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Bought with the income
of the
Ann S. Farnam Fund

MONUMENT TO JUNIPERO SERRA IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.
" His memory still rests like a benediction over the noble State
which he rescued from savagery."

SPANISH AND INDIAN
PLACE NAMES OF
CALIFORNIA
THEIR MEANING AND THEIR ROMANCE
BY
NELLIE VAN DE GRIFT SANCHEZ

A. M. ROBERTSON
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
MDCCCCXIV

COPYRIGHT, 1914
BV
A. M. ROBERTSON

San TrancLsco

TO MY SON

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author wishes to express grateful appreciation of
generous aid given in the preparation of this book by
Herbert E. Bolton, Ph. D., Professor of American History
in the University of California.
Acknowledgment is also due to Dr. A. L. Kroeber,
Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Harvey M. Hall,
Assistant Professor of Economic Botany, Dr. John C.
Merriam, Professor of Palaeontology, Dr. Andrew C.
Lawson, Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, all of the
University of California; Mr. John Muir, Father Zephy-
rin Engelhardt, 0. F. M., Mr. Charles B. Turrill, of San
Francisco, and many other persons in various parts of the
state for their courtesy in furnishing points of information.
For the sources used in the work, the author is in
debted, in great measure, to the Bancroft Library at the
University of California, and to the many writers from
whose works quotations have been freely used.

NONE CAN CARE FOR LITERATURE IN ITSELF WHO
DOES NOT TAKE A SPECIAL PLEASURE IN THE SOUND OF
NAMES; AND THERE IS NO PART OF THE WORLD WHERE
NOMENCLATURE IS SO RICH, POETICAL, HUMOROUS, AND
PICTURESQUE AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. . .
THE NAMES OF THE STATES AND TERRITORIES THEMSELVES
FORM A CHORUS OF SWEET AND MOST ROMANTIC VOCABLES ;
. THERE ARE FEW POEMS WITH A NOBLER MUSIC
FOR THE EAR; A SONGFUL, TUNEFUL LAND; AND IF THE
NEW HOMER SHALL ARISE FROM THE WESTERN CONTINENT,
HIS VERSE WILL BE ENRICHED, HIS PAGES SING SPON
TANEOUSLY, WITH THE NAMES OF STATES AND CITIES
THAT WOULD STRIKE THE FANCY IN A BUSINESS CIRCULAR."
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

CHAPTER I

Introduction

3

CHAPTER II

California

13

CHAPTER III

In and About San Diego
21
CHAPTER IV
Los Angeles and her Neighbors 51
CHAPTER V
In the Vicinity of Santa Barbara 89
CHAPTER VI
The San Luis Obispo Group 117
CHAPTER VII
In the Neighborhood of Monterey 133
CHAPTER VIII
The Santa Clara Valley . . 167
CHAPTER IX
Around San Francisco Bay 185
TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER X
North of San Francisco

Page

241

CHAPTER XI
The Central Valley

265

CHAPTER XII

In the Sierras

23S

Pronunciation of Spanish Names

• ¦ 335

CHAPTER XIII

Final List and Index-

347-444

Addenda .

• 445

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page
Mission of San Diego de Alcala, Founded in
1769 23
Mission of San Antonio de Pala, Founded in
1816 31
Archway at Capistrano 37
Mission of San Gabriel Arcangel, Founded in
1771 67
Mission of Santa Barbara 91
Mission of Santa Inez, Founded in 1804 in
Mission of San Luis Obispo, Founded in 1772 119
Mission of San Miguel, Founded in 1797 125
Monterey in 1850 . 135
Mission of San Carlos Borromeo, Founded in
1770 139
Interior of the Quadrangle at San Carlos
Mission 143
La Punta de los Cipreses 149
Mission of San Juan Bautista, Founded in 1797 155
Mission of Santa Clara, Founded in 1777 169
The Palo Colorado (Redwood Tree) 175
The City of Yerba Buena (San Francisco in
1846-47) 187
Mission of San Francisco de Asis, commonly
called Mission Dolores . 195

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Page
The Golden Gate 201
The Farallones 209
Tamalpais 215
The Mission of San Rafael, Founded in 181 7 221
Napa Valley 243
Mount Shasta 253
El Rio de los Santos Reyes (the River of the
Holy Kings) 279
In the Sierra Nevadas 284
In the High Sierras 295
El Rio de las Plumas (Feather River) 301
El Rio de los Americanos (American River) 307
Shore of Lake Tahoe 313
Mariposa Sequoias 319
Vernal Falls in the Yosemite Valley 325
Map of the Missions 343
Kaweah Mountains 383
The Mission of PuRisiMA Concepcion, Founded
in 1880 409
The Tallac Trail to Tahoe 437

^ffrROpUCTION?^cvy ^r\-x < X i

I.
INTRODUCTION.
This volume has been prepared in the hope
that it may serve, not only as a source of enter
tainment to our own people, but also as a useful
handbook for the schools, and as a sort of tour
ist's guide for those who visit the state in such
numbers, and who almost invariably exhibit a
lively interest in our Spanish and Indian place
names. We of California are doubly rich in the matter
of names, since, in addition to the Indian nomen
clature common to all the states, we possess the
splendid heritage left us by those bold adven
turers from Castile who first set foot upon our
shores. In these names the spirit of our romantic
past still lives and breathes, and their sound is
like an echo coming down the years to tell of that
other day when the savage built his bee-hive huts
on the river-banks, and the Spanish caballero
jingled his spurs along the Camino Real.

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

And in what manner, it may well be asked,
have we been caring for this priceless heritage, —
to keep it pure, to preserve its inspiring history,
to present it in proper and authentic form for the
instruction and entertainment of "the stranger
within our gates," as well as for the education of
our own youth? As the most convincing answer
to this question, some of the numerous errors in
works purporting to deal with this subject, many
of which have even crept into histories and books
for the use of schools, will be corrected in these
pages. In the belief that the Spanish and Indian names
possess the greatest interest for the public, both
"tenderfoot" and native, they will be dealt with
here almost exclusively, excepting a very few of
American origin, whose stories are so involved
with the others that they can scarcely be omitted.
In addition, there are a number that appear to
be of Anglo-Saxon parentage, but are in reality
to be counted among those that have suffered
the regrettable fate of translation into English
from the original Spanish. Of such are Kings
County and River, which took their names from
El Rio de los Santos Reyes (the River of the Holy
4

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Kings) , and the Feather River, originally El Rio
de las Plumas (the River of the Feathers).
While searching 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
with the reader in the belief that he will be glad
to know something of the romance lying behind
the nomenclature of our "songful, tuneful" land.
It is a matter of deep regret that the work
must of necessity be incomplete, the sources of
information being so scattered, and so often un
reliable, that it has been found impossible to trace
all the names to their origin.
Indian words are especially difficult; in fact,
as soon as we enter that field we step into the
misty land of legend, where all becomes doubt
and uncertainty. That such should be the case
is inevitable. Scientific study of the native Cali
fornian languages, of which there were so many as
to constitute a veritable Babel of tongues among
the multitude of small tribes inhabiting this region,
was begun in such recent times that but few abo
rigines were left to tell the story of their names,
and those few retained but a dim memory of the

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

old days. In view of the unsatisfactory nature
of this information, stories of Indian origin will
be told here with the express qualification that
their authenticity is not vouched for, except in
cases based upon scientific evidence. Some of the
most romantic among them, when put to the
"acid test" of such investigation, melt into thin
air. In a general way, it may be said that Indian
names were usually derived from villages, rather
than tribes, and that, in most cases, their meaning
has been lost.
In the case of Spanish names, we have a rich
mine in the documents left behind by the methodi
cal Spaniards, who maintained the praiseworthy
custom of keeping minute accounts of their travels
and all circumstances connected therewith. From
these sources the true stories of the origin of some
of our place names have been collected, and are
retold in these pages, as far as possible, in the
language of their founders. Unfortunately, the
story can not always be run to earth, and in such
cases, the names, with their translation, and
sometimes an explanatory paragraph, will appear
in a supplementary list at the end of the volume.
The stories have been arranged in a series of

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

groups, according to their geographical location,
beginning with San Diego as the most logical
point, since it was there that the first mission was
established by the illustrious Junipero Serra, and
there that the history of California practically
began. The arrangement of these groups is not
arbitrary, but, in a general way, follows the course
of Spanish Empire, as it took its way, first up the
coast, then branching out into the interior valley,
and climbing the Sierras.
Some of the stories may appear as "twice-told
tales" to scholars and other persons to whom they
have long been familiar, but are included here for
the benefit of the stranger and the many "native
sons" who have had no opportunity to become
acquainted with them.
A few words in regard to the method of naming
places customary among the Spanish explorers
may help the reader to a better understanding of
results. The military and religious members of
the parties were naturally influenced by opposite
ideas, and so they went at it in two different ways.
The padres, as a matter of course, almost invari
ably chose names of a religious character, very
often the name of the saint upon whose "day"

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

the party happened to arrive at a given spot.
This tendency resulted in the multitude of Sans
and Santas with which the map of our state is so
generously sprinkled, and which are the cause of
a certain monotony. Fortunately for variety's
sake, the soldiers possessed more imagination, if
less religion, than the padres, and were generally
influenced by some striking circumstance, per
haps trivial or humorous, but always character
istic, and often picturesque. In many cases the
choice of the soldiers has out-lived that of the
fathers. Broadly speaking, it may be said that names
were first applied to rivers, creeks or mountains,
as being those natural features of the country
most important to the welfare, or even the very
existence, of the exploring parties. For instance,
the Merced (Mercy), River was so-called because
it was the first drinking 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 banks
of these streams, frequently receiving the
same names, and these were often finally adopted
to designate the counties established later in the

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

regions through which their waters flow. In this
way Plumas County derived its name from the
Feather River, originally El Rio de las Plumas,
and Kings County from El Rio de los Reyes (the
River 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 their
own interest, and partly for the light they throw
upon a past age.
Among our Spanish names there is a certain
class given to places in modern times by Ameri
cans in a praiseworthy attempt to preserve the
romantic flavor of the old days. Unfortunately,
an insufficient knowledge of the syntax and
etymology of the Spanish language has resulted
in some improper combinations. Such names, for
instance, as Monte Vista (Mountain or Forest
View), Loma Vista (Hill View), Rio Vista (River
View), etc., grate upon the ears of a Spaniard,
who would never combine two nouns in this way.
The correct forms for these names would be
Vista del Monte (View of the Mountain), Vista de
la Loma (View of the Hill), Vista del Rio (View

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

of the River), etc. Between this class of modern
Spanish names, more or less faulty in construc
tion, given by "Spaniards from Kansas," as has
been humorously said, and the real old names of
the Spanish epoch about which a genuine halo of
romance still clings, there is an immense gulf.
In the numerous quotations used in this book,
the language of the original has generally been
retained, with no attempt to change the form of
expression. In spite of the most conscientious
efforts to avoid them, unreliability of sources may
cause some errors to find their way into these
pages; for these the author hopes not to be held
responsible.

£ CALIFORNIA^

II
CALIFORNIA
First comes the name of California herself,
the sin par (peerless one), as Don Quixote says
of his Dulcinea. This name, strange to say,
was a matter of confusion and conjecture for
many years, until, in 1862, Edward Everett Hale
accidentally hit upon the explanation since ac
cepted by historians.
Several theories, all more or less fanciful and
far-fetched, were based upon the supposed con
struction of the word from the Latin calida fornax
(hot oven), in reference either to the hot, dry
climate of Lower California, or to the "sweat-
houses" in use among the Indians. Such theories
not only presuppose a knowledge of Latin not
likely to exist among the hardy men who first
landed upon our western shores but also indicate
a labored method of naming places quite contrary
to their custom of seizing upon some direct and
obvious circumstance upon which to base their
13

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

choice. In all the length and breadth of California
few, if any, instances exist where the Spaniards
invented a name produced from the Latin or
Greek in this far-fetched way. They saw a big
bird, so they named the river where they saw it
El Rio del Pdjaro (the River of the Bird), or they
suffered from starvation in a certain canyon, so
they called it La Canada del Hambre (the Canyon
of Hunger), 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. In any case, since Mr. Hale has provided us
with a more reasonable explanation, all such
theories may be passed over as unworthy of con
sideration. While engaged in the study of Spanish
literature, he was fortunate enough to run across
a copy of an old novel, published in Toledo some
time between 1510 and 1521, in which the word
California occurred as the name of a fabulous
island, rich in minerals and precious stones, and
said to be the home of a tribe of Amazons. This
novel, entitled Las Sergas de Esplandidn (The
Adventures of Esplandian), was written by the
author, Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo, as a sequel
14

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

to the famous novel of chivalry, Amadis of Gaul,
of which he was the translator. The two works
were printed in the same volume. Montalvo's
romance, although of small literary value, had a
considerable vogue among Spanish readers of the
day, and that its pages were probably familiar
to the early explorers in America is proved by the
fact that Bernal Diaz, one of the companions of
Cortes, often mentions the Amadis, to which the
story of Esplandian was attached. The passage
containing the name that has since become famous
in all the high-ways and by-ways of the world
runs as follows: "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, for they were accustomed to live after the
manner of 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."
It was during the period when this novel was
at the height of its popularity that Cortes wrote
15

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

to the King of Spain concerning information he
had of "an island of Amazons, or women only,
abounding in pearls and gold, lying ten days
journey from Colima." After having sent one
expedition to explore the unknown waters in that
direction, in 1535 or thereabout, an expedition
that ended in disaster, he went himself and
planted a colony at a point, probably La Paz,
on the coast of Lower California. In his diary of
this expedition, Bernal Diaz speaks of California
as a "bay," and it is probable that the name was
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 coast in 1539, making
it reasonable to suppose that it was adopted in the
period between 1535 and 1539, whether by Cortes
or some other person can not be ascertained.
Bancroft expresses the opinion that the followers
of Cortes may have used the name in derision,
to express their disappointment in finding a
desert, barren land in lieu of the rich country of
their expectations, but it seems far more in keep
ing with the sanguine nature of the Spaniards that
their imaginations should lead them to draw a
16

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

parallel between the rich island of the novel, with
its treasures of gold and silver, and the new land,
of whose wealth in pearls and precious metals
some positive proof, as well as many exaggerated
tales, had reached them.
An argument that seems to clinch the matter
of the origin of the name is the extreme improb
ability that two different persons, on opposite
sides of the world, should have invented exactly
the same word, at about the same period, espec
ially such an unusual one as California.
As for the etymology of the word itself, it is as
yet an unsolved problem. The suggestion that
it is compounded of the Greek root kali (beautiful),
and the Latin fornix (vaulted arch), thus making
its definition "beautiful sky," may be the true
explanation, but even if that be so, Cortes or his
followers took it at second hand from Montalvo
and were not its original inventors.
Professor George Davidson, in a monograph on
the Origin and the Meaning of the Name California,
states that incidental mention had been made as
early as 1849 of the name as occurring in
Montalvo's novel by George Ticknor, in his
History of Spanish Literature, but Mr. Ticknor
17

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

refers to it simply as literature, without any
thought of connecting it with the name of the
state. This connection was undoubtedly first
thought of by Mr. Hale and was discussed in his
paper read before the Historical Society of
Massachusetts in 1862; therefore the honor of the
discovery of the origin of the state's name must
in justice be awarded to him. Professor Davidson,
in an elaborate discussion of the possible etymology
of the word, expresses the opinion that it may be a
combination of two Greek words, kallos (beauty),
and ornis (bird), in reference to the following
passage in the book: "In this island are many
griffins, which can be found in no other part of
the world." Its etymology, however, is a matter
for further investigation. The one fact that seems
certain is its origin in the name of the fabulous
island of the novel.
It may well suffice for the fortunate heritors of
the splendid principality now known as California
that this charming name became affixed to it
permanently, rather than the less "tuneful" one
of New Albion, which Sir Francis Drake applied
to it, and under which cognomen it appears on
some English maps of the date.

Ill
IN AND ABOUT SAN DIEGO
Like many other places in California, San
Diego (St. James), has had more than one
christening. The first was at the hands of
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who discovered the
harbor in 1542, and named it San Miguel (St.
Michael). Cabrillo was a Portuguese in the
Spanish service, who was sent to explore the
coast in 1542 by Viceroy Mendoza. "He sailed
from Natividad with two vessels, made a careful
survey, applied names that for the most part
have not been retained, and described the coast
somewhat accurately as far as Monterey. He
discovered 'a land-locked and very good harbor,'
probably San Diego, which he named San
Miguel. 'The next day he sent a boat farther
into the port, which was large. A very great
gale blew from the west-southwest, and south-
southwest, but the port being good, they felt
nothing.' On the return from the north the
21

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

party stopped at La Posesion, where Cabrillo
died on January third, from the effects of a fall
and exposure. No traces of his last resting-place,
almost certainly on San Miguel near Cuyler's
harbor, have been found; and the drifting sands
have perhaps made such a discovery doubtful.
To this bold mariner, the first to discover her
coasts, if to any one, California may with pro
priety erect a monument." — (Bancroft's History
of California.)
Then, in 1602, came Sebastian Vizcaino, who
changed the name from San Miguel to San Diego.
He was "sent to make the discovery and demar
cation of the ports and bays of the Southern Sea
(Pacific Ocean)," and to occupy for Spain the
California isles, as they were then thought to be.
From the diary of Vizcaino's voyage we get the
following account of his arrival at San Diego:
"The next day, Sunday, the tenth of the said
month (November) , we arrived at a port, the best
that there can be in all the Southern Sea, for,
besides being guarded from all winds, and having
a good bottom, it is in latitude 33^. It has very
good water and wood, many fish of all sorts, of
which we caught a great many with the net and

22

MISSION OF SAN DIEGO DE ALCALA, FOUNDED IN 1769.
"The first one of the chain of missions founded by the illustrious Junipero Serra.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

hooks. There is good hunting of rabbits, hares,
deer, and many large quail, ducks and other
birds. On the twelfth of the said month, which
was the day of the glorious San Diego, the admiral,
the priests, the officers, and almost all the people,
went on shore. A hut was built, thus enabling
the feast of the Senor San Diego to be celebrated."
A party sent out to get wood "saw upon a hill
a band of ioo Indians, with bows and arrows,
and many feathers upon their heads, and with a
great shouting they called out to us." By a
bestowal of presents, friendly relations were
established. The account continues: "They had
pots in which they cooked their food, and the
Indian women were dressed in the skins of animals.
The name of San Diego was given to this port."
Thus, it was the bay that first received the name,
years afterwards given to the mission, then to the
town. During the stay of Vizcaino's party the
Indians came often to their camp with marten
skins and other articles. On November 20,
having taken on food and water, the party set
sail, the Indians shouting a vociferous farewell
from the beach (quedaban en la playa, dando
boces.) 25

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

A long period of neglect of more than 160 years
then ensued. The Indians continued to carry
on their wretched hand-to-mouth existence, trap
ping wild beasts for their food and scanty cloth
ing, fishing in the teeming streams, and keeping
up their constant inter-tribal quarrels unmolested
by the white man. Several generations grew up
and passed away without a reminder of the strange
people who had once been seen upon their shores,
except perhaps an 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
encroachments of the Russians on the north,
waked up from their long sleep, and determined
to establish a chain of missions along the Cali
fornia coast. Father Junipero Serra was
appointed president of these missions, and the
first one of the chain was founded by him at San
Diego in 1769. The name was originally applied
to the "Old Town," some distance from the
present city. The founding party encountered
great difficulties, partly through their fearful
sufferings from scurvy, and partly from the tur
bulent and thievish nature of the Indians in that
26

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

vicinity, with whom they had several lively fights,
and who stole everything they could lay their
hands on, even to the sheets from the beds of the
sick. During one of these attacks, the mission
buildings were burned and one of the padres,
Fray Luis Jaime, suffered a cruel death, but all
difficulties were finally overcome by the strong
hand of Father Serra, and the mission was placed
on a firm basis. Its partially ruined buildings
still remain at a place about six miles from the
present city.
To return to the matter of the name, San Diego
is doubly rich in possessing two titular saints,
the bay having been undoubtedly named by
Viscaino in honor of St. James, the patron saint
of Spain, whereas the town takes its name from
the mission, which perpetuates the memory of a
canonized Spanish monk, San Diego de Alcala.
The story of St. James, the patron of Spain, runs
as follows: "As one of Christ's disciples, a noble
man's son who chose to abandon his wealth and
follow Jesus, he was persecuted by the Jews, and
finally beheaded. When dragged before Herod
Agrippa, his gentleness touched the soul of one
of his tormentors, who begged to die with him.
27

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

James gave him a kiss, saying 'Pax Vobiscum'
(peace be with you), and from this arose the kiss
of peace which has been used in the church since
that time. The legend has it that his body was
conducted by angels to Spain, where a magnificent
church was built for its reception, and that his
spirit returned to earth and took an active part
in the military affairs of the country. He was said
to have appeared at the head of the Spanish armies
on thirty-eight different occasions, most notably
in 939, when King Ramirez determined not to
submit longer to the tribute of one hundred virgins
annually paid to the Moors, and defied them to
a battle. After the Spaniards had suffered one
repulse, the spirit of St. James appeared at their
head on a milk-white charger, and led them to a
victory in which sixty thousand Moors were left
dead on the field. From that day 'Santiago!' has
been the Spanish war-cry." — (From Clara Erskine
Clement's Stories of the Saints.)
It happens, rather curiously, that in the Spanish
language St. James appears under several different
forms, Santiago, San Diego and San Tiago. The
immediate patron of our southernmost city,
San Diego de Alcald, was a humble Capuchin
28

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

brother in a monastery of Alcala. It is said that
the infante Don Carlos was healed of a severe
wound through the intercession of this saint, and
that on this account Philip II promoted his
canonization. May the spirit of the "glorious San Diego"
shed some of his tender humanity upon the city
of which he is the protector!

CORONADO BEACH
Coronado Beach, the long spit of land forming
the outer shore of the harbor of San Diego,
"derived its name from the Coronado Islands
near it. These islands were originally named by
the Spaniards in honor of Coronado. When the
improvement of the sand spit opposite San Diego
City and facing the Coronado Islands was made
in 1885, the name of Coronado Beach was be
stowed upon it." — (Charles B. Turrill, San Fran
cisco.) In all the history of Spain in western America
there is nothing more romantic than the story of
the famous explorer, Francisco Vasquez de Coro-
29

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

nado, who, with the delightful childlike faith of
his race, marched through Texas and Kansas in
search of the fabulous city of Gran Quivira,
"where every one had his dishes made of wrought
plate, and the jugs and bowls were of gold," and
then marched back again! Imagine our hard-
headed Puritan ancestors setting forth on such a
quest ! SAN LUIS REY
San Luis Rey de Francia (St. Louis King of
France), is the name of the mission situated in a
charming little valley about forty miles north of
San Diego and three miles from the sea. It was
founded June 13, 1798, by Padres Lasuen, San
tiago and Peyri, and its ruins may still be seen
upon the spot. A partial restoration has been
made of these buildings and they are now used by
the Franciscans. The exact circumstances of its
naming have not come to light, but we know of
its patron saint that his holiness was such that
even Voltaire said of him: "It is scarcely given
to man to push virtue further." Born at Poissy
in 1 2 15, the son of Louis VIII and Blanche of
30

MISSION OF SAN ANTONIO DE PALA, FOUNDED IN 1816.
"Many a romantic tale has been told about the 'bells of Pala'!"

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Castile, he became noted for his saintliness, and
twice led an army of Crusaders in the "holy war."

PALA
Pala, often misspelled palo, through an acci
dental resemblance to the Spanish word palo
(stick or tree), is situated some fifteen miles or
more to the northeast of San Luis Rey, and is
the site of the sub-mission of San Antonio de Pala,
founded in 1816 by Padre Peyri as a branch of
San Luis Rey. This mission was unique 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 community, and it happens,
rather curiously, that the word itself has a sig
nificance both in Spanish and Indian, meaning
in Spanish "spade" and in Indian "water." The
Reverend George Doyle, pastor at the mission
of San Antonio de Pala, writes the following in
regard to this name: "The word 'Pala' is an
Indian word, meaning, in the Cupanian Mission
Indian language, 'water,' probably due to the
33

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

fact that the San Luis Rey River passes through
it. The proper title of the mission chapel here is
San Antonio de Padua, but as there is another
San Antonio de Padua mission chapel in the
north, to distinguish between the two some one
in the misty past changed the proper title of the
Saint, and so we have 'de Pala' instead of 'de
Padua.' Some writers say Pala is Spanish, but
this is not true, for the little valley in no way
resembles a spade, and the Palanian Indians were
here long before the Franciscan padres brought
civilization, Christianity and the Spanish
language." Pala, in this case, is almost certainly Indian,
and originates in a legend of the Luisehos. Accord
ing to this legend, one of the natives of the Teme-
cula tribe went forth on his travels, stopping at
many places and giving names to them. One of
these places was a canyon, "where he drank water
and called it pala, water." — (The Religion of the
Luiseno Indians, by Constance Goddard Dubois,
in the Univ. of Cal. Publ. of Arch, and Tech.)

34

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
San Juan Capistrano (St. John Capistrano),
was at one time sadly mutilated by having its
first part clipped off, appearing on the map as
Capistrano, but upon representations made by
Zoeth S. Eldredge it was restored to its full form
by the Post Office Department. A mission was
founded at this place, which is near the coast about
halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles, by
Padres Serra and Amurrio, November i, 1776,
the year of our own glorious memory. While on
the other side of the continent bloody war raged,
under the sunny skies of California the gentle
padres were raising altars to the "Man of Peace."
The buildings at this place were badly wrecked
by an earthquake on December 8, 181 2, yet the
ruins still remain to attest to the fact that this
was at one time regarded as the finest of all the
mission structures.
Its patron saint, St. John Capistrano, was a
Franciscan friar who lived at the time of the cru
sades, and took part in them. A colossal statue
of him adorns the exterior of the Cathedral at
35

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Vienna. It represents him as having a Turk under
his feet, a standard in one hand, and a cross in
the other.

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
There remain some names in the San Diego
group of less importance, yet possessing many
points of interest, which will be included in the
following list, with an explanation of their mean
ings, and their history wherever it has been possible
to ascertain it.
Agua Tibia (warm water, warm springs), is in
San Diego County. For some reason difficult
to divine, this perfectly simple name has been the
cause of great confusion in the minds of a number
of writers. In one case the almost incredibly
absurd translation "shinbone water" has been
given. It may be thought that this was intended
as a bit of humor, but it is greatly to be feared
that the writer mixed up the Spanish word tibia,
which simply means "tepid, warm," with the
Latin name of one of the bones of the lower leg,
the tibia. In another case the equally absurd
36

ARCHWAY AT CAPISTRANO.
'At one time regarded as the finest of all the mission structures."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

translation "flute water" has been given. Where
such a meaning could have been obtained is be
yond comprehension to any person possessing
even a slight knowledge of the Spanish language.
Agua Tibia is no more nor less than "warm
water," applied in this case to warm springs
existing at that place. This extreme case is en
larged upon here as an example of the gross
errors that have been freely handed out to an
unsuspecting public in the matter of our place
names. There are many more of the same sort,
and the authors of this inexcusable stuff have
been accepted and even quoted as authorities
on the subject. Those of us who love our Cali
fornia, in other words all of us, can not fail to be
pained by such a degradation of her romantic
history. Ballena (whale), is in San Diego County at the
west end of Ballena Valley, and as it is a good
many miles inland its name seems incongruous,
until we learn from one of its residents that it
was so-called in reference to a mountain in the
valley whose outline along the top is exactly
the shape of a humpbacked whale.
"This place has probably no connection with
39

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Ballenas, a name applied to a bay in Lower Cali
fornia on account of its being a favorite resort of
the Humpback whale." — (Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
Berenda, in Merced County, is a misspelling of
Berrendo or Berrenda.
Berrendo (antelope) . A writer whose knowledge
of Spanish seems to be wholly a matter of the
dictionary, confused by the fact that the defini
tion given for berrendo is "having two colors,"
has offered the fantastic translation of El Rio de
los Berrendos as "The River of two Colors."
Although the idea of such a river, like a piece of
changeable silk, may be picturesque, the simple
truth is that the word berrendo, although not
so-defined in the dictionaries, is used in Spanish
America to signify a deer of the antelope variety
and frequently occurs in that sense in the diaries.
Miguel Costanso, an engineer accompanying the
Portola expedition of 1769, says: "Hay en la
tierra venados, verrendos (also spelled berrendos),
muchos liebres, conejos, gatos monteses y ratas
(there are in the land deer, antelope, many hares,
rabbits, wild-cats and rats)." On August 4 this
party reached a place forty leagues from San Diego
which they called Berrendo because they caught
40

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

alive a deer which had been shot the day before
by the soldiers and had a broken leg. Antelope
Creek, in Tehama County, was originally named
El Rio de los Berrendos (The River of the Ante
lopes), undoubtedly because it was a drinking
place frequented by those graceful creatures,
and Antelope Valley, in the central part of the
state, must have received its name in the same
way. El Cajon (the box), about twelve miles north
east of San Diego, perhaps received its name from
a custom the Spaniards had of calling a deep can
yon with high, box-like walls, un cajon (a box).
Caliente Creek (hot creek), is in the northern
part of San Diego County.
Campo (a level field), also sometimes used in
the sense of a camp, is the name of a place about
forty miles east-southeast of San Diego, just
above the Mexican border. Campo was an Indian
settlement, and may have been so-called by the
Spaniards simply in reference to the camp of
Indians. Canada del Bautismo (glen of the baptism),
so-called from the circumstance that two dying
native children were there baptized by the padres,
41

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

as told in the diary of Miguel Costanso, of the
Portola expedition of 1769. Death, when it
came to the children of the natives, was often
regarded as cause for rejoicing by the mission
aries, not, of course, through any lack of humanity
on their part, but because the Indian parents
more readily consented to baptism at such a
time, and the padres regarded these as so many
souls "snatched from the burning."
Carriso (reed grass), is the name of a village
and creek in San Diego County.
Chula Vista (pretty view), is the name of a
town near the coast, a few miles southeast of San
Diego. Chula is a word of Mexican origin, mean
ing pretty, graceful, attractive. "This name was
probably first used by the promoters during the
boom of 1887."— (Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
La Costa (the coast) , a place on the shore north
of San Diego.
Coyote Valley, situated just below the southern
border of the San Jacinto Forest Reservation.
Coyote, the name of the wolf of Western America,
is an Aztec word, originally coyotl.
Cuyamaca is probably derived from the land
grant of that name, which in turn took its name
42

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

from the Cuyamaca Mountain, which, according
to the scientists, was so-called in reference to the
clouds and rain gathering around its summit.
Mr. T. T. Waterman, instructor in Anthropology
at the University of California, says the word is
derived from two Indian words, kwe (rain), and
amak (yonder), and consequently means "rain
yonder." The popular translation of it as
"woman's breast" is probably not based on fact.
There was an Indian village of that name some
miles northwest of San Diego.
Descanso (rest), is the name of a place north
east of San Diego, so-called by a government
surveying party for the reason that they stopped
here each day for rest.
Dulzura (sweetness), is the name of a place but
a few miles north of the Mexican border line.
What there was of "sweetness" in the history of
this desolate mining camp can not be discovered.
Encinitas (little oaks), is a place on the coast
about twenty miles northwest of San Diego.
Escondido (hidden), a place lying about fifteen
miles from the coast, to the northeast of San
Diego. It is said to have been so-named on
account of its location in the valley. A place at
43

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

another point was called Escondido by the Span
iards because of the difficulty they experienced
in finding the water for which they were anxiously
searching, and it may be that in this case the
origin of the name was the same.
La Jolla ,a word of doubtful origin, said by some
persons to mean a "pool," by others to be from
hoya, a hollow surrounded by hills, and by
still others to be a possible corruption of joya, a
"jewel." The suggestion has been made that La
Jolla was named from caves situated there which
contain pools, but until some further information
turns up this name must remain among the un
solved problems. There is always the possibility
also that La Jolla means none of these things but
is a corruption of some Indian word with a totally
different meaning. More than one place in the
state masquerades under an apparently Spanish
name which is in reality an Indian word cor
rupted into some Spanish word to which it bore
an accidental resemblance in sound. Cortina
(curtain) is an example of this sort of corruption,
it being derived from the Indian Ko-tina.
Laguna del Corral (lagoon of the yard). Corral
is a word much in use to signify a space of ground
44

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

enclosed by a fence, often for the detention of
animals. In one of the diaries an Indian corral
is thus spoken of: "Near the place in which we
camped there was a populous Indian village; the
inhabitants lived without other protection than
a light shelter of branches in the form of an en
closure; for this reason the soldiers gave to the
whole place the name of the Rancheria del Corral
(the village of the yard)." There are other corrals
and corralitos (little yards) in the state.
Linda Vista (charming or pretty view), is the
name of a place ten or twelve miles due north of
San Diego.
Point Loma (hill point). Loma means "hill,"
hence Point Loma, the very end of the little
peninsula enclosing San Diego bay, is a high
promontory. De Luz (a surname), that of a pioneer family.
The literal meaning of the word luz is "light."
Del Mar (of or on the sea), the name of a place
on the shore about eighteen miles north of San
Diego. La Mesa (literally "the table"), used very com
monly to mean "a high, flat table-land." La
Mesa, incorrectly printed on some of the maps as
45

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

one word, Lamesa, lies a few miles to the north
east of San Diego.
Mesa Grande (literally "big table"), big table
land, is some distance to the northeast of San
Diego. El Nido (the nest), is southeast of San Diego,
near the border.
Potrero (pasture ground), is just above the bor
der line. There are many Potreros scattered over
the state.
La Presa (the dam or dike). La Presa is a few
miles east of San Diego, on the Sweetwater River,
no doubt called Agua Dulce by the Spaniards.
Los Rosales (the rose-bushes), a spot located in
the narratives of the Spaniards at about seventeen
leagues from San Diego, and two leagues from
Santa Margarita. Nothing in the new land
brought to the explorers sweeter memories 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 padres. This particular place we find
mentioned in the diary of Miguel Costanso, as
follows: "We gave it the name of Canada de los
Rosales (glen of the rose-bushes), on account of
46

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

the great number of rose-bushes we saw." —
(Translation edited by Frederick J. Teggart,
Curator of the Academy of Pacific Coast History.)
Temecula, the name of a once important Indian
village in the Temecula Valley, about thirty-five
miles south of Riverside. Its inhabitants suffered
the usual fate of the native when the white man
discovers the value of the land, and were com
pelled to leave their valley in 1875, and remove to
Pichanga Canyon, in a desert region.
Tia J nana (literally Aunt Jane). Travelers on
the way to Mexico who stop for customs examin
ation at this border town are no doubt surprised
by its peculiar name. This is an example of the
corruption, through its resemblance in sound, of
an Indian word, Tiwana, into Tia Juana, Spanish
for "Aunt Jane." Tiwana is said to mean "by
the sea," which may or may not be the correct
translation.

47

LOS ANGELES AND ,.
.HER NEIGHBOR'S r )

q t

~^

IV
los Angeles and her neighbors
Los Angeles (the angels). In the diary of
Miguel Costanso, date of August 2, 1769, we
read: "To the north-northeast onecould see an
other water-course or river bed, which formed
a wide ravine, but it was dry. This water-course
joined that of the river, and gave clear indica
tions of heavy floods during the rainy season, as
it had many branches of trees and debris on its
sides. We halted at this place, which was named
La Porciuncula. Here we felt three successive
earthquakes during the afternoon and night." —
(Translation edited by Frederick J. Teggart.)
This was the stream upon which the city of
Los Angeles was subsequently built and whose
name became a part of her title. Porciuncula was
the name of a town and parish near Assisi which
became the abode of St. Francis de Assisi after
the Benedictine monks had presented him, about
121 1, with the little chapel which he called, in a
51

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

jocular way, La Porciuncula (the small portion).
By order of Pius V, in 1556 the erection of a new
edifice over the Porciuncula chapel was begun.
Under the bay of the choir is still preserved the
cell in which St. Francis died, while a little behind
the sacristy is the spot where the saint, during a
temptation, is said to have rolled in a brier-bush,
which was then changed into thornless roses. —
(Catholic Encyclopedia.) In this story there is
a curious interweaving of the history of the names
of our two rival cities, St. Francis in the north
and Los Angeles de Porciuncula in the south.
Continuing their journey on the following day,
the Portola party reached the Indian rancheria
(village) of Yangna, the site chosen for the pueblo
established at a later date. Father Crespi writes
of it thus: "We followed the road to the west,
and the good pasture land followed us; at about
half a league of travel we encountered the village
of this part; on seeing us they came out on the
road, and when we drew near they began to howl,
as though they were wolves; we saluted them,
they wished to give us some seeds, and as we had
nothing at hand in which to carry them, we did
not accept them; seeing this, they threw some
52

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

handfuls on the ground and the rest in the
air." August 2 being the feast day of Nuestra Senora
de los Angeles, as the Virgin Mary is often called
by the Spaniards, this name was given to the
place. The actual founding of the pueblo did not occur
until September 4, 1781, when Governor Neve
issued the order for its establishment upon the
site of the Indian village Yangna. It is said that
the Porciuncula River, henceforth to be known as
the Los Angeles, at that time ran to the east of
its present course. The name of the little stream
was added to that of the pueblo, so that the true,
complete title of the splendid city which has grown
up on the spot where the Indian once raised his
wolf-like howl is Nuestra Senora la Reina de los
Angeles de Porciuncula (Our Lady the Queen
of the Angels of Porciuncula).
The social beginnings of Los Angeles were
humble indeed, the first settlers being persons of
mixed race, and the first houses mere hovels,
made of adobe, with flat roofs covered with asphalt
from the springs west of the town.

