain rtega , which was

Ca i tan . called p , in reference to his title

Cap i tan ci llos ( little captains) . Cana da de los Capi tan ci llos i s the name of a canyon in S anta Clara County and the creek which ﬂows through h as n ot un it . The origin Of this name yet been earthed but it may possibly have some reference to Indian lea ders met at that place by th e Span i ar d s of , who ha d a habit referring to such chiefs or lea ders in the documents as cap i tan “ i ci llos . s , little captains This , however, merely conjecture . t n f Cap i an Gra d e (big captain) . The origin o this name has not been ascertained , but it prob ably referred to an Indian chief . It is the name 3 68 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

n Of an Indian reservation in S a Diego County .

La Carbon era (the charcoal pit) .

- l or . S ee Carm e a (garden , garden land) page

1 57 . Carm en i ta ( the diminutive of the feminine name Carmen) . The name of a station on the Southern Paciﬁc Railroa d in Los Angeles

C C . ounty . The usual form is armencita Ca n ad e o d to r r , a corrupt word use mean ” - butchering p lace .

C n um n S ee 2 0 . ar e H a a (human ﬂesh) . page 5 Cam er a i s a Carn eros (sheep) . especially p for u plied to sheep used m tton , rather than wool . in t i - S e e 1 00 Carp er a (carpenter shop) . pages 41 and 3 . Ca u in e S ee 233 3 41 rq z . pages and . Carri so (large wa ter bunch grass or reed 44 S ee . grass) . page B l n S e s e 7 . Ca a a ca (white house) . page 9 Casa D es i erta (deserted house) is in Los A n geles County . C s n d a a Gra e (big house) . This place was so called by the Spanish explorers on account of an e saw unusually larg Indian house they here . “ They speak of ﬁnding a large village Of many on e houses , and among them extremely large . This place is n ot to be confused with the famous A Casa Gran d e in rizona .

Casa Lam a (house hill) . Improper combina 3 69 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Canada Tortuga (valley of the turtle) is in B S anta arbara County . Canada d e los Vaq uer os (valley Of the cow boys) . Ca ada Ve d e A r r o o d e la u isim a C on n r , y y P r ’ cep ci an (green valley and creek of the i m m acu late concepcion) . Ca a Y C th e p y, in olo ounty, is from Indian “ — ka ai . . p , meaning stream (Kroeber, p

S ee 3 7 . Cap is tran o . page E l Ca itan p (the captain) , the name Of a preci Y pice in the osemite V alley . C i tan of ap (captain) , the name a ﬂag station B a I in S anta rbara County . t was named for a ranch owned by Captain Ortega , which was

Ca i tan . called p , in reference to his title i i l C Cap tan c l os (little captains) . anada de los Capi tan cillos is the name of a canyon in S anta Clara County an d the creek which ﬂows through of h as n it . The origin this name not yet been u earthed but it may possibly have some reference to Indian leaders met a t tha t place by the Span i ar d s , who ha d a habit Of referring to such chiefs or lea ders in the documents as cap i tan “ ci llos . i s , little captains This , however, merely conj ecture . t n f Cap i an Gra d e (big captain) . The origin o this name has not been ascertained , but it prob ably referred to an Indian chief . It is the name 3 68

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

C e Ch i e rro co ( littl hill) .

C e r o G o d o S e e 1 r r (fa t , thick hill) . page 3 3 .

L as C e i tos L os A rr ( the little hills) , in ngeles

County .

L os C e s rro (the hills) .

C er r a l d e as Posas (hill of the pools or wells) . “ ” The transla tion hill of the sea t h as been given o n e to this by writer, apparently without any

. osa as justiﬁcation P , or p o , was in constant use “ ” among the Spaniards in the sense of pool or “ well .

C e r e l n ad r o d Ve a (hill of the deer) .

E l Ch m is l f r a a ( thicket o wild cane o reed) . h i C . S e e 290 co (little) page . Ch i co V e ci n a ( Chico neighbor) is the name of a suburb of the town of Chico in B u tte County . Ch i len f S ee C o C . o ( hilean , native hile) page 264 .

L as Ch im en eas old (the chimneys) , volcanic S an rock shaped like chimneys . This place is in

Luis Obispo County . Ch i n a C , a word which may mean a hinese , or Ch i n a a person with curly hair . The town of , S an B C in ernardino ounty , took its name from S an ta A n a d e l Ch i n a the land grant called , but W h y the grant was so called h as not been ascer fained . Ch i i t q u a (little) . 3 72 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Ch i q ui ta P eak (little peak) is in Fresno

County .

Ch olam e was the name of an Indian tribe . S e e 1 28 page .

E l Ch orra (a gushing stream O f wa ter) . This i n place s in S a Luis Obispo County . It is the so name of a creek , and was named for a water u fall o its course . Ch owch i lla was the name Of a Yokuts tribe of

V S e e 290 . the Central alley . page

Ch l S e e 1 58 . ua ar . page h 44 S ee . C ula Vi sta (pretty view) . page i n C e ega (swamp) is in Los Angeles County . L Ci as én egas (the swamps) . L i i as C en eg tas (the little swamps) . C n i e ega d e l Gabi lan (the swamp of the hawk) . Ci en ega Larga (long swamp) is in S an B er nardino County . Ci én e a d e los ai i n es g P c , swamp of the Paicines

(Indian tribe) . Ci en ega R e d on da (round swamp) is in S an

Bernardino County . E l Ci er bo d i e va (the eer) , properly spelled c r , of C is the name a town in ontra Costa County. Cim a S an B (summit) , between ernardino and L as Vegas . ’ m a n Ci . S a rro (wild , unruly) The paniards p plied this word to plants or animals i n di scr im i n atel y, sometimes using it in reference to th e 3 73 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

wild grapes which they found growing in such C profusion in alifornia , sometimes in reference to wild Indians . The writer who translated it as “ ” last river must have drawn upon his imagina tion for that deﬁnition . 1 S ee 3 3 . Ci sco . page L as C h ac es (the pigs) . C d o n i es C e ek o r c r (quail creek) .

C o . S e e 1 0 jo (lame) page 5 . Ran h e ia d e l C o O f on e c r oj (village the lame ) , so called from a lame Indian seen there . C l m a D C so o o , a town in El ora do ounty, of named from the Koloma tribe , a division the i h i as N s n am family . It w at this place tha t S ut ’ M 1 848 ter s ill , where gold was discovered in , N was situated , and it is a lso there tha t the ative S M ons erected a monument to John W . arshall . l Co orado (red) . Calusa ascer , an Indian word , meaning not i n 1 ta . e d S ee page 27 . ’ C n e i n ee 1 05 S . o c p c o . page

C on eja (rabbit) is th e name of sever al places . e e 80 41 S pa ges and 3 . C on eja P eak (rabbit peak) is in Ventura

County .

ee 234 . C on tra C osta (opposite coast) . S page Card ero (literally but probably a surname here . ' C a Or dova or car d va S . C r o , near acramento 3 74

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

C s um n e of o , a word Indian deriva tion , said to “ ” fi sh S e e 8 . 2 mean , salmon page 7 If the “ theory that the suffix um n e means place of be of correct , then it may be that the meaning C “ osumne is place of fish , probably referring to salmon fisheries . C otate S C , in onoma ounty, derived its name

Mr . G from a former Indian village . eorge Page , whose family have been in possession Of the C i 1 849 h as o ate ranch since , states that he never been able to ascertain the meaning of the word . C o 44 1 8 ote S ee 7 . y (western wolf) . pages and L as C t oyo es (the wolves) . Cr i s ti t an i os (little Christians) Canyon . It is in S an Diego County . C u e - r c ro means here cross roa ds , in refer ence to a railroa d crossing . L as Cruces (the crosses) is in S anta B arbara

County .

an ta C . S e e Cr uz (cross) . S r uz (holy cross) page 1 53 . C u am on a S an B d C c g , in ernar ino ounty, de S ee rived i ts name from an Indian village . page 8 0 .

en a a d of d C ueros d e V d (hi es eer) , the name f o a land grant .

st . C i s C ue a (hill , ridge , slop e Of a hill) uesta the name of th e O ld stage road leading from so S anta Margarita to S an Luis Obispo . It was 3 76 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

named becaus e th e roa d came ov e r the cr e st 1 8 f S e e 2 . o the Santa Lucia range . pa ge 1 8 C u ti n S ee 7 . p er o . page 4 C u am S ee 5 . y aca. page

s t S e e 1 45 . Cypres Poi n . page D eh esa (pasture ground) is in S an Diego

County .

D el ada oi n t or . S ee g P (thin , narrow point) 26 page 5 . D e L uz (literally of light but in this case a surname .

D e l r M . Ma (Of the sea) . odern b ill H D el Mon te (Of the wood or ) . The otel M M so del onte , near onterey, was called from the

f - grove o magniﬁcent live oaks in which it stands . M odern . D e l N orte ( of the north) is the name of the county in the extreme northwestern corner of O f fr e the state . The second part this name is u as — t q ently mispronounced one syllable n or . It ’ t o - wo u n r ta . should be in syllables , prono nced y D e l as P o (of the pass) . l e of D e R y ( the king) . i f D e l R o ( o the river) . s r D el Rosa ( of the rose) . Unless this is a u name , the construction is incorrect , and should be D e la Rosa. D e l S ur (of th e south) is in Los Angeles

County . 3 77 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

D es an so S ee 4 c (rest) . page 5 . i D abl . ee o ( devil) S page 21 9 . D i a Can n D z yo is in Fresno County . iaz is a family name . D olo es M D r (sorrows , pains) . For ission olores see 1 96 341 pages and . D om i n D i guez ( ominic) s a Christian name . It A is in Los ngeles County . E l D o ad S ee 3 05 . r o (the gilded man) . page

D os (two) . D s C e o ab zas (two hea ds) . os D Palm as ( two palms) .

