CHAPTER XIII.

California-Origin of the name-Griffins in the land-Hot ovens of the natives-Area of the State-Agricultural, mineral, grazing, and marsh lands-Area equal to one hundred and forty-five States the size of Rhode Island-Compared with states and countries of Europe-Equal to thirty-eight governments of Europe-Capable of supporting a population of eighty-three million-Great productiveness of the soil-Genial climate-Great natural resourcesCommercial importance-Mountains-Valleys-Rivers-Climate -Seasons-Harvests - Forests-Mineral range-Beauties and wonders of the Sierras.

CALIFORNIA: the origin of the name of this State has been a fruitful subject of disputation by writers both of the past and present centuries, all of whom fail to give any positive date or identity of person or circumstances to support the various theories regarding it; and as the most searching investigation on the part of the author of this volume has failed to clearly define the origin of the name, or to throw any new light upon the subject, some of the opinions generally entertained respecting this subject are here given.

The name is first found in a small volume of romance published in Spain, in 1510, entitled "The Sergas of Esplandian, the son of Amadis, of Gaul." The following extracts from this once popular volume will show how the name occurs:

"Know that on the right hand of the Indies there is an island called California, very near to the Terrestrial Paradise, which was peopled by black women, without any men among them, because they were accustomed to live after the manner of the Amazons. They were of strong and hardened bodies, of ardent courage, and of great force. The island was the strongest in the world, from its steep rocks and great cliffs. Their arms were all of gold, and so were the caparisons of the wild beasts they rode."

"In the island called California are many griffins, on account of the great savageness of the country and the immense quantity of wild game to be found there."

An opinion prevails among some well-informed authors that the name is derived from the Latin words calidus fornus, meaning hot oven; and that the idea was taken from the hot furnaces, or sweat-ovens, into which the natives put their sick, or from the hot valleys of the country: indeed, certain cañons and small valleys in California are almost hot enough in summer time to suggest such an idea; but as the State received its name before civilized man had beheld the land, Cortez had invaded Mexico, Balboa discovered the Pacific ocean, and Magellan first navigated its waters, it is supposed that the name California was the coinage of the brain of the novelist mentioned. The fabulous stories

circulated by the early Spanish navigators respecting the riches of the newly discovered country, and the great natural productiveness of the soil, and its minerals, may have suggested the name, from the Greek words Kala-chora-nea, meaning a rich or fresh productiveness, fertility; opposite to Aphoria-sterility or unproductiveness. In this view, the application of the name is most suggestive and appropriate.

Centuries before the discovery of the American continent, and while the early navigators of Europe made their tedious voyages to the Indian ocean and the Red sea, the stories of the discoveries of distant lands and strange people were the staple of the romantic and fabulous tales related about the "Terrestrial Paradise" and the "Land of Gold," its marvellous wonders and strange people. The fictions of the ancients and heathen mythology were freely employed

to lend charms and wonder to the distant and strange land; and, to fulfil the idea of the ancients as to the keeper of the precious metals, the Spanish novelist already quoted assured his readers that the imaginary animal, the griffin-half lion and half eagle—which was supposed to watch over mines of gold and hidden treasure, had its abode in California.

That the reader may realize the absurdities of these early times, and the notions of the people respecting this then unexplored land, a few additional extracts are here given from some of the early explorers of the South Pacific, who had worked up their imaginations respecting the fabled land of gold. One writer, describing the dangers of the seas, says:

"The crew and passengers consume their provisions, and then die miserably. Many vessels have been lost in this way; but the people have learned to save themselves from this fate by the following contrivance: they take bullocks' hides along with them, and whenever this storm rises they sew themselves up in the hides, taking care to have a knife in their hand; and, being secure against the sea-water, they throw themselves into the ocean. Here they are soon perceived by a large eagle called a griffin, which takes them for cattle, darts down and seizes them in his gripe, and carries them upon dry land, where he deposits his burthen upon a hill or in a dale, there to consume his prey. The man, however, now makes use of his knife to kill the bird, and creeps forth from the hide. Many people have been saved by this stratagem.

Another traveller, Sir John Maundeville, speaking of the strange lands he had visited, and doubtless California was one of the islands alluded to, (California was considered an island by its first discoverers,) says:

"In one of these isles are people of great stature, like giants, hideous to look upon, and they have but one eye, which is in the middle of the forehead; and they eat nothing but raw flesh and fish. And in another isle, toward the south, dwell people of foul

stature and cursed nature, who have no head, but their eyes are in their shoulders. In another isle are people that have the lip above the mouth so great that, when they sleep in the sun, they cover all the face with that lip. And in another isle there are dwarfs which have no mouth, but instead of their mouth they have a little round hole, and when they shall eat or drink they take it through a pipe or a pen or such a thing, and suck it in. And in another isle there are people that have ears so long that they hang down to their knees, [a tribe of Oregon Indians split the ear, allowing the outside which was cut from the top to hang down, thus making the ears to hang down to the shoulders.] In another isle there are people that have horses' feet. In another isle there are people that go upon their hands and feet like beasts, and are all skinned and feathered, and would leap as lightly into trees and from tree to tree as squirrels or apes. In another isle are hermaphrodites; and in another isle are people that go upon their knees, and at every step they go it seems that they will fall: they have eight toes on every foot. Many other diverse people of diverse natures there are in other lands about, of which it were too long to tell.

"Of Paradise I cannot speak properly, for I was not there. 'Tis far beyond Cathay, [China,] and I repent not going there, but I was not worthy. But as I have heard say of wise men beyond, I shall tell you with good will. Terrestrial Paradise, as wise men say, is the highest place of the earth; and it is so high that it nearly touches the circle of the moon there, as the moon makes her turn. . . . . And you shall understand that no man that is mortal may approach to that Paradise: for by land no man may go for wild beasts that are in the deserts, and for the high mountains and great huge rocks that no man may pass by for the dark places that are there; and by the rivers may no man go, for the water runs so roughly and sharply, because it comes down so outrageously from the high places above, that it runs in great waves, that no ship may row or sail against it, and the water roars so, and makes so huge a noise, and so great a tempest, that no man may hear another in a ship, though he cried with all the might he could. Many great lords have essayed with great will, many times, to pass by these rivers toward Paradise, with full great companies, but they might not speed in their voyage; and many died, from weariness in rowing against the strong waves, and many of them became blind, and many deaf, for the noise of the water, and some perished and were