53

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

EL RANCHO LA BREA
La Brea (the asphalt), has been retained as the
appropriate designation of the ranch containing
the famous asphaltum beds near Los Angeles.
Ever since the days of the Tertiary Age, the quak
ing, sticky surface of these beds has acted as a
"death trap" for unwary animals, and the remains
of the unfortunate creatures have been securely
preserved down to our times, furnishing indis
putable evidence of the strange life that once
existed on our shores. Fossils of a large number
of pre-historic and later animals have been taken
out, aggregating nearly a million specimens of
bird and animal life, many of them hitherto
unknown to science. Among them are the saber-
tooth tiger, gigantic wolves, bears, horses, bison,
deer, an extinct species of coyote, camels, ele
phants, and giant sloths. Remains are also found
of mice, rabbits, squirrels, several species of
insects, and a large number of birds, such as
ducks, geese, pelicans, eagles and condors.
Among the most remarkable of these fossils
are the saber-tooth tiger and the great wolf.
54

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Specimens of the wolf have been found which
are among the largest known in either living or
extinct species. This wolf differs from existing
species in having a larger and heavier skull and
jaws, and in its massive teeth, a conformation
that must have given it great crushing power.
The structure of the skeleton shows it to have
been probably less swift, but more powerful than
the modern wolf, and the great number of bones
found indicate that it was exceedingly common
in that age. One bed of bones was uncovered in
which the number of saber-tooth and wolf skulls
together averaged twenty per cubic yard. Alto
gether, the disappearance of these great, ferocious
beasts from the California forests need cause no
keen regret.
Next to the large wolf the most common is the
saber-tooth tiger, of which one complete skeleton
and a large number of bones have been found.
The skeleton shows the animal to have been of
about the size of a large African lion, and its most
remarkable characteristic was the extraordinary
length of the upper canine teeth, which were like
long, thin sabers, with finely serrated edges.
These teeth were awkwardly placed for ordinary
55

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

use, and it is thought by scientists that they were
used for a downward stab through the thick necks
of bulky creatures, such as the giant sloth. There
is also an unusual development of the claws,
possibly to make up for the loss of grasping power
in the jaws, resulting from the interference of the
long saber teeth. It appears from the state of
many of the fossils that these teeth were peculiarly
liable to fracture, and accidents of this sort may
have led to the extinction of the species, the
animal thus perishing through the over-develop
ment of one of its characteristics.
Fossils of the extinct horse and bison are com
mon, and a smaller number are found of camels,
deer, goats, and the mammoth. The bison were
heavy-horned and somewhat larger than the
existing species of buffalo. The camel, of which
an almost complete specimen has very recently
been taken out by Professor R. C. Stoner, of the
University of California, was much larger than the
present day species. Since the above was put in
type, a human skeleton has been taken from the
vicinity of the La Brea bed. Whether this skele
ton belongs with the La Brea deposits, and what
its comparative age in relation to other human
56

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

remains may be, are matters now being investi
gated by scientists.
The preponderance of meat-eating animals in
the La Brea beds has attracted the attention of
scientists, who believe that these creatures were
lured to the spot in large numbers by the struggles
and cries of their unfortunate prey caught in the
sticky mass of the tar. In this way, a single sloth,
or other creature, may have been the means of
bringing retribution upon a whole pack of wolves. —
(Notes taken from an article in the Sunset Maga
zine of October, 1908, entitled The Death Trap
of the Ages, by John C. Merriam, Professor of
Paleontology in the University of California.)
The manner in which this great aggregation of
animals came to a tragic end in that long-past
age is exemplified in the way that birds and other
small animals are still occasionally caught in the
treacherous asphalt and there perish miserably,
adding their bones to those of their unhappy
predecessors. The La Brea beds furnish one of the richest
fields for paleontological research to be found
anywhere in the world; and it may be said, that
with her great Sequoias in the north, and her
57

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

reservoir of pre-historic remains in the south,
California stands as a link between a past age and
the present.
The tarry deposit itself has its own place in
history, for it appears that the first settlers of
Los 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 and crafts, recognized
the possibilities of this peculiar substance, and
used it in calking their canoes.

LOS OJITOS
The story of Los Ojitos (literally "little eyes"),
but here used in the sense of "little springs,"
situated about two leagues from Santa Ana,
indicates that the pleasures of social intercourse
were not altogether lacking among the California
Indians. In the diary of Miguel Costanso, of
the date of their arrival at this place, he writes:
"We found no water for the animals, but there
was sufficient for the people in some little springs
58

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

or small pools, in a narrow canyon close to
a native village. The Indians of this village
were holding a feast and dance, to which they had
invited their relatives of the Rio de los Temblores
(River of the Earthquakes, or Santa Ana)." —
(Translation edited by Frederick J. Teggart.)
During this time the travelers experienced a
series of earthquakes lasting several days.
Ojo de agua was commonly used by the Span
iards to mean a spring, but during the eighteenth
century it was frequently used in America in the
sense of a small stream of water rather than a
spring.
SANTA ANA
On the day, Friday, July 28, 1769, of the arrival
of the Portola expedition at the stream now called
the Santa Ana, which takes its rise in the San
Bernardino Mountains, and empties into the ocean
at a point southeast of Los Angeles, four severe
earthquakes occurred. Speaking of this circum
stance in his diary, Father Crespi says: "To this
spot was given El Dulce N ombre de Jesus de los
Temblores (The Sweet Name of Jesus of the
59

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Earthquakes), because of having experienced
here a frightful earthquake, which was repeated
four times during the day. The first, which was
the most violent, happened at one o'clock of the
afternoon, and the last about four o'clock. One
of the gentiles (unbaptized Indians), who hap
pened to be in the camp, and who, without doubt,
exercised among them the office of priest, no less
terrified at the event than we, began, with horrible
cries and great demonstrations, to entreat Heaven,
turning to all points of the compass. This river
is known to the soldiers as the Sania Ana." This
was one of the rare cases where the usual method
of naming was reversed, and the soldiers chose
the name of the saint. St. Anna was the mother
of the Virgin and her name signifies "gracious."
In the account of Captain Pedro Fages, of the
same expedition, the natives on this stream are
described as having light complexions and hair,
and a good appearance, differing in these par
ticulars from the other inhabitants of that region,
who were said to be dark, dirty, under-sized and
slovenly. This is not the only occasion when the
Spaniards reported finding Indians of light com
plexions and hair in California. One account
60

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

speaks of a red-haired tribe not far north of San
Francisco, and still another of "white Indians"
at Monterey, but, judging by the light of our
subsequent knowledge of these aborigines, the
writers of these reports must have indulged in
exaggeration. On the southern bank of the Santa Ana, not
far from the coast, is the town of the same name,
and further inland its waters have made to bloom
in the desert the famous orange orchards of
Riverside. SANTA MONICA
Santa Monica, situated at the innermost point
of the great curve in the coast line just west of
Los Angeles, was named in honor of a saintly
lady whose story is here quoted from Clara Erskine
Clement's Stories of the Saints: "She was the
mother of St. Augustine, and was a Christian,
while his father was a heathen. Monica was
sorely troubled at the dissipated life of her young
son; she wept and prayed for him, and at last
sought the advice and aid of the Bishop of Carth
age, who dismissed her with these words, 'Go in
61

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

peace; the son of so many tears will not perish.'
At length she had the joy of beholding the bap
tism of St. Augustine by the Bishop of Milan."
Santa Monica is venerated as the great pa
troness of the Augustinian nuns, and might well
be placed at the head of the world-wide order of
"Anxious Mothers."

SANTA CATALINA
Santa Catalina, the beautiful island off the
coast of Southern California, was named by
Vizcaino in honor of St. Catherine, because its
discovery occurred on the eve of her feast day,
November 24, 1602. In the diary of the voyage
we get an interesting description of the island and
its aboriginal inhabitants: "We continued our
journey along the coast until November 24, when,
on the eve of the glorious Santa Catalina, we dis
covered three large islands; we took the one in the
middle, which is more than twenty-five leagues
in circumference, on November 27, and before
dropping anchor in a good cove which was found,
a great number of Indians came out in canoes of
62

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

cedar- wood and pine, made of planking well-
joined and calked, and with eight oars each, and
fourteen or fifteen Indians, who looked like galley-
slaves. They drew near and came on board our
vessels without any fear whatever. We dropped
anchor and went on shore. There were on the
beach a great number of Indians, and the women
received us with roasted sardines and a fruit
cooked in the manner of sweet potatoes."
Mass was celebrated there in the presence of
150 Indians. The people were very friendly and
the women led the white men by the hand into
their houses. The diary continues: "These
people go dressed in the skins of seals; the women
are modest but thievish. The Indians received
us with embraces and brought water in some very
well-made jars, and in others like flasks, that were
highly varnished on the outside. They have acorns
and some very large skins, with long wool, appar
ently of bears, which serve them for blankets."
The travelers found here an idol, "in the manner
of the devil, without a head, but with two horns,
a dog at the feet, and many children painted
around it." The Indians readily gave up this
idol and accepted the cross in its stead.
63

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

St. Catherine, patroness of this island, was one
of the most notable female martyrs of the Roman
Catholic church. We are told that she was of
royal blood, being the daughter of a half-brother
of Constantine the Great. She was converted to
Christianity, and became noted for her unusual
sanctity. She was both beautiful and intellectual,
and possessed the gift of eloquence in such a high
degree that she was able to confound fifty of the
most learned men appointed by Maximin to dis
pute matters of religion with her. The same
Maximin, enraged by her refusal of his offers of
love, ordered that she be tortured "by wheels
flying in different directions, to tear her to pieces.
When they had bound her to these, an angel
came and consumed the wheels in fire, and the
fragments flew around and killed the executioners
and 3000 people. Maximin finally caused her to
be beheaded, when angels came and bore her
body to the top of Mt. Sinai. In the eighth cen
tury a monastery was built over her burial place."
— (Stories of the Saints) Santa Catalina is the pa-
tronessof education, science, philosophy, eloquence,
and of all colleges, and her island has good reason
to be satisfied with the name chosen by Vizcaino.
64

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

LAS ANIMAS BENDITAS
Of Las Animas (the souls), which lay between
San Gabriel and the country of the Amajaba
(Mojave) Indians, we find the story in Fray
Joaquin Pasqual Nuez's diary of the expedition
made in 1819 by Lieutenant Gabriel Moraga, to
punish the marauding Amajabas, who had 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 at a point "about a
league and a half from Our Lady of Guadalupe
of Guapiabit. We found the place where the
Amajabas killed four Christians of this mission
(San Gabriel), three from San Fernando, and some
gentiles (unbaptized Indians). We found the
skeletons and skulls roasted, and, at about a
gun-shot from there we pitched camp. The next
day, after mass, we caused the bones to be carried
in procession, the cross in front, Padre Nuez
chanting funeral services, to the spot where they
had been burned. There we erected a cross, at the
foot of which we caused the bones to be buried
65

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

in a deep hole, and then we blessed the sepulchre.
We named the spot Las Animas Benditas (The
Blessed Souls)." May they rest in peace!
SAN GABRIEL
San Gabriel, the quaint little town lying nine
miles east of Los Angeles, is the site of the Mission
San Gabriel Arcangel (St. Gabriel Archangel),
founded September 8, 1771, by Padres Cambon
and Somera. This mission was placed in a fertile,
well- wooded spot, in the midst of a large Indian
population, who, under the instruction of the
padres, became experts in many arts, such as
sewing, weaving, soap-making, cobbling, etc.
Their flocks and herds increased to such an extent
that they covered the country for many miles
around. The patron saint, San Gabriel, was the second
in rank of the archangels who stand before the
Lord. Whenever he is mentioned in the Bible,
it is as a messenger bearing important tidings,
and he is especially venerated as having carried
to the Virgin the message that she was to become
the mother of Christ. 66

MISSION OF SAN GABRIEL ARCANGEL, FOUNDED IN 1771, SHOWING INDIAN
HUTS IN THE FOREGROUND.
"Its flocks and herds once covered the country for many miles around."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

SAN FERNANDO
It was in the valley of San Fernando (St. Ferdi
nand), a short distance northwest of Los Angeles,
that the mission pertaining to the latter place was
established, September 8, 1797, by Padres Lasuen
and Dumetz. The Camulos Rancho, the home of
Ramona, the heroine of Mrs. Helen Hunt Jack
son's romance, was once included in the lands of
this mission.
St. Ferdinand, King of Spain, in whose honor
this place was named, was a notable warrior, as
well as a saint, and he succeeded in expelling the
Moors from Toledo, Cordova and Seville. He is
said also to have been a patron of the arts, and to
have been the founder of the cathedral at Burgos,
celebrated for the beauty of its architecture. But
more than for such attainments, he is remembered
for his tenderness toward the poor and lowly of
his people. When urged to put a tax upon them
in order to recruit his army, he replied: "God, in
whose cause I fight, will supply my need. I fear
more the curse of one poor old woman than a whole
army of Moors." — (Stories of the Saints.)
69

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

TEMESCAL
Temescal (sweathouse) , in Riverside County,
although a place of no great importance in itself,
is interesting in that its name recalls one of the
curious customs widely prevalent among the
natives of the Southwest. The word itself is of
Aztec origin, and was brought to California by the
Franciscans. The temescal is thus described by Dr. A. L.
Kroeber, in the University of California Publica
tions in Archaeology and Ethnology: "At the
Banning Reservation a sweathouse is still in use.
From the outside its appearance is that of a small
mound. The ground has been excavated to the
depth of a foot or a foot and a half, over a space
of about twelve by seven or eight feet. In the
center of this area two heavy posts are set up
three or four feet apart. These are connected at
the top by a log laid in their forks. Upon this
log, and in the two forks, are laid some fifty or
more logs and sticks of various dimensions, their
ends sloping down to the edge of the excavation.
It is probable that brush covers these timbers.
70

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

The whole is thoroughly covered with earth.
There is no smoke hole. The entrance is on one
of the long sides, directly facing the space between
the two center posts, and only a few feet from
them. The fireplace is between the entrance and
the posts. It is just possible to stand upright in
the center of the house. In Northern California,
the so-called sweathouse is of larger dimensions,
and was preeminently a ceremonial or assembly
chamber." Dr. L. H. Bunnell, in his history of the dis
covery of the Yosemite valley, gives us some inter
esting details of the use of the sweathouse among
the Indians of that region: "The remains of these
structures were sometimes mistaken for tumuli,
being constructed of bark, reeds or grass, covered
with mud. It (the sweathouse), was used as a
curative for disease, and as a convenience for
cleansing the skin, when necessity demands it,
although the Indian race is not noted for cleanli
ness. I have seen a half-dozen or more enter one
of these rudely constructed sweathouses through
the small aperture left for the purpose. Hot
stones are taken in, the aperture is closed until
suffocation would seem impending, when they
7i

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

would crawl out, reeking with perspiration, and
with a shout, spring like acrobats into the cold
waters of the stream. As a remedial agent for
disease, the same course is pursued, though varied
at times by the burning and inhalation of resinous
boughs and herbs. In the process of cleansing
the skin from impurities, hot air alone is generally
used. If an Indian had passed the usual period
of mourning for a relative, and the adhesive pitch
too tenaciously clung to his no longer sorrowful
countenance, he would enter and re-enter the
heated house until the cleansing had become
complete. The mourning pitch is composed of the
charred bones and ashes of the dead relative or
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 face of the mourner until it
wears off. If it has been well-compounded, it
may last nearly a year ; although the young, either
from a super-abundance of vitality, excessive
reparative powers of the skin, or from powers of
will, seldom mourn so long. When the bare sur
face exceeds that covered by the pitch, it is not a
scandalous disrespect in the young to remove it
72

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

entirely, but a mother will seldom remove pitch
or garment until both are nearly worn out."
This heroic treatment, while possibly efficacious
in the simple ailments by which the Indians were
most often afflicted, usually resulted in a great
increase of mortality in the epidemics of smallpox
following upon the footsteps of the white man.
One traveler speaks of a severe sort of inter
mittent fever, to which the natives were subject,
and of which so many died that hundreds of bodies
were found strewn about the country. Having
observed that the whites, even when attacked by
this fever, rarely died of it, he was inclined to
ascribe the mortality among the natives to their
great cure-all, the temescal.
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 Berkeley. Its citizens became discontented
with the undignified character of the name, and
changed it to Alden.

73

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

SAN BERNARDINO
San Bernardino is the name of a county in the
southeastern part of California, whose broad
expanse is mainly made up oi volcanic mountains,
desert plains, and valleys without timber or
water. The name was first given to the snow-capped
peak, 1 1, 600 feet high, lying about twenty miles
east of the city of San Bernardino, which is sit
uated sixty miles east of Los Angeles, in the fruit
and alfalfa region. The name of this town is one
of the most regrettable examples of corruption
that have occurred in the state, having passed
from its original sweetly flowing syllables through
the successive stages of San Berdino, Berdino,
until finally reaching the acme of vulgarity as
Berdoo, by which appellation it is known to its
immediate neighbors. If ideas of romance, of
pleasant-sounding words, and of fidelity to history
make no appeal to our fellow-Californians, let
them read again the quotation from Stevenson
given above, and learn that a romantic nomencla
ture may sometimes be a valuable financial asset.
74

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

San Bernardino (St. Bernardinus), the patron
saint of the places bearing his name, is particularly
remembered as the founder of the charitable
institution known in Spanish as Monte de Piedad
(hill of pity), and in French as Mont de Piete,
municipal pawnshops where money was loaned
on pledges to the poor. These pawnshops are
still conducted in many Spanish towns, in America
as well as in Europe.

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Abalone Point, some miles to the southeast of
San Pedro bay, was no doubt so-named from
the abundance of the great sea snails called
abalone, whose iridescent shells, the abandoned
dwellings of the dead animals, almost comparable
in beauty to the mother-of-pearl, once covered the
beaches of the California coast with a glittering
carpet. The word "once" is used advisedly, for,
with our usual easy-going American negligence
we have permitted these creatures of the sea,
valuable for their edible meat as well as for their
exquisitely colored shells, to be nearly destroyed
75

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

by Chinese and Japanese fisheries. That the
flesh of the abalone formed a useful part of the
food supply of the Indians is evidenced by the
large number of shells to be found in the mounds
along the shore. In the living state the abalone
clings to the rocks on the shore, and its grip is
so tenacious that more than one unfortunate per
son, caught by the foot or hand between the
shell and the rock, has been held there while
death crept slowly upon him in the shape of the
rising tide. There is another Abalone Point on
the northern coast.
Agua Caliente (literally "hot water"), generally
used in reference to hot springs. Of these there
are many in the state, one on the Indian Reser
vation southeast of Riverside. Agua Caliente
was originally a land grant.
Alamitos (little cottonwoods) , from alamo, a
tree of the poplar family indigenous to Cali
fornia. There are several places bearing this name
in the state, one a short distance northeast of
Santa Ana.
Aliso (alder tree), is the name of a place on
the Santa Fe Railroad, south of Los Angeles,
near the shore, and was probably named for
76

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

the Rancho Canada de los Alisos. It is probably
modern. Azusa is the name of a place in Los Angeles
County, twenty miles east of Los Angeles, and was
originally applied to the land grant there. It is
an Indian place name of a lodge, or rancheria, the
original form being Asuksa-gna, the gna an ending
which indicates place.
Bandini (a surname), is the name of a place a
short distance southeast of Los Angeles, on the
Santa Fe Railroad. The founder of this family
was Jose Bandini, a mariner of Spanish birth,
who came to California with war supplies, and
finally settled at San Diego. His son, Juan Ban
dini, was a notable character in the history of the
state. He held several public offices, took part
in revolutions and colonization schemes, and finally
espoused the cause of the United States. Ban
croft gives the following resume of his character:
"Juan Bandini must be regarded as one of the
most prominent men of his time in California.
He was a man of fair abilities and education, of
generous impulses, of jovial temperament, a most
interesting man socially, famous for his gentle
manly manners, of good courage in the midst of
77

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

personal misfortunes, and always well-liked and
respected; indeed his record as a citizen was an
excellent one. In his struggles against fate and
the stupidity of his compatriots he became
absurdly diplomatic and tricky as a politician.
He was an eloquent speaker and fluent writer."
Members of the Bandini family still occupy
positions of respect and influence in the state and
have made some important additions to its his
torical literature.
Bolsa (pocket), a term much in use with the
Spaniards to signify a shut-in place. Bolsa is in
Orange County, twelve miles north by west of
Tres Pinos, and was probably named from the
land grant, Rancho de las Bolsas.
Cabezon (big head) , is the name of a place south
east of Colton. It was probably named for a
large-headed Indian chief who lived there at one
time and who received this name in pursuance of
an Indian custom of fitting names to physical
peculiarities. This name is improperly spelled
on some maps as Cabazon.
Cahuilla, the name of an Indian tribe, probably
"Spanishized" in its spelling from Ka-we-a. The
valley and village of this name are situated in the
78

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

San Jacinto Forest Reserve, southeast of River
side, and received their name from a tribe who
lived, in 1776, on the northern slopes of the San
Jacinto Mountains. The word Cahuilla is of
uncertain derivation.
Calabazas (pumpkins), is northwest of Los
Angeles. This is possibly a corruption of an
Indian word, Calahuasa, the name of a former
Chumash village near the mission of Santa Inez.
There is another possibility that this name may
have been given to the place by the Spaniards
in reference to the wild gourd which grows abun
dantly there and whose fruit may have been con
sidered by them to bear some resemblance to
pumpkins, but this is of course mere conjecture.
Casa Blanca (white house), is a short distance
west of Riverside, on the Santa Fe Railroad, so-
called from a large white ranch house once in
conspicuous view from the railroad station.
Casco (skull), shell or outside part of anything.
El Casco is situated about twelve miles east of
Riverside. Its application here has not been
ascertained. Conejo (rabbit), is the name of a number of
places ih the state, one of them in the Santa
79

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Monica Mountains, another in the Central Valley,
on the Santa Fe road.
Cucamonga, is an Indian name, derived from a
village in San Bernardino County, forty- two miles
by rail east of Los Angeles. It was originally
applied to the land grant at that place.
Duarte, a surname.
Las Flores (the flowers) . At this place there was
once a large Indian village, called in the native
language ushmai, the place of roses, from ushla,
rose. Garvanza (chick-pea).
Hermosa (beautiful), is the name of a town in
San Bernardino County, and of a beach in Los
Angeles County.
Indio, the Spanish word for "Indian," is the
name of a place in Riverside County, near Colton.
La Joy a (the jewel).
Laguna (lagoon).
Leon (lion).
La Mirada (the view).
Los Molinos (the mills, or mill-stones), a name
applied to a place east of San Gabriel by the
Moraga party of 1819, who went out from the
mission on a punitive expedition against the
So

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Amajaba (Mojave) Indians. Padre Nuez, who
accompanied the party, says: "On the return we
passed by a place where there was plenty of water,
below a hill of red stone, very suitable for mill
stones." The same name, probably for similar
reasons, was applied to other places in the state,
among them one in Sonoma County, and Mill
Creek in Tehama County, originally called El Rio
de los Molinos (The River of the Mill-stones).
Montalvo (a surname), the name of a place in
Ventura County, near Ventura. This name is
interesting as being the same as that borne by the
author of Las Sergas de Esplandidn, in which the
fabulous island of California plays a leading part.
Murietta (a surname), the same as that of the
noted bandit, Joaquin Murietta, who once ter
rorized California with his depredations. The
town of Murietta, however, was not named in
honor of this gentleman of unsavory memory,
but for Mr. J. Murietta, who is still living in
Southern California.
Los Nietos (literally "the grandchildren"), but
in this case a surname, that of the Nieto family.
Los Nietos was a land grant taken up by Manuel
Nieto and Jose Maria Verdugo in 1784.

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Pasadena, said to be derived from the Chippewa
Indian language. The full name is said to be
Weoquan Pasadena, and the meaning to be "Crown
of the Valley." Let no man believe in the absurd
story that it means "Pass of Eden."
Prado (meadow). "The Prado" is also the name
of a famous promenade in the city of Madrid.
Puente (bridge), in Los Angeles County, was
taken from the name of the land grant, Rancho
de la Puente.
Pulgas Creek (fleas creek).
Redondo Beach (round beach), a well-known
seaside resort near Los Angeles, is usually sup
posed to have received its name from the curved
line of the shore there, but the fact that a land
grant occupying that identical spot was called
Sausal Redondo (round willow-grove), from a
clump of willows growing there accounts for
its name.
Rivera (river, stream). Rivera was also the
name of a pioneer family.
Rodeo de las Aguas (gathering of the waters),
a name once given to the present site of La Brea
Rancho, near Los Angeles, perhaps because there
is at that point a natural amphitheatre which
82

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

receives the greater portion of the waters flowing
from the neighboring mountains and the Ca-
huenga Pass.
San Clemente (St. Clement), the name of the
island fifteen miles south of Santa Catalina. The
saint for whom this island was named "was con
demned to be cast into the sea bound to an anchor.
But when the Christians prayed, the waters were
driven back for three miles, and they saw a ruined
temple which the sea had covered, and in it was
found the body of the saint, with the anchor
round his neck. For many years, at the anni
versary of his death, the sea retreated for seven
days, and pilgrimages were made to this sub
marine tomb." — (Stories of the Saints.)
San Jacinto (St. Hyacinth), was a Silesian
nobleman who became a monk, and was noted
for his intellectual superiority, as well as for his
piety. San Jacinto is the name of a town in River
side County, thirty miles southeast of Riverside,
in the fruit region, and of the range of mountains
in the same county.
San Juan Point (St. John Point).
San Mateo Point (St. Matthew Point) .
San Onofre (St. Onophrius), was a hermit saint
83

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

whose chief claim to sanctity seems to have been
that he deprived himself of all the comforts of
life and lived for sixty years in the desert, "during
which time he never uttered a word except in
prayer, nor saw a human face."
San Pedro (St. Peter), is on San Pedro bay,
twenty-six miles south of Los Angeles. St. Peter,
the fisherman apostle and companion of St. Paul,
is usually represented as the custodian of the keys
of Heaven and Hell, one key being of gold and the
other of iron. "There is a legend that the Gentiles
shaved his head in mockery, and that from this
originated the tonsure of the priests." Peter
suffered martyrdom by crucifixion, "but tra
ditions disagree in regard to the place where he
suffered." The name Peter is said to signify "a
rock." "Thou art Peter, on this rock have I
founded My church."— (Matthew, 16, 18.)
Saticoy was the name of a former Chumash
Indian village on the lower part of Santa Paula
River, in Ventura County, about eight miles from
the sea. The present town of Saticoy is on the Santa
Clara River, in Ventura County, near Ventura.
Serra (a surname), probably given in honor of
the celebrated founder of the California missions.
84

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

El Toro (the bull).
Trabuco Canyon (literally blunderbuss canyon),
from trabuco, a short, wide-mouthed gun formerly
used by the Spaniards, although this may not be
the true derivation of the name in this case. One
writer has translated this name as "land much
tumbled about," but where he obtained such a
meaning remains an impenetrable mystery. Tra
buco may be a surname here.
Valle Verde (green valley), incorrectly spelled
on the map as Val Verde.
Valle Vista (valley view) , is in Riverside County.
five miles northwest of San Jacinto. This name
is modern and incorrect in construction.
Verdugo was named for the Verdugo family,
the owners of the Rancho San Rafael, northeast
of Los Angeles and near the base of the Verdugo
mountains. Jose Maria Verdugo was one of the
grantees of the Nietos grant in 1784.
Vicente Point (Point Vincent). This point was
named in 1793 by George Vancouver, the English
explorer, in honor of Friar Vicente Santa Maria,
"one of the reverend fathers of the mission of
Buena Ventura."

85

IN THE VICINITY OF
C\ SANTA BARBARA

V
IN THE VICINITY OF SANTA BARBARA
Santa Barbara, the charming little town that
dreams away its existence among the flowers of
its old gardens, on the shore of the sheltered
stretch of water formed by the islands lying to the
seaward, was named for a noble lady of Heliopolis,
the daughter of Dioscorus. She became con
verted to Christianity, and was in consequence
cruelly persecuted and finally beheaded by her
own father. "The legend that her father was
struck by lightning in punishment for this crime
probably caused her to be regarded by the com
mon people as the guardian saint against tempest
and fire, and later, by analogy, as the protectress
of artillery-men and miners." — (Catholic Ency
clopedia.) For this reason her image was placed
over the doors of powder magazines, and her
name came at last to be applied to the maga
zines themselves, which are known to the Spanish
people as santabdrbaras. Thus is explained the
apparent incongruity between the name of the
89

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

gentle saint and the places for storage of the
instruments of savage war.
At the time of the arrival of the Spaniards the
shores of the Santa Barbara channel probably
supported a denser native population than any
other part of the state. The gracious climate and
never-failing food supply furnished by the gener
ous waters of the ocean, enabled the Indians
to live at ease.
When Cabrillo entered the channel in 1542, he
reported that: "A great number of Indians issued
from the bushes, yelling and dancing, and making
signs, inviting us to come on shore. They laid
down their bows and arrows and came to the
vessel in a good canoe. They possessed boats,
large enough to carry twelve or fourteen men,
well-constructed of bent planks and cemented
with bitumen."
These Indians were of a higher order of intelli
gence than those further north, and were skilled
in some of the arts, including the making of
excellent pottery. They were expert fishermen,
using nets for the purpose, and often eating the
fish raw. They wore their hair long, tied up with
long cords, to which many small daggers of flint,
90

-.<iy mk.

MISSION OF SANTA BARBARA.
" * * * its broad steps are deeply worn by the feet of many generations of worshipers."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

wood and bone were attached. They had some
notion of music, using a primitive sort of flute,
or whistle, made of the hollow bones of birds.
They lived in conical houses, which were covered
well down to the ground.
When Father Serra passed that way, more than
two centuries later, he found the same conditions
of population, counting as many as twenty
populous villages along the channel. He was
moved to bitter tears of grief over the delay
in establishing a mission where so rich a harvest
of souls lay ready to his hand. He died before
this dearest wish of his heart was accomplished,
yet Santa Barbara may justly claim the honor
of his presence at her birth, for he took part in
the establishment of the presidio, which occurred
in 1783, three years before the building of the
mission. In Palou's Life of Serra he describes that
occasion thus: "The party traveled along the
coast of the channel, in sight of the islands which
form it, and when they judged it to be about
half-way, about nine leagues from San Buenaven
tura, they stopped and selected a site for the pre
sidio, in sight of the beach, which there forms a
sort of bay, furnishing anchorage for ships. On
93

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

this beach there was a large village of Gentiles.
Here the cross was raised, Father Serra blessed
it and the land, and held mass. The following
day they began to cut wood for the building of
the chapel, the priest's house, officials' houses,
cuartel, almacenes (storehouses), houses for fam
ilies of married soldiers and the stockade."
The mission, which is still in an excellent state of
preservation, was not established until December
4, 1786, although Serra looked upon that location
as the most desirable in California, and spent the
last years of his life in constant efforts to urge
on the authorities to the work. That his hopes
were realized to the full after his death, and that
large numbers of natives, as well as the succeeding
white parishioners, knelt before the altar dedicated
to the gentle Santa Barbara, is evidenced by the
deeply worn marks of several generations of feet
to be seen in the wide flight of steps at the entrance.
A circumstance that makes Santa Barbara
unique among the missions is that within her
gardens, hidden behind their secluding walls,
there is a "holy of holies" where no woman's
foot is permitted to desecrate the sacred ground.
It is quite likely that this rule is kept up by the
94

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

brothers now in charge of the mission, rather
through a desire to preserve the traditions of the
old church than through any unwarranted pre
judice against the fair sex.

SAN BUENAVENTURA
San Buenaventura Mission, at the town now
called Ventura, stands near the southeastern end
of the Santa Barbara channel. It was the last
work of the great Serra, and was founded March
31, 1782, by the venerable president himself and
Father Cambon. Palou gives us a detailed account
of this event in his Life of Serra: "March 26, the
whole party, the largest ever engaged in the
founding of a mission, soldiers, settlers, and their
families, muleteers, etc., but only two priests,
Padres Serra and Cambon, set out
They went on to the head of the channel, a site
near the beach, on whose edge there was a large
town of Gentiles, (unbaptized Indians), well built
of pyramidal houses made of straw. They raised
the cross, erected an arbor to serve as chapel, made
an altar and adorned it. On the last day of March
95

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

they took possession and held the first mass. The
natives assisted willingly in building the chapel,
and continued friendly, helping to build a house
for the padre, — all of wood. The soldiers began
to cut timbers for their houses, and for the stock
ade. They also went to work at once to conduct
water by ditches from a neighboring stream, to
bring it conveniently near the houses, and to
serve to irrigate crops. By means of a neophyte,
brought from San Gabriel, they were able to com
municate with the natives, and to let them know
that their only purpose in coming here was to
direct their souls to Heaven."
The patron of this mission was originally named
Giovanni Fidanga. When a child he fell very ill,
and was taken by his mother to St. Francis to be
healed. When the saint saw him recovered he
exclaimed: "O buena ventura!" whereupon his
mother dedicated him to God by the name of
Buenaventura (good fortune). It is a pity that a
name of such happy augury should be mutilated
by the amputation of its first part, the town and
county now appearing as Ventura.

90

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

ASUNCION
In the diaries of the Spanish pioneers, a distinct
impression is conveyed that the California Indians,
so far from being morose and taciturn, as their
brothers in other parts of the United States 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 complaint now
and then that their hospitality was sometimes so
insistent that their guests suffered from loss of
sleep, the serenading being kept up during the
entire night.
Their music, no doubt of the most primitive
sort, was produced by means of "a small whistle,
sometimes double, sometimes single, about the
size and length of a common fife. It was held in
the mouth by one end, without the aid of the
fingers, and only about two notes could be sounded
on it." — (Bancroft, from Cal. Farmer.)
Along the Santa Barbara channel the festivities
in honor of the strangers were especially lively.
At Asuncion (Ascension), a point on the coast five
97

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

leagues below Carpinteria, they received a recep
tion of which we read in Costanso's diary of the
Portola expedition of 1769, date of August 14:
"We reached the coast, and came in sight of a
real town, situated on a tongue or point of land,
right on 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 not be less than four hundred
souls in the town. These natives are well built
and of a good disposition, very agile and alert, dili
gent and skillful. Their handiness and ability were
at their best in the construction of their canoes,
made of good pine boards, well joined and calked,
and of a pleasing form. They handle these with
equal skill, and three or four men go out to sea in
them to fish, for they will hold eight or ten men.
They use long, double-bladed paddles, and row
with indescribable agility and swiftness. All their
work is neat and well finished, and what is most
worthy of surprise is that to work the wood and
stone they have no other tools than those made of
flint We saw, and obtained in
exchange for strings of glass beads, and other

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE
trinkets, some baskets or trays made of reeds,
with different designs; wooden plates, and bowls
of different forms and sizes, made of one piece,
so that not even those turned out in a lathe could
be more successful. They presented us with a
quantity of fish, particularly the kind known as
bonito ; it had as good a flavor as that caught in the
tunny-fisheries of Cartegena de Levante, and on
the coasts of Granada. We gave it the name of
La Asuncion de Nuestra Senora (the Ascension of
Our Lady), because we reached it on the eve of
that festival." — (Translation edited by Frederick
J. Teggart.) EL BAILARIN
El Bailarin (the dancer). This spot, one league
from Carpinteria, was named in honor of a nimble-
footed Indian, who cheered the weary travelers
on their way, as thus told by Father Crespi, in
his diary of the Portola expedition: "This place
was named through the notable fact of an Indian
having feasted us extraordinarily two leagues
beyond (always coasting the sea-shore), where
there is a large town on a point of land on the
same shore; which Indian was a robust man of
99

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

good form, and a great dancer; through respect
for him we called this town, of which our friend
was a resident, El Pueblo del Bailarin (the Town
of the Dancer)."
Rancheria del Baile de las Indias (Village of the
Dance of the Indian Women). As a rule, the
women seemed to take no part in the dances, but
Costanso tells of one occasion when they joined
in the festivities: "They honored us with a
dance, and it was the first place where we saw the
women dance. Two of these excelled the others;
they had a bunch of flowers in their hands, and
accompanied the dance with various graceful
gestures and movements, without getting out of
time in their songs. We called the place the
Rancheria del Baile de las Indias. "
This place was about five leagues from Point
Pedernales. CARPINTERIA
Carpinteria is the name of a little cluster of
houses near the shore about ten miles east of
Santa Barbara. It lies in a region once densely
populated with natives of very "gentle and mild

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

disposition." The story of its naming is told by
Father Crespi, of the Portola party: "Not very
far from the town we saw some springs of
asphaltum. These Indians have many canoes,
and at that time were constructing one, for which
reason the soldiers named this town Carpinteria
(carpenter shop), but I baptized it with the name
of San Roque."
MONTECITO
Montecito (little hill or little wood), is the name
of a small village about six miles from Santa
Barbara. The country in this vicinity, through
its extraordinary charm of climate and scenery,
has attracted a large number of very rich people,
whose splendid country houses, in bizarre con
trast, now occupy the self-same spots where the
Indians once raised their flimsy huts of straw.