D os los or . e 1 a S e 29 . P ( two sticks , trees) page D os l 0 S ee 1 5 . P ue b os (two towns) . page D os i os M R (two rivers) is in endocino County, a t the junction of the south an d middle forks of R on the Eel iver . It appears some maps in its

English form of Two Rivers . D s le o Val s ( two valleys) .

t S ee 80 . D uar e (a surname) . page

D ul . S ee 4 z ura (sweetness) page 5 . ai n t D um a on of S an P , the coast north Pedro , “ was named by V ancouver for the reverend friar D B Father Francisco uma , priest at uena Ven ” for tura , as an expression Of his gratitude the father ’ s courtesy in furnishing the explorers with abundant supplies of vegetables from the mission gardens . i El se o (Elisha) . 3 78

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

S on S R . miles from tockton , the anta Fé oa d A Mr R M of ccording to . omane oll , a resident “ E scalOn of , the word is used in the sense step ” - Mex ping stone , and was taken from a city in i co , where an important battle was fought dur ing the recent revolution . 4 S e e . Escon did o (hidden) . page 5 ’ E l on Esc orp i (the scorpion) .

sm e ald a . S ee 3 3 1 E r (emerald) pa ge . s S e e 1 01 E p ada (sword) . page . s a t of ee E p r o (a sort tough feather grass) . S 29 1 pa ge .

s n S e e 2 1 . E p era z a (hope) . page 9 s in i s n E p osa (a surname) . This place in Ma r te ey County . s i i tu an ta E p r S (holy ghost) . ’ s u n E q o ( a surname) . t n i l e e 81 S 2 . Es a s aa. page Es tero (an estuary or creek into which the tide flows a t ﬂood time) . L a st e s e os . S e 1 28 E r (the estuaries) page . s te A m e i an a A E ro r c ( merican Estuary) . i s Es trada (a surname) . This place in Man ter e y County .

S e 1 . Es tr ella (star) . e page 28

E studillo . N S an (a surname) ear Le andro . ti wan da S an C i s E , in Bernardino ounty, r i h transplanted Indian name , given n onor of an M Mr Ch aﬁ e Indian chief Of ichigan , by . George y, 3 80 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

founder of the California colony .

F l of . S an D a da (skirt , slope a hill) In iego

County .

Fam osa (famous) i s in Kern County . The h origin of this name as not been ascertained . n i s M Fan da go Peak in o doc County . The n I ts fan da go i s a Spanish dance . application in this case has not been ascertained .

Farallon es (small pointed islands in the sea) . 41 S ee pages 214 and 3 .

Fe th i e S ee 303 . a er R v r . page i Fe l p e (Philip) . Fe li z (happy, fortunate) , also a surname .

Fern an d ez (a surname) . n Fern a d a (Ferdinand) . ai n t Fir m in of S an was P , north Pedro , named by Vancouver for the father president of the

Franciscan Order .

L as Flo e s . S e e 0 r (the ﬂowers) page 8 . t n For u as (fortunes) . Cape Fortunas is on the of H C coast umboldt ounty, north Of Cape Men m ee 265 doci o . S page .

F esn . S e e r o (ash tree) page 284 . Gabilan avi la n . S ee 1 , or G (hawk) page 59 . Las Gallin as M C (the chickens) , in arin ounty . A tribe called Galli n om er o occupied Dr y Creek R R H an and ussian iver below ealdsburg, d there may be some connection between this name an d R M Las Gallinas ancho in arin County . Las 3 8 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Gallinas may be a mere corruption of Galli nomero .

am boa in t on M G Po , the coast of onterey s County . Gam boa i a surname . Garap ato Cr eek is possibly a corrupted spell

- ing Of Gar ap i to (wood tick) Cre ek .

i e e 265 . Garc a (a surname) . S page

n - 0 ee 8 . Garva za (chick pea) . S page

Gala (cat) is in S anta Barbara County .

L a t ee 1 77 341 . s Ga os ( the cats) . S pages and i t s so Gav o a ( ea gull) . Probably called from the large number of these birds which frequent the mouth of th e little creek that ﬂows into the

S ee 1 06 . sea a t this point . page ’ f G erm an ( a surname o a pioneer family) .

S ee 1 9 . G old en Gate . page 9

L a G ole ta (the schooner) . This place is said to have been so called because a schooner was

ee 1 06 . stranded there in the early days . S page S e 1 e 59 . Gon zales (a surname) . page 1 e e 59 . G orda (fat) . S page

a i sa . Gr c o (graceful , beautiful) Gran ada is twenty- seven miles from S an on O S Francisco , the cean hore Line , and was probably named for the province in Spain Of G the same name . rana da also means pome granate .

ll s . S e e 1 Las Gr u a (the cranes) page 59 . 3 82

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

of distance southeast Whittier, in Orange

County . H i n d h as si n iﬁca ac e da. This wor several g of tions , one them being reduction works in a mine . It was in this sense that it was used a t Ne A w lma den quicksilver mine , about twelve A h as miles south of S an José . village grown up a t this point and h as inherited the name of H acienda from the reduction works at the mine .

H e m os . S e e 80 r a (beautiful) page . H e m osillo r , probably named for the town f H o ermosillo in Mexico . H er n an d ez (a surname) i s in S an Benito

County . A t h t h . H e c H e c y deep valley in the Si erra . 3 1 S ee page 3 . H on ut of O B c , a place south roville , in utte d of M County, name from a tribe aidu Indians wh o formerly lived near the mouth Of Hon kut creek . H S B a Hon da ( deep) . onda is in anta rbara C La H on da ounty, and there is also , referring to

S an M C . a deep canyon , in ateo ounty The name is incomplete in this form , and probably in its L on original form was a Canada H da.

H oo a S ee 265 . p . page e e 2 1 H orn i tos (little ovens) . S page 9 . H sn a S an O C ua , in Luis bispo ounty, received its name from a former Indian village near Puri 3 84 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

sima Mission in Santa B arbara County . The signiﬁcation of the word h as not been ascer f ained . H u n em e of C e , the name a former humash

Indian village on Th e coast , a few miles south Of

S V C . aticoy, in entura ounty

L as Huecos (the hollows) . Hu er h uer a i s to Huer h uer a Creek . said be a ii er ii er o corruption Of g g , a stream Of water A n which makes a gurgling noise . attempt is H ma de to imitate the sound by the word . uer C i s S an O C huero reek in Luis bispo ounty, near R l Paso de ob es . H uerta d e Rom ualdo 6 el Ch arra (orchard of R C t e omualdo , a hristian name , or h gushing f stream) . This is th e combined name o two land grants . Hui ch i ca d , the name of a lan grant derived H u i h i from an Indian village called c , formerly of S situated near the plaza in the town onoma . H uilili c , the name Of a former Indian ranch B a M eria near Santa rbara . entioned in the mis sion archives . H un to (eye) is the Indian name of a moun Y tain in the osemite . H am m C y p o , in Trinity ounty, is an Indian name , meaning not ascertained . I a ud of q , th e name a place in Humboldt C Of ounty, was a sort familiar saluta tion , some 3 85 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

our think like hello , with which the Indians of Humboldt and a djacent counties greeted each other when they met . From hearing the word so often the whites ﬁnally a dopted it as the name f o this place .

n i Ig ac o (Ignatius) .

I n a a I n a e of j , or j , was the name a former an Indian village near S Diego . Mentioned in of th e mission archives . The meaning the word “ ” I n i s aja my water . 80 S ee . I n di a (Indian) . page

I n ee 2 S 3 9 . yo. page I slais Creek may have been named for the wild cherry trees (i slay) growing along i ts banks .

I sle ta (small island) .

in t as Jac a (hyacinth) , also used a Christian name . Jam ach a was a former Indian village near S an

D th e of . iego . It is name a wild squash plant ' a e Jam n (ham) . The application Of this p li r cu a name has not been ascertained , but there is always the possibility that it i s a corrupted word and h as no such meaning . am u l S an D C J , in iego ounty, is a place name “ ” or of the Di egu eﬁo Indians . It means foam “ lather, but what the application may be has not been ascertained . m Jar u e, the name Of a tribe thought to have 3 86

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

R A of alifor epublic . mong the early settlers C of C a nia is the name ayetano Ju rez , who was at on e m f S an d h o ti e an O ﬁcial at olano , w took part in many Indian expeditions . L a un t of J a (union , junction , meeting persons

S ee 342. for consultation) . page

L as J un tas or . (the junctions , meetings) Kawia , the name of an Indian tribe near

Fresno . Ki n s C n t i S ee 284 . g ou y an d R ver . page Kl th ee 3 . am a . S page 25 a un k r an L g a (la e o lagoon) , in S onoma d l un as Orange Counties . There were many ag in S ee 81 the state . page . Lagun a d el Corr al (lake or lagoon of the S ee 46 yard) . page . oi n t n S ee P Lagu a (lake or lagoon point) . 26 page 6 . Lagun a d e las Calabasas (lagoon of the pump ' k n i s) . The name refers to the wild gourds that e grow in that locality . S e page 79 . Lagun a d e la Merc ed (lagoon or lake of

M . mercy) . Lake erced Lagun a d e los Palos Calorad os (lagoon Of the redwoods) . a un a uer d S an L g P ca (mu dy lagoon) , in the

Francisco district . This name does not mean “ ”

H o . g Lake , as has been stated

Lagun a d el Rey (lagoon of the king) . 3 88

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

lan o L (a ﬂat , level ﬁeld) . There are places bearing this name in L O S A ngeles and S onoma

Counties . Llan o d e B uen a Vi sta (plain of the good view) .

lan o e an t s f t R L d S a R o a (plain o S . ose) .

lan o e o L S c ( dry plain) .

l i e L an o d e Te q u sq ui te (plain of saltpetre) . T ui i te q sq u is an Aztec word .

Llar on es (the weepers) , a name given to a of n B a place in the vicinity S a Francisco y, for ’ the reason given in P alou s account of the expe d 1 775 “ ition to that region in , as follows : The launch went out again with the pilot Bautista Agui r ay to examine th e arm of the sea that runs to the southeast ; they saw nothing more than two or three Indians who made no other d em on str ati on than to weep , for which reason the place was called L a En sen ada d e los L lar on es ( the bay Of the This was Mission B a y. Lo bi tos (little seals) i s on the Ocean Shore

S an . Line , near Francisco

- bos or . S ee Lo (wolves , also sea wolves , seals) 1 60 230 pages and . L ocan om ll a Va ey. The name of this valley, M C in which iddletown , Lake ounty, is situated is “ an Indian word meaning wild goose village . 3 92 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

(Kroeber . )

L am a (hill) .

i n m ee 47 . Po t Lo a (hill point) . S page Loma Lin da (beautiful hill) is in S an Ber nardino County . Lam a P e lon a (bald hill) is near S anta B ar bara . L am P or t l a a (hill gate) . Exactly what mean ing i s inten ded to be conveyed by this very evidently American -given name it is difﬁcult to sa C n o S d d y. ertainly paniar woul have used

S an D . such a combination . It is in iego County

a S ee 1 60 . L m a Pri eta ( dark hill) . page Lam as d e la P ur iﬁcacian (hills of the puriﬁ cation) . am as d e an t A n S A n a L S a a (hills Of anta ) , land grant in Orange County . L am as d e S n tia of a go (hills St. James) . m is s A L a a t L a . V a (hill view) , near ngeles M It d odern and improper in construction . shoul i L be V sta d e la ama. L om er i as M e t s u r a ( dea d hills) , possibly should be L om er i as de los Muertos (hills of the dea d) . om i tas of S an L (little hills) , north Francisco .

m . S ee 1 08 . Lo p oc , an Indian name page It “ h as been stated tha t this word means little lake , but there seems to be small authority for such a deﬁnition . 3 9 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

a 1 e S ee 28 . L p z (a surname) . page

L or en z o (Lawrence) .

ucas Can on O C u . L y , in range o nty This is of S an probably an abbreviation Lucas , whose r sto y is told under the proper hea ding . u of L go ( a surname) , that a family of early an settlers . This place is thirty miles from S B ernardino . S an O L uis (Louis) range . It is in Luis bispo

County . San B er n ar L un a (moon) Mountain . It is in dino County . D al e L z e L uz ( a surname) . Corr d u was the name given to a place in S an B ernardino County by the Spaniards in reference to a large horse corral built by an Englishman named Luce ,

S an i i z e d L uz S ee 47 . which they p c into . page

S e e 284 . Mad era (wood) . page Mad n e d Madr oﬁo ro , properly spelle , a native f f o . S ee 1 7 tree Cali ornia page 9 . Mala a of S y , th e name a province in outhern S f r of pain celebra ted o its exports grapes , rais

i n s ﬁ s d . A s , oranges , lemons , g and a lmon s rais i n s are among the chief pro ducts of this part Of C of Ma was so Fresno ounty, the town laga named from the Spanish province . T Man a or Man ka. O c , prevent the unwary from falling into the erroneous belief that this S name is panish or Indian , the rather humorous 3 94

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

d r e berries to ﬂour by poun ing, they carefully d move all the see s and skins , then soak the ﬂour i n A water for a considerable length of time . squaw then heaps it up in a little mound , with a sh e crater in the center, into which pours a of minute stream water, allowing it to percolate sh e through . In this way gets about a gallon d an hour Of a really elicious beverage , clear, C a cool , clean , and richer than most alifornia p s k ple cider . A the Indians always drin it up i n t before it has time to ferment , it is never ox ” s icating . Fremont also mentions this a a very delicious drink that he ha d tasted when among the Indians .

Man an i ta Kn ob ular e C z , in T ounty, is near the f summit o the Sierras . h Map ac e Peak (raccoon peak) .

Mar ( the sea) .

s ea D e l Mar ( of the ) .

E l M P i s S ee ar ac ﬁco (the peaceful ea) . page

20 .

S e e 08 Mare I slan d . page 2 . i co a A Mar p is the name of an rizona tribe . The “ i s i s word said to mean bean people , which d eﬁn i ti — A probably th e correct on ( . L . Kroe ber . )

i n S ee 223 . Mar . page n Mari a (shore , seacoast) is in Monterey 3 96 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

A of sea- S an County . portion the beach in

Francisco i s also called The Marina . 1 r i S ee 3 9 . Ma p osa (butterﬂy) . page

ti n S ee 234 . Mar ez (a surname) . page t l 0 4 i i a S ee 1 2 an d 3 2. Ma j . pages

M dan s d Mé an as - é o , also spelle g (sand banks ,

r C C . o dunes) . This place is in ontra osta County A an d B Di a These dunes , between ntioch lack Ma 1 81 7 mond , were named in y, , by Lieutenant A r ti ello Luis g , who led an exploring party into that region . The place still retains the name .

Me dia (middle) is in Ma dera County .

i n n S ee 252. Me d oc o . page

Men d ota (a surname) is in Fresno County . 42 S ee 282 3 . Merced (mercy) . pages and es - S ee 47 M a (table , table land) . pages and

342. La Mesa ( the table or table- land) is in S an

Diego County . — Mesa d e B urro (table land of the donkey) i s in Ri verside County . Mesa C ote - Mon oy (coyote table land) . It is in ter e y County . Mesa G an d e - S e . e 48 r (big table land) page . Mesa d e Ojo d e Agua (table - land of the spring) . Mesq ui te (a native shrub Of the locust va r i et y) . 3 9 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Mi lagra Valley (miracle valley) is on the n e ocean shore of S a Mat o County . 1 80 S ee . Mi lp i tas . page S e 81 L a Mirada (the view) e page . E l Mirage (mira ge) is in S an B ernardino

i s d Mi r a e . County . It more properly spelle j Miram ar (sea - view) is the name Of a post town in S an Diego County an d Of a summer r e M sort near S anta B arbara . iramar is the name ’ of S the king s chalet at the famous resort in pain ,

S an S ebastian . The chalet stands on an eminence overlooking the B ay of B iscay . i m on tes M M ra ( a surname) . Candelario ira of M of montes , a native exico , was the grantee ’ r the Pi la ci tos Rancho in 41 . ' Mi si on i e a or L a P az O ld or V j , ( mission the peace) . Land grant . Mi szan Vi e ja d e la P uri sim a ( Old mission of i s of on the most pure , that , the Immaculate C e ti n c p o .

Moch a eak S C C . Moch a P , in anta lara ounty “ ff ” O . means cropped , cut

M es t . S ee od o (modest) pa ge 295 . d S ee 2 4 Mo oc (people of the south) . page 5 . h M Mo ave Mo ave . j or ojave , also spelled M I of ohave , s an Indian tribal name disputed meaning . It has been stated tha t it comes from “ h m l h th r ee a uck i abi ( hills) , but this view is posi l ti ve y contra dicted by scientists . In the docu 3 98

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

d i sta d e l improper in construction . It shoul be V Mon te .

Mon t m S H S O ez u a Island , lough , and ills , in lano County on the shore Of Suisun Bay . This h s f r name a a curious history, o it was given , S d of not by paniards , but by an a vance agent

M . H the ormons , Lansing W astings , who came in 1 846 to select a site for a colony of that p e culi ar d M sect in this territory, then un er exican M rul e . The story goes that the ormons hoped to gain the sympathy of the Mexicans through their common hatred Of the United S tates and to further this plan by ﬂattering the Mex1 can s M B they called the place ontezuma City . ayard h i s ld o ad o k of Taylor, in book E r , spea s the city of Montezuma as a solitary a dobe house on a of d S B a sort hea dlan projecting into uisun y, and - o Y fronting its rival three house city f New ork , on th e Contra Costa shore . Unfortunately for M i a the ormons , the r plan to est blish an inde pendent colony i n this fertile an d sightly spot was ruined by the raising of the American ﬂag M Of a t onterey, and after a stay three years the lone colonist abandoned his one- house city an d d followed the excite rush to the gold mines . Nothing but the name remains to commemorate this abortive a ttempt to se t up a Mormon com l h m on wea t in California .

Moraga (a surname) . Lieutenant Gabriel 400 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Moraga is on e of the out-standing ﬁgures in the H e - si x history Of California . took part in forty expeditions against the Indians , in all Of which he displayed courage an d ability of no mean He s n osé M order . was the o of J Joaquin oraga , m S an the ﬁrst com andant at Francisco , and is “

as . a described by a contemporary tall , well f built man o dark complexion , brave , gentle of manly, and the best Californian soldier his He 1 823 an d time . died in was buried in the M r graveyard a t the Santa B arbara Mission . o M R aga village and Valley and oraga oad , in the east bay region , ina dequately recall the name of — d . Histo o Cali o n ia this intrepi explorer ( ry f f r ,

Charles E . Chapman . )

Mo uelum n e or oke lum n e S ee 333 . M . q , page Mo en n e of r o (a surname) . O the leading members Of this numerous family was Antonio M of oreno , a native Lower California .

M Co o M . S e e 1 60 oro j (lame oor) page . M an or (hillock , mound) . This place is near B akersﬁeld . Ma ff rro ( a round headland , blu ) . This place , S an O C in Luis bispo ounty, receives its name M R 600 from orro ock , a remarkable round rock , th e feet high , situated a t the entrance to bay .

The name has no reference to its grey color, as some people imagine , but refers to its shape round like a hea d . It is upon such a rock that the 40 1 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

- well known Morro Castle a t Havana is situated . 2 S e e page 1 8 .