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
While traversing the shore of Santa Barbara
channel, the Portola expedition of 1769 took time
to make trips to the islands and bestow names

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

upon them. The island of Santa Cruz received
its name from a rather trivial circumstance. By
some chance the padres lost there a staff which
bore a cross on the end. They gave it up as
irretrievably lost, so were the more pleased when
the Indians appeared the following day to restore
it. From this they gave the island the name of
Santa Cruz (Holy Cross).
RANCHERIA DE LA ESPADA
Of the Rancheria de la Espada (village of the
sword), Captain Fages, of the Portola expedition
says: "Two and a half leagues northwest of Point
Conception, another glen is found with a popula
tion of twenty hearths, with 250 Indians, more or
less. The natives of the settlement here are
extremely poor and starved, so that they can
scarcely live, being without canoes, in rugged
land, and short of firewood. While here a soldier
lost his sword, leaving it carelessly fastened, so
that they took it from his belt. But the Indians
who saw this theft themselves ran in pursuit of
the thief, and deprived him of the article in order
that its owner might recover it." From this the

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

place received the name of the Rancheria de la
Espada, and the little story is still commemor
ated in the name of Espada Landing.

MATILIJA
Matilija Creek and Matilija Springs, in Ventura
County, derive their name from an Indian village,
one of those mentioned in the mission archives.
The name is best known as applied to the Matilija
P°PPy> that flower of the gods which has its native
habitat along the banks of the creek. This giant
poppy, by reason of its extraordinary size and
delicate beauty, has a just claim to be called
"queen of all California's wild flowers," as the
Sequoia is king of her trees. It is a perennial
plant, of shrubby character, and grows wild in
the southern part of the state, from the Santa
Maria River southward, extending into Lower
California, where it spreads over large areas. It
flourishes in particular luxuriance in the Matilija
canyon, but the popular idea that that spot was
its only habitat is erroneous. The shrub reaches
a height of eight or ten feet, has gray-green foliage,
10 3

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

and bears splendid, six-petaled white flowers,
often six or seven inches in diameter, "of a crepe
like texture, pure glistening white, with bright
yellow centers." "It not only grows in fertile
valleys, but seeks the seclusion of remote canyons,
and nothing more magnificent could be imagined
than a steep canyon-side covered with the great
bushy plants, thickly covered with the enormous
white flowers." — (Miss Parsons, quoted by J.
Burt Davy, in Bailey's Cyclopedia of American
Horticulture.) POINT PEDERNALES
Captain Fages, of the Portola party, says of
this place: "Going two leagues through high
land, and with a good outlook over the sea-coast,
a flowing stream appears, with very good water,
and near it a poor settlement of only ten houses,
probably numbering about sixty inhabitants,
crowded together. We stopped at the place near
where a strip or point of land extends to the sea.
There we gathered a multitude of flints, good for
fire-arms, and so this place is called Los Pedernales
(the flints)." 104

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Point Pedernales still remains as the name of
"that point of land extending into the sea," a few
miles north of Point Conception.
CAMULOS
Camulos, also spelled Kamulas, was the name
of an Indian village near San Buenaventura.
This village is among those mentioned in the
mission archives, and is noted as the home of
Ramona, the heroine of Mrs. Helen Hunt Jack
son's romance. The meaning of the word Camulos,
according to Professor A.L. Kroeber,is "my fruit."
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Los Alamos (the cottonwoods) , is in Santa
Barbara County, northwest of Santa Barbara.
The alamo is a species of poplar tree indigenous
to California and widely spread throughout the
state. Argilello Point is on the coast of Santa Barbara
County, just south of Point Pedernales. Argiiello
is a surname, that of a pioneer family, of which
i°5

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Jose Dario Argiiello was the founder. "For
many years Don Jose was the most prominent,
influential and respected man in California." —
(Bancroft.) Argiiello Point was named by Vancouver in
honor of the Spanish governor. — (Mr. Charles
B. Turrill.)
El Co jo (the lame one). This place, near Point
Conception, was so-named by the Spaniards
because they saw here an Indian chief who was
lame. Point Concepcion, the point at the southwestern
extremity of Santa Barbara County, was so-named
in reference to the "immaculate conception" of
the Virgin.
Los Dos Pueblos (the two towns) , is on the coast
a few miles west of Santa Barbara. On October
1 6, 1542, the Cabrillo expedition anchored oppo
site two Indian villages here, and named the place
Los Dos Pueblos. "Although these villages were
separated only by a small stream, their inhabit
ants were of a different race and language, those
on one side being short, thick and swarthy, and
on the other tall, slender and not so dark. The
depth of the kitchen refuse at the site of these
106

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

two towns indicates that these Indians had lived
here since the Christian era and were contem
porary with the mound builders." — (History of
Santa Barbara County.)
Gaviota (sea-gull), is on the shore a few miles
west of Santa Barbara. 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 huts,
with three hundred people. For having killed a
sea-gull here, the soldiers called this place La Gav
iota, but I named it San Luis Rey de Francia."
As San Luis Rey it has remained upon the map.
Gaviota Pass is an important gap in the Santa
Inez range.
Every one who has crossed the bay of San
Francisco in the winter season must have rejoiced
in the sight of the flying convoy of those beautiful
creatures, the gaviotas, by which each ferry-boat
is accompanied. Goleta (schooner), is the name of a village in
Santa Barbara County, seven miles west of Santa
Barbara. Guadalupe (a Christian name). The town is
near the northern border of Santa Barbara County.
107

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Lompoc is one of the names of Indian villages
taken from the mission archives. It is situated
fifty miles northwest of Santa Barbara, on the
Southern Pacific Railroad.
Nojoqui, in Santa Barbara County, was pre
sumably the name of an Indian village.
Los Olivos (the olives), is in Santa Barbara
County, on the Coast Line Railroad.
La Piedra Pintada (the painted rock), is about
eighty miles from Santa Barbara. Here there was
a stone wigwam, forty or fifty yards in diameter,
whose walls were covered with paintings in the
form of halos and circles, with radiations from the
center. — (History of Santa Barbara County.)
Punta Gorda (fat or broad point), is one of the
points of land running into the sea from the Santa
Barbara Coast. Its name indicates its shape.
Punta de las Ritas (point of the rites), perhaps
refers to some religious ceremony held upon that
spot. Rincon Point (corner point) , is one of the many
points of land running out from the Santa Barbara
Coast. Point Sal, was named for Hermenegi do Sal,
who was one of the prominent figures in the early
108

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

history of Southern California. He was a Spanish
soldier who came to this coast in 1776 with Anza
and his party of colonists. Sal filled many im
portant military offices. This point was named by
Vancouver for this official, who was at one time
commandante of the presidio of San Francisco,
in return for signal courtesies shown by him in
1792, when he permitted Vancouver to go to the
mission of Santa Clara, this being the first occasion
when this part of Spanish America was penetrated
by any foreigner.
Sal Si Puedes (get out if you can). Several
places in the state, one in the Santa Cruz Moun
tains, another in Santa Barbara County, received
this name, so eloquent of the rough road that the
Spaniards sometimes had to travel. Captain
Argiiello, in his diary of the expedition of 1821,
refers to his struggles in getting out of a certain
canyon in these terms: "On account of its diffi
cult situation it was named Montana de Maltrato
y Arroyo de Sal si Puedes" (mountain of ill-treat
ment and creek of get out if you can).
Santa Inez (St. Agnes), is the name of a river
in Santa Barbara County which rises in the coast
range and falls into the Pacific Ocean about ten
109

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

miles north of Cape Conception. The town of
the same name is situated on this river. The
Mission Santa Inez was founded September 17,
1804, by Padres Tapis, Calzada and Gutierrez.
It flourished for a time, but was greatly damaged
by an earthquake in 181 2, was rebuilt and damaged
again by the Indians in the revolt of 1824, and its
partially ruined buildings still remain to tell of a
vanished past. Its patroness, St. Agnes, was one
of the four great virgin martyrs of the Latin
Church. She was a Roman maiden of great
beauty, and was condemned to death by the sword,
by the Prefect Sempronius, in revenge for her
refusal to marry his son, on the ground that she
was "already affianced to a husband whom she
loved, meaning Jesus." Before causing her death
Sempronius attempted to procure her dishonor
by having her conveyed to a house of infamy,
"but when she prayed to Christ that she might
not be dishonored, she saw before her a shining
white garment which she put on with joy, and the
room was filled with great light."
Santa Maria (St. Mary), so-named in honor of
the mother of Christ, is in Santa Barbara County,
near the Santa Maria River.

MISSION OF SANTA INEZ, FOUNDED IN 1804.
"Its patron saint is St. Agnes, one of the four great virgin martyrs of the Latin Church.''

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Santa Paula (St. Paula), is in Ventura County,
thirty-five miles west of San Fernando, on the
Southern Pacific Railroad. "St. Paula was a
noble Roman matron, a pupil and disciple of St.
Jerome. Though descended from the Scipios and
the Gracchi, and accustomed to luxurious self-
indulgence, she preferred to follow her saintly
teacher to Bethlehem and devote herself to a relig
ious life. She built a monastery, a hospital, and
three nunneries at Bethlehem." — (Stories of the
Saints.) Sereno (serene), a place on the shore near Santa
Barbara, whose placid charm well befits its name.
Ventura (fortune) , a town near the southeastern
end of the Santa Barbara channel.

113

THE SAN LUIS OBISPO
GROUP

%:;mm JJixxyjJ -

it

VI
THE SAN LUIS OBISPO GROUP
San Luis Obispo (St. Louis the Bishop). Trav
elers on the Coast Line, whose attention is at
tracted to the smiling vale where the pretty town
of San Luis Obispo nestles in the hollow of the
hills, about eight miles from the ocean and ninety
to the northwest of Santa Barbara, will doubtless
be pleased to learn something of its history. So
peaceful is the aspect of the valley at this time
that it comes rather as a surprise to read, in the
diaries of the Portola expedition of 1769, stories
of fierce fights with bears, which then haunted
this place in such numbers that the explorers gave
it the name of La Canada de los Osos (the glen of
the bears). From Father Crespi we get some
account of the numbers and ferocity of these
animals: "In this glen we saw troops of bears,
which have the ground ploughed up and full of
scratches which they make in search of the roots
that form their food. Upon these roots, of which
there are many of a good savor and taste, the
117

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Gentiles (unbaptized Indians), also live. The
soldiers, who went out to hunt, succeeded in kill
ing one bear with gun-shots, and experienced the
ferocity of these animals. Upon feeling them
selves wounded they attack the hunter at full
speed, and he can only escape by using the greatest
dexterity. They do not yield except when the
shot succeeds in reaching the head or heart. The
one that the soldiers killed received nine balls
before falling, and did not fall until one struck
him in the head."
Captain Fages, of the same expedition, gives a
similar account " . . .a spacious glen
with a rivulet of very good water ....
In said glen they saw whole herds of bears, which
have ploughed up all the ground, where they dug
to seek their livelihood from the roots that it
produces. They are ferocious brutes, and of very
difficult hunting, throwing themselves with in
credible speed and anger upon the hunter, who
only escapes by means of a swift horse. They do
not yield to the shot unless it be in the head or
heart." Miguel Costanso, of the same party, says:
"In the afternoon, as they had seen many tracks
118

«* : tr-'JJ

MISSION OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, FOUNDED IN 1772.
* * * in a smiling vale, which was once the haunt of great troops of bears."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

of bears, six soldiers went out hunting on horse
back, and succeeded in shooting one bear. It
was an enormous animal; it measured fourteen
palms from the sole of the feet to the top of its
head; its feet were more than a foot long; and it
must have weighed over 375 pounds. We ate
the flesh and found it savory and good." —
Translation edited by Frederick J. Teggart.)
At a later date, when the mission at Monterey
was in serious danger of a famine, Captain Fages
called to mind the experiences in the Canada de
los Osos, and headed a hunting expedition to that
region for the purpose of securing a supply of
bear meat. The party succeeded in killing a
considerable number of the animals, and were
thus able to relieve the scarcity at Monterey.
The name of Los Osos (the bears), is still applied
to a valley in the vicinity of San Luis Obispo.
Finding this spot highly suitable for a settle
ment, in the matters of climate, arable land and
water, points always carefully considered by the
padres, the mission of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
(St. Louis the Bishop of Toulouse), was estab
lished by Padre Serra, September 1, 1772, in La
Canada de los Osos. In the usual course of events,

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

the name of the mission was extended to the town
and finally to the county.
The story of the patron saint of this mission
runs as follows: "St. Louis of Toulouse was the
nephew of St. Louis King of France, and son of
the King of Naples and Sicily. Like his kingly
uncle-saint, he was piously reared by his mother.
When he was but fourteen, his father, being made
prisoner by the King of Aragon, gave Louis and
his brother as hostages. He became wearied of
everything but religion, and in 1294, when he
was made free, he gave all his royal rights to his
brother Robert, and became a monk of the Order
of St. Francis. He was then twenty-two years
old. Soon he was made Bishop of Toulouse;
and he set out, bare-footed and clothed as a friar,
to take his new office. He went into Provence
on a charitable mission, and died at the castle
of Brignolles, where he was born. He was first
buried at Marseilles, then removed to Valencia,
where he was enshrined. His pictures represent
him as young, beardless, and of gentle face.
He has the fleur-de-lys embroidered on his
cope, or on some part of his dress. The crown
which he gave away lies at his feet, while he
122

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

wears the mitre of a bishop."
Saints.)

(Stories of the

SAN MIGUEL
San Miguel (St. Michael) , situated about forty-
seven miles northeast of San Luis Obispo, is the
site of Mission San Miguel, founded July 25,
1797, by Padres Lasuen and Sitjar. It is said that
"the lands of this mission extended from the
Tulares on the east to the sea on the west, and
from the north boundary of the San Luis Obispo
district to the south line of San Antonio. It had
its work-shops and little factories where the good
padres taught the Indians the useful arts. Its
property was confiscated in 1836, and sold at
auction in 1846."
St. Michael, in whose honor this mission was
named, "is regarded as the first and mightiest
of all created spirits. He it was whom God com
missioned to expel Satan and the rebellious angels
from Heaven. His office now is believed to be
two-fold, including that of patron saint of the
Church on earth, and Lord of the souls of the
dead; presenting the good to God and sending
123

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

the evil and wicked away to torment." In pic
tures St. Michael is always represented as young
and beautiful, sometimes as the Lord of souls in
pictures of death, sometimes in armor as the
conqueror of Satan.

PASO DE ROBLES
Paso de Robles (pass of the oaks), known far
and wide for its hot sulphur springs, where the
sick of many lands find surcease from their pain,
is situated twenty-nine miles north of San Luis
Obispo. It was named for the reason indicated
by Father Crespi, who says: " . . .in
a valley in the hollow of the Santa Lucia Moun
tains, called Los Robles, for the great abundance
of these trees with which it is populated."
It should be explained that the roble is not the
evergreen, or live-oak, which is called encino. At
Leland Stanford Jr. University the names of these
two species of oaks have been rathei poetically
used for the students' dormitories, — Encina Hall
for the men, and Roble Hall for the women.

124

f i^^jJUSOffii^W^

&&LJi

E^^^aflfc^™7"-

MISSION OF SAN MIGUEL, FOUNDED IN 1797.
'It once had its work-shops and little factories where good padres taught the Indians useful arts.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Arroyo Grande (big creek), a village in San Luis
Obispo County, fifteen miles southeast of San
Luis Obispo.
Atascadero (boggy ground, quagmire).
Avenal (a field sown with oats).
Buchon (big craw), is the name of the point
on the coast directly opposite the town of San
Luis Obispo, and has a significance not altogether
agreeable. The Spanish soldiers called the place
Buchon from an Indian in the neighborhood who
was the unfortunate possessor of an enormous
goitre, which was so large that it hung down upon
his breast.
Canada del Osito (glen of the little bear), so-
called because some Indians from the mountains
offered the Spaniards a present of a bear cub.
Cayucos is the name of a village in San Luis
Obispo County, eighteen miles northwest of San
Luis Obispo. The word cayuco is probably Indian
in origin, and is used in different senses in different
parts of America. In Venezuela it means a small
fishing boat, built to hold only one person, while
127

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

in Cuba it means "head." As this place is on the
shore, it was probably named in reference to
Indian fishing skiffs.
Cholame (the name of an Indian tribe).
Cuesta (hill, mount, ridge, also family name).
Esteros (estuaries, creeks into which the tide
flows at flood time).
Ester o Point (estuary point).
Estrella (star).
Lopez (a surname).
Mono (headland, bluff). Morro is the name of
a hamlet in San Luis Obispo County, on the
shore, twelve miles northwest of San Luis Obispo.
Nacimiento (birth). This word is generally
used by the Spaniards in the sense of the birth
of Christ.
Los Osos (the bears).
Piedras Blancas (white stones, or rocks), the
name of a point on the coast.
Pismo, an Indian word said to mean "place of
fish", but this definition is not based upon
scientific authority.
Pozo (well, or pool), is the name of a village in
San Luis Obispo County.
San Simeon (St. Simeon), is the name of a
128

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

village in San Luis Obispo County, on the shore
twenty miles south of Jolon. It has a good harbor.
St. Simeon, the patron saint of this place, was one
of the apostles, and is called "the Prophet"
because he was the translator of the book of
Isaiah in which is made the prophecy "Behold a
virgin shall conceive."
St. Simeon Stylites, who set the fashion of the
pillar-hermits, spent almost half of the fifth
century on the summit of a column sixty feet in
height, drawing up his meager food and water
in a pail which he lowered for the purpose. This
peculiar and apparently senseless mode of life
has been partially justified by the reflection that
the notoriety he thus gained brought curious
crowds of pagans about his pillar, to whom he
was enabled to preach the Christian doctrine.
It is said that he converted many thousands of the
nomadic Saracen tribes to Christianity.
Santa Lucia (St. Lucy) , is the name of a section
of the coast range of mountains in the central
part of the state. St. Lucy is the protectress
against all diseases of the eye, and is the patroness
of the laboring poor.
Santa Margarita (St. Margaret), is the name of
129

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

a town in San Luis Obispo County, on the Southern
Pacific Railroad. St. Margaret is the patroness
who presides over births.

130

m IN THE
^NEIGHBORHOOD OF
MONTEREY

~-~^a

^X.x^~L  n' . 0,  '.. ' '

VII
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MONTEREY
Monterey. "Llegamos a este puerto de Monterey
a 16 de Diciembre, 1602 a las siete de la noche"
(We arrived at this port of Monterey on the six
teenth of December, 1602, at seven o'clock in the
evening). — (From the diary of Sebastian Viz
caino.) When Vizcaino sailed into the beautiful blue
bay of Monterey, and looked about him at the
ring. of hills, dark with the dense growth of pines
covering them from summit to base, he became
at once enamored with the place, and wrote
enthusiastically to his Spanish Majesty concern
ing it. In a letter of the date of May 23, 1603,
he says: "Among the ports of most importance
which I found was one in latitude 37, which I
named Monterrey. As I wrote to your majesty
from there on the twenty-eighth of September
of the said year, it is all that can be desired for
the convenience and sea-port of the ships of the
Philippine line, whence they come to explore this
133

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

coast. The port is sheltered from all winds, and
has on the shore many pines to supply the ships
with masts of any size that they may wish, and
also live-oaks, oaks, rosemary, rock-roses, roses
of Alexandria, good hunting of rabbits, hares,
partridges and flying birds of different sorts.
The land is of mild temperature, and of good
waters, and very fertile, judging by the luxuriant
growth of the trees and plants, for I saw some
fruits from them, particularly of chestnuts and
acorns, larger than those of Spain; and it is well-
populated with people, whose disposition I saw
to be soft, gentle, docile, and very fit to be reduced
to the Holy Church. Their food is of many and
various seeds that they have and also wild game,
such as deer, some of which are larger than cows,
also bears, and cattle and buffalo, and many
others. The Indians are of good body, white of
countenance, and the women somewhat smaller,
and well-favored. Their dress is of the people
of the beach, of the skins of seals, of which there
are an abundance, which they tan and prepare
better than in Spain."
At first thought it would seem that Vizcaino
must have been in error about finding buffalo
i34

MONTEREY IN 1850.
'We arrived at this port of Monterey on the sixteenth of December, 1602, at seven o'clock in the
evening." — (Sebastian Vizcaino)

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

at Monterey, but investigation shows that in
1530 those animals "ranged through what is now
New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and
British Columbia." — (Handbook of American
Indians.) Oregon is not so far away but that
scattering herds may have wandered as far as
Monterey, and that Vizcaino actually saw them
there. It has been suggested, also, that he may
have mistaken the tracks of the great elk for
those of buffalo. In calling the Indians "white,"
he was, no doubt, speaking comparatively. Ac
cording to the diaries of the Spaniards, the natives
of different sections varied considerably in com
plexion. What he meant by "chestnuts" can
only be conjectured, since that tree is not
indigenous to Monterey, but it is possible that
the nut of the wild buck-eye, which resembles the
chestnut in size and shape, may have been mis
taken for it by the Spaniards.
Vizcaino named the port in honor of Gaspar de
Zuniga, Count of Monterey, at that time Viceroy
of Mexico. The word itself, whose literal meaning
is "the King's wood," or "the King's mountain,"
since monte may be used in either sense, was for
merly spelled Monterrey, Monterey, or Monte Rey.
137

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

When Father Serra arrived at Monterey in
1770, he decided to make it the headquarters of
all the California missions, and it was there that
the rest of his life was spent, excepting the periods
of absence required in visiting the other missions,
and in one visit to Mexico. Very shortly after
the landing of the party in a little cove at the
edge of the present town, it was decided that not
enough arable land existed at that point for the
support of the mission, so the religious estab
lishment was removed to Carmel Bay, while the
Presidio and its chapel remained at Monterey.
The Mission San Carlos Borromeo (St. Charles
Borromeo), was founded June 3, 1770, near the
shore of the charming little bay of Carmel, about
seven miles from Monterey. This church, now
in an excellent state of repair, through the efforts
of the late Father Angelo Casanova, is distin
guished above all the others, "for under its altar
lies buried all that is mortal of the remains of its
venerable founder, Junipero Serra."
Its patron saint, St. Charles Borromeo, belonged
to a noble family of Lombardy. Being a second
son, he was dedicated to the church at a very
early age, and soon rose to distinction, receiving
138

mwjgaamigim^

MISSION OF SAN CARLOS BORROMEO, FOUNDED IN 1770.
"Under its altar lies buried all that is mortal of its venerable founder, Junipero Serra.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

the cardinal's hat at twenty-three. The death
of his elder brother placed the family fortune
at his disposal, but he gave it all in charity,
reserving for himself merely enough for bread and
water, and straw on which to sleep. In public
he gave feasts, but never partook of them himself.
At the time of the plague in Milan, when all
others fled from the city, he remained to attend
the sick. His remains repose in a rich shrine in
that city. SAN ANTONIO
At San Antonio (St. Anthony), in Monterey
County, between Kings City and Jolon, Father
Serra established the mission of San Antonio de
Padua, July 14, 1771. In connection with its
establishment, Palou tells a story that brings out
one of the most marked characteristics of the
venerable founder, — his ardent enthusiasm:
"They [the founding party] departed for the
Santa Lucia Mountains, taking priests for the
new mission, the required escort of soldiers, and
all necessaries. Twenty-five leagues south-south
east from Monterey, they arrived at the hollow
141

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

of this ridge, where they found a great canada,
which they called Robles (oaks), from the great
number of those trees. Finding a level plain in
the same canada, bordering on a river which they
called San Antonio, and which they thought to
be a good site, for the good flow of water, even in
the dry month of July, which could be conducted
to the lands without difficulty, all agreed upon
the choice of this spot. Serra ordered the mules
to be unloaded, and the bells to be hung up on the
branch of a tree. As soon as they were hung up,
he began to ring them, crying out, 'Ho! Gentiles,
come, come to the Holy Church, come to receive
the faith of Jesus Christ!'" One of the other
priests remonstrated with him, saying it was idle
to ring the bells in the absence of the gentiles,
but Serra said, "Let me ring, let me relieve my
heart, so that all 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 first mass, which Serra re
garded as a good augury.
St. Anthony of Padua, the patron of this place,
was a Portuguese by birth, who entered the Fran
ciscan Order. He went as a missionary to the
142

INTERIOR OF THE QUADRANGLE AT SAN CARLOS MISSION.
"Here the daily life of the mission was carried on."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Moors, but was compelled by illness to return to
Europe, where he had great success in Italy and
France as a preacher. Among many miracles
accredited to him is the one thus related: "When
preaching at the funeral of a very rich man, St.
Anthony denounced his love of money, and
exclaimed, 'His heart is buried in his treasure
chest; go seek it there and you will find it.' The
friends of the man broke open the chest, and to
their surprise, found the heart; they then
examined his body and found that his heart was
indeed wanting." — (Stories of the Saints.)

POINT CYPRESS
La Punta de los Cipreses (Point Cypress), is
the home of those wonderful trees, twisted and
gnarled into a thousand fantastic shapes by their
age-long struggle against the ocean winds, which
furnish yet another proof of the part played by
California in the preservation of the rare and the
unique, for this species of coniferous tree is said
to be confined to that region, not occurring in
any other part of the world. i45

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

The following interesting paragraph on these
trees is quoted from The Trees of California, by
Willis Linn Jepsen, Asst. Professor of Dendrology
in the University of California: "Cupressus Macro-
car pa is limited to two localities on the ocean shore
at the mouth of the Carmel river near Monterey.
The Cypress Point grove extends along the cliffs
and low bluffs from Pescadero Point to Cypress
Point, a distance of two miles, reaching inland
about one-eighth of a mile. The Point Lobos
grove is much smaller. The trees are scattered
over the summits of two headlands, and cling to
the edges of the cliffs, where on account of the
erosive action of th: ocean, they are occasionally
under-mined and fall into the sea. Monterey
Cypress is most interesting for its remarkably
restricted natural range and the exceedingly
picturesque outlines characteristic of the trees
growing on the ocean shore. As a result of their
struggle with violent storms from the Pacific
Ocean which break on the unprotected cliffs and
headlands 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-failing interest to these
146

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

two narrow localities. Of the highly picturesque
trees, the most common type is that with long
irregular arms. Such trees recall most strikingly
the classical pictures of the Cedars of Lebanon.
Monterey Cypress is of course a genuine cypress
and Lebanon Cedar a genuine cedar; the two do
not even belong to the same family of conifers.
Yet the popular story that the two are the same
makes so strong an appeal to the imagination of
the tourist at Monterey that the guides and pro
moters in the region will doubtless never cease to
disseminate it. As a consequence the error goes
into the daily press and the magazines, and is
evidently destined to flourish in perennial green
ness under the guise of fact. The wide dissemina
tion of this fiction is all the more remarkable in
that in the case of all other unique features of the
state, such as the Sequoias and the Yosemite, our
Californians have evinced a remarkable pride in
their possession, without thought of inventing a
duplication of them elsewhere ....
The matter of the age of these trees has been much
exaggerated. It is a tree of rapid growth, and the
older specimens are probably not more than 200
or 300 years old." 147

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

The above paragraph, quoted from a writer
acknowledged to be one of the best authorities
on the trees of California, is given here in full, in
the hope of correcting these two common errors
concerning the Monterey Cypress, — the one that
it is identical with the Cedar of Lebanon, the
other, an exaggerated notion of the great age of
some of the trees. As Professor Jepsen justly
remarks, the truth in this case is a greater matter
for pride than the fiction.

POINT PINOS
La Punta de Pinos (the point of pines), is situ
ated a few miles from Monterey, just beyond
Pacific Grove. It is one of the most picturesque
points on the coast, and is the location of one of
the government light-houses.

SALINAS
When the Portola expedition of 1769 arrived
at the Salinas River, they made the first of the
series of errors which caused them to pass by the
148

ON THE SHORE NEAR LA PUNTA DE LOS CIPRESES.
"The home of those wonderful trees, twisted into a thousand
fantastic shapes by their age-long struggle
with the ocean winds."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

bay of Monterey without recognizing it, for they
mistook this stream for the Carmel. The Salinas
(salt marshes), so-called for the chain of salt
water ponds lying along its course, was known by
various names before a permanent one became
attached to it, appearing at different times as
El Rio Elzeario, Santa Delfina, and El Rio de
Monterey. The town of Salinas is the county-seat of
Monterey County and is situated about eighteen
miles east of Monterey, in the heart of an im
portant agricultural, dairying, and sugar-beet
district. SOLED AD
Soledad (solitude), in Monterey County, 143
miles southeast of San Francisco, is described as
"a very dry plain, with few trees, swept by fierce
winds and dust storms in summer." No wonder
they called it Soledad, — Lonesome town !
Yet those same dry plains proved to be of
sufficient fertility to warrant the establishment,
in 1 791, of the mission of Nuestra Senora de la
Soledad, freely translated as "Our Lady of Sor-
151

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

rows," which became the center of a large and
prosperous Indian community. The buildings of
the mission have now fallen into almost complete
decay. pAjaro
Pdjaro (bird), a town in Monterey County, on
the Pajaro River, which rises on the slope of the
Coast Range, and flows westerly, falling into
Monterey Bay, derives its name from a circum
stance told in the diary of the faithful Father
Crespi: "We saw in this place a bird, which the
Gentiles (unbaptized Indians), had killed and
stuffed with straw, and which appeared to some
[of the party] to be a royal eagle ; it was measured
from tip to tip of the wings, and was found to
measure eleven palms (nine feet and three inches) ,
for which reason the soldiers called the place
El Rio del Pdjaro." The scream of the eagle
may still be heard in the more remote parts of
the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the great birds
are occasionally seen circling far over-head, or
perched in the tops of the tallest trees.

152

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz (holy cross), the well-known sea
side resort lying at the northern hook of the great
curve that forms Monterey Bay, was named by
the Portola expedition, as thus described by
Father Crespi: "We camped on the north side
of the river [San Lorenzo] , and we had a great
deal of work to cut down trees to open a little
passage for our beasts .... Not far
from the river we saw a fertile spot where the grass
was not burnt, and it was a pleasure to see the
pasture and the variety of herbs and rose-bushes
of Castile." The next day they moved on again,
and the diary continues: "After proceeding
about five hnndred steps, we passed a large
stream of running water, which has its source
among some high hills and passes through some
great table- lands of good soil, that may easily be
irrigated by the waters of the said creek. This
creek was named Santa Cruz."
A mission was established at this place by
Padres Salazar and Lopez, September 25, 1791,
but the buildings finally fell into a ruinous con-
i53

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

dition, and were removed to give place to the
modern church which now stands upon the
original site. SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist), has
suffered mutilation by the dropping of its last
part, and usually appears as San Juan. San Juan
is a small town in San Benito County, in a fertile
valley on the San Benito River, forty-four miles
southeast of San Jose. At this place the mission
of San Juan Bautista was founded, June 24, 1797.
Although this mission passed through some
strenuous experiences, and was twice attacked
by the Indians, and somewhat damaged by re
peated earthquakes in 1800, it is still moderately
well preserved. SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Agua Amargosa (bitter water), a place in San
Benito County now known by its English trans
lation, "Bitter Water," and so-called from mineral
springs. i54

MISSION OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, FOUNDED IN 1797.
"Although twice attacked by Indians and damaged by earthquakes in 1800, it is still
moderately well preserved."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Ano Neuvo (new year), is the name of a prom
inent cape running out from the shore of Santa
Cruz County, where one of the coast light-houses
is situated. It received its name from the day of
its discovery.
Arroyo Seco (dry creek). The Arroyo Seco,
rising in the Santa Lucia Range and flowing
northeasterly into the Salinas River, is probably
the most remarkable example of terrace formation
to be found among the streams of the state.
There are other Arroyo Secos in the state, one
near Los Angeles which is very striking in its
color effects.
Blanco (white), is a town in Monterey County
which may have received its name from Thomas
B. Blanco, a pioneer and grantee of land in that
county. Canada Segunda (second valley).
Cerro del Venado (hill of the deer).
Chualar is a village in Monterey County, in
the Salinas valley, 128 miles southeast of San
Francisco. The chual is a wild plant of Cali
fornia, — pig-weed or goose-foot, — and chualar
is a spot abounding in chual plants.
Corral (yard, enclosed place). On October 11,
iS7

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

1769, the Portola party stopped at a place about
a league from the Pajaro River, where they con
structed a fence between a lake and a low hill, in
order to keep the animals secure at night without
the need of many watchmen. Palou, in his
Life of Serra, says: "The first expedition called
this place the Corral, on account of having built
there, with some sticks nailed together, a pasture
in the manner of a yard, in order to keep the
animals safe at night. This was of great assist
ance, for there were so many sick that there were
not enough [people] to guard the animals." In
different parts of the state there were many
Corrals and Corralilos (little yards). Sometimes
the enclosing fence was made of stones, when
more convenient, and the enclosure was then
called Corral de Piedra (stone corral) ; sometimes
a barricade of earth was thrown up, and it was
then called Corral de Tierra (earth corral) . Corral
de Tierra is the name of a well-known ranch near
Monterey. In the days of old, many a joyous
merienda (picnic) and barbecue was held at the
Corral de Tierra Rancho. Corralitos (little cor
rals), is in Santa Cruz County, fourteen miles
east of Santa Cruz. 158

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Gabildn, also spelled Gavildn (hawk), is the
name of the long mountain ridge, a branch of
the Coast Range, which extends through the
counties of San Mateo and Santa Cruz.
Gonzales (a surname) . This place is in Monterey
County, in the Salinas valley, seventeen miles
southeast of Salinas.
Gorda (fat, thick).
Las Grullas (the cranes). In the diaries of the
Portola expedition, date of October 7, 1769, we
read: "We pitched our camp between some low
hills near a pond, where we saw a great number
of cranes, the first we had seen on this journey."
This was about four leagues from the Pajaro
River. Joldn, a word of doubtful origin, which has been
variously explained. It is thought by some persons
to be a corruption of Jalon, a proper name, but
old Spanish residents say it is an Indian word,
meaning "valley of dead oaks."
Llanada (a plain, level ground). This place is
in San Benito County.
Laureles (laurels) . Los Laureles is the name of a
ranch near Monterey. The wild laurel is a shrub
common to many parts of the state.
i59

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Lobos (wolves), generally used on this coast in
the sense of lobo marino, (sea- wolf, or seal). There
is a Punta de Lobos (seal point), near Monterey
which is noted for the bold grandeur of its ocean
scenery, as well as for its seals.
Loma Prieta (dark hill), is the name of a peak
in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Moro Cojo (literally "lame Moor"), is the name
of a well-known ranch in Monterey County. The
Spaniards were in the habit of using moro to mean
anything black, and in this case, according to
old residents, the ranch was named for a lame
black horse that ran wild there.
Natividad (nativity of Christ), is the name of
a town in Monterey County, about one hun
dred miles southeast of San Francisco.
Paicines is in San Benito County. This is a
word of doubtful origin, and many theories have
been advanced to account for it. The most
probable is that given by an Indian woman, a
resident of the place, who says it was the
name of an Indian tribe. The word is also
sometimes spelled Pajines. See Tres Pinos,
page 98.
Panocha is in San Benito County. This is a
160

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

word applied to crude sugar, or syrup, somewhat
resembling sorghum. Probably modern.
Paraiso Springs (paradise springs), is a health
resort in Monterey County.
Pleito (quarrel, argument, lawsuit). This place
is in Monterey County. It has not been possible
to ascertain the application of its name.
Potrero (pasture). There were many potreros
scattered about the state.
Puentes (bridges). This place, two leagues
from the San Lorenzo River, was reached by the
Portola party October 18, 1769, and the reason
for its naming is explained by Miguel Costanso:
"These canyons contained running water in very
deep ditches, over which it was necessary to lay
bridges of logs, covered with earth and bundles
of sticks, so that the pack animals could cross.
The place was called Las Puentes."
San Benito (St. Benedict), was named in honor
of the founder of the great order of Benedictines.
San Benito Creek was named in 1772 by Father
Crespi, and the name was eventually applied to
the county. The town of San Benito is on the
Salinas River, sixty miles southeast of Monterey.
It is said of St. Benedict that he became a hermit
161

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

at the age of fifteen and fled to the wilderness,
where he lived on bread and water. While there
he was tempted by the remembrance of a beau
tiful woman he had seen in Rome, and to over
come his wish to see her again "he flung himself
into a thicket of briers and thorns, and rolled
himself therein until he was torn and bleeding.
At the monastery of Subiaco they show roses,
said to have been propagated from these briers."
San Lucas (St. Luke), is in Monterey County,
sixty miles southeast of Salinas. St. Luke was
the disciple of Paul, who speaks of him as "Luke,
the beloved physician," but tradition reports
him to have been an artist, and that he always
carried with him two portraits, one of the Saviour
and the other of Mary. Doubtless for this reason
he is regarded as the patron of artists and acade
mies of art.
Sur (south). Point Sur (south point), on the
coast south of Monterey, is a bold promontory
where a light-house was placed by the govern
ment, in consequence of the frequent occurrence
of shipwrecks there. The Sur River runs
through a region remarkable for the wild pic
turesqueness of its scenery, and for the strange
162

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

tales told of happenings among its early
inhabitants. Toro (bull) , is the name of a ranch near Monte
rey, said to have been so-called after a wild bull.
Tres Pinos (three pines), a place in San Benito
County, one hundred miles southeast of San Fran
cisco. Postmaster Black, of Tres Pinos, gives us
the following history of the naming of this place :
"The name was originally applied to what is now
known as Paicines, but when the railroad came
to this place they appropriated the name of
Tres Pinos, hence it has no significance as applied
to this town. The name was given the stopping-
place now known as Paicines because of three
pines alleged to have grown on the banks of the
Tres Pinos creek near that place. Paicines, then
Tres Pinos, was the scene of the Vasquez raid and
murders in the early '70's."
Uvas (grapes), the name of a town and creek
in the Santa Cruz Mountains, no doubt so-called
from the abundance of wild grapes found in that
locality.

163

fTHE SANTA CLARA
^VALLEY

VIII
THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
Santa Clara. When the Spaniards passed
through this valley, they were not slow to recog
nize in it one of those favored spots on the earth's
surface where climate and soil unite to produce
the highest results. So here they founded two
missions, one at Santa Clara, and one at San Jose.
Santa Clara (St. Clara), stands in one of the
most fertile valleys in California, which is equiva
lent to saying in the whole world, and is about
forty-six miles south-southeast of San Francisco.
The mission was founded by Padres Pena and
Murguia, January 12, 1777. The buildings now
standing are mainly modern, but a small portion
of the original structure being incorporated in
them. The ceiling over the sanctuary is original,
and a small part of the adobe buildings.
Clara de Asis, the sweet saint for whom this
mission was named, was the daughter of a noble
man. Her beauty and wealth brought her
many offers of marriage, all of which she refused,
167

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

preferring to devote herself to a religious life.
She became the founder of the order of Franciscan
nuns, known as the "Poor Clares," to which many
noble ladies attached themselves. The rules of
the order were so strict that St. Clara's health
finally became undermined, and she died in
an ecstatic trance, believing herself called to
Heaven by angelic voices. Her special symbol is
the lily, peculiarly appropriate for the patroness
of the ever-blooming Santa Clara Valley.

SAN JOSE
San Jose (St. Joseph), enjoys the distinction
of having been the first white colony planted in
the state by the Spaniards, although when we
read the complaints of the padres concerning the
highly undesirable character of its first settlers,
recruited mainly from the criminal classes of
Sonora, the distinction would seem to be of rather
a doubtful sort.
Spurred on by the old bogie of their fear of
foreign invasion, the Spanish government decided
to establish colonies of white settlers, believing
1 68

MISSION OF SANTA CLARA, FOUNDED IN 1777.
"The special symbol of the sweet St. Clara is the lily, peculiarly appropriate for the ever-blooming
Santa Clara Valley."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

that their hold upon the country would be ren
dered more secure by this means. The pueblo of
San Jose de Guadalupe, founded November 29,
1777, by Lieutenant Jose Moraga, then in com
mand at San Francisco, under orders from Gov
ernor Neve, was originally located on a site about
a mile and a quarter distant from the present city,
but was removed in 1797, in consequence of the
discovery that the low-lying ground of its first
location was often submerged during the winter
rains. The people of the pueblo were compelled
to travel a distance of three miles to attend mass
at the Santa Clara Mission, and in order to make
this journey more agreeable, Father Maguin de
Catala laid out the alameda 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 disappeared and others have taken their places
in part. The old alameda has vanished.
Not until 1797 was the mission of San Jose
founded, on a spot some fourteen miles distant
from the pueblo. The padres had no keen desire
to place the missions in close proximity to the
pueblos, fearing the evil influence on the Indians
171

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

of a bad class of white men, besides other inevitable
complications, such as the mixing up of cattle.
Father Engelhardt, in his History of the California
Missions, tells the story of the founding of the
Mission San Jose thus: "Here, on Trinity Sun
day, June n, 1797, Father Lasuen raised and
blessed the cross. In a shelter of boughs he cele
brated Holy Mass, and thus dedicated the mission
in honor of the foster-father of Christ, St. Joseph."
The old church was unfortunately so shattered
by an earthquake in 1868 that it was torn down
and replaced by a wooden edifice.
It should be made clear that two missions were
established here, Santa Clara and San Jose, and
that the latter was not at San Jose, as some maps
represent it, but some fourteen miles distant from
the town.
PALO ALTO
Palo Alto (high stick, or tree), in Santa Clara
County, sixteen miles northwest of San Jose, once
a stock farm where blooded horses were raised,
now best known as the site of the Leland Stanford
Junior University, is said to have received its
172

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

name from a tall redwood tree on the San Fran
cisquito (little St. Francis) creek. This tree
stands just a few feet from the railroad bridge
near Palo Alto station, and is said by old residents
to have originally been in the form of a twin tree,
one of the twins having been cut down. The
trees of this species received the name Palo
Colorado (red stick, or tree), from the Portola
party, whose attention was attracted by their
uncommon size and the peculiar reddish color of
the wood, and the honor of their discovery may
justly be awarded to Gaspar de Portola, since he
seems to have been the first white man to make
report of having seen them.
This place was named by the Anza expedition
of 1775-1776, and it seems rather strange that no
mention is made in the diaries of the fact that the
tree was a twin. Father Pedro Font, who accom
panied the expedition, says: "From a slight
eminence I here observed the lay of the port from
this point and saw that its extremity lay to the
east-southeast. I also noticed that a very high
spruce tree, which is to be seen at a great dis
tance, rising up like a great tower, from the Llano
de los Robles, — it stands on the banks of the
i73

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Arroyo de San Francisco, later on I measured its
height — lay to the southeast." Further on in the
diary he says: "Beside this stream is the redwood
tree I spoke of yesterday: I measured its height
with the graphometer which they lent me at the
mission of San Carlos, and, according to my
reckoning, found it to be some fifty yards high,
more or less; the trunk was five yards and a half
in circumference at the base, and the soldiers said
that there were still larger ones in the mountains."
— (Translation edited by Frederick J. Teggart.)
This description of Father Font's gives rise to a
strong suspicion that the tree now so highly
venerated is not the original Palo Alto from which
the place takes its name. The name was first
applied to a land grant.

LA SALUD
La Salud (health). In the name of this place,
not far from the San Lorenzo River, reached by
the Portola party on October 22, there is a refer
ence to one of the heaviest of the afflictions from
which the Spaniards suffered during their journey
174

THE PALO COLORADO (REDWOOD TREE).
"First observed and named by Gaspar de Portola."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

up the state, — serious sickness and many deaths
from scurvy. To their great surprise, after a
wetting received during a heavy storm at this
place, all the sick began to recover. Costanso,
in his diary, date of October 22, says: "The day
dawned overcast and gloomy. The men were
wet. What excited our wonder was that all the
sick, for whom we greatly feared that the wetting
might prove harmful, suddenly found their pains
very much relieved. This was the reason for
giving the canyon the name of La Salud." —
(Translation edited by Frederick J. Teggart.)

LOS GATOS
Los Gatos (the cats), is the rather unpoetic
name of a very pretty town in Santa Clara
County, ten miles southwest of San Jose. From
its location at the mouth of a canyon in the Santa
Cruz Mountains, the inference may be drawn
that it was named in reference to the wild-cats
which even at this day infest that region. John
Charles Fremont, in his Memoirs, says: "The
valley is openly wooded with groves of oak, free
177

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

from under-brush, and after the spring rains cov
ered with grass. On the west it is protected from
the chilling influence of the northwest winds by
the Cuesta de los Gatos (wild-cat ridge), which
separates it from the coast."
"It seems to have been known as early as 1831
as La Cuesta de los Gatos. That there were troub
lous times about there in other matters besides
wild-cats is evidenced by the story of a lively
fight that took place in 1831 against a band of
Indians under a chief named Yoscol. This chief
was eventually captured by the Santa Clara
authorities and beheaded, his head being exposed
in front of the mission as a warning to others." —
(W. Drummond Norie, of Los Gatos.)

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Almaden (mine, mineral), a word of Moorish
origin. New Almaden, in Santa Clara County,
where there is a quicksilver mine, is named after
the famous Almaden quicksilver mines of Spain.
Alviso (a surname). Alviso is in Santa Clara
County, eight miles northwest of San Jose, and
178

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

received its name from Ignacio Alviso, a native
of Sonora, born in 1772, who was a member of
Anza's party of colonists in 1775-6. He was the
original Alviso of California, and was the grantee
of Rincon de los Esteros Rancho.
Arroyo Hondo (deep creek).
Coyote, the native wolf of California. Coyote
is an Aztec word, originally coyotl. The town of
this name is situated thirteen miles southeast of
San Jose.
Las Llagas (the wounds or stigmata of St.
Francis), — in reference to the legend that St.
Francis was supposed to have received, after a
fast of fifty days, the miraculous imprint of the
wounds of the Savior in his hands, feet and side.
Las Llagas was the name of a place near Gilroy,
and was also given by the padres to Alameda
Creek. Madrono, often misspelled madrone, is the name
given by the Spaniards to a very beautiful tree
indigenous to California, which is thus described
by Fremont in his Memoirs : "Another remarkable
tree of these woods is called in the language of the
country Madrofia. It is a beautiful evergreen,
with large, thick and glossy digitated leaves; the
179

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

trunk and branches reddish-colored, and having
a smooth and singularly naked appearance, as if
the bark had been stripped off. In its green state
the wood is brittle, very heavy, hard and close-
grained; it is said to assume a red color when dry,
sometimes variegated, and susceptible of a high
polish. Some measured nearly four feet in
diameter, and were about sixty feet high."
Milpitas, see page 232.
San Felipe (St. Philip), is the name of a village
in Santa Clara County. There were four saints
of this name, perhaps the most distinguished
being St. Philip Neri, a Florentine, born in 1515.
He was the intimate friend of St. Charles Bor
romeo, patron of the mission at Monterey, and
was the founder of the order of the Oratorians,
"who were bound by no vows, and were not
secluded from the world, but went about reading
and praying with the sick and needy, founding
and visiting hospitals and doing various chari
ties." Then there was St. Philip of Bethsaida,
who, going to Hieropolis, "found the people wor
shipping a huge serpent, or dragon, which they
thought to be a personification of Mars. Then
Philip took pity on their ignorance. He held up
180

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

the cross and commanded the serpent to dis
appear. Immediately it glided from beneath the
altar, and as it moved it, sent forth so dreadful
an odor that many died, and among them the
son of the King; but Philip restored him to life.
Then the priests of the serpent were so wroth
with the apostle that they crucified him, and when
he was fastened to the cross they stoned him."
— (Stories of the Saints.)
San Martin (St. Martin), is a town in Santa
Clara County, six miles north of Gilroy. St.
Martin has many legends connected with his
history. Before he became a Christian, he was a
soldier and was noted for his kindness and charity
to his comrades. "The winter of 332 was so
severely cold that large numbers perished in the
streets of Amiens, where the regiment of St.
Martin was quartered. One 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
stood before him, and on his shoulders he wore
the half of the cloak that Martin had given the
beggar. And he said to the angels who attended
him, 'Know ye who hath thus arrayed me? My

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

servant Martin, though yet unbaptized, hath
done this.' Then Martin was immediately bap
tized." Again it is told of him that being invited
to sup with the emperor, "the cup was passed to
Martin, before his Majesty drank, with the ex
pectation that he would touch it to his lips, as
was the custom. But a poor priest stood behind
Martin, and to the surprise and admiration of
all, the saint presented the full goblet to him,
thus signifying that a servant of God deserved
more honor, however humble his station, than
any merely earthly potentate; from this legend
he has been chosen the patron of all innocent
conviviality." — (Stories of the Saints.)

AROUND
l£J FRANCISCO BAY

IX
AROUND SAN FRANCISCO BAY
San Francisco. Many persons, misled by an
incorrect translation of a- certain passage in
Palou's Life of Serra, have ascribed the naming of
the bay of San Francisco (St. Francis), to the
Portola expedition of 1769, but, as a matter of
fact, the outer bay, the great indentation in the
coast outside of the Golden Gate, between Point
Reyes and Mussel Point, had received this name
many years before. In remonstrating with the
Visitador General because no mission had been
provided for St. Francis in Upper California,
Serra remarked, "And is there no mission for our
Father St. Francis?" Senor Galvez replied,
"Si San Francisco quiere mision, que haga se
halla su puerto y se le pondrd (If St. Francis wants
a mission, let him cause his port to be found and
one will be placed there for him)." By "his
port" Galvez referred to a port already discovered
and named, but which had been lost sight of during
the intervening years, and which he wished to
185

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

have re-discovered. This is further carried out
by the succeeding statements of Palou, in which
he says that after failing to recognize the port of
Monterey, "they came to the port of St. Francis,
our father, and they all knew it immediately by
the agreement of the descriptions which they
carried," referring to descriptions obtained from
the papers of the first discoverers. Father Crespi,
who accompanied the expedition, says: "All the
descriptions which we found here we read in the
log-book of the pilot Cabrera Bueno, in order to
form a judgment that this is the port of San
Francisco. To make it all clear, the Senor Com
mandante ordered that during the day Sergeant
Ortega should go out with a party of soldiers to
explore." Further on in the same diary we read:
"From the top of a hill we made out the great
estuary, or arm of the sea, which probably has a
width of four or five leagues. ' ' This is undoubtedly
the first occasion when the eye of a white man
rested upon "the great arm of the sea," that is,
the inner harbor of San Francisco as we now
know it.
It must be remembered that until the rrival
of Portola, the Spaniards only knew this part of
1 86

THE CITY OF YERBA BUENA (SAN FRANCISCO IN 1846-47)
* * so-called in reference to the profuse growth of that charming little vine about the locality."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

the coast from the sea side, having no knowledge
of that great inland sea known to us as the bay of
San Francisco. When the party came up by
land on their futile search for Monterey, they
reached Fort Point, and there recognized the
marks of the outer bay as given by early navi
gators and called by them San Francisco. Then
they climbed a hill, and looking to the landward
saw the "great arm of the sea," the inner harbor,
to which the name of San Francisco was finally
extended. Palou ascribed the failure of the party to recog
nize the port of Monterey, and the consequent
continuance of their journey as far as San Fran
cisco, to a direct interposition of the divine hand,
so that Galvez's promise of a mission for St.
Francis might be carried out.
The honor of the christening of our world-fam
ous bay probably belongs to Sebastian Rodriguez
Cermenon, a Portuguese navigator, who was
commissioned in the year 1595 by Philip II to
search for safe harbors along the coast for vessels
in the Philippine trade. These ships usually
shaped their return course so as to touch first at
about the latitude of Cape Mendocino, making
189

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

a knowledge of the harbors south of that point
a matter of great importance, especially in stormy
weather. Cermenon had the misfortune to lose
his vessel, the San Agustin, on Point Reyes, and
was compelled to make his way home, with great
peril and suffering, in a small boat. In his Der-
r otero y Relacion (Itinerary and Narrative),
under date of April 24, 1596, he says: "We
sighted New Spain at Cape Mendocino on No
vember 4, 1595 . We left the bay
and port of San Francisco, which is called by
another name, a large bay, in 38% degrees, and
the islets [Farallones] in the mouth are in 383^
degrees, the distance between the two points of
the bay being twenty-five leagues." It is clear
from this description that he referred to that
great indentation in the coast between Point
Reyes and one of the points to the south, possibly
Mussel Point, and that he gave the name of San
Francisco to it, displacing some other name by
which it had been previously known. At any
rate, if this is not the origin, it is likely to remain
lost in the mists of the Pacific. Bancroft says:
"There can be little doubt that Cermenon named
the port of his disaster San Francisco."
190

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

An absurd theory advanced by certain persons
that the name was derived from that of Sir
Francis Drake is wholly unworthy of consider
ation. The resemblance between the two names
must be regarded as purely a co-incidence, and
any connection between "El Pirata" (the pirate)
Drake, as the Spaniards usually called him, and
the name of the gentle St. Francis must be taken
in the light of a jest.
Portola, then, although he was* indubitably
the discoverer of the bay as we know it, — the
inner harbor, — found the name already applied
to the outer ensenada by his predecessor, Cer
menon. It is held by some persons that Portola cannot
in all fairness be considered the actual discoverer
of the bay, since it is most probable that Lieu
tenant Ortega or perhaps some member of a hunt
ing party which was sent out actually laid physi
cal eyes upon it first, and it is even thought possible
that Portola never saw it at all, but remained in
camp all the time during their stay on its shores.
Even granting these facts, the question remains
whether he, as the commander of the party mak
ing the expedition which resulted in the dis-
191

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

covery, is not still entitled to the fame which has
generally been granted to him.
A parallel might be drawn between the case of
Portola and that of Columbus. When the famous
expedition of 1492 drew near to the shores of the
new world, it was not the great admiral, but a
common sailor, Rodrigo de Triana by name, who
first raised the thrilling cry of "land! land!"; yet,
nevertheless, the world justly awards the honor
and glory of the discovery to Christopher Colum
bus, the leader and the soul of the party, whose
splendid imagination and unconquerable resolu
tion made it possible.
Although the Portola party made a partial
examination at this time of the shores of what
they called the "great arm of the sea," and Cap
tain Fages returned for further explorations in
1770, and again in 1772, when he stood on the
present site of Berkeley and looked out through
the Golden Gate, the mission was not established
until 1776. Father Palou was its founder, and
he states in his Life of Serra that the presidio
was established with solemn religious services,
September 17, 1776, on the day of the "impressions
of the stigmata of St. Francis," but on account of
192

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

a delay in receiving orders, the founding of the
mission did not take place until October 9. On
that day a procession was held with the image of
St. Francis, and mass was celebrated by Father
Palou himself.
So they prayed and sang their hymns, in the
year of '76, while their hearts beat high with the
zeal of the missionary, and, happily, no echo of
the roll of drums and boom of minute guns came
to them across the untrodden miles of mountain
and plain, of forest and prairie, that separated
them from the alien race on the other rim of the
continent, for whom they were all unconsciously
preparing the way to the possession of a great
principality. No natives were present at this mass, for the
reason that in the month of August they had been
driven on their tule rafts to the islands of the bay
and the opposite shores, by their enemies, the
Salsonas, who lived about seven leagues to the
southeast, and who had set fire to their rancherias
and killed and wounded many of their people,
the Spaniards not being able to prevent it.
The first settlement was three-fold, including
the mission of San Francisco de Asis, on the
193

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Laguna de los Dolores (the lagoon of sorrows),
the presidio, and the pueblo, separated from one
another by about a league. The Pueblo was at
first known as Yerba Buena, in reference to the
profuse growth of that vine about the locality.
The change of the name is ascribed by General
Sherman, in his Memoirs, to jealousy of the town
of Benicia, which was at first called Francisca,
in honor of General Vallejo's wife, and was
thought to bear too marked a resemblance to the
name of the great patron, San Francisco. Gen
eral Vallejo himself states that the change was
made as a matter of convenience, to bring the three
points of the triangle, church, town, and presidio,
all under one name. Whatever the reason for
the change, it is a matter of congratulation that
it occurred, for the name of the venerable saint
carries a dignity more commensurate to a noble
city than the poetic, but less impressive Yerba
Buena. The church of San Francisco de Asis, popularly
known as Mission Dolores, still stands in a good
state of preservation, having almost miraculously
withstood the earthquake and fire of 1906, which
laid low all its proud modern neighbors. Of its
194

MISSION OF SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS, COMMONLY CALLED MISSION DOLORES.
"It stood unharmed through the earthquake and fire of 1906 which laid low all
its proud modern neighbors."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

patron, the gentle St. Francis, it may be said that
he was the son of a rich merchant, but that he
abandoned his riches, adopted vows of poverty,
and founded the order of Franciscans. "While
in a trance, or vision, after having fasted for fifty
days, he received the miraculous imprint of the
wounds of the Savior on his hands, feet, and side."
His chief attributes were humility, poverty, and
love for animals. In pictures he is always repre
sented as accompanied by a pet lamb.
THE GOLDEN GATE
Although this name, not being of Spanish or
Indian origin, is not properly included in these
pages, its close relationship to San 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
the name, 1844, and the accessibility of the story,
it seems strange indeed that any writer should
have advanced the theory that the Golden Gate
received its name from Sir Francis Drake, yet
this wholly unfounded explanation has found its
way into print. In the first place, it has been
197

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

pretty thoroughly established by historians that
Drake never saw the inner harbor, and knew
nothing of the narrow strait leading to it. In the
report of his voyage, written by one of his com
panions, we read: "At 38 degrees toward the line,
it pleased God to send us into a faire and good
harborow, with a good wind to enter the same.
Our General called this country Nova Albion, and
that for two causes; — the one in respect of the
white bankes and cliffes, which ly toward the
sea; and the other that it might have some
affinity with our country in name, which sometime
was so-called." The white cliffs under Point
Reyes answer so well to this description that
there can be little doubt that Drake's anchorage
was in the small outer bay under that point, now
known as Drake's Bay; to say nothing of the fact
that the account of the voyage has no word con
cerning the great land-locked harbor, with a
narrow strait as its only entrance, a circumstance
so novel that, as Bancroft justly observes, Drake
could not have failed to mention it had he known
aught of it.
All discussion of the name Golden Gate is, more
over, brought to an end by the fact that its real
198

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

author, John Charles Fremont, gives a circum
stantial account of it in his Memoirs. After an
elaborate description of the bay, and its sur
roundings, he says: "Between these points is
the strait, — about one mile broad in its narrowest
part, and five miles long from the sea to the bay.
To this gate I gave the name of Chrysopylae, or
Golden Gate; for the same reasons that the harbor
of Byzantium (Constantinople afterwards), was
called Chrysoceras, or Golden Horn. The form
of the harbor and its advantages for commerce,
and that before it became an entrepot of eastern
commerce, suggested the name to the Greek
founders of Byzantium. The form of the entrance
into the bay of San Francisco, and its advantages
for commerce, Asiatic inclusive, suggested to me
the name which I gave to this entrance, and
which I put upon the map that accompanied a
geographical memoir addressed to the senate of
the United States, in June, 1848."
Here we have, told in the somewhat pedantic
language of its author, the true story of the first
appearance of the famous name Golden Gate upon
the map of the world, and instead of its having
been "named by Colonel Fremont because of the
199

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

brilliant effect of the setting sun on the cliffs and
hills," as one writer has fondly imagined, or from
any idea connected with the shining metal,
which still lay buried deep from the sight of man
beneath the mountains of the land, it was born
in a sordid dream of commerce. Yet, for so
wonderfully apt a name, whatever may have been
Fremont's motive in selecting it, we owe him a
debt of gratitude.
There is some disposition to doubt this expla
nation of the name Golden Gate, partly on the
ground of a distrust of Fremont's trustworthiness,
and partly because of its far-fetched nature. As
to the latter objection it should be remembered
that he was that kind of a man. He was pos
sessed of a certain amount of erudition which he
was fond of showing off, and this labored method
of seeking for a name in the old Greek was quite
in keeping with his character. As to his relia
bility, although it is quite possible that he colored
events of a political character to suit his own pur
poses, in ordinary matters there seems to be no
reason to doubt his statements. At all events,
the name Golden Gate does in fact appear upon
his map of 1848 as he says.

200

It * * *

THE GOLDEN GATE.
called by the Indians Y-iilupa, (the place where the sun plunges into the sea.)'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

According to Dr. Vallejo, the Golden Gate
was called by the Indians Yulupa, pronounced
ee-oo-loo-pa, which means "near the sea plunge,"
that is, the plunge of the sun into the sea, and may
be freely translated as the "Sunset Strait." The
suffix pa is said by Dr. Vallejo to signify "near."
— (Memoirs of the Vallejos, edited by James H.
Wilkins, San Francisco Bulletin, January, 1914.)

ALCATRAZ
Alcatraz (pelican), the fortress-like island in the
bay, just inside the channel, performs the triple
duty of a fortified military post, prison, and light
house. Although but 1650 feet in length, it rises
to a height of 130 feet above the water, and in the
shadowy light just after sunset, its high, rocky
walls, topped by the buildings of the fortifications
and prison, make a silhouette against the sky
strikingly like a great dreadnaught, standing
guard at the harbor's entrance.
The story of its naming can not be run to earth,
but it probably originated in some circumstance
connected with the great sea-birds whose ungainly
203

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

forms may still be seen heavily flapping over the
bay, or resting on the island.

ANGEL ISLAND
Angel Island, the Americanization of La Isla
de los Angeles (the isle of the angels), belies its
name, since it has been devoted to the quite
un-angelic business of quarantine station of San
Francisco. Palou, in speaking of the expedition of 1776,
says': "They moved to the island which is in
front of the mouth, which they called Nuestra
Senora de los Angeles [Our Lady of the Angels],
on which they found good anchorage, and going
on land, they found plenty of wood and water."
A story has found its way into print that the
island was named "from a miner who once settled
there," the writer probably mixing it up with the
name of Angel's Camp, in the Sierras. What a
desecration for our island, with its romantic
name of "Our Lady of the Angels," piously
given to it by the Spaniards in honor of the
Virgin ! 204

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

YERBA BUENA ISLAND
Yerba Buena (the good herb), is the name of a
dainty Httle vine native to the California woods,
which has an agreeable aromatic odor, and was
much in use among the Spanish as a medicinal
herb, and to add a pleasant aroma to their tea.
Fremont, who, whatever else may be said of him,
had enough poetry in his soul to feel an expansive
joy over the plant life of this flowery land, des
cribes it as follows: "A vine with a small white
flower, called here la yerba buena, which, from its
abundance, gives its name to an island and town
in the bay, was to-day very frequent on our road,
sometimes running on the ground, or climbing
the trees." It is said that the Hupa Indians were
in the habit of weaving the tendrils of this vine
in their hair for the sake of the perfume.
Some talk has arisen of late that this poetic
and historic name is to be taken away from our
island. Commuters, when you pass it on your
daily journey, let your minds carry you back to
the day when the delicate tendrils of the little
vine waved on the island's steep slopes, and its
205

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

sweet scent was wafted on the breeze from the
Golden Gate, and do not, I pray you, consent to
call it Goatl MARE ISLAND
Mare Island, in San Pablo Bay, separated from
Vallejo by a strait one-half mile wide, a charming
spot with an unpoetic name, — is another example
of writers attempting to make difficulties where
none exist, and so they would have us believe that
the name of this isle arose, like Venus, from mare,
the sea. Apart from the fact that this labored
method of naming places, by seeking in the Latin,
was quite foreign to the custom of the Spaniards,
it happens that the true story in this case is at
hand, and can scarcely be doubted, since it
occurred in the immediate family of Dr. Vallejo,
who tells it thus: "In early days, the only ferry
boat on the waters near Vallejo and Benicia was
a rude one, made chiefly of oil barrels obtained
from whaling 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 transpor-
206

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

tation of which it was chiefly devoted. One day,
while this boat was coming from Martinez to
Benicia, a sudden squall overtook it, and the craft
pitched fearfully; the animals, chiefly horses,
became restive, and some of them broke through
it. The boat was upset, and the living cargo
thrown into the bay. Some of the livestock were
drowned, and some managed to reach either shore
by swimming. One of the horses, an old white
mare, owned and much prized by General Vallejo,
succeeded in effecting a landing on the island, and
was rescued there a few days after by the General,
who thereupon called the place La Isla de la
Yegua (the island of the mare)."
An interesting corroboration of this story is
found on page 574 of Fremont's Memoirs, where
he refers to the island as La Isla de la Yegua.
A statue of a white horse would perpetuate the
history of this isle in a manner both appropriate
and beautiful, in the same way that upon the
heights of Angel Island a colossal figure of an
angel, or of the Virgin, and upon Alcatraz a great
pelican with outspread wings, might be placed
to tell their stories. In the old world, many
legends of the past are perpetuated in this way,
207

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

and there is no reason why the equally romantic
episodes in California's history should not be so
commemorated, at least in those cases that lend
themselves readily to purposes of art.

ALAMEDA
It has been thought that this name may have
been derived from the resemblance between
Alameda creek, at one time thickly shaded along
its banks by willows and silver-barked sycamores,
and an alameda (an avenue shaded by trees),
but since the primary meaning of the word is "a
place where poplar trees grow," from alamo (pop
lar or cottonwood), it requires less stretching of
the imagination to believe that some such grove
of cottonwoods near the creek gave it the name.
Fray Danti, in his diary of the exploration of "the
Alameda" in 1795, says: "We came to the river
of the Alameda, which has many large boulders,
brought down by floods, and is well populated with
willows, alders, and here and there a laurel. At
a little distance from where the river runs, the
tides of the Estuary come." 208

THE FARALLONES.
* * * standing like watch-dogs at our outer gate."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

From the name of an insignificant little stream,
Alameda has come to be the designation of one of
the most important counties in the state, and of
the flourishing city on the east side of San Fran
cisco Bay, nine miles east-southeast of San Fran
cisco. This city was once known as Encinal
(place of oaks), on account of the groves of beau
tiful live-oaks there, nearly all of which have,
most unfortunately, been sacrificed to so-called
"improvements." Yet, some fine specimens still
remain in the county, perhaps the best being
those on the campus of the University of Cali
fornia, at Berkeley, Alameda County. The
encino (live-oak), is thus described by Professor
Jepsen : "It is a low, broad-headed tree, commonly
twenty to forty feet, but sometimes seventy feet
high. The trunk is from one to four feet in diam
eter, usually short, and parting into wide-spread
limbs, which often touch or trail along the ground."
This tree has little commercial value, but is highly
regarded for 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 adorns an otherwise often
bleak landscape. — (Notes taken from The Trees

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

of California, by Professor Willis Linn Jepsen,
of the University of California.)

LOS FARALLONES
Los Farallones, the three small islands standing
like watch-dogs at our outer gate, about thirty-
two miles due west of the entrance to the bay,
derive their name from farallon, a word meaning
"a small pointed island in the sea." Although
this word is commonly employed by the Spanish
to designate such islands, and its use in this case
is perfectly obvious, the statement has been made
that our isles were named for a certain Ferolla,
one of the early navigators, a theory entirely
without value.
The Farallones are frequented by multitudes
of sea-fowl, which breed there and at one time
supplied great quantities of eggs for the San
Francisco market. For some twenty years or
more the United States Government, owing to
the contentions of rival egg companies, has pro
hibited the gathering and sale of these eggs.

212

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

MOUNT TAMALPAIS
"To see the sun set over Tamalpais,
Whose tented peak, suffused with rosy mist,
Blended the colors of the sea and sky
And made the mountain one great amethyst
Hanging against the sunset."
(Edward Rowland Sill.)
Tamalpais (bay mountain), is in Marin County,
five miles southwest of San Rafael; it rises to a
height of 2606 feet above sea level, and dominates
San Francisco Bay and the surrounding country,
offering one of the most magnificent panoramas
of sea and land to be seen anywhere on the earth's
surface. Its name is a compound of two Indian
words, tarnal (bay), and pais (mountain). The
resemblance of the latter word to the Spanish
pais (country), is thought by ethnologists to be
purely accidental.
Dr. Vallejo has an explanation of the meaning
of this word which differs somewhat from the one
given by ethnologists. He says it was originally
called Temel-pa (near the sea), and was corrupted
into its present form by the Spaniards. According
213

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

to Dr. Vallejo, the suffix pa signifies nearness.
(Memoirs of the Vallejos, edited by James H.
Wilkins, San Francisco Bulletin, January, 1914.)
A very remarkable circumstance in the history
of this mountain is the fact that it underwent a
change of position at the time of the great earth
quake of 1906, of course in conjunction with the
entire sheet of the earth's surface upon which it
stands. On 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.
According to the report of the State Earthquake
Investigation Commission, "As a consequence
of the movement, it is probable that the latitudes
and longitudes of all points in the Coast Ranges
have been permanently changed a few feet."
So the old mountain, sitting in Indian stoicism,
indifferent to the storms that sometimes lash its
sturdy sides, the fogs that roll in a white, billowy
sea around its foot, and earthquakes that shift
its latitude and longitude some feet, has very
appropriately received its name from the language
of the aborigines who once dwelt at its base.
214

TAMALPAIS.
* like one great amethyst hanging against the sunset.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

MOUNT DIABLO
Mount Diablo (devil mountain), is an isolated,
conical peak of the Coast Range, in Contra Costa
County, about thirty-eight miles northeast of
San Francisco. It rises 3849 feet above the level
of the sea, and is the most conspicuous land-mark
in the central part of the state. General M. G.
Vallejo tells the following story to account for
the name: "In 1806, a military expedition from
San Francisco marched against a tribe called the
Bolgones, who were encamped at the foot of the
mountain. There was a hot fight, which was won
by the Indians. Near the end of the fight, a
person, decorated with remarkable plumage, and
making strange movements, suddenly appeared.
After the victory, the person, called Puy (evil
spirit), in the Indian tongue, departed toward
the mountain. The soldiers heard that this spirit
often appeared thus, and they named the moun
tain Diablo (devil). These appearances con
tinued until the tribe was subdued by Lieutenant
Moraga, in the same year."
If this be the true story of the naming of Mount
217

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Diablo, and there seems to be no good reason to
doubt it, it is quite likely that the Puy, or devil,
was one of the "medicine men" who played upon
the superstitions of the Indians by pretending
to be the "spirit of the mountain."
It is said by Dr. Vallejo that this mountain
was regarded by the Indians as the home of the
Devil, called in their language Pui, and that the
medicine men claimed to be his agents. (Memoirs
of the Vallejos, edited by James H. Wilkins, San
Francisco Bulletin, January, 1914.)

SAUSALITO
Sausalito (little willow grove), the diminutive
of sausal (willow grove), or, as formerly and offi
cially written, Saucelito (little willow, from sauce),
is on the west shore of the bay, in Marin County,
six miles northwest of San Francisco. This is
one of the delightful suburban towns around the
bay, where business men of San Francisco have
their homes.

218

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

MARIN COUNTY
Of Marin County, separated from San Fran
cisco by the Golden Gate, and noted for the
beauty of its scenery, we get the story from
General M. G. Vallejo. It appears that in 1815
or '16, an exploring party from San Francisco had
a fight with the Licatiut tribe, so-called from a
certain root used by them as food, especially in
the Petaluma Valley. During this fight the chief
was captured and carried to San Francisco, but
afterwards escaped, and kept up constant hos
tilities in Petaluma Valley. He was finally con
verted to Christianity, and did good service for
the whites as ferryman on the bay, and on account
of his skill in navigating these waters, they called
him El Mariner 0 (the sailor); it is thought that
the name of Marin County is a corruption of
this word. El Marinero died at the mission of
San Rafael in 1834.

219

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

TIBURON
Tiburon (shark), is on the Marin County shore,
opposite San Francisco. It has been facetiously
suggested that this name may have been derived
from "sharks" of the land variety, but it probably
came from some story connected with those of
the sea.

SAN RAFAEL
Even in this land, so prodigal with its flowers
from its northern to its southern borders, San
Rafael, the county-seat of Marin County, fifteen
miles north of San Francisco, is notable for the
exceeding beauty of its gardens, where the lily
and the rose bloom from year's end to year's
end. Its patron, St. Raphael, "is considered the
guardian angel of humanity. He was the herald
who bore to the shepherds the 'good tidings of
great joy which shall be for all people', and is
especially the protector of the young, the pil-
220

THE MISSION OF SAN RAFAEL, FOUNDED IN 1817.
* * * where the lily and the rose bloom from year's end to year's end.''