Mu u oin t on of C . g P , the coast Ventura ounty d The Mugus were a tribe of Indians . The wor “ ” m ugu means beach .

Muniz ( a surname) . t Muri e ta (a surname) . a im i n t N c e o (birth) , referring in this case to

e e 1 28 . the birth of Christ . S page ’

S ee D el Re . L a Naci on (the nation) . y

Na a d N a. S ee p , formerly pronounce ap page

24 9 .

- an a . Nar j (orange tree) , in Tulare County

L ti i S ee 1 60 . a Na v dad (the nativity) . page Natom a is a name about which the r om an ti cists have concocted some pleasing theories A upon very slender foundation . ccording to sci en ti tsts di r ec it is a tribal name , indicating tion , a favorite metho d Of naming among the ”

. or u Indians It may mean north people , p ” “ ” or - stream , down stream , or some such term B of Of direction . y a severe wrench the imagi as h as con si d nation , been suggested , it may be “ ” ered that up - stream would eventually lea d to the mountains , and that in the mountains there were people , among whom there were undoubt “ ” e dl - y girls , and in this long distance manner ’ Mr R of N s . Joseph edding s deﬁnition atoma a “ ” the girl from the mountains might be evolved , 4 02

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

L as i t N e os (literally the grandchildren , but 82 S ee . in this case a surname) . page

Nim sh ew B C . d , in utte ounty This is an In ian ims e i of word , from N w (big river) , a division M B aidu Indians living on upper utte Creek , in f B C o m . utte ounty, near the edge the ti ber Ni om S an O C p o , in Luis bispo ounty, is prob ascer ably Indian , but its meaning has not been i n ta e d .

L o l - as N ga es (the walnut trees) . D e l te of e e 26 Nor ( the north) . S page 5 . Novata n (new, beginning anythi g, but possibly of in this case a surname) . The exact origin the name Of this California town has not been M n ascertained . The place is in arin County a d as there was a land grant there called E l Ran ch o d e Novato i s sur , the probabilities are tha t it a name O f some family of early settlers . M Noya is in endocino County . It was the on e n ow Indian name Of a creek , not the bearing of N of the name oyo , but another one in the vicinity . Nuestra S eﬁ ar a d el Refugi o (our lady of ref uge) . D S an . N ue va (new) . In iego County Oak lan d was originally called L as En ci n as m (the oaks) , having been named by the co mandante a t Monterey as the result of the report Of Lieutenant Vallejo of the grea t number Of 404 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

— those trees growing upon the spo t (Mem oirs

o th e alle s H . S an f V jo , edited by James Wilkins , B Francisco ulletin , January ,

S an . Océan o (ocean) , near Luis Obispo h Oc um n es . This is a name of Indian origin , but the meaning of it has not yet been ascer t i n e on e O f of a d . It is the numerous group S ierran Indian names ending in the sufﬁ x “ ” n um e , which Professor Kroeber thinks may “ ch m n e mean place of . If that be the case , O u “ f ” may mean place of the village O Ocho . It is S in acramento County . O ai j , the name Of a former Indian village in V C “ ” entura ounty, popularly translated as nest “ ” or f big tree , neither o which can be looked

s A A . upon a authentic . ccording to Professor f L . Kroeber, th e meaning o the word Ojai i s “ ” moon . L a i t S e e . s Oj os (little springs) . page 59 O o d e A of ee 60 j gua (spring water) . S pages 342 and . O o d e A ua d e i ue of j g F g roa (spring Figueroa ) , the last word being a surname . The Figu eroa family were among the earliest settlers . O o Cali en te j (hot spring) . O o d e A ua d el Ca h e j g c (spring of the pig) . Olan h a C c , in Inyo ounty, just below Owens l Lake , was named for the O an ch es Indians of southeastern California . 405 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

3 S ee 2 5 . Olema . page

li ve as - S an O O r (olive trees) , in Luis bispo i s . County . Olivera also a surname L 1 0 os li v S ee 9 . O as (the Olives) . page

Olla ot ( a round earthen p , also a whirlpool in

or s e a river a) . Its application here has not been ascertained . Olampali was named for a former large MO u elum n an M C si x q village in arin ounty, about “ miles south of Petaluma . It means south . Om a D C , in El ora do ounty, is the name Of a

Moquel village . i i ski r a F n o S ou C . S e e O (ﬁne gold) , in y ounty page 266 . r a an d e or - O Gr (large coarse gold) , forty nine n A M miles north of S a B ernardino . lso in adera

County . r L m bi ll O a a a (gold ) . This name is a partie ular ly ba d attempt a t giving a S panish name f without su ﬁcient knowledge . It should be a r f L m a d e O o (hill o gold) . It is in Fresno

County . r Ri a of O a c (rich gold) , the name a mine near

Sonora .

i l - e Orov l e (gold town) . S e pa ge 295 . l an Oso F aca (thin bear) . In S Luis Obispo

County .

ee 1 28 . L os Osos (the bears) . S page 4 06

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

S an geons congr egate) . The ridge Of hills in Mateo County called L OS Palomares probably drew i ts name from the presence of large num bers Of wild pigeons , which were very common C through the coast region . Palomares reek in

Alameda County no doubt h as the same origin . la i t an Pa Pr e a ( dark tree) Canyon . It is in S

Luis Obispo County .

Palo Verd e (green tree) . 3 n S ee 34 . Pa am in t Ran ge . page

n h S ee 1 61 . Pa oc a. page La n S an Pa za ( the paunch) , in Luis Obispo C so ounty, named by some hunters who placed L l t the paunch of a beef to catch bear . a Pa e a (shoulder-blade) and E l Car n aso (loin) were an d put out in other places , the names still remain . L as Pap as (potatoes) Hill is in the S an Fran a cisco district . P p a (potato) is provincial and A merican . 1 S ee 1 6 . Paraiso (para dise) . page Paraj e d e S an ch ez (place or station Of S an chez) .

asad en a S ee 82. P (crown Of the valley) . page asken ta C P , in Tehama ounty, is Indian and “ means under the bank . as P o (pass) . E l f aso o R . P ( the pass) , the Truckee iver E l aso k P Pea (the pass peak) , in Kern County . 408 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

S . D el Paso ( of the pass) , near acramento f Paso d e B ar talo (pass o Bartolo) , the last a

Christian name . S ee Paso d e Ro bles (pass of the oaks) . pages

1 23 an d 342. Pastori a d e las B arr egas (pasture of the ewe

A S C C . lambs) . sheep ranch in anta lara ounty

L a Patera (a place where ducks congregate) . In early days the fresh water swamps near here abounded with ducks . La Patera is a ﬂag station a in S anta B rbara County . L a P az (the peace) . Probably a peace ar or ranged with the Indians , it may have been for named La Paz in Lower California . Pech o (breast) Rock is so named from the of shape the rock . It is near S an Luis Obispo . ed e n ales ﬂi n ts e e 1 0 P r ( ) . S page 3 . P efi asca Rocks (rocky hills) is in Fresno

County . L os P eﬁas uitos ff S an q (the little cli s) , in Diego

County . en i ten ia C e ek P c r (penitence creek) . The rea son for this name has not been ascertained . It S C is in anta lara County . e alta P r (a surname) , tha t of a pioneer family . e as C A P r (pears) reek , in Los ngeles County . L os e os P rr (the dogs) , possibly Indian dogs . es ad e o ai n t ﬁsh i n - P c r P ( g place point) . S ee 2 page 35 . 409 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

6 S ee 2 6 . P etalum a. page i a h os Moun tain s of S an P c c , a ridge east Fran B a i h a as cisco y. P c c are frequent , isolated , coni cal peaks . i ca h o - d i s P c ( top , sharp pointe summit) the name Of a post village in Imperial County .

i a L os A . P c (a surname) , ten miles from ngeles José Maria Pico of S inaloa was the founder of an d was this family, its most notable member h i s son on e Cal , Pio Pico , at time governor Of if r n i a A B th e o . ccording to ancroft , character Of of Pio Pico was a mixture good and bad , in “ H e was which the good predominated . abused beyond h i s deserts ; he was a man of ordinary intelligence and limited education ; Of a gen er ous , j ovial disposition , reckless and indolent , fond Of cards and women ; disposed to be fair and honorable in transactions , but not strong enough to avoid being made the tO Ol of knaves . H e did not run away with large sums of money as Obtained by sales Of missions , has been charged? ’ P i ca B lan ca (white peak) , a noted mountain S R r in the anta Lucia ange , near Point S u .

i ed a . P r (stone , rock) , near Fresno i ed as B lan as S ee 1 28 P r c (white rocks) . page . i s n s P edra Gra d e (big rocks) . L i t S e e a P edr a Pi n ada (the painted rock) . page 4 1 0

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

E l i o M C P oj (the louse) , in onterey ounty, a lOn short distance south Of JO . i u C of P r , near amulos , the name a former of Indian village . It is the name a plant .

sm S e e 1 28 . Pi o . page ee 300 S . P i t Ri ver . page

L a i ta S an D C . i ta h a a P , in iego ounty P y is the f “ ” fruit O the cactus called prickly pear .

S ee 3 09 . Placer . page P lacer i ta (little placer) Canyon is in L os A n geles County .

e vi l e . ee 3 1 0 Plac r l S page . lan ada d - P ( a plain , level groun ) , seventy four miles from S tockton . lan P o (a level surface) , in Tulare County . lan T abu o of P o r c (plain the blunderbuss) , a u valley in Orange County . This name no do bt originated from th e . story of the party Of Span r i a ds who lost a blunderbuss in that region . L S B a a Playa (the beach) , in anta rbara

County .

lei to . S ee P (quarrel , lawsuit , bargain) page

1 61 .