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

grim and the traveler." The "herald of great
joy" seems peculiarly fitting as the protector of
a place where nature has done so much for the
"joy of living."
The mission of San Rafael Arcangel (St. Raphael
the Archangel), founded in 1817, has now dis
appeared, not a vestige remaining of it.
A spur of the Coast Range in Southern Cali
fornia bears the name of the San Rafael Mountains.

BENICIA
Benicia (a surname), is the name of a town in
Solano County, on the north side of Carquinez
Strait, twenty-eight miles northeast of San Fran
cisco. Its story may best be told in the words of
General Sherman, in the following quotation from
his Memoirs : "We found a solitary adobe house,
occupied by Mr. Hastings and his family, em
bracing Dr. Semple, the proprietor of the ferry.
The ferry was a ship's boat, with a lateen sail,
which could carry six or eight horses. It took us
several days to cross over, and during that time
we got well acquainted with the doctor, who was
223

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

quite a character. He was about seven feet high.
Foreseeing, as he thought, a great city on the bay
somewhere, he selected Carquinez Straits as its
location, and obtained from General Vallejo title
to a league of land, on condition of building a city
to bear the name of General Vallejo's wife, Fran-
cisca Benicia. Accordingly, the city was first
called Francisca. At this time, where San Fran
cisco now is was known as Yerba Buena; now some
of the chief men of that place, knowing the im
portance of a name, saw their danger, and so
changed the name to San Francisco. Dr. Semple
was so outraged at their changing the name to
one so nearly like his town that he, in turn,
changed his town's name to the other name of
Mrs. Vallejo, and Benicia it has been to this
day." LAS PULGAS RANCHO
Las Pulgas Rancho (the fleas ranch), is near
Redwood City. The story of 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
224

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

original dwellers in the land. Father Engelhardt,
in his History of the California Missions, describes
their way of living thus: "Their habitations were
primitive, in summer often but a shady spot, or
mere shelter of brush. Their winter quarters con
sisted of a flimsy structure of poles fixed in the
ground, and drawn together at the top, at a height
of ten or twelve feet. The poles were interwoven
with small twigs, and the structure then covered
with tules, or tufts of dried grass. In some places
these dwellings were conical in shape, in others
oblong, and their size ranged according to the
number of people. At a distance they resembled
large bee-hives, or small hay-stacks. On one side
there was an opening for a door, at the top another
for smoke. Here the family, including relatives
and friends, huddled around the fire, without
privacy, beds or other furniture. A few baskets,
a stone mortar or two, weapons, some scanty
rags of clothing, food obtained from the hunt, or
seeds, were kept here. All refuse food and bones
were left where they were dropped, giving the
earth floor the appearance of a dog-kennel. Fleas
and other vermin abounded in this mass of filth,
which soon became too offensive even for savages,
225

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

and they adopted the very simple method of
setting fire to the hut and erecting another."
After reading this description, we are not sur
prised when Father Crespi tells us that, having
arrived at a deserted Indian village, and some of
the soldiers having rashly taken refuge in the huts
for the night, they soon rushed out with cries of
"las pulgas! las pulgas!" (the fleas! the fleas!).
He goes on to say, "for this reason, the soldiers
called it the Rancheria de las Pulgas" (the village
of the fleas), a name borne by the ranch to this
day. La Perouse, in his Voyage Autour du Monde,
says the padres were never able to change this
form of architecture common to the two Cali-
fornias. The Indians said they liked open air,
and that it was convenient, when the fleas became
too numerous, to burn the house and construct
a new one, an argument not without merit.

POINT LOBOS
Point Lobos (seal point, from lobo marino, sea-
wolf), is just outside of the Golden Gate, on the
226

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

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 House.

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Alamo (cottonwood tree), is the name of a
place in Contra Costa County, twenty-four miles
northeast of San Francisco.
Alvarado (a surname), that of one of the first
governors of the state. Alvarado is a village in
Alameda County, on Alameda Creek, twenty-four
miles southeast of San Francisco. Juan Bautista
Alvarado was a central figure in California history.
He was born at Monterey, February 14, 1809,
and from '27 on occupied various official positions,
including that of governor of the state. Bancroft
says of his character and appearance: "In
physique Don Juan Bautista was of medium
stature, stout build, fair complexion, and light
hair; of genial temperament, courteous manners,
and rare powers of winning friends. There was
much in his character to praise, much to condemn.
He was a man of dissipated habits, and engaged
227

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

in intrigues, but in his favor it may be said that
he had more brains, energy and executive ability
than any three of his contemporaries combined;
he was patriotic and with good intentions toward
his country, honorable in private dealings, and
never enriched himself by his intrigues. He was
not personally guilty of having plundered the
missions, only responsible through being governor
at that time. The accusations made against him
of an unjust policy towards foreigners were entire
ly false."
Bolinas, the name of a town in Marin County,
delightfully situated on Bolinas Bay, eighteen
miles northwest of San Francisco. Bolinas is
probably a corruption of Baulines, an Indian word
of unknown meaning. A land grant called Los
Baulines was located at the same place, and was
probably the name of an Indian village.
Point Bonito (pretty point), is the southern
extremity of Marin County, on the north side of
the Golden Gate.
Carquinez is the name of the strait flowing
between the counties of Contra Costa and Solano,
and connects San Pablo Bay with Suisun Bay.
The strait is eight miles long, and at its narrowest
228

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

part nearly a mile wide. All the waters flowing
through the great central valley of the state from
the Sierra Nevada pass through this strait.
According to the scientists the name Carquinez is
derived from Karkin, the name of an Indian
village in that region, but Dr. Vallejo has an
other story. He says the commandant at Mon
terey, who was a man with some classical educa
tion, named it from the Greek word karkin,
crab, because of the report made by the Lieutenant
Vallejo expedition of having found a great number
of little crabs there. (Memoirs of the Vallejos,
edited by James H. Wilkins, San Francisco Bul
letin, January, 1914.)
Contra Costa (opposite coast) , so-called on account
of its original position directly opposite San
Francisco. It should be explained that the name
Contra Costa, which scarcely seems appropriate
in its present application, was originally applied
to the whole of the coast opposite San Francisco.
Afterwards the part directly facing San Francisco
was cut off to form Alameda County, thus des
troying the significance of the name Contra Costa.
Martinez (a surname) , is the name of the county-
seat of Contra Costa County, and is on the south
229

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

shore of Suisun Bay, thirty-six miles northeast of
San Francisco. Ignacio Martinez was a native
of the city of Mexico, born in 177 a. He was a
military officer under the Mexican government in
California, and was commandante at San Fran
cisco from 1822 to '27. Bancroft says of him:
"He was not popular as an officer, being haughty
and despotic, but as a rancher he is spoken of as
a very courteous and hospitable man. The town
of Martinez takes its name from him or his
family." Montara Point and Montara Mountains are in
the western part of San Mateo County. Montara
is a surname.
Olema, said to be an Indian word meaning
"coyote," is the name of a town in Marin County,
one mile from the head of Tomales Bay, and
thirty-five miles northwest of San Francisco.
Pacheco (a surname), that of a pioneer family
of California. The town of Pacheco is in Contra
Costa County, thirty miles northeast of San
Francisco. Although Governor Romualdo
Pacheco, of whom Bancroft says that "his record
as a citizen, in respect of character, attainments
and social standing was a good one," was the most
230

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

prominent member of the family, the town was
not named in his honor, but for Salvio Pacheco,
a man who served in many military and civil
offices. "He spent his life on Mount Diablo
Rancho, on which is the town bearing his name."
Pescadero (fishing place), is in a fertile valley
of San Mateo County, on the coast about forty-
four miles south of San Francisco. There are a
number of Pescaderos in the state.
Pinole is said to be an Aztec word, applied to
any kind of grain or seeds, parched and ground.
Of this flour a very appetizing sort of gruel was
made. The town of Pinole is in Contra Costa
County, twelve miles west of Martinez. It is the
site of extensive powder works. See page 239.
Portola (a surname), is the name of a town in
San Mateo County, and was named in honor of
the celebrated discoverer of San Francisco Bay.
Potrero (pasture ground), is one of the districts
of San Francisco. This is only one of the many
Potreros in the state.
Presidio is a word used by the Spaniards in the
double meaning of prison or military post. It
may be that the custom of using convicts as
soldiers, prevalent with the Spanish, had something
231

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

to do with this double usage of the word. The
Presidio of San Francisco, now a regular military
post of the United States, although still retaining
its Castilian name, is picturesquely and delight
fully situated on the north end of the peninsula.
There is also a government presidio at Monterey.
Point Reyes (kings point), was named by Viz
caino in honor of the "three wise men," or "holy
kings," because it was discovered on the day of
their devotion. This point is in Marin County
and is the outer point of Drake's Bay, where the
noted adventurer is supposed to have made his
anchorage, and where Cermenon was wrecked.
Rodeo (round-up of cattle) . Rodeos were held,
and in some parts of the state still take place, for
the purpose of separating and branding the cattle
belonging to individual owners, an operation
decidedly necessary when pastures were unfenced,
and in early days one of the most picturesque
features of California life. The village of Rodeo
is in Contra Costa County.
San Anselmo (St. Anselm), is in Marin County.
San Bruno, a village near San Francisco, was
named for St. Bruno, the founder and first abbot
of the Carthusian Order. This order of monks
232

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE ¦*$
is among the most severe in its rules, requiring
almost perpetual silence of its members. Its
devotees are only permitted to speak together
once a week. They never eat flesh, and are com
pelled to labor constantly.
San Geronimo (St. Jerome), is the saint usually
pictured as accompanied by a lion, in commemo
ration of the well-known story of the removal of a
thorn from the foot of one of those beasts by
Jerome, and the devotion of the lion to him after
wards. San Geronimo is the name of a small
stream in Marin County, noted for its salmon
fisheries. San Gregorio (St. Gregory), is in San Mateo
County, twenty-four miles southwest of Redwood
City. St. Gregory was a noble Roman who devoted
his wealth to charity, and turned his home into a
hospital and monastery. He was elected to the
high office of Pope, and became the composer
of what is called from him the "Gregorian Chant."
San Leandro (St. Leander), is in Alameda
County, on San Leandro Creek, sixteen miles
southeast of San Francisco. St. Leander was at
one time Bishop of Seville, and is one of the patron
saints of that city. 233

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence), was a saint who
suffered martyrdom by being roasted on a gridiron.
The legend relates that he said to his tormentors,
"I am now sufficiently cooked on this side, turn
me over and roast me on the other." San Lorenzo
is in Alameda County, twenty miles southeast of
San Francisco.
San Mateo (St. Matthew), is the name of a
county bordering on San Francisco Bay, and of a
town on the west shore of the bay, twenty-one
miles south of San Francisco. St. Matthew was a
Hebrew by birth, and the author of the book of
the Scriptures that bears his name.
San Pablo (St. Paul) , is in Contra Costa County,
on San Pablo Bay, fifteen miles northeast of San
Francisco. One of the legends concerning St.
Paul is that "the church called 'San Paolo delle
Tre Fontane,' near Rome, is built over three
fountains which are said to have sprung up at
the three places where the head of St. Paul fell
and bounded, after being cut off by the execu
tioner. It is said that the fountains vary in the
warmth of the water, — the first, or the one where
the head fell, being the hottest; the next, or that
of the first bound, cooler; and the third still cooler."
234

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

San Quentin (properly San Quintin) is a village
in Marin County, on the west shore of San Fran
cisco Bay, eleven miles north of San Francisco.
This place, where the forbidding walls of the
State's Prison shut out the light of California's
glorious sun from the unfortunates enclosed there,
very fittingly bears the name of a saint whose
gloomy story runs thus: "San Quintin was the
son of Zeno. He became converted and gave up a
high command which he held in the Roman army,
in order to preach. He labored especially in
Belgium, and suffered death by being impaled
on an iron spit." — (Stories of the Saints.) It is
probable, however, that the town was not directly
named for this saint, but received the name in
directly from Point Quintin, on the Marin coast,
which was so-called from an Indian chief of that
region who had been thus christened by the
Spaniards.. San Ramon (St. Raymond), is in Contra Costa
County, nine miles east of Haywood. "St. Ray
mond belonged to the Order of Mercy, and
labored for the captives among the Moors. By
the Mahometans, among whom he was long a
captive, for the ransom of his Christian brethren,
235

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

his lips were bored through with a red-hot iron,
and fastened with a padlock," an effective, if
cruel method of preventing him from preaching
the Christian faith.
Siinol (a surname) . Sunol is a town in Alameda
County, thirty-six miles southeast of San Fran
cisco. In Fremont's Memoirs he refers to Don
Antonio Sunol, probably a member of the same
family for whom this town is named.
Tocaloma is a delightful secluded glen and creek
in Marin County, not far north of San Francisco,
where a hunting and fishing preserve is main
tained. The word is Indian, but its meaning has
not been ascertained.
Tomales Bay is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean,
extending southeastward into Marin County.
It is fourteen miles long. The village of Tomales
is on the bay of the same name, fifty-five miles
northwest of San Francisco. The name Tomales
is a Spanish corruption of the Indian tarnal (bay),
a word which came to be applied to the natives
in the neighborhood of San Francisco Bay.
Vallejo (a surname), is the name of a place in
Solano County. The Vallejos were among the most
prominent of the California pioneer families.
236

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

"The founder of the family was Ignacio Vicente
Ferrer Vallejo, born at Jalisco, Mexico, in 1748.
He came of a family of pure Spanish blood, and of
superior education. The most distinguished of
his large family was Mariano Guadalupe, born
at Monterey in 1808. Don Mariano served with
great ability in various capacities under the
Mexican government, and was at one time Com
mandante General of California. He was the
founder of Sonoma, and it was to his untiring
efforts that the development of the north was
largely due. He foresaw the fate of his country,
and finally cast in his lot with the United States,
for which he seems to. have been but ill-repaid.
I have found none among the Californians whose
public record in respect of honorable conduct,
patriotic zeal, executive ability, and freedom from
petty prejudices of race or religion or sectional
politics is more evenly favorable than his." —
(Bancroft.)

237

)NORTH OF

SAN FRANCISCO^

X
NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO
SONOMA
Sonoma, the name of the northern county, and
of the town in the beautiful Sonoma Valley,
forty-five miles north of San Francisco, is of
doubtful origin. It is probable that it comes from
Indian, rather than Spanish sources. In the
native dialect of that region there is the con
stantly recurring ending tso-noma, from tso (the
earth), and noma (village), — hence, tsonoma
(earth village or earth place). The name was
given by missionaries to a chief of the Indians
there, and later applied to all the Indians at the
mission. From Indian sources it seems there was
a captain among them who was commonly called
Sonoma, but who was known by a different name
among his own people. — (University of Cali
fornia Publications in American Archaeology and
Technology.) The name Sonoma is explained in a different
241

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

way by Dr. Vallejo, who says it was named for
an Indian chief called Sono, a word signifying
"nose," given to the chief as his appellation be
cause of the very large development of that
feature of his face. The suffix ma is said by Dr.
Vallejo to mean "valley" or "land," and thus
Sonoma would bear the meaning of "nose valley,"
or "nose land," — (Memoirs of the Vallejos, edited
by James H. Wilkins, San Francisco Bulletin,
January, 1914.)
It has been said that Sonoma means "valley
of the moon," in reference to the shape of the
valley, but there is probably more of poetry than
of truth in this story.
At this place, San Francisco de Solano, the last
of the great chain of missions, was founded
July 4, 1823. The mission buildings have been
put in a fair state of preservation and the church
has been restored by the state.
NAPA
Napa is the name of a county, river and city,
the county adjacent to San Pablo Bay, into which
the river falls. The town is the county-seat of
242

NAPA VALLEY.
" * * * said to have been the cradle of the Suisun race.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Napa County, and is on the river of the same name,
about thirty-nine miles northeast of San Fran
cisco. The Napa Soda Springs are an interesting
natural feature of this place.
Napa, accented in some of the old documents
as Napa, was the name of an Indian tribe who
occupied that valley, said to have been one of the
bravest of the California tribes, and who con
stantly harassed the frontier posts. The entire
tribe was practically wiped out by smallpox in
1838. According to S. A. Barrett, in the University
of California Publications in American Archaeol
ogy and Technology, there is a Porno Indian
word, napa, meaning "harpoon point," between
which and the name of the town of Napa there
may be some connection.
Dr. Vallejo says the suffix pa signifies prox
imity, and that Napa means "near mother," or
"near home," or "mother-land," and that accord
ing to tradition Napa Valley was the cradle of the
Suysun race. — (Memoirs of the Vallejos, edited
by James H. Wilkins, San Francisco Bulletin,
January, 1914.)

245

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

CARNE HUMANA
Among the names of the old Spanish land
grants are many that hold a suggestion of inter
esting and sometimes tragic tales, now lost in the
dim shadows of the past. Of such is Carne
Humana (human flesh), the name of a grant in
Napa County, near St. Helena. This spot may
have been the scene of one of those horrible acts
of cannibalism to which the Indians of the entire
Southwest were quite generally addicted. Cap
tain Fages, in his diary of one of the expeditions
to San Francisco Bay, mentions that this practice
prevailed among the Indians of that region to a
certain extent, but seems to have been confined
to the eating of the bodies of enemies slain in
battle, and only the relatives of the slayer were
permitted to take part in the abhorrent feast.
SANTA ROSA
Santa Rosa (St. Rose), the county-seat of
Sonoma County, is fifty-seven miles northwest of
San Francisco. 246

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

An interesting story is told of Santa Rosa de
Lima, said to be the only canonized female saint
of the New World. She was born at Lima, in
Peru, and was distinguished for her hatred of
vanity, and her great austerity, carrying these
characteristics to such an extreme that she des
troyed her beautiful complexion with a compound
of pepper and quicklime. When her mother
commanded her to wear a wreath of roses, she so
arranged it that it was in truth a crown of thorns.
Her food consisted principally of bitter herbs, and
she maintained her parents by her labor, working
all day in her garden and all night with her needle.
The legend relates that when Pope Clement X
was asked to canonize her, he refused, exclaiming:
"India y Santa! Asi como Uneven rosasl" (An
Indian woman a saint! That may happen when
it rains roses!) Instantly a shower of roses began
to fall in the Vatican, and did not cease until the
Pope was convinced of his error. This saint is the
patroness of America, and is represented as wear
ing a thorny crown, and holding in her hand the
figure of the infant Jesus, wliich rests on full
blown roses. — (Stories of the Saints.)

247

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

MENDOCINO COUNTY
Mendocino County, in the northwestern part of
the state, is distinguished for its extensive forests
of redwoods. The main belt of these trees
extends through this county, and they may here
be seen in their highest development. They vary
in height from ioo to 340 feet, and reach a diam
eter of from two to sixteen feet, having a red,
fibrous bark sometimes a foot in thickness. Not
withstanding their great size, the delicacy of their
foliage, which takes the form of flat sprays, gives
them a graceful, fern-like appearance. The age
of mature redwoods is said to range from 500 to
1300 years. The special characteristics of the
wood of these trees are, its durability when buried
in the soil, and its resistance to fire. Commer
cially it is valuable for many purposes, being pre
ferred to steel for water supply conduits, and, in
the form of saw-dust, found to be better than
cork for packing fresh grapes. — (Notes from The
Trees of California, by Professor Willis Linn
Jepsen, of the University of California.)
Probably the first written mention of these
248

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

trees occurs in the diary of Gaspar de Portola, the
discoverer of San Francisco Bay, whose attention
was attracted to them while on his way up the
coast, and from whom they received the name of
palo Colorado (redwood). Altogether, the credit
of their discovery seems to belong to Portola,
although it has been given by some persons to
Archibald Menzies, who wrote a description of
the trees in 1795.
The village of Mendocino is on the coast, about
130 miles northwest of San Francisco. The name
was first applied to the cape, which was discovered
by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, in 1542, and named
by him for Don Antonio de Mendoza, first viceroy
of New Spain. KLAMATH
Klamath is the name of a village in Humboldt
County, but is particularly known as applied to
the Klamath River, which flows in a deep and
narrow canyon through the counties of Siskiyou
and Humboldt.
The word, in its different forms of Klamath,
Tlametl, and Clamet, is the name by which these
249

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Indians were known to the Chinooks, and through
them to the whites, their proper designation in
their own language being Lutuami. — (Bancroft's
Native Races, Vol. i, page 444.)
The meaning of the word has not been posi
tively ascertained, although it is thought by
ethnologists to be a possible corruption of Maklaks
(people, community, — literally, the encamped).
The Klamaths were a hardy people, who had
many slaves captured from other tribes. The
slave trade seems to have been carried on quite
extensively among the California Indians.

MODOC COUNTY
Modoc, the county in the northeastern corner
of the state, is notable as having been the home
of the only California tribe that ever caused
serious trouble to the United States Government.
The Modoc wars are a matter of history.
The Modocs were a fierce tribe of Indians who
lived at the head-waters of Pit River, and the
name is thought by some persons to mean "head
of the river," or "people, community," but
250

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

ethnologists are of the opinion that it means
"south people," probably used by tribes living
north of the Modocs. Bancroft, quoting from
Steele, in Indian Affairs Report of 1864, page 121,
says: "The word Modoc is a Shasta Indian word,
and means all distant, stranger, or hostile Indians,
and became applied to this tribe by white men in
early days from hearing the Shastas refer to them
by this term." It does not appear that Bancroft
had any genuine scientific authority for this
statement. Powers, in his Tribes of California, states that
some persons derive this name from Mo-dok-us,
the name of a former chief of the tribe under
whose leadership they seceded from the Klam
ath Lake Indians and became an independent
tribe. As it was common for seceding bands to
assume the name of their leader, Powers is inclined
to accept this explanation of the name.

SHASTA
To account for the name Shasta, a number of
theories have been advanced, no one of which
251

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

seems to be positively established. According
to the Bureau of Ethnology, "Shasta may be a
corruption of Sus-ti-ka, apparently the name of a
well-known Indian living about 1840 near the
site of Yreka. The name was applied to a group
of small tribes in Northern California, extending
into Oregon, who were soon extinguished by the
development of mining operations."
Bancroft, in his Native Races, says, "Shasta
was apparently the name of a tribe living about
1840 near Yreka, a tribe made up of several
groups. They were a sedentary people, living in
small houses, similar to those in use by the Indians
on the coast immediately to the west. Their food
was made up of acorns, seeds, roots, and fish,
particularly salmon. The salmon was caught by
net, weir, trap, and spear. Their arts were few.
They had dug-out canoes of a rather broad,
clumsy type. The bow 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 form.
The tribe soon succumbed to the unfavorable
environment of the mining camp, and is now
252

MOUNT SHASTA.
its summit glistening with snow and visible at a distance of 140 miles down the valley."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

almost extinct .... The Shasta Indians
were known in their own language as Weohow,
a word meaning 'stone house,' from the large
cave in their country."
"Shas-ti-ka was probably the tribal name of
the Shasta Indians. Wai-re-ka (mountain) was
their name for Mt. Shasta." — (Powers' Tribes of
California.) Another theory advanced is that Shasta is a
corruption of the Russian word tchastal, (white,
or pure mountain), and still another that it comes
from the French chaste, (pure), but it is likely
that its resemblance to these words is purely
accidental, and that its origin is Indian.
Whatever may be the derivation of its name,
there is no question that Mount Shasta, with its
snow-capped summit, has but few rivals for
scenic beauty among its mountain sisterhood.
It is an extinct volcano, with a double peak, and
rises to a height of 14380 feet. There are minor
glaciers on the northern slope. Fremont says of
it: "The Shasta peak stands at the head of the
lower valley, rising from a base of about one
thousand feet, out of a forest of heavy timber.
It ascends like an immense column upwards of
255

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

14000 feet (nearly the height of Mont Blanc),
the summit glistening with snow, and visible,
from favorable points of view, at a distance of 140
miles down the valley."
On a United States map of date of 1848, drawn
by Charles Preuss from surveys made by Fremont
and other persons, the name appears spelled as
Tshastl. Mount Shasta is in Siskiyou County, and is
the most conspicuous natural feature in that
part of the state.

SISKIYOU COUNTY
Except that it is of Indian origin, nothing
authentic has been obtained concerning Siskiyou,
the name of the county in the extreme north of
the state. Several popular theories have been
advanced, one to the effect that Siskiyou means
"lame horse." If that be true the word must have
been introduced into the Indian language after
the coming of the Spaniards, since horses were
unknown to the Indians before that period.
Another story, perhaps more pleasing than true,
256

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

runs as follows: "On the summit of a mountain
in Oregon, just over the divide, there is a beautiful,
level spot, watered by cool springs, which over
looks the country for miles around. Here the
powerful Shasta, Rogue River, and Klamath
tribes used to meet to smoke and indulge in danc
ing and games. They called the place Sis-ki-you,
the 'council ground'."
Siskiyou County is notable for its mountain
scenery, and includes within its borders the
famous Mount Shasta.

TRINITY COUNTY
Trinity County received its name from Trinidad
Bay, which was discovered and named by Captain
Bruno Ezeta, on Trinity Sunday, in the year
1775. Trinidad is the Spanish word meaning
Trinity. Trinity River was so-named through the mis
taken belief that it emptied into Trinidad Bay.
Trinidad is also the name of a village in Hum
boldt County, on the ocean shore, twenty miles
north of Eureka. 257

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

YREKA
Yreka, the name of the county-seat of Siskiyou
County, is an Indian word, of which the spelling
has probably been corrupted, perhaps in a spirit
of facetiousness, from the original Wai-ri-ka to its
present eccentric form. Various theories have been
offered in explanation of the word, but the only
one apparently based on scientific data seems to
be that it means "north place." One writer
advances the whimsical explanation that the word
was formed by the transposition of the letters
in "bakery," but fails to explain what becomes of
the letter "b." This is, of course, but an idle
invention. Yreka is said by Powers, in his Tribes of Cali
fornia, to be the Indian word for "mountain,"
especially applied to Mt. Shasta. Its former
spelling was Wai-ri-ka. Here is a contradiction
between scientists.

258

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Agua Caliente (hot water, hot springs), a village
in Sonoma County, forty-five miles north of San
Francisco. Alturas (heights), the county-seat of Modoc
County, no miles north of Reno.
Point Arena (sandy point), is the name of the
cape on the Mendocino coast, and of the village in
that county, no miles northwest of San Francisco.
Bodega (a surname), that of its discoverer, Don
Juan de la Bodega y Quadra, Captain of the
schooner Sonora, who sailed into Bodega Bay
October 3, 1775. This bay, and the town of
Bodega Roads are in Sonoma County, about
sixty-four miles northwest of San Francisco.
Point Cabrillo (a surname), that of the cele
brated Spanish explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
Calistoga, one of those hybrid words of which
California has too many. This word was the
invention of Samuel Brannan, an early settler,
and is compounded of the first syllable of Cali
fornia and the last of Saratoga. It is given here
lest it be mistaken for Indian or Spanish.
259

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Cazadero (hunting-place).
Chileno (Chilean, native of Chile).
Punta Delgada (thin or narrow point). See
Punta Gorda.
Cape Fortunas (cape fortunes). Fortuna is a
village in Humboldt County, twelve miles south
of Eureka.
Del Norte (of the north), is the name of the
county in the extreme northwestern corner of the
state. Garcia (a surname), the name of a creek in
Mendocino County.
Punta Gorda (thick or broad point). Punta
Gorda and Punta Delgada are adjacent points
on the northern coast whose contrast in shape is
indicated by their names. See Punta Delgada.
Gualala, a village in Mendocino County, forty
miles west of Cloverdale. This is an Indian word,
"probably from walali, a generic term of the Porno
language, signifying the meeting-place of the
waters of any in-flowing stream with those of the
stream into which it flows, or with the ocean.
The present spelling is probably influenced by
the Spanish."— (S. A. Barrett, in California Pub
lications of Archaeology and Ethnology.)
260

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Hoopa, a village in Humboldt County, on the
Trinity River, was named for the Hupa Indians,
a tribe on the lower Trinity River. Hoopa
Mountain was named in the same way.
Point Laguna (lagoon point).
Oro Fino (fine gold), is the name of a village in
Siskiyou County, twenty-five miles southwest of
Yreka. This name is in contrast to the place
called Oro Grande (coarse gold), in the southern
part of the state.
Petaluma, the name of a town in Sonoma
County, forty-two miles northwest of San Fran
cisco. Petaluma was the name of an Indian
village situated near the site of the present town
on a low hill, and according to S. A. Barrett
the word is compounded of peta (flat), and
luma (back), making Petaluma (flat back), but
Dr. Vallejo has another explanation of its mean
ing. He holds that the suffix ma means "valley"
or "land," and that Petaluma is a combination
of three Suysun words, Pe-talu-ma, signifying
"Oh! fair valley," or "Oh! fair land."— (Memoirs
of the Vallejos, edited by James H. Wilkins, San
Francisc Bulletin, January, 1914.)
Porno is northeast of Ukiah. "Pomo was an
261

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Indian village on the east bank of the Russian
River, in the southern end of Potter Valley, a
short distance south of the post-office at Pomo.
The word is an ending, meaning 'people of, village
of'."— (S. A. Barrett.)
Tomales Bay is just north of Drake's Bay, in
Marin County. The word is a Spanish corruption
of the Indian tarnal (bay).
Ukiah is the county-seat of Mendocino County,
and is on the Russian River, no miles northwest
of San Francisco. "The word is said to be derived
from the Indian yokaia, yo (south), and ka-ia
(valley), the name of a village about six miles
southeast of the present town of Ukiah."

262

THE

J CENTRAL VALLEY,

XI
THE CENTRAL VALLEY
TEHAMA COUNTY
Tehama County lies at the extreme northern
end of the great Central Valley of the state.
There is a village of the same name in the county,
on the Sacramento River, twelve miles southeast
of Red Bluff.
The name Tehama was derived from an Indian
tribe, but the meaning of it has not been ascer
tained. Two definitions have been offered, —
"high water," in reference to the overflowing of
the Sacramento River, and "low land," but these
may be among those attempts to account for our
names by making the name fit the circumstances,
a method which has resulted in many errors. All
that can be positively stated is that the word is
of Indian origin. COLUSA
Colusa is a county in the northern part of the
Central Valley, and has a county-seat of the same
265

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

name, situated on the west bank of the Sacra
mento River, sixty-five miles northwest of Sac
ramento. This name appears as Colus on the land grant
located at that place, and is said by Powers, in
his Tribes of California, to be a corruption of
Ko-ru-si, a tribal name, a more reasonable ex
planation than any other that has been offered.
General Will Green, said to have known the tribe
well, was of the opinion that Colusa meant "the
scratchers," in allusion to a strange custom among
these people of scratching one another's faces.
While it is true that the prevalence of this custom
is mentioned by the Spaniards, Captain Fages
referring to it in terms of great distaste, there is
no scientific corroboration of that definition for
the word Colusa. YUBA
Yuba is the name of a county in the Central
Valley, of Yuba City, the county-seat of Sutter
County, and of the Yuba River, which is formed
by the union of three branches rising in the Sierra
Nevada. 266

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

The name Yuba was first applied to the river,
the chief tributary of the Feather. The theory
has been advanced that it received the name of
Uba, or Uva, the Spanish word for grapes, from
an exploring party in 1824, in reference to the
immense quantities of vines loaded with wild
grapes growing along its banks, Uba, becoming
corrupted into Yuba, but Powers, in his Tribes of
California, says Yuba is derived from a tribe of
Maidu Indians named Yu-ba, who lived on the
Feather River. This is probably the true explan
ation of the name. It is to be noted that Fremont,
in his Memoirs, speaks of it as Indian: "We
traveled across the valley plain, and in about
sixteen miles reached Feather River, at twenty
miles from its junction with the Sacramento, near
the mouth of the Yuba, so-called from a village of
Indians who live on it. The Indians aided us
across the river with canoes and small rafts. Ex
tending along the bank in front of the village
was a range of wicker cribs, about twelve feet
high, partly filled with what is there the Indians'
staff of life, acorns. A collection of huts, shaped
like bee-hives, with naked Indians sunning
themselves on the tops, and these acorn
267

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

cribs, are the prominent objects in an Indian
village." YOLO
Yolo is the name of a county in the northern
part of the Central Valley, and of a village near
Woodland. Yolo, or Yoloy, was the name of a Patwin tribe,
and the word is said by the Bureau of Ethnology
to mean "a place abounding with rushes."
In 1884 there were still forty-five of the tribe
living in Yolo County.

SOLANO
This county, situated in the Central Valley,
immediately northeast of San Francisco, was
named, at the request of General Mariano Vallejo,
in honor of an Indian chief of the Suisunes who
had aided him in war against the other natives.
The name of this chief in his own tongue is said
to have been Sem Yeto, "the Fierce one of the
Brave Hand," or Sum-yet-ho, "the Mighty Arm,"
and, judging by the description given of him by
268

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Dr. Vallejo, he must have been a living refutation
of the common belief that the California Indians
were invariably squat and ill-formed, for he was
a splendid figure of a man, six feet, seven inches
in height and large in proportion. He was con
verted to Christianity and received the name of
the celebrated missionary, Francisco Solano, as
well as a grant of land containing 17752 acres,
known as the Suisun Grant.

SUISUN
Suisun Bay is a body of navigable water con
nected with San Pablo Bay by the Carquinez
Strait, and is the outlet of the San Joaquin and
Sacramento Rivers. Suisun City is in Solano
County, on a slough, about fifty miles northeast
of San Francisco. Suisun was the name of an
Indian village on 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 was the home of an important tribe
of Indians who had an interesting and tragic
history. Their religious capital, if such it could
be called, was at Napa, near which place there was
269

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

a certain stone from which they believed one of
their gods had ascended into upper air, leaving
the impress of his foot upon the stone. General
Vallejo says that in 1817 a military expedition
under command of Lieutenant Jose Sanchez
crossed the straits of Carquinez on rafts, for the
double purpose of exploring the country and re
ducing it to Christianity. "On crossing the river
they were attacked by the Suisun tribe, headed
by their chief Malaca, and the Spaniards suffered
considerable loss; the Indians fought bravely,
but were forced to retire to their rancheria, where,
being hotly pursued, and believing their fate
sealed, these unfortunate people, incited by their
chief, set fire to their own rush-built huts, and
perished in the flames with their families. The
soldiers endeavored to stay their desperate reso
lution, in order to save the women and children,
but they preferred this doom to that which they
believed to await them at the hands of their
enemies." The Suisun tribe is now entirely ex
tinct, a large number having been carried off by
a frightful epidemic of smallpox. Dr. Vallejo
states that this tribe, a people described by him as
possessing many attractive qualities, was esti-
270

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

mated by his father to number at least 40,000
persons in 1835. After the great epidemic, which
was brought down by the Russians from the
north, and which lasted during the three consecu
tive years of 1837-38-39, there were barely two
hundred left. Thus the disappearance of the
California Indians was occasioned, not by the
white man's bullets or fire-water, nor even by the
deteriorating influence of a changed mode of
living, nor by the loss of native sturdiness through
an acquired dependence upon the church, but
suddenly and fearfully by the introduction of
the hideous diseases of civilization.

SACRAMENTO
Sacramento County and the city of the same
name, the state capital, situated near the center
of the Great Valley, received their names from
the river, which, following the usual custom of the
Spaniards, was christened first, being named in
honor of the Holy Sacrament.
Captain Moraga first gave the name of Jesus
Maria to the main river, calling the branch
271

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Sacramento, but later the main stream became
known as Sacramento, and the branch as El Rio
de las Plumas (the river of the feathers).

COSUMNE
Cosumne is the name of a village in Sacramento
County, about twenty-two miles southeast of
Sacramento. The Cosumne river rises in El
Dorado County, near the Sierra Nevada, and
enters the Mokelumne about twenty-five miles
south of the city of Sacramento.
Cosumne is an Indian word, said to mean
"salmon," and was taken from the tribe who lived
upon the river. The frequent occurrence of the
ending amni, or umne, in the names of rivers in
the Sierras has led to the mistaken conclusion
that the suffix actually means "river," but we
have the statement of A. L. Kroeber, Professor
of Anthropology in the University of California,
that, "The supposition may be hazarded that the
ending amni, or umne, is originally a Miwok
ending, with the meaning 'people of." Thus the
meaning of Cosumne may be "people of the
272

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

village of Coso," and of Mokelumne, "people of
the village of Mukkel," and so on through all the
names having this ending.
Powers, in his Tribes of California, says Kos-sum-
mi was the Indian word for "salmon," and that
this is the probable origin of the name Cosumne.
The Bureau of Ethnology has an interesting
paragraph on the manners and customs of these
Indians: "They went almost naked; their houses
were of bark, sometimes thatched with grass, and
covered with earth; the bark was loosened from
the trees by repeated blows with stone hatchets,
the latter having the head fastened to the handle
with deer sinews. Their ordinary weapons were
bows and stone-tipped arrows. The women made
finely-woven conical baskets of 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 the sun, and the women had a
ceremony which resembled the 'sun dance' of
the tribes of the upper Missouri. Their dead were
buried in graves in the earth. The tribe is now
practically extinct." — (Quoted from Rice, in
American Anthropology, III, 259, 1890.)
273

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOAQUIN
San Joaquin County, famous for its vast fields
of wheat, is a part of the great Central Valley,
and the river of the same name rises in the Sierras,
flows north-northwest through the valley and
unites with the Sacramento River near its mouth.
The river was named in honor of St. Joachim,
the father of the Virgin. Lieutenant Moraga
first gave the name to a rivulet which springs
from the Sierra Nevada, and empties into Lake
Buena Vista. The river derived its name from
this rivulet.
The rich valley of the San Joaquin, two hundred
miles long and thirty miles wide, with its wide, tree
less expanses where the wild grasses grew rankly,
was once a paradise for game. Fremont says:
"Descending the valley we traveled among mul
titudinous herds of elk, antelope, and wild horses.
Several of the latter which we killed for food were
found to be very fat." Herds of wild horses still
range in California and Nevada, and are some
times captured for sale, fine specimens bringing
high prices. 274

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

STANISLAUS
Stanislaus is the name of the county just south
of San Joaquin, and of one of the tributaries of
the San Joaquin River.
The word Stanislaus is said to be derived from
an Indian chief of that region, who became
Christianized and was baptized under the Spanish
name of Estanislao. He was educated at Mission
San Jose, but became a renegade, and incited his
tribe against the Spaniards. In 1826 he was de
feated in a fierce battle on the banks of the river
now bearing his name.
Fremont thus describes the scenery along the
Stanislaus: "Issuing from the woods, we rode
about sixteen miles over open prairie partly
covered with bunch grass, the timber re-appearing
on the rolling hills of the River Stanislaus,
in the usual belt of evergreen oaks. The level
valley was about forty feet below the up
land, and the stream seventy yards broad,
with the usual fertile bottom land which
was covered with green grass among large
oaks. We encamped in one of these bottoms,
275

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

in a grove of the large white oaks previously
mentioned." MERCED
Merced (mercy), is the name of the county
south of Stanislaus, of its own principal stream,
and of its county-seat. The river was named by
the Spaniards, in honor of the Virgin, El Rio
de Nuestra Senora de la Merced (the river of our
Lady of Mercy). This name was given to the
stream by the Moraga party as an expression of
their joy and gratitude at the sight of its sparkling
waters, after an exhausting journey of forty miles
through a water-less country.
According to Fremont, this stream was called
Auxumne by the Indians: "In about seventeen
miles we reached the Auxumne River, called by
the Mexicans Merced . . We encamped on
the southern side of the river, where broken hills
made a steep bluff, with a narrow bottom. On the
northern side was a low undulating wood and
prairie land, over which a band of about three
hundred elk was slowly coming to water, feeding
as they approached." 276

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

The Merced River is notable in that it flows
along the floor of the Yosemite Valley. Like all
the other streams that have their rise in the
Sierras, its character in its upper and lower
reaches is vastly dissimilar. In the days of its
turbulent youth it is a wild and boisterous stream,
and in the voice of its hissing, roaring waters the
wayfarer hears no sound of "mercy," but after it
makes its tremendous plunge down the western
slope of the Sierras, and debouches upon the floor
of the valley, it takes on a serene air of maturity,
and widens into a placid river, its current flowing
sluggishly between low, level banks.
MADERA COUNTY
Madera (wood, timber), is the name of the
county to the southwest of Stanislaus. It occupies
a stretch of fertile land, and was called Madera
by the Spaniards on account of its heavy growth
of timber. FRESNO COUNTY
Fresno (ash- tree), so-called in reference to the
abundance of those trees in that region, is the
277

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

name of a county in the San Joaquin Valley, in
the heart of the grain and fruit country. Raisins
and wine are its especial products. Its capital
city and principal stream also bear the name of
Fresno. KINGS COUNTY
This county, now appearing under its English
form, originally received its name from the river,
which was discovered by a Spanish exploring
party in 1805, and called by them El Rio de los
Santos Reyes (the river of the Holy Kings), in
honor of the "three wise men."
A considerable part of the area of this county
was at one time covered by Tulare Lake, but the
shrinkage of that body of water through the with
drawal of its sources of supply have added nearly
the whole of the territory occupied by its waters
to the arable land of the county. This subject
is further discussed under the head of Tulare.
The river seems to have been known at one time
as the Lake Fork, by which name Fremont men
tions it in the following paragraph: "We crossed
an open plain still in a southeasterly direction,
278

EL RIO DE LOS SANTOS REYES (THE RIVER OF
THE HOLY KINGS).
"... named in honor of the three wise men."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

reaching in about twenty miles the Tulare Lake
river. This is the Lake Fork, one of the largest
and handsomest streams in the valley, being
about one hundred yards broad, and having per
haps a larger body of fertile lands than any of the
others. It is called by the Mexicans El Rio de
los Reyes. The broad alluvial bottoms were well
wooded with several species of oaks. This is the
principal affluent of the Tulare Lake, a strip
of water which receives all the rivers in the
upper or southern end of the valley."

TULARE COUNTY
Tulare (place of tules, or rushes), is the name of a
county in the south-central part of the state, of
Tulare Lake in Kings County, and of a town in
the San Joaquin Valley. The county is remarkable
for the high mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada,
on its northeast border. Among these is Mount
Whitney, about 14500 feet in height.
Tulare Lake, in Kings County, at one time filled
a shallow depression about thirty miles in length,
and received through a number of small streams
281

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

the drainage from the southern part of the Sierra
Nevada, soon losing the greater part of this
water by evaporation. It is now practically dry,
as a result of the withdrawal for irrigation pur
poses of Kings and Kern Rivers, and the terri
tory formerly covered by it has been to a great
extent placed under cultivation. The lake was
discovered in 1773 by Commandant Fages,
while hunting for deserters from the presidio at
Monterey, and called by him Los Tules (the
rushes), from the great number of those plants
with which it was filled. In 1813 Captain Moraga
passed through the valley of this lake, and named
it Valle de los Tules (valley of the rushes).

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Acampo (common pasture), is the name of a
village in San Joaquin County. See Final Index.
Arroyo Buenos Aires (creek of the good airs),
is in San Joaquin County.
Caliente (hot), is the name of a town in Kern
County. Chico (little), is the name of a town in Butte

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

County, ninety-six miles north of Sacramento.
This place derives its name from the Rancho
Chico (the little ranch), of which General John
Bidwell was the original grantee. The Arroyo
Chico and the town both took their names from
the ranch. — (Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
Chowchilla, a large ranch in the San Joaquin
Valley, takes its name from the Chowchilla
Indians, a branch of the Moquelumnan family.
Fremont refers to this name under a somewhat
different spelling: "The springs and streams
hereabout were waters of the Chauchiles and
Mariposas Rivers, and the Indians of this village
belonged to the Chauchiles tribe."
Dos Palos (two sticks, or trees), is in Merced
County, twenty miles southwest of Merced.
Esparto (feather-grass), is a town in Yolo
County. Esperanza (hope), is in Kings County, west of
Lake Tulare.
Hornitos (httle ovens), is in Mariposa County,
sixteen miles northwest of Mariposa. An attempt
has been made to account for this name as a
reference to the intense heat sometimes prevalent
in that region, but the probable origin of the
283

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

name is that given by Mr. J. P. Gagliardo, a
resident of the place, who says it was derived
"from a number of hornitos built here by the
first settlers, who located here about the early
fifties." Homos (ovens), of brick and adobe,
built out-of-doors, and used to bake the bread
for several families, were in very common use
among the first Spanish settlers of California.
Ovens were also used by the Indians, for, instead
of eating their food raw or imperfectly cooked,
they used quite elaborate methods in its prepara
tion. Their ovens are thus described in the
Handbook of American Indians, by Dr. Pliny E.
Goddard, of the American Museum of Natural
History: "The pit oven, consisting of a hole
excavated in the ground, heated with fire, and
then filled with food, which was covered over and
allowed to cook, was general in America, though
as a rule it was employed only occasionally, and
principally for cooking vegetal substances. This
method of cooking was found necessary to render
acrid or poisonous foods harmless, and starchy
foods saccharine, and as a preliminary in drying
and preserving food for winter use. Most of the
acorn-consuming Indians of California cooked
284

IN THE SIERRA NEVADAS.
"East Vidette, the Alps of the King-Kern divide.

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

acorn mush in small sand-pits. The soap-root
was made palatable by cooking it in an earth-
covered heap. The Hupa 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 is then drawn, the pit lined with leaves
of wild grape and wood sorrel to improve the
flavor of the bulbs, and a quantity of the bulbs
thrown in; leaves are then placed on top, the
whole is covered with earth, and a big fire built
on top." Mr. Charles B. Turrill states that "the
meal of the ground acorns was placed in shallow
hollows in the sand and water poured on it, by
which means the bitter principle was leached out.
Then the meal was placed in baskets and cooked
by putting hot stones therein. The cooking was
done in the basket, not in the sand." Other
Indians used pit ovens for baking clams, and the
Panamints of California roasted cactus joints
and mescal in pits. The Pueblo Indians used
dome-shaped ovens of stone plastered with clay,
a form that may have been imitated by the
Spaniards, since their ovens were of that char
acter. 287

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Modesto (modest), is the county-seat of Stanis
laus County, and is thirty miles south of Stockton.
According to residents of this town, "The place
was first named Ralston in the year 1870, in
honor of Mr. Ralston, who was then a very
prominent resident of San Francisco, and presi
dent of the Bank of California. He was so modest
that he preferred that some other name be
adopted, so the name was changed to Modesto."
If this be the true story, it was surely a unique
reason for the naming of a town.
Oroville (goldtown), is a hybrid word made up
of the Spanish oro (gold), and the French ville
(town). Oroville is the county-seat of Butte
County, and is on the Feather River, in the heart
of a mining and fruit region.
Rio Vista (river view), is in Solano County, on
the Sacramento River. Modern. Incorrect con
struction. It should be Vista del Rio.
Tehachapi, an Indian word of which the mean
ing has not been ascertained, is the name of the
mountain pass in Kern County across the Sierra
Nevada, of which it approximately marks the
southern limit, and of a town in the same county,
thirty-five miles southeast of Bakersfield.

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

"In the famous Tahichapah Pass was a tribe
called by themselves Ta-hi-cha-pa-han-na, and
by the Kern Indians Ta-hich. This tribe is now
extinct." — (Powers' Tribes of California.)
Vacaville is situated in a beautiful and fertile
valley in Solano County. It received its name
from a family named Vaca, who were at one time
prominent in that region. Manuel Vaca, the
founder of the family, was a native of New
Mexico, and came to California in 1841. "He
was a hospitable man of good repute."

289

A_

fm^HE

XII
IN THE SIERRAS
THE SIERRA NEVADA
The Sierra Nevada Mountains, California's
wonder-land, derive their name from sierra (saw),
and nevada (snowy), — descriptive of the saw-
toothed outlines of the summits of the range, and
the mantle of perpetual snow that covers the
highest tops.
The term Sierra Madre, absurdly translated by
some persons as "Mother of Christ," means, of
course, "Mother Sierra," that is, the largest
mountain range personified as the mother of the
smaller ranges.
"The Sierra Nevada is generally considered to
extend from Tehachapi Pass in the south to
Lassen Peak in the north, and constitutes the
dividing ridge between the great basin on the
east, to which it falls abruptly, and the San
Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys on the west.
It is characterized by deep and narrow valleys,
293

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

with almost vertical walls of rock thousands of
feet in height, and its scenery is of surpassing
grandeur, much more imposing than that of the
Rockies. Many of its higher summits are cov
ered with perpetual snow." — (Lippincott's
Gazetteer.)
PIT RIVER
Among the many tributary streams that carry
the waters of the Sierra Nevada down the western
slope into the Sacramento, the Pit, often incor
rectly spelled Pitt, is one of the most important,
and, although not properly belonging in these
pages, is included for the sake of the information
to be gained concerning Indian customs.
The natives along this river were in the habit
of digging pits near the banks to catch bear and
deer, and, on occasion, even their human enemies.
The pits were dug in the regular trails of animals,
twelve to fourteen feet deep, conical in shape,
with a small opening at the top, covered with
brush and earth. Signs, such as broken twigs,
were placed as a warning to their own people,
and sharp stakes were placed in the bottom to
294

IN THE HIGH SIERRAS.
'Above the snow line, south from Mount Brewer."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

impale any creature that might fall in. Another
account of this custom is given in Miller's Life
Among the Modocs: "Pits from ten to fifteen feet
deep were dug, in which natives caught man and
beast. These man-traps, for such was their
primary use, were small at the mouth, widening
toward the bottom, so that exit was impossible,
even were the victim to escape impalement upon
sharpened elk and deer horns, which were favor
ably placed for his reception. The opening was
craftily concealed by means of light sticks, over
which earth was scattered, and the better to
deceive the unwary, travelers' footprints were
frequently stamped with a moccasin in the loose
soil." It was from these Indian pits that the
river received its name.

PLUMAS
Plumas (feathers), is the name of a county in
the northeastern part of the state. It is drained
by the Feather River, which flows through one
of the deepest and most picturesque canyons in
California. The county is characterized by its
297

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

wild and rugged scenery, its deep canyons and
extensive forests of evergreen trees. In the
northwest corner Lassen Peak, now an active
volcano, rises to a height of 10437 feet-
The county derives its name from its principal
stream, which now appears under its English
form of The Feather, but which was originally
named El Rio de las Plumas (the river of the
feathers), by Captain Luis A. Argiiello, who led
an exploring party up the valley in 1820, and
whose attention was attracted by the great num
ber of feathers of wild fowl floating on the sur
face of the river. Even to this day the valley of
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 the
season. By an inconsistency, the county has
retained the original Spanish name, Plumas,
while that of the river has been Americanized.
An erroneous and extremely far-fetched expla
nation 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.

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

THE AMERICAN RIVER
The American River, another of the names
which have been translated from the original
Spanish, is formed by three forks rising in the
Sierra Nevada, and empties into the Sacramento
at the site of the city of that name. The three
branches forming it run in deep canyons, some
times two thousand feet in depth, and the scen
ery along its course is of a rugged and striking
character. The river was originally called El Rio de los
Americanos (the river of the Americans), prob
ably from the presence on its banks of a company
of western trappers, who lived there from 1822 to
1830, and not "because it was the usual route of
travel by which Americans entered the state,"
as is stated by Bancroft and others.
In Fremont's time it was still known by its
Spanish name, by which he refers to it in the
following paragraph: "Just then a well-dressed
Indian came up, and made his salutations in very
well-spoken Spanish. In answer to our inquiries
he informed us that we were upon the Rio de los
299

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Americanos, and that it joined the Sacramento
River about ten miles below. Never did a name
sound more sweetly! We felt ourselves among
our countrymen, for the name of American, in
these distant parts, is applied to the citizens of
the United States."

EL DORADO COUNTY
El Dorado (the gilded man). Although it is
known to most people, in a vague, general
way, that the name El Dorado was given to
this county on account of the discovery of
gold there, the romantic tales connected with
the name are probably not so well known. The
Indians of Peru, Venezuela, and New Granada,
perhaps in the hope of inducing their oppressors
to move on, were constantly pointing out to the
Spaniards, first in one 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
odorous resin. Each evening he washed it off,
as it incommoded his sleep, and each morning
300

EL RIO DE LAS PLUMAS (FEATHER RIVER).
'To this day the valley of the Feather is a favorite haunt for wild
ducks and geese."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

had the gilding process repeated. From this
fable the white men were led to believe that
the country must be rich in gold, and long,
costly, and fruitless expeditions were under
taken in pursuit of this phantom of El Dorado.
In time the phrase El Dorado came to be ap
plied to regions where gold and other precious
metals were thought to be plentiful. According
to General Vallejo, one Francisco Orellana, a
companion of the adventurer Pizarro, wrote a
fictitious account of an El Dorado in South
America, "a region of genial clime and never-
fading verdure, abounding in gold and precious
stones, where wine gushed forth from never-
ceasing springs, wheat fields grew ready-baked
loaves of bread, birds already roasted flew among
the trees, and nature was filled with harmony
and sweetness." Although old Mother Nature
has not yet provided us with "bread ready-baked"
or "birds ready- roasted" in California, her gifts
to her children have been so bountiful that they
may almost be compared to the fabulous tales of
El Dorado, the gilded man.

303

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

PLACER COUNTY
Placer, the county in the Sierras famous for
its surface gold-mining, has a puzzling name for
which no satisfactory explanation has yet been
found. Although it has been used m Spanish
countries for centuries in the sense of surface
mining, dictionaries remain silent upon the sub
ject. The theory often advanced that the word
is a contraction of plaza de oro (place of gold),
bears none of the marks of probability, and
another that it means "a river where gold is
found" is not supported by adequate authority.
One old Spanish dictionary gives the meaning
of placer as "a sea bottom, level and of slight
depth, of sand, mud, or stone," and states also
that the word is sometimes used to designate
places where pearl diving is carried on. It may
be that the word was extended from this usage
to include placer mining, since in that case the
gold is found in shallow pockets near the surface.
This theory is offered here as a mere suggestion.
Placer County has some of the most striking
mountain scenery in the state, and has been the
3°4

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

theatre of many remarkable events in its history,
particularly those connected with the "days of
'49." In the town of Placerville, the county-seat
of El Dorado County, there is an instance of a
change of name from English to Spanish for the
better, for this place was originally called Hang-
town, in commemoration of the hanging of certain
'bad men" on a tree there.

THE TRUCKEE RIVER
The Truckee River rises on the borders of
El Dorado and Placer Counties, and is the outlet
of Lake Tahoe, discharging its waters into Pyra
mid Lake in Nevada. This mountain stream is
justly celebrated for the wild charm of its scenery.
There is a village bearing the same name, in
Nevada County, well-known to travelers through
being on the regular route to Tahoe. At this
place winter sports, tobogganing, skiing, skating,
etc., are provided for San Franciscans, who need
to travel but a few hours to exchange their clime
of eternal spring for the deep snows of the Sierras.
The explanation generally accepted for the
3°5

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

name of Truckee is that it was so-called for an
Indian, by some accounts described as a Canadian
trapper, who guided a party of explorers in 1844
to its lower crossing, where the town of Wads
worth now stands. The party, who were suffering
from thirst, felt themselves to be under such
obligations to the Indian for having guided them
to this lovely mountain stream, with its crystal
waters and abundance of fish, that they gave it
his name. Of this Indian it is said that "he joined
Fremont's battalion, and was afterwards known
as Captain Truckee; he became a great favorite
with Fremont, who gave him a Bible. When he
died he asked to be buried by white men in their
style. The miners dug a grave near Como, in
the croppings of the old Goliah ledge. Here he
was laid to rest, with the Bible by his side." —
(History of Nevada County.)

LAKE TAHOE
Tahoe is another of the Indian names whose
meaning can not be ascertained with any degree
of certainty. The definition "Big Water," the
306

EL RIO DE LOS AMERICANOS (AMERICAN RIVER).
"It runs in deep canyons and the scenery along its course is rugged and striking."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

one usually given, is considered doubtful by
ethnologists. The statement has been made by
intelligent Indians now living on the banks of
the lake that the word, pronounced Dd-o by them,
means "deep" and "blue." Yet it is much to
know that this pearl among all lakes has at least
been fortunate enough to receive an indigenous
name, escaping by a narrow margin the ignomini
ous fate of being called Lake Bigler, for a former
governor of the state. It appears that Fremont
was the first to give to this body of water a name,
and it is shown upon his map under the rather
indefinite title of Mountain Lake. Afterward it
was known for a short time as Lake Bigler. The
story goes that in 1859 Dr. Henry de Groot, while
exploring the mountains, learned that tah-oo-ee
meant "a great deal of water," and from this
Tahoe was evolved as an appropriate name, but
did not become attached to the lake until the
period of the Civil War. During that time the
Reverend Thomas Starr King, the famous "war"
clergyman of San Francisco, visited the lake, and
inspired by indignation against the Democratic
Governor Bigler, whom he regarded as a secession
ist, he definitely christened it Tahoe, for which we
3°9

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

may be grateful to his memory, regardless of the
motives by which he was actuated.
Tahoe is partly in Placer, and partly in El
Dorado, at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada,
a portion of its waters also extending into the
state of Nevada. It is twenty-two miles long and
ten wide, and has an elevation of 6225 feet above
sea level. It is especially remarkable for its great
depth, being over 1500 feet deep.

AMADOR COUNTY
Amador (literally "lover"), but in this case a
surname. Amador is the long, narrow county
lying between Calaveras and El Dorado, and was
probably named in honor of the Amador family,
either Don Pedro Amador, or his son, Jose Maria.
Pedro Amador is said to have been a "soldier of
fortune" in the Spanish army, who came to Cali
fornia in 1 77 1. His son, Jose Maria, was also a
soldier and a renowned Indian fighter, and was
known to be living as late as ii

310

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

CALAVERAS
Calaveras (skulls), is the name of a county in
the central part of the Sierra Nevada, on the
eastern border. This county is famous for its
gold and copper mines, and its Giant Sequoias.
The river, to which the name of Calaveras was
first given, rises in the foothills of the Sierra
Nevada and flows southwest, emptying into the
San Joaquin about fifteen miles below Stockton.
The river received its rather lugubrious name
at the hands of Captain Moraga, who led the
first expedition up the Sacramento and San
Joaquin rivers. In his diary, Moraga says that
the river tribes fought against those of the Sierra
for possession of the salmon in the stream, and
that in one battle as many as three thousand
were said to have been killed and left on the
field. A great number of skulls, relics of this
bloody conflict, were found by Moraga scattered
along the creek bed, and caused him to give it the
name of Las Calaveras. We find in Fremont a
corroborating reference to the salmon as a cause
of dissension among the Indians of that region:
3"

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

'This fish had a large share in supporting the
Indians, who raised nothing, but lived on what
nature gave. A 'salmon water,' as they named it,
was a valuable possession to a tribe or village,
and jealously preserved as an inheritance."
Particular interest was aroused in the Indian
relics of this county some years ago by the finding
of the celebrated "Calaveras skull," purporting
to have been taken from the Tertiary deposit,
a stratum in which no human remains had ever
before been discovered. A close examination into
the circumstances, however, caused scientists to
look with great doubt upon the assertion that the
skull had been taken from the Tertiary deposit.
In the Handbook of American Indians, published
by the Smithsonian Institute, the following
reference appears: "Remains of aborigines are
plentiful in this county, embedded in ancient
river gravels, from which gold was washed. By
some scientists these remains were thought to
belong to the Tertiary Age, but their resemblance
to the modern Indian makes this doubtful. The
Calaveras skull, still preserved in the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, was said to have come
312

SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE.
" * * * pearl among all lakes.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

from the gravels of Bald Mountain, at a depth of
130 feet, but there are good reasons for suspect
ing that it was derived from one of the limestone
caves so numerous in that region."

TUOLUMNE
Tuolumne is the name of the county in the
Sierras just east of Calaveras, and of the river
which rises at the base of the Sierra Nevadas, and
flows into the San Joaquin, twenty-five miles
south of Stockton, a part of its course running
through a deep canyon.
Here we have another of the river names ending
in umne, already discussed under the heading of
Cosumne. As stated before, umne probably means
"people of," and it is held by some authorities
that the meaning of Tuolumne is "people of the
stone houses, or caves." Bancroft maintains
this theory, holding that the name is a corruption
of talmalamne, "a group of stone huts or caves, or
collection of wigwams." Objection has been
raised to this theory on the ground that the
Indians of California were not cave-dwellers, but
315

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

universally lived in flimsy huts made of sticks
and grass. This objection is cleared away in some
measure by a very interesting paragraph in the
diary of Padre Pedro Mufioz, who accompanied
the Gabriel Moraga expedition of 1806 into that
region. The passage in question relates: "On
the morning of this day, the expedition went
toward the east along the banks of the river, and
having traveled about six leagues, we came upon
a village called Tautamne. This village is situated
on some steep precipices, inaccessible on account
of their rough rocks. The Indians live in their
sotanos (cellars or caves); they go up and come
down by means of a weak stick, held up by one
of themselves while the one who descends slips
down. They did not wish to come down from
their hiding-places, and for me the ascent was too
difficult. This village probably has about two hun
dred souls, judging by the considerable mass which
we repeatedly made out among the rocks and cor
ridors [or ledges], in the manner of balconies,
which the precipice made." This meeting with
the cave-dwellers occurred at a spot about six
leagues from the Guadalupe River, after the
expedition had left the Merced. It is not, of
316

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

course, to be inferred from this circumstance that
the California Indians were genuine "cliff dwell
ers," but rather that, at least in the mountainous
parts of the state, they may have had the habit
of taking refuge in natural caves from inclement
weather or attacks of enemies.
As to the pronunciation of the word, it is said
that the Indians called it Tu-ah-lum-ne, rather
than Tuolumne, which is the general usage.

MARIPOSA
Mariposa (butterfly), is famous as the county
that holds within its borders two of the wonders
of the earth, the Yosemite Valley and the Giant
Sequoias. Some of these trees are three hundred
feet high, thirty feet in diameter, and 2400 years
old, having unfolded their feathery fronds before
Christ came upon the earth. According to Pro
fessor Jepsen, "they are the direct descendants
of the species dominant in the Tertiary Period,"
and thus are a living reminder of the plant life of
that dim and distant past of which the animal
life is pictured for us in the fossil remains of the
317

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

mammoth and saber- tooth tiger of the La Brea
asphalt beds.
Nearly every writer who has attempted to
account for the name Mariposa has fallen into
the error of ascribing it to the charming little
flower called the Mariposa lily. Fremont, with
his intense appreciation of the beauty of the wild
flowers covering the whole country with a carpet
of many hues at the time of his passage over the
Sierra, says: "On some of the higher ridges were
fields of a poppy which, fluttering and tremulous
on its long thin stalk, suggests the idea of a
butterfly settling on a flower, and gives to this
flower its name of Mariposa (butterflies) , and the
flower extends its name to the stream." It is
almost a pity to demolish such a pretty story, yet
it is unavoidable, for the true explanation is at
hand in the diary of Padre Munoz, who accom
panied the Gabriel Moraga expedition of 1806
into the Sierra. He says: "This spot [not far
from the Merced river], was called Las Mari
posas (the butterflies), on account of their great
multitude, especially at night and in the morning,
so much so that they became excessively annoy
ing, carrying their desire to hide from the rays of
318

MARIPOSA SEQUOIAS.
of these unfolded their feathery fronds before Christ came upon the earth."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

the sun so far that they followed us everywhere,
and one even entered into the ear of one of the
leaders of the expedition, causing him a great deal
of annoyance, and not a little trouble in getting
it out." This story is corroborated by the fact
that at the present day equally great numbers of
butterflies, equally annoying, swarm through the
mountain forests during a certain part of the
autumn. YOSEMITE
Yosemite (grizzly bear, not large grizzly bear,
according to the scientists), said to have been
called Yohamite by the natives, is one of the few
Indian names whose meaning has been ascer
tained with a reasonable degree of certainty.
It must be remembered that Yosemite, like most
Indian words, has been greatly corrupted from
its original form, which was u-zu-mai-ti, o-so-
mai-ti or uh-zu-mai-ti, according to the tribe using
it, and the valley was never known by this name
to the Indians, but always as A-wa-ni, from the
name of their principal village. Considering the
great alteration of the name from its native form,
321

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

it does not seem to be a matter of vital importance
whether it shall now be used as one word, Yosem
ite, or in two words, Yo Semite, although the
latter form was at one time the more general
usage, and is greatly preferred by some persons.
The valley was discovered in 185 1 by Major
James D. Savage of the United States army, while
chasing the Indians, who had a bad habit of
sallying forth from their hiding-place in the
valley to commit depredations. The name was
chosen by Dr. L. H. Bunnell, surgeon of the ex
pedition, who tells the story in his Discovery of
the Yosemite. He gave it the name of an Indian
tribe living there and to whom this name
had been given by other tribes, they calling
themselves Ah-wah-nce. Their chief, Ten-ei-ya,
said that when he was a young man the name
Yosemite, or Yohamite, had been chosen because
the tribe lived in the mountains and valleys which
were the favorite resorts of the bears, and because
his people were expert in killing them. He also
said, perhaps in a spirit of boasting, that the name
was bestowed upon his tribe to express the idea
that they were held in as much fear as the bears.
This band of Indians was said to have been
322

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

originally composed of outlaws or refugees from
other tribes, and may have well deserved their
evil reputation.
Indian names, few of which can be scientifically
defined, have been given to many peaks and water
falls in the valley. In the folder printed by the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company more or less
fanciful definitions are given for these names, for
which there is no foundation in fact except in the
case of Yosemite itself and Hunto, which really
does mean "eye," though not "watching eye."
Tenaya Peak was probably named for the Yosem
ite chief, Ten-ei-ya. The definition of Pi-wa-ack
as "cataract of diamonds" is absurd on its face,
for a moment's thought will remind any one that
diamonds were wholly unknown to the Indians
of that time and place.
"Ma-ta (the canyon), a generic word, in explain
ing which the Indians held up both hands to de
note perpendicular walls." — (Powers' Tribes of
California.) "Tis-se-yak is the name of an Indian woman who
figured in a legend. The Indian woman cuts her
hair straight across the forehead and allows the
sides to drop along her cheeks, presenting a square
323

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

face, which the Indians account the acme of
female beauty, and they think they discover this
square face in the vast front of South Dome." —
(Powers' Tribes of California.)
Cho-ko-nip-o-deh, translated as "baby basket"
in the Southern Pacific folder, means literally
"dog-place" or "dog-house." — (Powers' Tribes of
California.)
MONO
Mono is the name of a county on the eastern
border of the state, and of the lake near the eastern
base of the Sierra Nevada. This lake is fourteen
miles long and nine miles wide, and is peculiar
in having no outlet, its waters being strongly
saline and alkaline. It lies 6730 feet above sea-
level and is almost completely destitute of animal
life. This name, corrupted from Monache, the name
of the Indians of this region, through its resem
blance to the Spanish word mono (monkey), has
been the cause of considerable confusion, and of
a number of extravagant theories, such as the
supposed existence of monkeys in that country,
324

VERNAL FALLS IN THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.
"The valley was called by the Indians Awani, from the name of
their principal village."

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

or the resemblance of the natives to those animals,
but the similarity between the two words is
regarded by ethnologists as purely accidental.
The meaning is obscure, but it is said that the
name was applied to some Shoshonean tribes of
southeastern California by their neighbors on the
west. INYO
Inyo, a word of unknown meaning, was the
name of a tribe of Indians in the Sierra. Inyo
County is on the eastern border of the state,
adjacent to Nevada. Its largest stream is the
Owens River, which flows into Owens Lake,
another body of saline water having no outlet.
This county has the unenviable distinction of
containing within its borders the terrible "Death
Valley," where the bones of so many unfortunates
have been left to whiten under the desert sun,
and which still claims a victim now and then.
This desolate valley is forty miles long, lying far
below the level of the sea, is destitute of all vege
tation, totally without water, subject to terrific
heat, and in all respects well deserves its funereal
327

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

name. Inyo is unique in containing the high
est and lowest points in the United States,
Mount Whitney and Death Valley, within sight
of each other. In other parts of the county the
mountain scenery is of remarkable grandeur, and
the gold mines in which it is unusually rich are
still worked with profit.
AMARGOSA RIVER
Amargosa (bitter), is the very appropriate
name of a river of Nevada and southeastern
California which flows into Death Valley, some
times known also as the Amargosa Desert. The
mountains lying northeast of the river's upper
course are sometimes called the Amargosa Moun
tains. Fremont gives a characteristic picture of
this dreary country in the following paragraph:
"We traveled through a barren district, where a
heavy gale was blowing about the loose sand, and,
after a ride of eight miles, reached a large creek
of salt and bitter water, running in a westerly
direction, to meet the stream bed we had left. It
is called by the Spaniards Amargosa, the bitter
water of the desert." 328

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Alta (high) , is a village in Placer County, sixty-
eight miles northeast of Sacramento, two miles
from the great American Canyon. The altitude
of this place is 3607 feet above sea level. The
name is modern and was only given to the place
after the building of the Central Pacific Railroad.
Cerro Gordo (large, thick hill), is the name of a
famous mining camp in Inyo County.
Cisco is a town in Placer County, situated at
an altitude of 5934 feet above sea level. Cisco
is a word of disputed origin. It has been said to
be derived from the Algonquin word cisco, mean
ing a fish, a sort of oily herring found in the Great
Lakes, but it seems unlikely that such a name
should be transported all the way from the Great
Lakes to the Sierras, especially as no fish of that
kind is to be found there. Other persons believe
the word to be derived from the Spanish cisco
(broken pieces of coal), but for this there appears
to be no legitimate reason. In the History of
Placer County the statement is made that the
town was named for John J. Cisco, at one time
329

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

connected with the United States Government,
an explanation which is probably the true one.
Esmeralda (emerald), a village in Calaveras
County. Hetch Hetchy is the Indian name of a deep valley
in the Sierra, lying north of the Yosemite, which
will some day cease to be a valley and become a
lake, as the people of San Francisco have succeeded
in obtaining the permission of the United States
Government to turn it into a reservoir for
the city's water supply. An explanation of the
meaning of the word Hetch Hetchy has been
obtained through the kindness of John Muir,
who says: "I have been informed by moun
taineers who know something of the Indian
language that Hetch Hetchy is the name of a
species of grass that the Tuolumne Indians used
for food, and which grows on the meadow at the
lower end of the valley. The grain, when ripe,
was gathered and beaten out and pounded into
meal in mortars." The word was originally
spelled Hatchatchie.
Lancha Plana (flat-boat), is in Amador County,
and its story is thus told by Mr. Junius Farns
worth, an old resident of Stockton: "This town
330

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

is located across the Mokelumne River from Pov
erty Bar, a name given to a gravel bar in the
river which was exceedingly rich in placer gold,
and to which thousands of early day miners were
attracted. Those who came from the north side
of the Mokelumne centered in Lancha Plana and
reached Poverty Bar by means of a flat-boat, or
flat ferry. The Spanish soon designated the set
tlement on the north bank of the river as Lancha
Plana, as it was the point at which the flat-boat
tied up."
Moquelumne is the name of a river which
rises in the high Sierra in Alpine County, flows
southwesterly and empties into the San Joaquin.
The word is a corruption of the Miwok Waka-
lumitoh, the Indian name of the river. The
Moquelumne family was made up of an aggrega
tion of tribes which occupied three sections, one
lying between the Cosumnes and Fresno Rivers,
another in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties,
and a third occupying a small area in the south
end of Lake County. — (A. L. Kroeber, in Ameri
can Anthrop. VIII, no. 4, 1906.) The Miwoks
constituted the great body of this family, the
different branches of which were connected by a
33i-

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

similarity of languages. The Miwoks are de
scribed as being quite low in the scale of civili
zation, and "it has been asserted that this tribe of
Indians ate every variety of living creature
indigenous to their territory except the skunk.
The skins of jack-rabbits were rudely woven
into robes, and they bought bows and arrows
from the mountain Indians for shell money.
Cremation of the dead was usual, and all posses
sions of the departed were burned with them.
Their names were never afterward mentioned and
those who bore the same names changed them
for others. Widows covered their faces with
pitch, and the younger women singed their hair
short as a sign of widowhood." — (Handbook of
American Indians.) Muk-kel was the name of
the principal village of this tribe, and if umne does
in fact mean "people of", Moquelumne may be
"people of the village of Muk-kel."
Panamint Range of mountains was named for
the Panamint tribe, who belonged to the Sho
shonean family, and lived around the Panamint
Valley, in Inyo County, southeastern California.
Many unfortunate seekers after gold have lost
their lives in this desolate mountain range.
332

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Pinto Range (painted or spotted range), so-
called because of the variegated colors of the
rocks. This range is in Inyo County.
San Andreas (St. Andrew), is the county-seat
of Calaveras County, and is situated near the
Calaveras River, fifty-six miles southeast of
Sacramento. Placer gold mining was at one time
extensively carried on here. St. Andrew, the
patron saint of this place, was the brother of
Simon Peter, and was the first called to be an
apostle. He suffered martyrdom by being crucified,
supposedly on a cross shaped like the one that
bears his name. He is the patron of the Order of
the Golden Fleece, and of the great Order of the
Cross of St. Andrew. — (Stories of the Saints.) San
Andreas is anomalous in being almost the only
Spanish name in the mining district. The circum
stances of its naming have not been ascer
tained. Sonora, named for the province of Sonora in
Mexico, is the capital of Tuolumne County, and
is situated ninety miles southeast of Sacramento.
It received its name from the large number of
Sonorans from the Mexican province who mined
there in the very early days. This is a mining
333

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

period name and has no real connection with
Spanish names.
Tenaya Peak in Yosemite Valley is named for
Ten-ei-ya, chief of the Yosemite Indians.
Vallecito (little valley), is in Calaveras County,
fifty-five miles northeast of Stockton.
Wawona, in Mariposa County, is said by some
authorities to be a Moquelumnan word meaning
"big tree," but this definition is regarded by
ethnologists with doubt.