S ee 3 03 . Plum as (feathers) . page

Las Plum as (the fea thers) , near Oroville .

P alvad er o ( dusty) Gap is in Fresno County . P alvad er o is probably a coined word from

alv . p o , dust

S ee 266 . Pomo . page 4 1 2 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

h . Pon c o (cloak , blanket)

P on ki n P n ki n . o oo y (wormwood) y, sometimes P ooki n P misspelled y, is from the uki Indian language .

l P or t l YO E a (the gate) , the entrance to the semite Valley .

M h as Portola (a surname) . uch argument arisen in regard to the spelling and pronuncia of v tion this name , but that the form here gi en is the correct on e i s proved beyond dispute by ’ original letters signed by P or tolas own hand M as still existing in the archives of exico , well as by its use in documents by many of h i s con temporaries .

on e S an Matéo C Two towns , in ounty and the other in Plumas County bear the name of For a on e of tol , Of the most famous in the annals

C . S ee 236 n 42 a lifornia pages a d 3 .

sa S d Po (well , pool , also spelled by the paniar s o o as osa h as p z , p o) . The fact tha t p also the ” meaning of passing h ell for the dea d h as i h caused some ra ther ludicrous mistakes . For La osa d e los si tos of stance , P O (the pool the little bears) , evidently refers to a place where some bears were seen drinking, and certainly would be absurd translated as “the passing bell ” of of the little bears . When used as names places the connection makes it quite clear that 4 1 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

they were so called in reference to pools Of n water present o the spot . L as P osi ta s (the little pools) . L as P osi tas la Cale a y r (the little wells , or

- pools , and the lime kiln) . aso or s P (pool , well) , in Kern County, and Pa o S an in Luis Obispo County . L os asos or P (the pools , wells) , in V entura C ounty . La P ast h o r a (person w rides o travels post , - r post house , milita y post , In the case of P asta 1 70 La , miles from the Mission Tule River A - gency, it probably means post station . otr er e P o (pasture , generally for horses) . S e 48 1 61 23 6 pages , and . Potrero d e los C err i tos (pasture of the little hills)

Potrero Ch ico (little pasture) .

P otrero Gran d e (big pasture) . P otrero d e los Pi n os (pasture of the pines) is s in River ide County . ’ Potrer o y Rin can d e S an Pedro d e R eglad o

t R S t. (pasture and corner of S . Peter egalato) . R was es Peter egalato was a Franciscan , and p eci ally distinguished for his sublime gift of ” of prayer . This was the name a land grant . f t E l Potrero d e S an Carlos (the pasture o S .

Charles) .

Potrero d e S an Fran ci sco (pasture Of S t. Fran 41 4

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

S laus County . In its original panish form it was called El Arroyo del Puerto ( the creek of the i s of R pass) . It one the Coast ange streams , and , rising in these mountains , flows down afi n s through c o until it reaches the S an Joaquin . It takes its name from a natural pass through which it makes its way to reach the level land of the west side . l as S ee 82 228 P u g (fleas) . pages and . L un t S an D a P a (th e point) , in iego County . P un ta Alm ej as (mussel point) un t fl u v Ne Y e P a A a N e a (point w ear) . S e page 1 4 5 .

A n s t e S ee 342. P un a r a (sandy point) . page ’ P un ta d e la C on cep ci on (point of the i mm acu late conception) . un t D l ada or ee P a e g (thin narrow point) . S 26 page 5 . n t o or P u a G rda (fat thick point) . S ee pages

1 09 and 265 . un ta G u i ar os or b d P j r (pebble oul er point) . un ta e l a un of S ee P d a L g a (point the lagoon) . 6 page 2 6 . un ta am a S an D ee P L (hill point) , near iego . S 4 n t 7 . u a d l am page It should be P e a L a. t i n os Of N M Pun a d e P (point pines) . ear onte 48 S ee 1 . rey . page t l s e es S e e Pun a d e o R y (point of the kings) . page 237 . 4 1 6 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

S ee P un ta d e las Rilas (point Of the rites) . 1 0 page 9 . ’ P urisim a Con cepci on (immaculate con cep S ee tion) page 1 09 . is i i n f n P ur m a Po t (point o the most pure) . O the Santa B arbara Coast .

u i sim an Matéo . P r a (most pure) , in S County

i t ee 1 1 1 . Po n S al ( a surname) . S page i S ee 1 62. Poi n t S ur (south po nt) . page L m a Q ue ada (the burned place) , from the u verb q em ar ( to burn) . This name refers to a custom prevalent among the Indians of burning over large tracts of land for the purpose of kill ing the underbrush and encouraging the growth f o d . grass , which resulte in attracting game The diaries Of the Spaniards refer frequently to this an d of d custom , speak ﬁnding a great eal Of n country burned over in this way . O e writer has Off ered to his astonished rea ders the trans “ L a uem ada - la tion of Q as the over full , having ” enough to eat . ui n S abe Q é (who knows) , a familiar expres sion among the Spaniards .

tin See 23 9 . Q uin . page Sim On Q uin ta (a surname) . Tadéo Q ui n ta was on e of Of the members this pioneer family . R Raim un d a ( aymond) . m i e M Ra r z (a surname) , near arysville . a n C k R mo a ( a hristian name) , well nown as 4 1 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

’ f f r H H that o th e heroine o M s . elen unt Jackson s romance .

R n e e M . a a (frog) Cr k . In onterey County “ Ran h e ia c r , a word meaning settlement , but generally used by the Spaniards to mean an

Indian village . Ran ch eria d el B aile d e las I n dias (village of

of ee 9 . the dance the Indian women) . S page 9

Ran ch eria d e l Corral (village of the yard) .

Ran ch eri a d e la Esp ada (village of the sword) .

S ee page 1 01 . Ran ch eria d e l Ri o Estan islao (village of the river S tanislaus) . Ran ch i ta d e S an ta Fé (little ranch Of holy faith) . n h Ra c o d el P uerto (ranch of the pass) .

Ratan (mouse) . A i l R eal d e las gu as (camp of the eagles) . 2 d n S ee 8 . R e o d o (round) . page

R efugi o (refuge) is in S anta B arbara County .

Refu gio is also a Christian name . R e esa so d on of p r ( dam) , calle account a dam at that point , west of the state prison at Folsom . as l D e l R ey (of the king) , also known E Ran ch o Nacion al because it was used to provi de meat and horses for the military . This ranch was in Fresno County . 2 S e e 37 . R eyes (kings) . page R i s Ri card o ( ichard) in Kern County . 4 1 8

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

’ Ri n con is th e interior angle formed by the f r on e of junction o two walls o lines , and is the terms used in the apportionment of land grants . ’ Ri n co n (corner) is in S an B ernardino County . E l Rin can ( the corner) i s in Los Angeles C on ounty, and comprises rich agricultural land f A n R either side o the S anta a iver . Rin n ada i s co the corner formed by two houses , or streets , roa ds , between two mountains . Ri n con ada d e l A r r oyo d e S an Fran ci sq u ito t (corner of the creek of little S . Francis) . Land grant . Rin an d l s Ca n e os of c e o r r (corner the sheep) .

Land grant . Rin con ada d e los Gatos (corner of th e cats

— - wild cats) . Land grant . Rin an d e la ea c Br (corner of th e asphalt) .

Land grant . ’ Rin n d e los ue es Of co B y (corner the oxen) .

Land grant .

’ Rin n d el D iablo co (corner Of the devil) . Land grant . Rin can d e los Esteros (corner of the estu aries) . Land grant . ’ in n i n t e R o . S e 1 1 1 co P (corner point) page . Ri n can d e la Pu en te d e l Mon te (corner of the or bridge Of the wood , hill) . Land grant . ’ Rin con d e las S ali n as (corner Of the salt marshes) . Land grant . 421 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

' Rin can d e las S alin as y P otrero Vi eja (corner of Old the salt marshes and the pasture) . Land grant . Ri n can d e S an Fr an ci sq u i ta (corner of little S an Francisco) . Land grant .

Rin an d el S an an of c j (corner the slough) .

Land grant . Ri o (river)

E l R i o (the river) , Often improperly run to E lr i o en gether as , is the name Of a village in V tura County . E l Ri o d e los B err en d os (the river of the ante e e 42 lopes) . S page .

Ri o B r av r o ( turbulent o wild river) . It is in

Kern County . i R o Gran d e (big river) . i d R o J esus Mari a (River Jesus Mary) . Lan grant . i S Ri o L n d a (beautiful river) . It is in acra mento County . E l Ri o d e los Molin os (the river of the mill 81 S ee . stones) . page E l i l i d o of R o d e N (the river the nest) , refer ring to the nest of an eagle once seen in a tree on the banks O f this stream . The name is now i Ri o N Ri on d o . shortened into ido , or f t E l Ri o d e S an ta Clara (the river o S . Clara) .

Land grant . 422

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

D e S abla B C . , in utte ounty, is a family name S a ate c ( grass , hay) m en t a S ee 277 . S cra o (sacrament) . page '

S al S al . S ee , in the case Of Point , a surname 1 1 1 page . l S a ada (salted , salty, saline land) . It is in the salt marshes on the shore of S an Mateo

County . l of S a a a . z r (a surname) , that a pioneer family li d ou t- S S a a (exit , gate) , village in tanislaus M County, seven miles northwest Of odesto . l n - S ee 1 48 S a i as (salt marshes) . pages and 42 3 . S al s i P ued es get out if you can S ee page

1 1 1 .