CAMINO REAL
Camino Real (royal road, or the King's high
way). The Camino Real was the road connect
ing the missions, and was the chief means of
intercourse between the different settlements
during the early years of the state's history.
After American occupation the road fell into
disuse, but at present is being reconstructed along
the old route, with many extensions and branches,
and will, when finished, be one of the finest roads
in the United States.

334

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

PRONUNCIATION OF SPANISH NAMES.
While it scarcely falls within the province of this book
to enter into an elaborate discussion of the matter of pro
nunciation of Spanish names, it is thought desirable to
present a few of the simplest rules, with some examples,
so that persons unacquainted with the language may
avoid at least the worst of those pit-falls set for their
inexperienced feet by our nomenclature. It should be
mentioned that in California the Spanish-American usage,
rather than the Castilian, is followed in the pronunciation
of the c and z. The rules of pronunciation quoted here
are those given in Ramsey's text books, generally regarded
as excellent authority. VOWELS.
A sounds like a in ah, midway between the English a
in father and that in fat. Example, Pala, pronounced
Pah'lah. E sounds like a in hay, its sound being slightly varied
according to situation. Example, Rode'o, pronounced
Ro-day'o. I sounds like ee in bee. Example, Vista, pronounced
Vees'tah. 0 sounds like o in hope. Example, Contra Costa, pro
nounced Cone'trah Coast'ah. This name is frequently
mispronounced by using the short sound of o, as in not.
335

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

U sounds like u in rule. Example, La Punta, pro
nounced La Poon'tah.
Y, when a vowel, is equivalent to /. Y is considered a
vowel only when standing alone, as in y (the conjunction
and), or at the end of a word, as in ley (law), but is some
times used interchangeably with / at the beginning of a
word, as in San Ysidro, pronounced San Ee-see'dro, and
sometimes spelled Isidro. In other cases it is a consonant
and is pronounced like the y in the English yard.
CONSONANTS.
Only those consonant sounds differing from English
usage need be mentioned here.
C has two sounds. Before e and i it is pronounced like
s in seat, that is, in Spanish-American usage; examples,
Cerro, pronounced Ser'ro, and Cima, pronounced See'mah.
In all other cases c has the sound of k; examples, Carlos,
pronounced Kar'loce, Colorado, pronounced Ko-lo-rah' do
(each o long, as in hope), Cuesta, pronounced Kwes'tah,
and Cruz, pronounced Kroos.
Ch has the sound of ch in church. Example, Chico, pro
nounced Chee'ko.
D is slightly softened, and when occurring between
vowels and at the end of words it is almost like th in then.
Examples, Andrade, pronounced Ahn-drah' -dthay , and
Soledad, pronounced Sole-ay-dadth.
G has two sounds. Before e and i it has the sound of
strongly aspirated h. Examples, German' , pronounced
Hare-mahn' , and giro, pronounced hee'ro. In all other
336

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

cases it sounds like g in go. Examples, Gaviota, Goleta,
Guadalupe, Granada. In gue and gui the u is regularly
silent; exceptions to this rule are marked by the diaeresis,
as in Argiiello, pronounced Ar-gwayl'yo, or in Spanish-
American, Ar-gway'yo.
H is silent except in the combined character ch. Ex
ample, La Honda, pronounced La On'dah, with long o,
as in hope.
J has the sound of. strongly aspirated h. Examples,
Pdjaro, pronounced Pah'hah-ro, and San Jose., pronounced
San Ho-say' '. This letter is one of the worst stumbling-
blocks in the pronunciation of Spanish names.
LI has the sound of the letters Hi in the English million,
but in many parts of Spanish-America it is pronounced
like y in beyond. The latter is not considered an elegant
pronunciation. Example, Vallejo, properly pronounced
Val-yay'ho, but in Spanish- American, Va-yay'ho.
N has the sound of the letters ni in the English pinion.
Example, Canada, pronounced Can-yah'dthah.
Q only occurs before ue and ui, and sounds like k, the
following u being always silent. Example, San Quintin,
pronounced San Keen-teen' .
S has the hissing sound of 5 in say, base, and is never
pronounced like sh as in mansion, or z as in rose. Thus in
Santa Rosa the ^ is sharply hissed and is not pronounced
as Santa Roza.
Z is sounded in Spanish-America like sharply hissed s,
as in say or base. Example, Zamora, pronounced Sah-
mo'rah. 337

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

A peculiarity of pronunciation common to almost all
Spaniards is the confusion of the b and the v so that one
can hardly be distinguished from the other. Vowel
sounds are pronounced shortly and crisply, never with the
drawling circumflex sound sometimes heard in English.
Without going into the complications of the division of
syllables, it may be stated that the fundamental principle
is to make syllables end in a vowel as far as possible;
examples, Do-lo-res (not Do-lor-es), Sa-li-nas (not Sal-in-as.
ACCENT.
All words ending in n or s or a vowel are regularly
accented on the next to the last syllable; examples,
Sausalito, Altilras, comen. All others are accented on the
last syllable; examples, San Rafael' ' , Avenal'. In words
following the above rules no mark is used, but in the
exceptions, which are many, the stress must be indicated
by the written accent. Examples, Portola, Jolon, Alamo,
Los Angeles. ARTICLES.
In the Spanish language articles agree with their nouns
in gender and number. The forms of the definite article
are el (singular) and los (plural) for the masculine, la
(singular) and las (plural) for the feminine. Examples,
El Portal (the portal, or gate), Los Gatos (the cats), La
Paz (the peace), Las Vir genes (the virgins).

338

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

LIST OF NAMES MOST LIKELY TO BE MISPRO
NOUNCED, WITH THEIR PHONETIC PRO
NUNCIATION.
Agua  pronounced Ah'gwah. Spanish Ameri
cans often mispronounce
this word by leaving out
the g , calling it ah'wa.
Aguajito  " Ah-gwah-hee'to.
Alameda  " Ah-lah-may'dthah.
Los Angeles  " Loce A hng' hell-ess.
Asuncion  " Ah-soon-see-on', with the
o long, as in hope.
El Cajon'  " El Kah-hon', with the o
long, as in hope.
Camino Real  " Kah-mee'no Ray-ahV .
Canada  " Kahn-yah'dtha, with the d
slightly softened like th
in then.
Carpinteria  " Kar-peen-tay-ree'ah.
Carquinez  " Kar-kee'ness.
Conejo  " Ko-nay'ho.
Corral  " Kore-rahl'.
Dolores  " Do-lo'ress.
Farallones  " Fah-rahl-yo'ness, in Span
ish-American, Fa-rah-yo'
ness.
Los Gatos  " Loce Gah'tos, the o long, as
in hope.
339

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Guadalupe  pronounced
La Jolla  "
La Joya 
La Junta 
Laguna Seca 
Lagunitas 
Matilija  "
Merced  "
Mesa 
Ojo 
Pdjaro 
Paso Robles 
Portold  "
Punta Arenas  "
Rodeo  "
Salinas  "
San Geronimo 
San Jacinto 
San Joaquin. . .
San Jose  "
San Juan Bautista.
San Julidn  "
San Luis Obis-bo. . "
San Martin. . . "

Gwa-dah-loo' pay .
La Hole'yah, or in Span
ish-American, Ho'yah.
La Ho'yah.
La Hoon'tah.
Lah-goo'nah Say' cah.
Lah-goo-nee'tas.Mah-tee-lee'hah.Mare-sedth', with the d
slightly softened like th
in then.
May' sah.
O'ho, with the j strongly
aspirated.
Pah'hak-ro.
Pah' so Ro'blace.
Por-to-lah' .
Poon'tah Ah-ray'nas.
Ro-day'o.Sah-lee'nas.Sahn Hay-ro 'nee-mo.
Sahn Hah-seen'to.
Sahn Wha-keen' .
Sahn Ho-say' .
Sahn Whan Bau-tees'ta.
Sahn -Hoo-lee-ahn' .
Sahn Loo-ees' O-bees'po.
Sahn Mar-teen'.

340

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

San Quintin .
Santa Fe. . . .
Santa Inez. . .
San Ysidro. .
Sunol 
Vallejo 
Las Vir genes.

pronounced Sahn Keen-teen' , colloqui
ally spelled Quentin.
Sahnta Fay'.
Sahnta Ee-ness'.
Sahn Ee-see'dro also
spelled Isidro.
Soon-yole' .
" Val-yay'ho, in Spanish-
American Vah-yay'ho.
Las Veer'hen-ess

34i

L.on& al 0,

i<T^,jf^iirr^-^^^^r^ I" g " g * e mr?

MAP OF THE MISSIONS.
Used by the courtesy of Father Engelhardt.

FINAL LIST AND
INDEX

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

FINAL LIST AND INDEX
Abalone (the great sea-snail of the Pacific Coast).
See page 75.
A campo (common pasture). See page 282. This
name is used here in the sense of "camp," and was
given by the Southern Pacific Railroad years ago,
in reference to a camp of wood choppers and
Chinese which was located there.
Acolito (acolyte), is in Imperial County.
Adelante (onward, forward), now changed to
Napa Junction, is in Napa County. This place was
called Adelante in the hope that its location on
Napa River would cause it to become the principal
city of the valley.
Adobe (sun-dried brick).
Agua (water), is in very common use in referring
to springs, usually accompanied by a qualifying
adjective. See page 339. This word is usually
mispronounced by Spanish Americans.
Agua Amargosa (bitter water). See page 154.
Agua Caliente (hot water, hot spring). See
pages 76 and 259.
Agua Cayendo (falling water).
347

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Agua Dulce (sweet water, fresh water).
Agua Fria (cold water, cold spring).
Agua Hedionda (stinking water, sulphur spring).
Aguaje del Centinela (water hole, or watering
place of the sentinel) , the title of a land grant.
Agua del Medio (middle spring).
Aguajito (little water hole). Near Monterey,
in a delightful little glen, there were a number of
these springs, or water holes, where the women
were in the habit of doing the town washing,
kneeling upon the ground and washing the cloth
ing directly in the springs. This place was called
Los Aguajitos (the water holes), by the Spanish
residents, and "washerwoman's canyon" by the
Americans. In the pastoral days of California,
entire families climbed into their ox-carts, made
with solid wooden wheels, and, provided with a
liberal lunch basket, made a picnic of "blue
Monday" under the green trees of Los Aguajitos
canyon. See page 339.
Agua Mansa (still water, smooth-running cur
rent). One writer, for what reason does not
appear, defines this as "house water." This
place is in Southern California, near Colton.
Agua Puerca (dirty or muddy water).
348

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Agua Puerca y las Trancas (muddy water and
the bars, or stiles). This was the peculiar title
of a land grant, based, no doubt, upon some
trivial circumstance now forgotten. One writer
has translated it as "water fit for pigs and French
men," a gratuitous insult to the French people
of which the Spaniards were not guilty. This
writer evidently mistook the word puerca (muddy
or dirty) for puerca (sow), and by some strange
twist of the imagination, seems to have taken
trancas to mean Frenchmen!
Agua Tibia (tepid or warm water, warm spring).
See page 36.
Agua de Vida (water of life).
Aguilar (the place of eagles).
Las Aguilas (the eagles). Real de las Aguilas
means the "camp of the eagles."
Ahwanee (an Indian place name), popularly but
not authentically translated as "a deep or grassy
valley," is the name of a place in Madera County.
"A-wa-ni was the name of a large village stand
ing directly at the foot of Yosemite Fall." —
(Powers' Tribes of California.)
Alameda (an avenue shaded by trees, or a
cottonwood grove). This word is derived from
349

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

alamo, a poplar tree known in the West as cotton
wood. See pages 208 and 339.
Los Alamitos (the little cottonwoods) . Seepage 76.
Alamo (cottonwood). See page 227.
Los Alamos (the cottonwoods). See page 105.
Los Alamos y Agua Caliente (the cottonwoods
and hot spring) , the title of a land grant.
Alcalde (mayor, justice of the peace). This
place is in the southern part of Fresno County.
Alcatraz (pelican), see page 203.
Alessandro (Alexander). This place is in River
side County.
Alhambra, near Los Angeles, was named for
the famous Alhambra of Spain. The Alhambra
was an ancient palace and fortress of the Moorish
mcnarchs of Granada in Southern Spain, prob
ably built between 1248 and 1354. The word
signifies in Arabic "the red," and was perhaps
given to this building in allusion to the color
of the bricks of which the outer walls are con
structed. "The marvelous beauty of the archi
tecture of this structure has been greatly injured
by alterations, earthquakes, etc., yet it still
remains the most perfect example of Moorish art
in its final European development." 35°

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

El Alisal (alder grove).
Aliso (alder), see page 76.
Los Alisos (the alders).
Almaden (mine, mineral). See page 178.
Alta (high). See page 329.
Alto (high), is near San Francisco.
Los Altos (the heights), is about fifteen miles
from Los Gatos.
Alturas (heights). See page 259.
Alvarado (a surname). See page 227.
Alviso (a surname). See page 178.
Amador (a surname). See page 310.
Amargosa (bitter). See page 328.
American River. See page 299.
Anacapa Island. This name is Indian, but the
popular story that it means "vanishing island,
disappearing island," is probably not authentic.
"Anacapa is a corruption of Vancouver's Indian
name of the island, Enneeapah; the engraver
spelled it Enecapah on the chart, and subsequent
compilers have endeavored to give it a Spanish
form." — (Geo. Davidson in United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey.)
Andrade (a surname). This place is near
Calexico. 351

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles (the angels). See pages 51 and 339.
Angel Island. See page 204.
Las Animas (the souls). See page 65.
A no Nuevo (new year). See page 157.
Aptos is said to be an Indian name, meaning
"the meeting of two streams," in reference to
Valencia and Aptos Creeks. As this was a
method of naming very much in vogue among
the Indians, it is likely that this is the true expla
nation of Aptos.
Arena (sand). See page 259.
Las Arenas (the sands).
Punta de Arenas (sandy point), a cape on the
coast of Mendocino County.
Argiiello (a surname). See page 106.
Armada (fleet, squadron). The Armada was
the name of the great fleet sent against England
by Philip II in 1588. Whether the name of this
town, situated in Riverside County, has this
origin has not been ascertained.
Las Aromitas y Agua Caliente (the little per
fumes and hot spring), title of a land grant.
Aromas (the odors, perfumes), is in San Benito
County. Arroyo (a creek or small stream). The designa-
352

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

tion arroyo is sometimes applied to the dry bed of
a former stream. It does not, as is sometimes
thought, refer only to a bed with steep sides, but
is applied as well to shallow streams flowing
through level country.
Arroyo de la Alameda (creek of the cottonwood
grove) .
Arroyo Buenos Aires (creek of the good airs).
See page 282.
Arroyo del Burro (jackass creek).
Arroyo Chico (little creek). See page 283.
Arroyo de los Dolores (creek of the sorrows).
Dolores Creek in San Francisco was so-named
"because this was the Friday of Sorrows."
Arroyo de los Gatos (creek of the cats — wild
cats). Arroyo Grande (big creek). See page 127.
Arroyo Hondo (deep creek). See page 179.
Arroyo de la Laguna (creek of the lagoon).
Arroyo Medio (middle creek).
Arroyo de las Nueces y Bolbones (creek of the
walnuts and Bolbones). The meaning of Bolbones
has not been ascertained, but it may have been
the name of an Indian tribe.
Arroyo del Norte (creek of the north).
353

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Arroyo Real de las Aguilas (creek of the camp
of the eagles).
Arroyo del Rodeo (creek of the cattle round
up). Arroyo Seco (dry creek). See page 157.
Asfalto (asphalt), incorrectly spelled asphalto,
is in southwestern Kern County.
Asuncion (ascension). See pages 97 and 339.
Atascadero (bog-mire). See page 127. The
Atascadero is one of the largest ranches in the
state, comprising 22000 acres.
Avena (oats), is in Inyo County.
Avenal (a field sown with oats). See page 127.
Avenales (wild oats).
Avila (a surname), eight miles from San Luis
Obispo, was probably named for a pioneer family
of Los Angeles.
Azusa. See page 77. This is the name of a
place in Los Angeles County.
El Bailarin (the dancer). See page 99.
Ballena (whale). See page 39.
Bandini (a surname). See page 77.
Los Banos (the baths), is in Merced County,
thirty-five miles southwest of Merced. This place
was so-called from the creek, which has large, deep
354

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

pools of clear water that were used by the early
inhabitants as a bathing place.
Barranca (ravine).
La Barranca Color ada (the red ravine) .
Barril (barrel).
Barro (clay) .
Batata (sweet potato) , is in Merced County, and
is so-called because it lies in the best sweet potato
growing district in California.
Baulines, see page 228.
Bella Vista (beautiful view).
Bellota (acorn), is in San Joaquin County.
Benicia (a surname). See page 223.
Berenda, probably a misspelling of berrenda
(female antelope), is in Madera County.
Berrendo (antelope). See page 40.
Berrendos (antelopes). See page 40.
Berros (water-cresses), is in San Luis Obispo
County. Berryessa (a surname).
Blanco (white). See page 157. In early days an
American named Thomas White lived near the pres
ent town of Blanco. His name was translated into
the Spanish form for white, bianco, by the native re
sidents, and the place became known by that name.
355

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Boca (mouth), in this case refers to the mouth
of the Truckee River, in Nevada County.
La Boca de la Canada del Pinole (the mouth of
the valley of the cereal meal). This was a land
grant, which received its peculiar name from the
fact of the Spaniards having been compelled to
live on pinole while they awaited the return of a
party with supplies from Monterey. See Pinole,
page 231.
Boca de la Playa (mouth of the beach) .
Boca de Santa Monica (mouth of Santa Monica) .
Bodega (a surname). See page 259.
Bolinas, probably a corruption of Baulines, an
Indian word. See page 228.
Bolsa (pocket), often used to mean a "shut-in
place." See page 78.
La Bolsa (the pocket), is near Newport Beach.
Las Bolsas (the pockets).
Bolsa de Chamisal (pocket of the wild cane, or
reeds). The chamisal, sometimes incorrectly
spelled chemisal, is defined in the dictionaries as
wild cane, or reed, but in California, at least, it
is applied to a "shrub attaining a height of six
or eight feet. Its thickets are almost impassable
except by bears or similar animals, as the branches
356

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

are low and very stiff and tough. In some places
men are only able to penetrate it by crawling.' '
—(Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
Bolsa Chica (little pocket).
Bolsa de las Escorpinas (pocket of the perch.)
Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo (new pocket and lame
Moor). The word Moro was often used to mean
anything black, as, for instance, a lame black
horse, for which the Moro Cojo Rancho, near
Monterey, is said to have been named.
Bolsa del Pdjaro (pocket of the bird).
Bolsa del Potrero, y Moro Cojo 6 la Sagrada
Familia (pocket of the pasture, and the lame Moor
or the Holy Family). This is the combined name
of several land grants.
Bolsa de San Felipe (pocket of St. Philip).
Bonito (pretty). See page 228.
La Brea (the asphalt). See page 54.
El Buchon (the big craw). See page 127.
Buena Vista (good view).
Bueyes (oxen).
Los Burros (the donkeys, or jackasses), is in
San Luis Obispo County.
Cabeza (head).
Dos Cabezas (two heads). 357

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Cabeza de Santa Rosa (head of St. Rose).
Cabezon (big head). See page 78.
Cabrillo (a surname) , the name of a cape on the
coast of Mendocino County. See page 259.
Cadiz, between Needles and Barstow, was
probably named for the well-known Spanish city
of the same name. "In naming the stations on the
Southern Pacific Railroad from Mojave to Needles
going east, an alphabetical order was used, Bar
stow, Cadiz, Daggett, etc., until Needles was
reached."— (Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
Cahto, Mendocino County, Indian, probable
meaning "lake."
Cahuenga, near Los Angeles, is an Indian name,
that of a former village.
Cahuilla, is said to be a corruption of the Indian
word Ka-wia. See page 78.
El Cajon (the box, or canyon). The name of
El Cajon was first given to a valley lying about
fifteen miles east of San Diego. The valley com
prises about 16,000 acres of level land entirely
surrounded by hills several hundred feet high,
thus presenting a box-like appearance that gave
rise to its name. See pages 41 and 339.
Cajon Pass is in San Bernardino County.
358

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Calabazas (pumpkins), see page 79.
Calaveras (skulls). See page 311.
Calexico, on the border of Lower California, is
a hybrid word made up of the first part of California
and the last of Mexico. Its counterpart on the
Mexican side is Mexicali, in which the process
is reversed.
Caliente (hot). See page 282.
Caliente Creek. See page 41. This creek was
so-named because its water is warm.
California, see page 13.
Calistoga, see page 259.
Calneva and Calvada are two more hybrids,
made up of syllables from California and Nevada.
Calor, near the Oregon line, is likely to cause
confusion by its resemblance to the Spanish word
calor, (heat); this Calor is one of those composite
words to which Californians are so regrettably
addicted, and is made up of the first syllables of
California and Oregon.
Calpella was named for the chief of a village
situated just south of the present town, near Pomo,
in Mendocino County. The chief's name was
Kalpela. Calzona is another trap for the unwary, through
359

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

its resemblance to the Spanish word calzones
(breeches); it is one more of those border towns
bearing names made up of the syllables of two
state names, in this case, California and Arizona.
Camanche, a post town in Calaveras County,
was so-named in honor of the great Camanche,
or Comanche tribe, whose remarkable qualities
are thus described by Father Morfi in his Memorias
de Texas, a document written about the year 1778:
"The Comanche nation is composed of five thou
sand fighting men, divided into five tribes, each
with a different name. They are very superior
to all the others in number of people, extent
of the territory that they occupy, modesty of
their dress, hospitality to all who visit them,
humanity towards all captives except Apaches,
and their bravery, which is remarkable even
in the women. They live by hunting and war,
and this wandering disposition is the worst
obstacle to their reduction, for it induces them to
steal. Nevertheless, they are very generous with
what they have, and so proud that one alone is
capable of facing a whole camp of enemies if he
cannot escape without witnesses to his flight."
Both spellings are used in the original records.
360

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Camaritas (small cabins or rooms). The appli
cation of this name has not been ascertained. It
may refer to Indian huts seen by the Spaniards,
or may have a totally different meaning.
Camino Real (royal road, or the King's high
way). See page 339.
Campo (a level field, a camp, the country).
See page 41.
El Campo (the field or camp), places in Marin
and San Diego Counties.
Campo de los Franceses (field or camp of the
Frenchmen) .
Campo seco (dry field or camp), in Calaveras
County. Camulos, or Kamulas. See page 105.
Canada (valley or dale between mountains).
See page 339.
Canada de los Alisos (valley of the alders).
Canada del Bautismo (valley of the baptism).
See page 41.
Canada de los Capitancillos (valley of the little
captains) .
Canada de la Carpinteria (valley of the car
penter-shop). See page 100.
Canada de los Coches (valley of the pigs) . Coche,
361

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

used in the sense of "pig", is a Mexicanism, said
to have originated in the state of Sonora.
Canada del Corte de Madera (valley of the wood
cutting place) .
Canada del Hambre y las Bolsas (valle)7 of hun
ger and the pockets), a name said to have been
given to this canyon because some Spanish soldiers
nearly perished of starvation there. A bolsa is
a pocket, or shut-in place.
Canada Larga (long valley).
Canada de los Muertos (valley of the dead).
Canada de los Nogales (valley of the walnut-
trees). Canada de los Noques (valley of the tan-pits).
Canada del Osito (valley of the little bear).
See page 127.
Canada de los Osos y Pecho y Islay, valley of the
bears and breast (perhaps referring to Pecho
Mountain in San Luis Obispo County), and wild
cherry. Islay is said to be a California Indian
word meaning wild cherry. Islais Creek, San
Francisco, may take its name from the wild cherry.
Canada de los Pinos (valley of the pines).
Canada de Raymundo (valley of Raymond).
Canada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo de
362

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Santa Cruz (valley of the corner section on the
river San Lorenzo of Santa Cruz) .
Canada de Sal si Puedes (valley of "get out if
you can"). See page 109.
Canada de San Felipe y las Animas (valley of
St. Philip and the souls).
Canada Segunda (second valley).
Canada de los Vaqueros (valley of the cow-boys) .
Canada Verde, y Arroyo de la Purisima Con
cepcion (green valley and creek of the immacu
late concepcion).
Capay, in Yolo County, is Indian, but its mean
ing has not been ascertained.
Capistrano, see page 35.
El Capitdn (the captain), the name of a precipice
in the Yosemite Valley.
Capitdn (capitan), the name of a flag station in
Santa Barbara County. It was named for a ranch
owned by Captain Ortega, which was called Capi
tan, in reference to his title.
Capitan Grande (big captain). The origin of
this name has not been ascertained.
La Carbonera (the charcoal pit).
Carnadero, a corrupt word used to mean
' 'butchering-place. ' ' 363

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Carne Humana (human flesh). See page 246.
Carneros (sheep). Carnero is especially applied
to sheep used for mutton, rather than wool.
Carpinteria (carpenter-shop). See pages 100
and 339.
Carquinez. See pages 228 and 339.
Carriso (large water bunch grass or reed-grass).
See page 42.
Casa Blanca (white house). See page 79.
Casa Grande (big house). This place was so-
called by the Spanish explorers on account of an
unusually large Indian house they saw here.
They speak of finding a "large village of many
houses, and among them one extremely large."
This place is not to be confused with the famous
Casa Grande in Arizona.
El Casco (the skull, or outside shell of anything) .
See page 79. As casco also has the meaning of
potsherd, or fragment of a broken vessel, a theory
has been deduced that it was so-called because of
a resemblance between the hollow in the hills
where the place is located and a potsherd. This
is one of those extremely far-fetched theories
which are not likely to have any basis in fact.
Castac, an Indian word. The Castake was one
3°4

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

of several tribes occupying the country from
Buena Vista and Kern Lakes to the Sierra Nevada
and Coast Range. Castake Lake in the Tejon
Pass region derives its name from this tribe.
According to Professor A. L. Kroeber, castac means
"my eyes."
Castroville, a composite word made up of Castro,
a surname, and the French ville (town). The
Castro family was perhaps the most numerous in
California. Its most prominent member was
General Jose Castro, of whom Bancroft says:
"The charges against him of mal-treatment of
settlers were unfounded. His conduct was more
honorable, dignified, and consistent than that of
Fremont, and he treated immigrants with uni
form kindness. He was not a very able man, but
energetic, popular, true to his friends, and in
public office fairly honest. An injustice has been
done him in painting him as a cowardly, incom
petent braggart. He was at one time Com
mandante General of California." The town of
Castroville, named for this prominent family,
is near Monterey.
Catalina, see page 62.
Cayeguas was named for a former Indian village
365

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

near San Buenaventura. This village was among
those mentioned in the mission archives.
The meaning of the word Cayeguas is "my
head."— (A. L. Kroeber.)
Cayucos. See page 127.
Cazadero (hunting-place). See page 260.
Centinela (sentinel).
El Centro (the center) , three miles from Imperial
and so-named because it is practically the center
of the valley. This name is recent.
Cerro (hill), near Sacramento.
Cerro Chico (little hill).
Cerro Gordo (fat, thick hill). See page 329.
Los Cerritos (the little hills), in Los Angeles
County. Los Cerros (the hills).
Cerro de las Posas (hill of the pools or wells).
The translation "hill of the seat" has been given
to this by one writer, apparently without any justi
fication. Posa, or poso, was in constant use
among the Spaniards in the sense of "pool" or
"well." Cerro del Venado (hill of the deer).
El Chamisal (thicket of wild cane or reed).
Chico (little). See page 282.
366

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Chileno (Chilean, native of Chile). Seepage 260.
Las chimeneas (the chimneys), old volcanic
rock shaped like chimneys. This place is in San
Luis Obispo County.
Chino, a word which may mean a Chinese, or a
person with curly hair. The town of Chino, in
San Bernardino County, took its name from the
land grant called Santa Ana del Chino, but why
the grant was so-called has not been ascertained.
Chiquita (little) .
Chiquito Peak (little peak) , is in Fresno County.
Cholame was the name of an Indian tribe.
See page 128.
El Chorro (a gushing stream of water). This
place is in San Luis Obispo County.
Chowchilla was the name of a Yokuts tribe of
the Central Valley. See page 283.
Chualar. See page 157.
Chula Vista (pretty view). See page 42.
Cienega (swamp), is in Los Angeles County.
Las Cienegas (the swamps).
Las Cienegitas (the little swamps).
Cienega del Gabildn (the swamp of the hawk).
Cienega de los Paicines, swamp of the Paicines
(Indian tribe). 367

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Cima (summit), between San Bernardino and
Las Vegas.
Cimarron (wild, unruly). The Spaniards applied
this word to plants or animals indiscriminately,
sometimes using it in reference to the wild grapes
which they found growing in such profusion in
California, sometimes in reference to wild Indians.
The writer who translated it as "lost river" must
have drawn upon his imagination for that defini
tion. Cisco. See page 329.
Los Coches (the pigs).
Codornices Creek (quail creek).
Cojo (lame). See page 106.
Rancheria del Cojo (village of the lame one),
so-called from a lame Indian seen there.
Coloma, a town in El Dorado County, so-named
from the Koloma tribe, a division of the Nishinam
family. It was at this place that Sutter's Mill,
where gold was discovered in 1848, was situated,
and it is also there that the native sons erected a
monument to John W. Marshall.
Colorado (red).
Colusa, an Indian word, meaning not ascer
tained. See page 265. 368

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Concepcion. See page 106.
Conejo (rabbit), is the name of several places.
See pages 79 and 339.
Conejo Peak (rabbit peak), is in Ventura
County. Contra Costa (opposite coast). See page 229.
Cordero (literally "lamb"), but probably a
surname here.
Cordova, near Sacramento. Cordova or Cor
doba is the name of a province of the Argentine
Republic, in South America. Cattle raising is its
chief industry. The California town may have been
directly named for the city of Cordova in Mexico.
Corona (crown).
Coronado Beach, see page 29.
Corral (yard, enclosed piece of ground). See
pages 157 and 339.
Los Corralitos (the little yards).
Corral de Piedra (yard enclosed by a stone fence) .
See page 158.
Corral de Tierra (earth corral). See page 158.
Cortina, a town in Colusa County. Cortina,
the Spanish word for "curtain," is a corruption
of Kotina, the name of the chief of a former village
near the east bank of Cortina Creek.
369

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Coso Mountains, in Inyo County, were named
for the Coso or Cosho Indians.
La Costa (the coast). See page 42.
Cosumne, a word of Indian derivation, said to
mean "fish, salmon." See page 272. If the theory
that the suffix umne means "place of" be correct,
then it may be that the meaning of Cosumne is
"place of fish," probably referring to salmon
fisheries. Cotate, in Sonoma County, derived its name
from a former Indian village. Mr. George Page,
whose family have been in possession of the
Cotate ranch since 1849, states that he has never
been able to ascertain the meaning of the word.
Coyote (western wolf). See pages 42 and 179.
Los Coyotes (the wolves).
Crucero, a word having several meanings,
possibly in this case "cross-roads."
Las Cruces (the crosses), is in Santa Barbara
County. Cruz (cross) . Santa Cruz (holy cross) . See page 153.
Cucamonga, in San Bernardino County, derived
its name from an Indian village. See page 80.
Cuer os de Venado (hides of deer), the name of a
land grant. 37o

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Cuesta (hill, ridge, slope of a hill). Cuesta is the
name of the old stage road leading from Santa
Margarita to San Luis Obispo. It was so named
because the road came over the crest of the Santa
Lucia range. See page 128.
Cuyamaca. See page 42.
Cypress Point. See page 145.
Dehesa (pasture ground), is in San Diego
County. Delgada Point (thin, or narrow point). See
page 260.
De Luz (literally "of light"), but in this case a
surname. Del Mar (of the sea). Modern.
Del Monte (of the wood or hill). The Hotel
del Monte, near Monterey, was so called from the
grove of magnificent live-oaks in which it stands.
Modern. Del Norte (of the north), is the name of the
county in the extreme northwestern corner of the
state. Del Paso (of the pass) .
Del Rey (of the king).
Del Rio (of the river).
Del Rosa (of the rose). Unless this is a surname,
37i

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

the construction is incorrect, and should be De la
Rosa.
Descanso (rest). See page 43.
Diablo (devil). See page 217.
Dolores (sorrows, pains). For Mission Dolores
See pages 194 and 339.
El Dorado (the gilded man). See page 300.
Dos (two) .
Dos Cabezas (two heads).
Dos P almas (two palms) .
Dos Palos (two sticks, or trees). See page 283.
Dos Pueblos (two towns). See page 106.
Dos Valles (two valleys).
Duarte (a surname). See page 80.
Dulzura (sweetness). See page 43.
Point Duma, on the coast north of San Pedro,
was named by Vancouver for "the reverend friar
Father Francisco Duma, priest at Buena Ven
tura," as an expression of his gratitude for the
father's courtesy in furnishing the explorers with
abundant supplies of vegetables from the mission
gardens. — (Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
Eliseo (Elisha).
Embarcadero (landing-place). There were a
number of embarcaderos in the state, in Sonoma,
372

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Santa Clara and other places. The street skirting
the San Francisco water front is now called the
Embarcadero, having been recently changed from
East Street.
Encanto (enchantment, charm), is in San Diego
County. Encanto "was so named on account of
its especially pleasant climate, being frostless, and
always cool in the summer, with beautiful views
of the ocean and bay and the city of San Diego.
It was named by Miss Alice Klauber." — (W. A.
Shaules.) Encinal (oak woods), is in Santa Clara County.
Encinal y Buena Esperanza (oak woods and good
hope), the combined name of two land grants.
Las Encinitas (the little live-oaks). See page 43.
El Encino (the live-oak). See page 211.
Ensenada (bay), used often by the Spaniards
in referring to a large, wide-open bay.
Entre Napa (between Napa), the name of a
land grant referring to the land between Napa
Creek and Napa River.
Entre Napa 6 Rincdn de los Carneros, combined
name of two land grants (between Napa or
corner of the sheep).
Escalon (step), is the name of a place twenty
373

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

miles from Stockton, on the Santa Fe Road.
According to Mr. Romane Moll, a resident of
Escalon, the word is used in the sense of "stepping-
stone," and was taken from a city in Mexico,
where an important battle was fought during the
recent revolution.
Escondido (hidden). See page 43.
El Escorpion (the scorpion).
Esmeralda (emerald). See page 330.
Espada (sword). See page 102.
Esparto (a sort of tough feather grass). See
page 283.
Esperanza (hope). See page 283.
Espinosa (a surname). This place is in Mon
terey County.
Espiritu Santo (holy ghost).
Esquon (a surname).
Estero (an estuary or creek into which the tide
flows at flood time).
Los Ester os (the estuaries). See page 128 .
Estero Americano (American Estuary).
Estrada (a surname). This place is in Mon
terey County.
Estrella (a star). See page 128.
Estudillo (a surname). Near San Leandro.
374

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Etiwanda, in San Bernardino County, is a
transplanted Indian name, given in honor of an
Indian chief of Michigan, by Mr. George Chaffey,
founder of the California colony.
Falda (skirt, slope of a hill). In San Diego
County. Famoso (famous), is in Kern County. The
origin of this name has not been ascertained.
Fandango Peak is in Modoc County. The
fandango is a Spanish dance. Its application in
this case has not been ascertained.
Farallones (small pointed islands in the sea).
See pages 212 and 339.
Feather River, see page 297.
Felipe (Philip).
Feliz (happy, fortunate), also a surname.
Fernandez (a surname).
Fernando (Ferdinand).
Point Firmin, north of San Pedro, was named
by Vancouver for the father president of the Fran
ciscan Order. — (Mr. Charles B. Turrill.)
Las Flores (the flowers). See page 80.
For tunas (fortunes). Cape Fortunas is on the
coast of Humboldt County, north of Cape Mendo
cino. See page 260. 375

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Fresno (ash tree). See page 277.
Gabildn, or Gavildn (hawk). See page 159 .
Las Gallinas (the chickens), in Marin County.
A tribe called Gallinomero occupied Dry Creek
and Russian River below Healdsburg, and there
may be some connection between this name and
Las Gallinas Rancho in Marin County. Las
Gallinas may be a mere corruption of Gallinomero.
Gamboa Point, on the coast of Monterey
County. Gamboa is a surname.
Garcia (a surname). See page 260.
Garvanza (chick-pea). See page 80.
Los Gatos (the cats). See pages 177 and 339.
Gaviota (sea gull). Probably so called from the
large number of these birds which frequent the
mouth of the little creek that flows into the sea
at this point. See page 107.
German (a surname of a pioneer family) .
Golden Gate. See page 197.
La Goleta (the schooner). This place is said to
have been so called because a schooner was
stranded there in early days. See page 107.
Gonzales (a surname). See page 159.
Gorda (fat). See page 159.
Graciosa (graceful, witty). 376