S e e 1 74 La S alud (health) . page . A e S e 3 34 . S an A n dreas ( S t. ndrew) . page

A n S t. A . S ee 3 S an drés ( ndrew) page 34 . A u A n lm S t. . S ee 3 t S . S an se o ( nsch ) page 2 7 . A was of nselm born in Italy noble parents , and f H e became a monk at the age o 27 . was a man of great intellectual a ttainments and rose to a high position in the church , ﬁnally becoming H e Archbishop of Can terbury . is noted for his for theological and philosophical writings , and

e b u t . his mild , g ntle , ﬁrm character

t A . S an A n ton i o ( S . nthony) t A S an A n ton i o d e Pad ua ( S . nthony Of

S ee 1 41 . Pa dua) . page 424 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

A i s M C . S an A rd o ( S t. rdo) in onterey ounty m a d us B S t. A S a rdo , in Latin r g , was a enedictine f monk who wrote a life O S t. Benedict which is

H e 843 . considered reliable . died in an A u usti n e A S g (properly gu stin) , born in

N was son of S MOn i ca. umidia , the anta In his youth he was so devoted to pleasure tha t his mother feared the destruction of h i s char ” acter, but he became converted by the preach A of S t. u T ing mbrose , and it is tho ght tha t the e D e um was composed in honor of the occasion “ i s of Of h i s baptism . It told him tha t while on sea- walking the shore , lost in meditation D i s ou s e on th e T i n i t on his great theme , the c r r y, he s aw a little child bringing water and en d eav oring to ﬁll a hole which he ha d dug in the sand . A h i ugustine asked him the motive of s labors . The child said he intended to empty all the ‘ ’ sea water of the into this cavity . Impossible ! ‘ ’

d S t. A . Not exclaime ugustine more impossible , ‘ O A answered the child , than for thee , ugustine , to explain the mystery on which thou art n ow ’ t A meditating . S . ugustine i s the patron of ” t r i theologians and learned men . (S o es of th e i S a n ts . ) B S an B en i t S t. S e e 1 6 1 o ( enedict) . page . ’ S n B e n e S t B r a ab . o B r ( arnabas , arnaby) . This was of C of t saint a na tive yprus , and a cousin S . “ M He . A ark labored with Paul a t ntioch , and 425 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

tra dition says he preached from the gospel of M S t. atthew, written by the Evangelist himself, which he carried always with him , and that it ha d power to heal the sick when laid upon their H e bosoms . was seized by the Jews an d cruelly ” — t i s martyred , while preaching in Judea . (S or e th in t of e S a s . )

B n i n t B ern r i n s a d u . S ee S an er ard o ( S . ) page

75 .

n d S t. S an B er ar o ( Bernard) . There were two of on e 1 1 90 saints this name , born in at Fontaine ,

S . S t. B and the other in avoy The latter , ernard ' h n i s Men t o of t. Of , famous as the founder the S B A “ ernard hospitals in the lps , where the out monks , assisted by their dogs , search and care for travelers who are lost in the passes of the mountains , where the storms are severe , and ” the cold intense .

n t B S ee 23 7 S an Bru o (S . runo) . page .

n n t S t. B S an B ue ave ura ( onaventure) . S ee 4 page 9 . l 1 t C . S ee 38 . S an Car os (S . harles) page

l t e C . S e . S an C em en te ( S . lement) page 83 S an di a Can yon (watermelon canyon) is in

Riverside County .

t . S an D i eguito (little S . James) i A S an D ego. lthough the dictionary meaning D i e o s for g is alway James , in the case of the 4 26

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

— Z e h r i n invoked against earthquakes . (Fray p y

Engelhardt . ) S an F e li t 1 S ee 1 8 . p e ( S . Philip) . page

an F n S e e 70 . S er an d o ( S t. Ferdinand) . page

F S ee 1 87 . S an ran ci sco ( St. Francis) . page of S an Fran ci sc o d e las Llagas ( S t. Francis the

S ee page 1 79 . a d S n Fr an i s ui t t . c q o (little S . Francis) Lan grant . S a 6 G . S ee 9 . n Gabri el ( S t. abriel) page ’

an e on im S t. S ee 23 7 S G r o ( Jerome) . pages and 3 42. S an Gorgon i o Mountains an d Pass are in the C R S i a oast ange Of outhern California . The r p Gor on i us ff 3 04 tron saint , g , su ered martyrdom in a t Nicomedia during the persecution of Di o l i n r o i s h c et a . G o n u a g , who d held a high posi ’ d tion in the Emperor s household , was subj ecte to most frightful torments , and was ﬁnally strangled and his body thrown into th e sea.

It was , nevertheless , secured by the Christians and was afterwards carried to Rome .

r i t. S e e 23 8 . S an G egor o ( S Gregory) . page

t S t. a S an Ign aci o ( S . Ignatius) . Ignatius Loyol “ was the founder of the order Of the Jesuits . In h i s youth h e was a pa ge in the court Of Ferdi nand the Catholic , and later a brave and gay ” H e soldier . became a permanent cripple v through being se erely wounded in both legs . 428 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

f b e While confined by these suf erings , devoted C himself to reading the life Of hrist , and was A thus induced to take up religious work . fter b e to some years of study, induced five men join him in forming a community under the title of “ C ” the ompany of Jesus , whose especial duties “ of are first , preaching ; second , the guidance th e of souls in confession ; third , teaching the ” young .

I i t . S an s d o Ysid S . d r , also spelled ro ( Isi ore) i n r S t. There were two saints h ea g this name . Isidore the ploughman could neither rea d nor m Hi s write , but performed many iracles . master objected to the time wasted by Isidore in prayer, h i s d but Obj ections were silenced when he foun , on e upon entering the ﬁeld day, the plough being

t. drawn by two angels , while S Isidore knelt at h i s t B devotions . The other S . Isidore was ishop S an d Of eville , in the church in that city bearing “ i s his name , there a magniﬁcent picture which on of represents him dying the steps the altar, ” e having given all his property to the poor . S e page 342. H S an a i n t S t. S ee 84 n J c o ( yacinth) . pages a d

342.

S an a in to Nue va ot e o New St H a J c y P r r ( . y ci n th and the horse pasture) . This is the com bi n ed i name Of two land grants . It s in River side County . 429 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

i l H d . S an Jac n to Vi e j o ( S t. yacinth th e O ) i t S e e 280 S an Joaq u n (S . Joachim) . pages and

3 42.

n a or A S a j n (deep ditch slough) . lso spelled n n z a j o . ’ S an jan d e los Moq ue lum n es (Moq u elum n e slough) .

S ee 1 68 342. S an J osé ( S t. Joseph) . pages and B uen A i t S an J asé d e as res ( S . Joseph Of good airs) . n os r h i i t n S a J é y S u C q u ta ( S . Joseph a d little south) . These are the names Of two creeks near

Monterey .

S an uan S t. O f J ( John) , the name a small town in S an Benito County where the famous Mission S an B i s Of Juan autista situated , of a picturesque stretch Of roa d running from that place to Mon ter e k as S an of y nown the Juan Gra de , and a land grant in S acramento County . In the spring time on e may drive for many miles along the S an Juan Gra de through variegated beds Of wild on ﬂowers which line the road either side . ti t t S an J uan Bau s a ( S . John the Baptist) . 4 2 S ee pages 1 5 and 34 . ' e an t A n t S an J uan Cajon d S a a ( S . John can “ ” i A on O S t. . D y , literally box , nne) eep canyons were Often called caj on es (boxes) . i t ee n S 3 7 . S an J uan Cap s ra o . page

an ain t S t. . S ee S an Ju P ( John Point) page 84 . 4 30

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

k of th e nown this saint , except that he was of C fourth archbishop anterbury, and died there 62 about 7 .

S t. e n e n S e 238 . S a L a dro ( Leander) . page

n t. S e e 238 . S a Loren zo ( S Lawr ence) . page 6 S ee 1 2. S an L ucas ( St. Luke) . page

is a S t. G S an L u G on z ga ( Louis onzaga) . This A S t. son of saint , also known as loysius , was the l M . a noble Italian la dy, the archese di Castig ione “ H e entered the S ociety of Jesus when not yet i eighteen years Old , and became eminently d s ti n i sh ed for gu his learning, piety and goo d He R 1 591 works . died a t ome in of fever, which b ” t r i . e contracted while nursing the sick . (S o es th i n ts of e S a . ) n S an L u isi to (little S t. Louis) Creek . It is in S a

Luis Obispo County .

u i bis S t. B S ee S an L s O p o ( Louis the ishop) . . pages 1 1 9 and 342.

ui e S t. k S ee S an L s R y ( Louis the ing) . page

3 5 .

t M was B f S an Marci al ( S . artial) the ishop o

Limoges , and is especially noted for the conver Of sions he accomplished , in particular that the

S t. V f beautiful virgin alerie , who su fered mar tyr dom for her faith .

M . S an Marcos ( S t. ark) This evangelist was

t . H e a disciple Of S . Peter founded the church at

Alexandria , and on account Of his miracles the 4 32 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

heathen accused him of being a magician ; and of od a t length , while celebrating the feast their g M d d S S t. erapis , they seized ark and ragge him through the streets until h e died . Then imme i t l b ail an d d a e y there fell a storm of , a tempest of lightning came with it which destroyed h i s

Hi s d A . D . murderers . remains were remove in 81 5 V d of to enice , where the splen id cathedral

t M . M d S . ark was erected over them any legen s f f are told o this saint , among them the story o his having saved the city Of V enice from d estruc tion by demons , who raised a grea t storm and for came in a boat that purpose , but were driven

S t. M k away by ar , who went to meet them an d held up a cross . S an Ma i n L OS A r o , near ngeles , was named for a saint who was born in D ahn ati a in the fourth He as century . w a poor laborer an d was em ployed in the reconstruction of the bridge of Hi s Rimini . piety attracted the attention of the B Bishop of rescia , who ordained him as a dea Mar i n a M con . retired to ount Titano , and gave l himse f up entirely to religious practices . Hi s as cell attracted others , and this w the origin Of S an Mar i n a the city and republic of , the smallest republic in the world . M i t. S ee S an Mart n ( S artin) . pages 1 82 an d

342.

é S t M e S an Mat a . . S e 238 ( atthew) page . 4 3 3 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

t e S an Ma éo i n t S t. M S e Po ( atthew Point) . page 84 .

M 22. i l t. S ee 1 S an M gue ( S ichael) . page i li li t l t M . S an M ue t t e S . g o ( . ichael)

N . au S an Nicolas ( S t. icholas) Little that is th en ti c can be Obtained concerning the history f of o this saint , but there are numerous legends i of m racles performed by him , several them con n ecte d with raising children from the dea d , and

S t. N similar stories . icholas is the chief patron R O f sea- Of ussia and many port towns , and is the e protector against robbers and violence . H is also the patron of children and schoolboys i n O f particular, and poor maidens , sailors , trav

elers . , and merchants h r i s n S t. n o u . S ee 84 S an O ofre ( O p ) page .

S ee . t. 239 S an Pablo ( S Paul) . page t as S an Pasq ual ( S . Pascal) . This saint w a A a 1 40 . He S panish peasant , born in rag n in 5 of was was a member the Franciscan order, and remarkable for his unfailing courtesy and char ity to the poor .

t . e S e 84 . S an P edr o ( S . Peter) page S an ed S an ta Ma a i ta las Gallin as P ro , rg r , y

S t. M S t. ( Peter, argaret , and the chickens) , com

i n e . b d names of. three land grants n S e e S an Q uen tin ( S t. Quenti ) . pages 239 and

342.

S t. R . S ee 22 S an Rafae l ( aphael) page 4 . 43 4

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

t S an a C u I slan . S ee 1 1 r z d page 0 . S an t F L a é os A . ee (holy faith) , near ngeles S page 342 . G d an t t G t . S t. S a G ertr udis ( S . er rude) ertru e the Great was a benedictine nun and mystic 6 h 1 25 . S e writer, born in G ermany in is espe ci ally noted for her learning and religious writ Sh e ings , all of which were written in Latin . was charitable to the poor an d had the gi ft of miracles .

A . S ee S an ta I n e Yn e S t. z , also spelled z ( gnes) 1 1 2 pages 2 and 34 .

n t i t S e e 1 29 . S a a L uc a ( S . Lucy) . page

n t t t M S e e 1 29 . S a a Margari a ( S . argaret) . page S an ta Ma a i ta las Fl es S t M rg r y ar ( . argaret and the ﬂowers) , combined names Of two land grants .

M . S e 1 1 5 . S an ta Maria ( S t. ary) e page S an t an i MO i 62 t n ca . S ee . a M ca ( S . ) page t S an l S t ee 1 1 . a . S 5 a P u a ( Paula) . page S an ta Ri ta is the name of a village in Monterey

C t S . f oun y, near alinas The patron saint o this place was born a t Rocca Parena in 1 386 and died H r h e s 1 456 . e Ma 22 s i in feast day is y , and

as or an . represented holding roses , roses d ﬁgs When but twelve years Of age S anta Rita was compelled by her parents to marry a cruel , ill d d an d tempered man . This man was mur ere , i after his death , his widow des red to enter the 4 3 6 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

was convent a t Cascia , but a t ﬁrst refused a dmis Sh e sion on account of her widowhood . was so ﬁnally received , however, and many miracles were reported to have been performed at her in tercession that sh e was given in Spain the title of La S an ta d e los I mp osi bles (the saint of th e impossibilities) .

n t R S ee 250 . S a ta Rosa ( S . ose) . page

n t u t S . S a a S san a ( S . usanna) This saint , who as w remarkable for her beauty and learning, was of th e D a relative Emperor iocletian , who desired her as a wife for hi s a dopted son Max i Of S t. S mus . usanna , having made a vow chas ff a d tity, refused this O er, n d Diocletian , angere e by her refusal , sent an xecutioner to kill her in n her ow house . S an t Te esa A C a r was born at vila in astile , M 28 1 51 D arch . 5 . uring her earliest youth , through reading th e lives of the saints and mar sh e d d tyrs , forme a esire to take up religious

. d a e work In accordance with this esire , at the g of w sh e of r t enty years , entered th e convent Ca m eli tes an d , chose as her life work the reform of d of M ing the or er ount Carmel , as well as the of of establishment a number convents for men . Sh e revived th e early rule in the Order of going barefoot . S anta Teresa ha d distinct litera r y i f g fts , and her history o her life is a work O f ah s orbing interest , which is still rea d with gen 4 3 7 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

u i n e pleasure by students of the literature of Sh e Spain . attained a position of such author i ty in that country that Philip III chose her for i ts second patron saint, ranking her next to S t antiago ( S . James) . t an S e e S . S e e 1 1 2 S a Yn ez . anta Inez pages 42 and 3 . S an t s e t a Y ab l I sabel S . , also spelled ( Isabella of France) , who founded the convent at Long

was to K . champs , sister the saintly ing Louis Sh e was educated with her brother by their

B of C . S t. mother , lanche astile Isabel dedicated “ her convent to the h umility of the B lessed Vi r ” w s o . A gin , and gave to it all her d ry long as the convent existed the . festival of this saint was — S t i es o th e celebrated wih great splendor . ( or f

S ain ts . )

of S t. S an ti ago d e S an ta A n a ( S t. James

A . nne) Land grant . t ’ S t. S an Tim o e a ( S t. Timothy) . Timothy was f S t b e ac o . the beloved disciple Paul , whom companied on many journeys . It is said that he B a e was ishop Of Ephesus , until at the g Of eighty years he suffered the cruel fate of being beaten to death by pagans . G S an Tom aso ( S t. Thomas) was a alilean S O ﬁsherman and on e Of the apostles . great was his incredulity that he has always been r e membered for tha t rather than for his other 4 3 8

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

1 1 47 A the year lonzo I removed them to Lisbon , two on e crows accompanied the vessel , at the i n n S t. V prow and o e at the stern . In pictures cent is always represented as accompanied by a

r S t. V er r ar i s crow o raven . incent F was born at V 1 5 H e alencia in 3 7 . was a celebrated preacher “ s of and missionary, and o moved the hearts h i s hearers that h e was Often obliged to pause ” that the sobbing and weeping might subside . of S t V The third this name , . incent de Paul , was son G th e Of a ascon farmer, and his charities were so various and so many as to cause his to name be revered by all , irrespective Of reli i s ff He H g ou di erences . established the ospital M for M of La a deleine the agdalens Paris , a foundling hospital , and numerous other char d d ities . In truth , the practical goo one by this man during h i s life makes him well worthy of f ” the title o saint . i an S ee S . S ee 342. S an Ys dro . Isidro page i S e e 85 . S at coy. page L a Ca ada e las u es S auc e (willow) . n d S a c (the valley of the willows) is in S anta B arbara

County .

S aucito (little willow) .

- S aucas (alder trees) . - o d S ausal (willow grove) . Pr perly spelle S au

z al.

- S ee 222. S ausalito (little willow grove) . page 4 40 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

- S ee S ausal R ed on d o (round willow grove) .

82. Redondo Beach , page E l un so d S eg d o (the second) , calle because at that place the S tandard Oi l Company’ s second

M d . reﬁnery on the Paciﬁc Coast is located . o ern S e uoia of C q , th e giant tree alifornia , was S i n named for the Cherokee , equoyah , who n S vented a alphabet for his tribe . equoyah , also G G or G was son known as eorge ist , uess , the of a white man and a Cherokee woman of mixed blood , and was , after all , more white man than H for Indian . e ha d a natural genius mechanical for invention , and , having been crippled life in h i s de a hun ting accident , he occupied time in vising the alphabet , which was accepted with such enthusiasm by hi s people that every Cher of an d okee , whatever age , ha d learned to rea d write in a few months . S equoia , although not a i s place name , given here for the interest it may have for tourists an d other persons unac q uai n te d with the origin Of the name of the fa “ ” mous big trees .

n ee 1 . S ere a (serene) . S page 1 5 This name is on as S r n i s spelled some maps e e a, but called S e en a r by the people Of the neighborhood .

S e a . S ee n rr (a surname) pa ge 85 . O the pages of r C the histo y of alifornia , no name shines with of n i r a whiter luster than tha t Ju p e o S erra . With h his scholarly attainments , he might , ad he 441 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

own chosen to remain in his land , have aspired to the highest honors in the church , perhaps even to the Papacy, but he chose , instea d , to leave all this behind him and to devote the rest Of his days to the upraising of the heathen in A far distant merica . Feeble in body but strong of ff soul , he su ered every hardship without com of plaint , and in the hour his death it was found that he ha d given away everything that he p os sessed to the poor Indians , even to his under for so clothing, which he removed the purpose , n ot S O that he might die in it . strong was the power Of h i s will that he rose from h i s bed but a few hours before the end , and walked unaided “ into the chapel , where he j oined , in a high clear ” f o n o w . voice , in the singing his death mass It i s h i s fortunate that devoted companion , Father O f h i s Palou , has left a complete record life and as alifor death , to serve an inspiration to all C i n n a s . This priceless document , yellowed with a e of u g , is now in the care the parish ch rch a t M onterey .

S es e for C p , named a former humash Indian village said by Indians to have been on S espe

V C . Creek , in entura ounty

h S ee 255 . S asta. page

- i er r a saw saw d . S ee S ( , toothe mountains) 2 page 99 . 4 42

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

l 1 1 o S ee 5 . S edad (solitude) . page

S am is V C , in entura ounty , is an Indian place name .

on om S ee 245 . S a. page

n S ee 335 . S o ora. page

S uel or S an uel oq , g , was probably derived sacalis C si t from U , a ostanoan Indian village uate d in 1 81 9 withi n ten miles Of the S anta Cruz

Mission .

oscol S ee S . S . uscol S oto om e y , a former Indian village near H of um ealdsburg . The derivation the name is known . t n i l S ee 28 1 S a s aus . page . S ue te of r , a word many meanings (luck , f chance , lot o ground) . In the apportionment of land by th e Spaniards a s uerte was a cultivable lot of land granted to colonists near the pueblos and within the four leagues assigned tO the s t of pueblo . Each uer e consisted two hundred va as two of r of length and hundred brea dth , a va i t - n ra being about th r y three inches . Thus o e s ue te on e lot on e r is (of land) , and not , as writer “ ” on D os s ue t has translated it , e chance . r es is two lots .

i s n S ee 275 . S u u . page

S n a l . S e e 240 o ( a surname) pages and 342.

ur . For S ur see 1 S (south) Point page 62. In 4 44 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

this vicinity the scenery i s remarkably pi ctur esque . D el S ur ( of th e south) i s in L OS Angeles

County . S uscol was the name of a Moquelumnan tribe wh o l i ved in a village on the east bank Of Napa

R S ee S oscol. iver . 3 1 Tah e S ee page 1 .

Tale a or C . S an g (bag, sack) anyon It is in

Diego County .

Talla ascer c , a n Indian word , meaning not f ained . l S 1 ee 2 5 . Tam a p ais . page Tam ba S A or so ( outh merican for inn , hotel) , called because in early days there was a stop ping place i n this vicinity for travelers crossing

N M . the continent . ear arysville Tasa ar a of M j , the name a resort near onterey, i s of tasa e a probably a corruption j r , a place where jerked meat is hung up to cure . Tassa t Coun t an d jara in Contra Cos a y, Tasajero Creek in Contra Costa an d Alameda Counties are prob f of ably dif erent spellings the same word . t Tecola e (owl) . h h ee 29 S 6 . Te ac ap i . page 2 Teh am a S ee 71 . . page ' E l Te on i s j ( the badger) in Kern County .

TejOn Pass is ba dger pass . 445 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Tem blad e a i S Mon r (quagm re) lough . It is in ter e C y ounty . Tem blar ( earthquake) Range is in Kern

County .

m é l e l e S e 49 . Tem é T cu a. page cu a is in the t R sou hern part of iverside County .

Tem s l 1 e S ee 7 . ca (sweathouse) . page

Ten a a eak Y V g P , in osemite alley, named for

- - ei a Y . Ten y , chief of the osemite Indians

Te ui s ui te A q q is an ztec word , probably mean

- ing salt petre . Te a B e lla an d Te a uen a rr rr B , in Tulare and S C utter ounties , are perhaps misspellings Of ti er a be lla ti e a buen a r , (beautiful land) and rr

(good land) .

i S ee 49 . T a Juan a. page ’ 4 S ee 22 . Ti buron (shark) . page r Ti err a S eca ( d y land) . 0 S ee 24 . Tocalom a. page

Todas S an tos (all saints) . Tod as S an tos y S an A n toni o (all saints and

A . S t. nthony) Tolen as Y C , in olo ounty, is probably a

of Yolen os Yala. S ee spelling , from the Indian page 274 . al c A T u a, near Los ngeles , is probably derived Tolu aa or Ti li aes t i from j , j , a r be among the S an C 1 776 original ones at Juan apistrano in , 4 46

T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

although there is also a place named Toluca in

Mexico .

S ee 241 . Tam ales . page

Top a Creek (gopher creek) .

e e 85 an d 1 63 . Tar a (bull) . S pa ges

Taras (bulls) .

t . Tor uga (turtle , tortoise) of Trabuco (blunderbuss , a sort wide

S ee 85 . C mouthed gun) . page Trabuco anyon is in Orange County .

Tramp a d e l Oso (bear trap) . T am as r p (traps , snares) , perhaps named in reference to traps which were in common use among the Indians to catch game , as well as their human enemies . In Contra Costa County .

’ Tr an q ui llan Mo un tai n i s in S anta Barbara ’ Tr n ui llon County . a q is a mixture Of two kinds

Of grain , such as whea t and rye , called in English “ ” “ li n m as t . , or maslin The origin of the name n t in this case has o been veriﬁed . T es o A r Oj s d e gua ( three springs of water) .

“ T e S 1 63 . r s Pi n os . ee page T es Vi as B r (three roads) is in utte County . It refers to three railroad tracks which encircle of a triangular piece ground . T i 1 28 S r go (wheat) is miles from tockton .

T i n i t Coun t . S ee 6 r y y page 2 2.

T i n idad B a . S ee 262 r y and town page . T i un V r fo (triumph) is in entura County . This 4 49 P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

an d h i s is a modern real estate name , has no tor i cal signiﬁcance that can be discovered . ' Tr a i c L s A p o ( tropical) , near o ngeles .

T u k S ee 3 1 0 . r c ee . page Tu la f S ee 288 . re (place o rushes) . page l r i i Tu a c tas . (little rushes) , l ttle Tulare ranch Tala a Ran h o N S H c g c , near apa tate ospital , is t l derived from the Indian word u uka (red) . Tun i tas i s a place near S an Francisco on the

Ocean Shore Roa d . The tunita is a beach plant “ ” Tun a sometimes called the beach apple . is the Spanish name for the common cactus known as “prickly

S ee 3 1 7 . Tuolum n e . page stin Tu ( a surname) , a place in Orange

C S An a. ounty, near anta Fernando Tustin was one of C the early settlers , and came to alifornia 1 84 in 5 . k i h ee 67 U a . S page 2 . i Urr ut a Can yon i s in Fresno County . Urrutia i s a family name .

Usal M C . , in endocino ounty This is an Indian d osal usal of word , derive from y , or y , the name of on Usa a tribe Pomos , living the coast from l northward . 1 S ee 63 . L as Uvas (the grapes) . page 6 vi ll S ee 29 . Vaca e . page

alen ia eak S an O . V a V c P , near Luis bispo leucia is a surname . 450

P L A C E N A M E S O F C A L I F O R N I A

Ven ad a ( deer) is in Colusa County . en tan a V (window) , the name Of some volcanic cones and a creek in the S u r country in Man r so te ey County . It was called from an Opening in on e of the hills which resembled a window . 1 S ee 1 5 . Ven tura (fortune) . page n N Vera o (summer) is west Of apa . e e S an V rd ( green) , twelve miles from Luis

Obispo . e 6 Verd ugo (a surname in this case) S e page 8 . L as Ver eles ar g (ﬂower gardens , beautiful chards) .

i S ee 86 . V c en te Pai n t (Point V incent) . page i e as M V V j (Old women) ountain and alley, in S an D iego County . It is quite likely that this name was given because the Spaniards saw some Old Indian women in the neighborhood , but this is merely conjecture . i n an B V e to (wind) is in S ernardino County .

S ee 3 43 . Las Virgen es (the virgins) . page i st n a S a D C . V (view) , in iego ounty e ll i t B a V s a (beautiful view) . n B ue a Vi s ta (good view) . h l 44 S e e . C u a Vi sta ( charming view) . page Vista Gran d e (large view) i s in S an Matéo

County . t Mon e Vi sta (mountain view) . Improper con str uction . It should be Vi sta d el Mon te (view of the mountain) 4 52 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Im S ee 295 . Ri o Vi sta (river view) . page I t Vi sta d el Ri o proper construction . should be

(view of the river) . i ai n Ca e d V zc o p , named for the celebra te a V Spanish explorer S ebasti n izcaino , who touched a t various points on the California coast in the year 1 602.

Volcan (volcano) . Wah taq ue is an Indian word meaning pine ”

of . nut , the name a place near Fresno aw n a M C fa W o , in ariposa ounty, where the “ ” of mous big trees are situated , is unknown origin . It does not appear to be Indian . (Kroe

. e ber ) S e page 335 . ei t h e H H W c p c , near oopa valley, umboldt “ of County . The Weitspekan family consisted Y k the uro tribe alone , inhabiting the lower Kla R ma th iver and a djacent coast . The name is ei ts ekw a dapted from W p , the name Of a spring At f in the village . the site o the present post Ofﬁ ce of Weitchpec was one Of the most pop n lous Y an d on e of or urok villages , only two three a t which both the Deerskin dance and the ”— A Jumping dance were held . ( . L . Kroeber in Han d bo k o A m e i an I n d ian s o f r c . ) Yallo all Moun tain s B y . The two peaks , known N S as orth and outh , between Trinity and Te C hama ounties , are named from the Wintun Indian words yola (snow) and apparently boli 453 T H E I R M E A N I N G A N D R O M A N C E

Th e (spirit) , thus meaning spirit of the snow . belief that peaks were the abode of spirits was common among the Indians of CalifOr n i a. r (K oeber . ) L as Ye uas g (the mares) , referring to a pasture where mares were kept .

e b n S ee 207 . Y r a B ue a (good herb) . page

Yok oh l C . was , in Tulare ounty This the name of a Yokuts tribe formerly living on Kaweah R iver, Tulare County .

la S ee 274 . Ya . page Yo b as r a ( a surname) . This w the name Of ’ one of Captain P ages original Catalan volum Y i s s A teers . orba near L o ngeles . 2 o S ee 3 3 . Y sem i te ( grizzly bear) . page

S ee 262. Yreka. page

e e 272. Yu ba. S page Yucai e S an C p , in Bernardino ounty, is an I ndian place name . Z am or a for , probably named the province Of L ean the same name in the ancient kingdom Of , i s in Spain . There an Old proverb about this “ place which says : NO se gana Zamora en una ” n ot hora (Zamora was taken in an hour) , the same idea as expressed in Rome was n ot built ” in a day . an a S an n d Z j ( ditch , trench) is in Ber ar ino

County .

Zap atero Cre ek (shoemaker creek) . Z ap ata (shoe) Canyon . It is in Fresno County . 4 54