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Granada is twenty-seven miles from San Fran
cisco, on the Ocean Shore Line, and was probably
named for the province in Spain of the same name.
Granada also means pomegranate.
Las Grullas (the cranes). See page 159.
Guadalupe (a Christian name). See pages 107
and 340.
Guadalupe y Llanitos de los Correos (Guadalupe
and the plains of the mails), combined name of
two land grants. Correos (mails), may have
been used in reference to mails brought by mes
senger to the Spaniards while they were encamped
upon these plains.
Gualala. See page 260.
Guenoc, an Indian word, meaning not ascer
tained. Los Guilicos, in Sonoma County, named for a
former Indian tribe living in Napa County, near
Santa Rosa.
Guinda (fruit of the wild cherry). This place
is in Yolo County, near Woodland.
La Habra (the opening, or pass), here refers
to an opening in the hills, and is situated a short
distance southeast of Whittier, in Orange County.
Hermosa (beautiful). See page 80.
377

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Hermosillo, probably named for the town of
Hermosillo in Mexico.
Hernandez (a surname), is in San Benito County.
Hetch Hetchy. A deep valley in the Sierra.
See page 330.
Honcut, a place south of Oroville, in Butte
County, named from a tribe of Maidu Indians
who formerly lived near the mouth of Honkut
creek. Honda (deep). Honda is in Santa Barbara
County, and there is also La Honda, referring to
a deep canyon, in San Mateo County. The name
is incomplete in this form, and probably in its
original form was La Canada Honda.
Hoopa. See page 261.
Hornitos (little ovens). See page 283.
Huasna, in San Luis Obispo County, received
its name from a former Indian village near Puri-
sima Mission in Santa Barbara County. The
signification of the word has not been ascer
tained. Hueneme, the name of a former Chumash
Indian village on the coast, a few miles south of
Saticoy, in Ventura County.
Los Huecos (the hollows). 378

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Huerhuero Creek. Huerhuero is said to be a
corruption of giiergiiero, a stream of water which
makes a gurgling noise. An attempt is made to
imitate the sound by the word. Huerhuero Creek
is in San Luis Obispo County, near Paso de
Robles. Huerta de Romualdo 6 el Chorro (orchard of
Romualdo, a Christian name, or the gushing
stream) . This is the combined name of two land
grants. Huichica, the name of a land grant derived
from an Indian village called Hutchi, formerly
situated near the plaza in the town of Sonoma.
Huililic, the name of a former Indian rancheria
near Santa Barbara. Mentioned in the mission
archives. Hunto (eye), is the Indian name of a mountain
in the Yosemite.
Hyampom,\n Trinity County, is an Indian name,
meaning not ascertained.
Iaqud, the name of a place in Humboldt County,
was a sort of familiar salutation, something Hke
our "hello," with which the Indians of Humboldt
and adjacent counties greeted each other when
they met. From hearing the word so often the
379

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

whites finally adopted it as the name of this
place. Ignacio (Ignatius).
Inaja, or Inoje, was the name of a former
Indian village near San Diego. Mentioned in the
mission archives. The meaning of the word
Inaja is "my water."
Indio (Indian). See page 80.
Inyo. See page 327.
Isleta (small island).
Jacinto (hyacinth), also used as a Christian
name. Jamacha was a former Indian village near San
Diego. Jamon (ham). The application of this peculiar
name has not been ascertained, and there is always
the possibility that it is a corrupted word and has
no such meaning.
Jamul, in San Diego County, is a place name of
the Dieguefio Indians.
Jarame, the name of a tribe thought to have
been natives of the region around San Antonio,
Texas. Jesus Maria (Jesus Mary).
Jimeno, a surname of a pioneer family.
380

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

La Jolla. See pages 44 and 340.
Jolon. See page 159.
La Joya (the jewel). This name is compara
tively modern, and has its origin in the fact that
the residents, like those of every other California
town, thought their place the bright particular
"jewel" of the locality. La Joya Peak is in Los
Angeles County. See pages 80 and 340.
Juan (John). Juana (Jane).
Juarez (a surname). The name of Benito
Juarez, the Mexican patriot who led the national
armies to victory against Maximilian, is one of
which every native of that country must be proud.
This man was a brilliant example of the triumph
of natural genius over tremendous obstacles.
He was of pure native blood, and had so few
advantages in his youth that at the age of twelve
he was still unable to read or write, or even to
speak the Spanish language. Yet, his ambition
once aroused, he succeeded in acquiring a collegi
ate education, graduating with the degree of
Bachiller (bachelor in science or art), and later
became President of the Mexican Republic.
Among the early settlers of California is the name
of Cayetano Juarez, who was at one time an official
381

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

at Solano, and who took part in many Indian
expeditions. La Junta (union, junction, meeting of persons
for consultation) . See page 340.
Las Juntas (the junctions, or meetings).
Kawia, the name of an Indian tribe near
Fresno. Kings County and River. See page 278.
Klamath. See page 249.
Laguna (lake or lagoon), in Sonoma and Orange
Counties. There were many lagunas in the
state. See page 80.
Laguna del Corral (lake or lagoon of the yard).
See page 44.
Point Laguna (lake or lagoon point). See
page 261.
Laguna de las Calabasas (lagoon of the pump
kins). Calabasas in this case may be a corruption
of the name of an Indian tribe, Calahuasa. See
page 79.
Laguna de la Merced (lagoon or lake of mercy) .
Lake Merced.
Laguna de los Polos Colorados (lagoon of the
redwoods) .
Laguna Puerca (muddy lagoon), in the San
382

KAWEAH MOUNTAINS.
"Kaweah, or Kawia, was the name of an Indian tribe near Fresno.'

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Francisco district. This name does not mean
"Hog Lake," as has been stated.
Laguna del Rey (lagoon of the king).
Laguna de San Antonio (lagoon of St. Anthony).
Laguna Seca (dry lagoon). See page 340.
Lagunitas (little lagoons or lakes), one in
Inyo County and one in Marin County. See
page 340.
Lancha Plana (flat-boat). See page 330.
Largo (long). This place is in Mendocino
County. The name of this station represents an
inversion of the usual order of naming, since it is
a translation into Spanish of the name of Mr. L. F.
Long, a pioneer of Mendocino County.
Laureles (laurels). See page 159.
Leon (lion). See page 80. This name turns out
not to be Spanish in origin, but merely the name
of an American who first had charge of the post-
office there.
Lerdo (a surname), is in Kern County.
La Liebre (the hare, or jack-rabbit).
Linda Rosa (lovely rose), is forty-eight miles
from San Bernardino.
Linda Vista (lovely view). See page 45.
Llagas (wounds, or stigmata). See page 179.
385

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Llanada (a wide, level plain). See page 159.
Llanitos de los Correos (plains of the mails).
Correo was used to mean a King's messenger,
mail or bag of letters, and it is possible that at
this point a messenger or mail carrier caught up
with the exploring party.
Llano (a flat, level field). There are places
bearing this name in Los Angeles and Sonoma
Counties. Llano de Buena Vista (plain of the good view).
Llano de Santa Rosa (plain of St. Rose).
Llano Seco (dry plain).
Llano de Tequisquite (plain of saltpetre). Te-
quisquite is an Aztec word.
Llorones (the weepers), a name given to a place
in the vicinity of San Francisco Bay, for the reason
given in Palou's account of the expedition to that
region in 1776, as follows: "The launch went
out again with the pilot Bautisia Aguiray to
examine the arm of the sea that runs to the south
east; they saw nothing more than two or three
Indians who made no other demonstration than
to weep, for which reason the place was called
La Ensenada de los Llorones (the bay of the
weepers)." 386

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Lobitos (little seals), is on the Ocean Shore Line,
near San Francisco.
Lobos (wolves, also sea- wolves, or seals). See
pages 1 60 and 226.
Loma (hill).
Point Loma (hill point). See page 45.
Loma Linda (beautiful hill), is in San Ber
nardino County.
Loma Prieta (dark hill). See page 160.
Lomas de la Purificacion (hills of the purifi
cation) .
Lomas de Santiago (hills of St. James) .
Loma Vista (hill view), near Los Angeles.
Modern and improper in construction. It should
be Vista de la Loma.
Lomerias Muertas (dead hills), possibly should
be Lomerias de los Muertos (hills of the dead).
Lomitas (little hills), north of San Francisco.
Lompoc, an Indian name. See page 108.
Lopez (a surname). See page 128.
Lorenzo (Lawrence).
Lugo (a surname), that of a family of early
settlers. This place is thirty miles from San
Bernardino. De Luz (a surname). See page 45.
387

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Madera (wood). See page 277.
Madrone, properly spelled Madrono, a native
tree of California. See page 179.
Malaga, the name of a province in Southern
Spain celebrated for its exports of grapes, raisins,
oranges, lemons, figs and almonds. As raisins
are among the chief products of this part of
Fresno County, the town of Malaga was so named
from the Spanish province.
Manca, or Manka. To prevent the unwary
rom falling into the erroneous belief that this
name is Spanish or Indian, the rather humorous
story of Manka is told here. The story goes that it
was named for a German who came there in '67,
built a little sixteen by twenty-four foot shanty
and sold whiskey. It was his proud boast that in
the fifteen years he ran this business he never
renewed his stock. The inference may be drawn.
Manteca (lard, butter), is near Modesto. This
place was so called by the railroad company in
reference to a creamery existing there. In Spanish
America butter is called mantequilla.
Manzana (apple), is in Los Angeles County.
Manzanita (little apple), a native shrub that
is one of the most striking objects in the Cali-
388

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

fornia woods. Fremont says of it: "A new and
singular shrub was very frequent to-day. It
branched out near the ground, forming a clump
eight to ten feet high, with pale green leaves of
an oval form, and the body and branches had a
naked appearance as if stripped of the bark, which
is very smooth and thin, of a chocolate color, con
trasting well with the pale green of the leaves."
Towns in Marin, San Diego, and Tehama Counties
bear the name of Manzanita.
Powers, in his Tribes of California, describes
the method of making manzanita cider practiced
by the Indians, as follows: "After reducing the
berries to flour by pounding, they carefully remove
all the seeds and skins, then soak the flour in
water for a considerable length of time. A squaw
then heaps it up in a little mound, with a crater
in the center, into which she pours a minute
stream of water, allowing it to percolate through.
In this way she gets about a gallon an hour
of a really delicious beverage, clear, cool, clean,
and richer than most California apple cider.
As the Indians always drink it up before it
has time to ferment, it is never intoxicating."
Fremont also mentions this as a very deli-
389

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

cious drink that he had tasted when among the
Indians. Manzanita Knob, in Tulare County, is near the
summit of the Sierras.
M apache Peak (raccoon peak).
Mar (the sea).
Del Mar (of the sea).
Mare Island. See page 206.
Maricopa is the name of an Arizona tribe. The
word is said to mean "bean people," which is
probably the correct definition. — (A. L. Kroeber.)
Marin. See page 219.
Mariposa (butterfly). See page 317.
Martinez (a surname). See page 229.
Matilija. See pages 103 and 340.
Medanos, also spelled Meganos (sand-banks, or
dunes). This place is in Contra Costa County.
Media (middle), is in Madera County.
Mendocino. See page 248.
Mendota (a surname), is in Fresno County.
Merced (mercy). See pages 276 and 340.
Mesa (table, table-land). See pages 45 and 340.
La Mesa (the table or table-land), is in San
Diego County.
Mesa Grande (big table-land). See page 46.
39°

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Mesa de Ojo de Agua (table-land of the
spring). Mesquite (a native shrub of the locust variety).
Milpitas (little patches of corn). This word is
said to be the diminutive of milpa (a patch of
maize or corn) , but in that case must have referred
to corn cultivated by Mexicans, since the Cali
fornia Indians raised no cultivated crops, but
subsisted entirely on the natural products of the
land. Milpitas is a village in Santa Clara County,
which for some unexplained reason, has come to
be used as a term of derision, the "jumping off
place of creation." It was probably the name of
a land grant.
La Mirada (the view) . See page 80.
Miramar (sea- view), is the name of a post
town in San Diego County and of a summer resort
near Santa Barbara.
Miramontes (a surname). Candelario Mira-
montes, a native of Mexico, was the grantee of the
Pilarcitos Rancho in '41.
Mision Vieja, or La Paz (old mission or the
peace). Land grant.
Mision Vieja de la Purisima (old mission of the
Immaculate Conception) .
39i

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Mocho Peak, in Santa Clara County. Mocho
means "cropped, cut off."
Modesto (modest). See page 288.
Modoc (people of the south). See page 250.
Mojave, or Mohave. Mojave, also spelled
Mohave, is an Indian tribal name of disputed
meaning. It has been stated that it comes from
hamucklihabi (three hills), but this view is posi
tively contradicted by scientists. In the docu
ments of the Spanish explorers the Mojaves are
referred to as Amajabas. The Mojave River is
remarkable in that it has no true outlet, but sinks
into the alkaline soil of the desert near the middle
of San Bernardino County.
Mokelumne. See Moquelumne.
Molino (mill, or mill-stone). See page 80.
Los Molinos (the mills, or mill-stones). See
page 80.
El Rio de los Molinos (the river 01 the mill
stones), now called Mill Creek, in Tehama
County. See page 80.
Mono. See page 324.
Montalvo (a surname), in Ventura County.
See page 81.
Monte (hill or wood). Monte was generally used
392

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

in the sense of "wood" or "forest" by the Spanish-
Americans of the eighteenth century.
El Monte (the hill or the wood).
Del Monte (of the wood or hill). In the case
of the Hotel del Monte, near Monterey, the name
refers to the grove of fine live-oaks in the center
of which the hotel stands.
Montecito (little hill or wood). See page 101.
Monterey (hill or wood of the king). See
page 133.
Monte Vista (mountain view). Modern and
improper in construction. It should be Vista del
Monte. Moquelumne, or Mokelumne. See page 331.
Moreno (a surname). One of the leading mem
bers of this numerous family was Antonio Moreno,
a native of Lower California.
Moro Cojo (lame Moor). See page 160.
Moron (hillock, mound). This place is near
Bakersfield. Morro (a round headland, bluff). It is upon
such a rock that the well-known Morro Castle at
Havana is situated. See page 128. This place
receives its name from Morro Rock, a remarkable
round rock, 600 feet high, situated at the entrance
393

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

to the bay. The name has no reference to its
grey color, as some people imagine, but refers to
its shape — round like a head.
Mugu Point, on the coast of Ventura County.
The Mugus were a tribe of Indians. The word
mugu means "beach."
Muniz (a surname).
Murietta (a surname). See page 81.
Nacimiento (birth), referring in this case to the
birth of Christ. See page 128.
La Nacidn (the nation). See Del Rey, page 371.
Napa, formerly pronounced Napa. See page 242 .
Naranjo (orange-tree), in Tulare County.
La Natividad (the nativity). See page 160.
Natoma, is a name about which the romanticists
have concocted some pleasing theories upon very
slender foundation. According to scientists it
is a tribal name, indicating direction, a favorite
method of naming among the Indians. It may
mean "north people," or "up-stream," or "down
stream," or some such term of direction. By a
severe wrench of the imagination, as has been
suggested, it may be considered that "up-stream"
would eventually lead to the mountains, and that
in the mountains there were people, among whom
394

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

there were undoubtedly girls, and in this "long
distance" manner Mr. Joseph Redding's definition
of Natoma as the "girl from the mountains"
might be evolved, but the imagination is likely
to suffer from such a violent strain. In the same
way, the persons who believe it to mean "clear
water" may have acquired this idea from the
simple fact that the word contains an indirect
reference to the stream in pointing out the direc
tion of its current. It is disappointing perhaps,
but nevertheless true, that Californian Indian
nomenclature has little of romance behind it.
The Indians usually chose names based upon
practical ideas, most often ideas of direction,
such as "north people," "south people," etc.
Navajo, also spelled lavajo (a pool where cattle
go to drink).
Navarro (a surname). In Mendocino County,
west of Ukiah.
Nevada (snowy). See page 293.
El Nido (the nest). See page 46. It is thought
that this place was so named because of its loca
tion in the hills and mountains suggesting the idea
of a nest in the landscape, but there is no definite
information about it. 395

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Los Nietos (literally "the grandchildren," but
in this case a surname). See page 81.
Nimshew, in Butte County. This is an Indian
word, from Nimsewi (big river), a division of
Maidu Indians living on upper Butte Creek, in
Butte County, near the edge of the timber.
Nipomo, in San Luis Obispo County, is probably
Indian, but its meaning has not been ascertained.
Los Nogales (the walnut-trees).
Del Norte (of the north). See page 260.
Novato (new, beginning anything, but possibly
in this case a surname). The exact origin of the
name of this California town has not been ascer
tained. The place is in Marin County and as
there was a land grant there called El Rancho de
Novato, the probabilities are that it is a surname
of some family of early settlers.
Noyo, is in Mendocino County. It was the
Indian name of a creek, not the one now bearing
the name of Noyo, but of another one in the
vicinity. Nuestra Senora del Refugio (our lady of refuge) .
Nuevo (new). In San Diego County.
Oakland was originally called Las Encinas
(the oaks), having been named by the com-
396

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

mandante at Monterey as a result of the report
of Lieutenant Vallejo of the great number of
those trees growing upon the spot. — (Memoirs
of the Vallejos, edited by James H. Wilkins, San
Francisco Bulletin, January, 1914.)
Oceano (ocean), near San Luis Obispo.
Ojai, the name of a former Indian village in
Ventura County, popularly translated as "nest"
or "big tree," neither of which can be looked
upon as authentic. According to Professor A. L.
Kroeber, the meaning of the word Ojai is "moon."
Los Ojitos (little springs). See page 58.
Ojo de Agua (spring of water). See pages 59
and 340.
Ojo de Agua de Figueroa (spring of Figueroa),
the last word being a surname. The Figueroa
family were among the earliest settlers
Ojo Caliente (hot spring).
Ojo de Agua del Coche (spring of the pig).
Olancha, in Inyo County, just below Owens
Lake, was named for the Olanches Indians of
southeastern California.
Olema. See page 230.
Oliver as (olive-trees), in San Luis Obispo
County. Olivera is also a surname.
397

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Los Olivos (the olives). See page 108.
Olla (a round earthen pot, also a whirlpool in
a river or sea). Its application here has not
been ascertained.
Olompali was named for a former large Moquel
umnan village in Marin County, about six miles
south of Petaluma.
Omo, in El Dorado County, is the name of a
Moquel village.
Oro Fino (fine gold), in Siskiyou County. See
page 261.
Oro Grande (large or coarse gold), forty-nine
miles north of San Bernardino. Also in Madera
County. Oroville (gold-town). See page 288.
Oso Flaco (thin bear). In San Luis Obispo
County. Los Osos (the bears). See page 128.
Otay, or Otai, was the name of a former Indian
village near San Diego. It may have first been
applied to the Otey or Otay land grant.
Otero (literally a "hill, or eminence," but
probably a surname here).
Pachappa, near Riverside, Indian name, mean
ing not ascertained. 398

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Pacheco (a surname). See page 230.
Pacoima, near Los Angeles, an Indian word,
meaning not ascertained.
Paicines, also spelled Pajines. See page 160.
Pdjaro (bird). See pages 152 and 340.
Pala. See page 33.
P almas (palms).
Dos P almas (two palms), in Riverside County,
so called from two giant palms near a spring.
Palo, literally "stick," was used by the Span
iards in the sense of "tree."
Palo Alto (high tree). See page 172.
Palo Blanco (white stick, or tree).
Palo Cedro (cedar tree), in Shasta County.
Palo Colorado (redwood tree). These trees
were first observed and named by Gaspar de
Portola, the discoverer of San Francisco Bay.
Dos Polos (two sticks, or trees). See page 283.
Paloma (dove, pigeon).
Palo Verde (green tree).
Panamint Range. See page 332.
Panocha. See page 160.
La Panza (the paunch), in San Luis Obispo
County, so named by some hunters who placed
the paunch of a beef to catch bear. La Paleta
399

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

(shoulder-blade) and El Carnaso (loin) were put
out in other places, and the names still remain.
Las Papas (potatoes) Hill, is in the San Fran
cisco district. Papa (potato), is provincial and
American. Paraiso (paradise). See page 161.
Paraje de Sanchez (place or station of Sanchez).
Pasadena (crown of the valley). See page 82.
Paskenta, in Tehama County, it Indian and
means "under the bank."
Paso (pass).
El Paso (the pass), of the Truckee River.
El Paso Peak (the pass peak), in Kern County.
Del Paso (of the pass), near Sacramento.
Paso de Bar toi 0 (pass of Bartolo), the last a
Christian name.
Paso de Robles (pass of the oaks). See pages 124
and 340.
Pastoria de las Borregas (pasture of the ewe-
lambs) .
La Patera (a place where ducks congregate).
In early days the fresh water swamps near here
abounded with ducks. La Patera is a flag station
in Santa Barbara County.
La Paz (the peace). Probably a peace arranged
400

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

with the Indians, or it may have been named for
La Paz in Lower California.
Pecho Rock, near San Luis Obispo. The reason
for this name has not been discovered, but it may
be a reference to the shape of the rock. Pecho
means "breast."
Pedernales (flints). See page 104.
Los Penasquitos (the little cliffs), in San Diego
County. Peralta (a surname), that of a pioneer family.
Peras (pears) Creek, in Los Angeles County.
Los P err os (the dogs), possibly Indian dogs.
Pescadero Point (fishing-place point). See page
231. Petaluma. See page 261.
Picachos Mountains, a ridge east of San Fran
cisco Bay. Pichacos are frequent, isolated, conical
peaks. Picacho (top, sharp-pointed summit), is the
name of a post village in Imperial County.
Pico (a surname), ten miles from Los Angeles.
Jose Maria Pico of Sinaloa was the founder of
this family, and its most notable member was his
son, Pio Pico, at one time governor of California.
According to Bancroft, the character of Pio Pico
401

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

was a mixture of good and bad, in which the good
predominated. "He was abused beyond his
deserts ; he was a man of ordinary intelligence and
limited education; of a generous, jovial 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
tool of knaves. He did not run away with large
sums of money obtained by sales of missions, as
has been charged."
Piedra (stone, rock), near Fresno.
Piedras Blancas (white rocks). See page 128.
Piedras Grandes (big rocks).
La Piedra Pintada (the painted rock). See
page 108.
Pilar (literally "pillar of stone"). Point Pilar
may have been named for Nuestra Senora del
Pilar, (Our Lady of the pillar), from a church at
Saragossa, Spain, where there is an image of the
Virgin on a marble pillar. Pilar is also a surname,
that of a pioneer family, for whom this point may
have been named.
Pilar citos (little pillars, or little Pilar Ranch).
Pilitas (basins or water-holes in rock).
El Pinal (the pine grove) , in San Joaquin County.
402

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Pino Blanco (white pine), in Mariposa County.
Pino Grande (big pine), in El Dorado County,
near Placerville.
Pinole (parched corn ground into meal). Point
Pinole was so named because the expedition under
Lieutenant Vallejo had nothing to eat but pinole
while they waited at that spot for the return of the
cargo dores with provisions from Monterey . — (Mem
oirs of the Vallejos, edited by James H. Wilkins,
San Francisco Bulletin, January, 1914.)
Pinon (pine kernel, also the scrub pine, a very
picturesque tree bearing a delicious nut).
Point Pinos (point of pines). See page 148.
Tres Pinos (three pines). See page 163.
Pintado (painted, mottled).
Pinto Range (painted or mottled range). See
page 332.
El Piojo (the louse), in Monterey County, a
short distance south of Jolon.
Piru, near Camulos, the name of a former
Indian village.
Pismo. See page 128.
Pit River. See page 294.
La Pita, in San Diego County. Pita haya is the
fruit of the cactus called "prickly pear."
4°3

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Placer. See page 304.
Placerville. See page 305.
Planada (a plain, level ground), seventy-four
miles from Stockton.
Piano (a level surface), in Tulare County.
La Playa (the beach), in Santa Barbara County.
Pleito (quarrel, lawsuit, bargain). See page 161.
Plumas (feathers). See page 297.
Las Plumas (the feathers), near Oroville.
Pomo. See page 261.
Poncho (cloak, blanket).
Poonkiny (wormwood). Poonkiny, sometimes
misspelled Pookiny, is from the Yuki Indian
language. El Portal (the gate), the entrance to the Yosem
ite Valley.
Portola (a surname). See pages 231 and 340.
Posa (well, pool, also spelled by the Spaniards
pozo, poso). The fact that posa also has the mean
ing of "passing bell for the dead" has caused some
rather ludicrous mistakes. For instance, La Posa
de los Ositos (the pool of the little bears) , evidently
refers to a place where some bears were seen
drinking, and certainly would be absurd trans
lated as "the passing bell of the little bears."
404

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

When used as names of places the connection
makes it quite clear that they were so called in
reference to pools of water present on the spot.
Las Positas (the little pools).
Las Positas y la Calera (the little wells, or pools,
and the lime-kiln).
Poso (pool, or well), in Kern County, and Poso
in San Luis Obispo County.
Los Posos (the pools, or wells), in Ventura
County. La Posta (person who rides or travels post,
post-house, military post, etc.). In the case of
La Posta, 170 miles from the Mission Tule River
Agency, it probably means post-station.
Potrero (pasture, generally for horses). See
pages 46, 161 and 231.
Potrero de los Cerritos (pasture of the little
hills). Potrero Chico (little pasture).
Potrero Grande (big pasture).
Potrero y Rincon de San Pedro de Reglado
(pasture and corner of St. Peter Regalato). St.
Peter Regalato was a Franciscan, and was "es
pecially distinguished for his sublime gift of
prayer." This was the name of a land grant.
405

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

El Potrero de San Carlos (the pasture of St.
Charles) .
Potrero de San Francisco (pasture of St. Francis).
This district still goes by the name of "the po
trero" in the city of San Francisco.
Potrero de San Luis Obispo (pasture of St. Louis
the Bishop).
El Potrero de Santa Clara (the pasture of St.
Clara) .
Poway, in San Diego County, is an Indian place
name. Pozo (pool, well). See page 128.
Prado (meadow), in Riverside County. See
page 82. This place was so named on account of
its resemblance to a prairie.
La Presa (dam, dike). See page 46. This place
is so called from the Sweetwater irrigation dam
located there.
Presidio (garrison, prison). See page 231.
Prieta (dark), a place north of San Francisco.
Los Prietos (the dark ones) .
Providencia (providence) .
Pueblo (town).
Los Dos Pueblos (the two towns). See page 106.
Puente (bridge), near Los Angeles. See page 82.
406

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Las Puentes (the bridges). See page 161.
El Puerto (the port), of San Diego.
Pulgas (fleas). See pages 82 and 224.
La Punta (the point), in San Diego County.
Punta Almejas (mussel point).
Punta Ano Nuevo (point New Year). See page
157- Punta Arenas (sandy point). See page 340.
Punta de la Concepcion (point of the immacu
late conception).
Punta Delgada (thin or narrow point). See
page 260.
Punta Gorda (fat or thick point). See pages 108
and 260.
Punta Guijarros (pebble or boulder point).
Punta de la Laguna (point of the lagoon). See
page 261.
Punta Loma (hill point), near San Diego. See
page 45. It should be Punta de la Loma.
Punta de Pinos (point of pines). Near Monterey.
Page 148.
Punta de los Reyes (point of the kings). See
page 232.
Punta de las Ritas (point of the rites). See
page 108. 407

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Purisima Point (point of the most pure con
ception). On the Santa Barbara Coast.
Purisima (most pure), in San Mateo County.
Point Sal (a surname). See page 108.
Point Sur (south point). See page 162.
La Quemada (the burned place), from the verb
quemar (to burn). This name refers to a custom
prevalent among the Indians of burning over large
tracts of land for the purpose of killing the under
brush and encouraging the growth of grass, which
resulted in attracting game. The diaries of the
Spaniards refer frequently to this custom, and
speak of finding a great deal of country burned
over in this way. One writer has offered to his
astonished readers the translation of La Ouemada
as "the over-full, having enough to eat."
Quien Sabe (who knows), a familiar expression
among the Spaniards.
Quintin. See page 235.
Quinto (a surname). Simon Tadeo Quinto was
one of the members of this pioneer family.
Raimundo (Raymond).
Ramirez (a surname), near Marysville.
Ramona (a Christian name), well known as that
of the heroine of Mrs.Helen Hunt Jackson's romance.
408

THE MISSION OF PURISIMA CONCEPCION, FOUNDED IN 1880.

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Rancheria, a word meaning "settlement," but
generally used by the Spaniards to mean an
Indian village.
Rancheria del Baile de las Indias (village of the
dance of the Indian women). See page ioo.
Rancheria del Corral (village of the yard).
Rancheria de la Espada (village of the sword).
See page 102.
Rancheria del Rio Estanislao (village of the river
Stanislaus) .
Ranchita de Santa Fe (little ranch of holy faith) .
Rancho del Puerto (ranch of the pass).
Raton (mouse).
Real de las Aguilas (camp of the eagles).
Redondo (round). See page 82.
Refugio (refuge), is in Santa Barbara County.
Refugio is also a Christian name.
Represa (dam), so called on account of a dam
at that point, west of the state prison at Folsom.
Del Rey (of the king), also known as El Rancho
Nacional because it was used to provide meat and
horses for the military. This ranch was in Fresno
County. Reyes (kings). See page 232.
Ricardo (Richard), is in Kern County.
411

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Rincon is the interior angle formed by the
junction of two walls or lines, and is one of the
terms used in the apportionment of land grants.
Rincon (corner), is in San Bernardino County.
El Rincon (the corner) , is in Los Angeles County,
and comprises rich agricultural land on either
side of the Santa Ana River.
Rinconada is the corner formed by two houses,
streets, roads, or between two mountains.
Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito
(corner of the creek of little St. Francis). Land
grant. Rincon de los Corner os (corner of the sheep).
Land grant.
Rinconada de los Gatos (corner of the cats
— wild-cats). Land grant.
Rincon de la Brea (corner of the asphalt).
Land grant.
Rincon de los Bueyes (corner of the oxen). Land
grant. Rincon del Diablo (corner of the devil). Land
grant. Rincon de los Ester os (corner of the estuaries).
Land grant.
Rincon Point (corner point). See page 108.
412

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Rincon de la Puente del Monte (corner of the
bridge of the wood, or hill). Land grant.
Rincon de las Salinas (corner of the salt
marshes). Land grant.
Rincon de las Salinas y Potrero Viejo (corner
of the salt marshes and the old pasture). Land
grant. Rincon de San Francisquito (corner of little
San Francisco). Land grant.
Rincon del Sanjon (corner of the slough).
Land grant.
Rio (river).
El Rio de los Berrendos (the river of the ante
lopes) . See page 40.
Rio Grande (big river).
Rio Jesus Maria (River Jesus Mary). Land
grant. El Rio de los Molinos (the river of the mill
stones). See page 80.
El Rio del Nido (the river of the nest), referring
to the nest of an eagle once seen in a tree on the
banks of this stream. The name is now short
ened into Rio Nido, or Rionido.
El Rio de Santa Clara (the river of St. Clara).
Land grant. 413

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

El Rio de los Santos Reyes (the river of the holy
kings). See page 278.
Rio Seco (dry river).
Rio Vista (river view). See page 289. Im
proper construction. It should be Vista del Rio.
El Rito (the rite, ceremony).
Rivera, literally "brook, creek," but also a
surname. The Rivera family were among the
pioneers. See page 82.
Roblar de la Miseria (oak grove of poverty,
wretchedness). It is likely that in this grove the
Spaniards suffered from a shortage of food sup
plies, and named it in memory of their suffer
ings. Land grant.
Los Robles (the oaks), ten miles from Los
Angeles. Rodeo (cattle round-up). See pages 232 and 340.
The town of Rodeo was first laid out to maintain
a large packing-house for meat, but this was
abandoned, and it has become an oil-refining town.
Rodeo de las Aguas (gathering of the waters).
See page 82.
Del Rosa (of the rose), in San Bernardino County.
If this is not a surname it is improper in construc
tion, and should be De la Rosa.
414

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Los Rosales (the rose-bushes).
Rosario (rosary), procession of persons who
recite the rosary. Also a Christian name.
Sacate (grass, hay).
Sacramento (sacrament). See page 271.
Sal, in the case of Point Sal a surname. See
page 108.
Salada (salted, salty, saline land). Near San
Francisco. Salazar (a surname), that of a pioneer family.
Salida (exit, out-gate), village in Stanislaus
County, seven miles northwest of Modesto.
Salinas (salt-marshes). See pages i48and 340.
Sal si Puedes ("get out if you can"). Seepage 109.
La Salud (health). See page 174.
San Andreas (St. Andrew). See page 333.
San Andres (St. Andrew). See page 333.
San Anselmo (St. Anselm). See page 232.
San Antonio (St. Anthony).
San Antonio de Padua (St. Anthony of Padua).
See page 141.
San Ardo (St. Ardo), is in Monterey County.
St. Ardo, in Latin Smaragdus, was a Benedictine
monk who wrote a life of St. Benedict which is
considered reliable. He died in 843.
415

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

San Augustine (properly Agustin), born in
Numidia, was the son of Santa Monica. "In
his youth he was so devoted to pleasure that
his mother feared the destruction of his char
acter," but he became converted by the preaching
of St. Ambrose, and it is thought that the Te
Deum was composed in honor of the occasion
of his baptism. It is told of him that "while
walking on the sea-shore, lost in meditation
on his great theme, the Discourse on the Trinity,
he saw a little child bringing water and endeavor
ing to fill a hole which he had dug in the sand.
Augustine asked him the motive of his labors.
The child said he intended to empty all the water
of the sea into this cavity. 'Impossible!' ex
claimed St. Augustine. 'Not more impossible,'
answered the child, 'than for thee, O Augustine,
to explain the mystery on which thou art now
meditating.' St. Augustine is the patron of
theologians and learned men." — (Stories of the
Saints.) San Benito (St. Benedict). See page 161.
San Bernabe (St. Barnabas, or Barnaby). This
saint was a native of Cyprus, and a cousin of St.
Mark. "He labored with Paul at Antioch, and
416

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

tradition says he preached from the gospel of
St. Matthew, written by the Evangelist himself,
which he carried always with him, and that it
had power to heal the sick when laid upon their
bosoms. He was seized by the Jews and cruelly
martyred, while preaching in Judea." — (Stories of
the Saints.)
San Bernardino (St. Bernardinus). See page 74.
San Bernardo (St. Bernard). There were two
saints of this name, one born in 1190 at Fontaine,
and the other in Savoy. The latter, St. Bernard
of Menthon, is famous as the founder of the St.
Bernard hospitals in the Alps, where "the monks,
assisted by their dogs, search out and care for
travelers who are lost in the passes of the moun
tains, where the storms are severe, and the cold
intense." San Bruno (St. Bruno). See page 232.
San Buenaventura (St. Bonaventure). See
page 95.
San Carlos (St. Charles). See page 138.
San Clemente (St. Clement). See page 83.
San Diegito (little St. James).
San Diego (St. James). See page 21.
San Dimas "probably St. Dismas, is popularly
417

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

supposed to have been the good or converted
robber on the right side of Christ on Good Friday.
In places he is celebrated by the Latins on March
25. The Greeks have him on a much later date."
— (Fray Zephyrin Engelhardt, O. F. M). San
Dimas is the name of a post- village in Los Angeles
County. San Domingo (St. Dominick). St. Dominick
was a Castilian of noble descent, and was the
originator of the Dominican Order of barefoot
priests, and of the use of the rosary.
Sanel, the name of a former Indian village called
variously Se-nel, Sah-nel, Sai-nel and Sanel.
"Sanel is derived from cane (sweathouse), and was
the name of a very large village situated south
of the town of Sanel, on the eastern side of Hop-
land Valley." — (Barrett, in Univ. Publ. in Arch.
and Tech.)
San Emygdio, "English or Latin St. Emygdius,
Bishop and Martyr, feast August 5. The Roman
Martyrology has this on him: 'St. Emygdius,
Bishop and Martyr, was consecrated Bishop by
Pope St. Marcehus and sent to preach the Gospel
at Ascoli. He received the crown of Martyrdom
for confessing Christ, under Diocletian.' He is
418

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

invoked against earthquakes." — (Fray Zephyrin
Engelhardt) .
San Felipe (St. Philip). See page 180.
San Fernando (St. Ferdinand). See page 69.
San Francisco (St. Francis). See page 185.
San Francisco de las Llagas (St. Francis of the
"stigmata"). See page 179.
San Francisquito (little St. Francis). Land
grant. San Gabriel (St. Gabriel). See page 66.
San Geronimo (St. Jerome). See pages 233
and 340.
San Gorgonio Mountains and Pass are in the
Coast Range in Southern California. Their patron
saint, Gorgonius, suffered martyrdom in 304 at
Nicomedia during the persecution of Diocletian.
Gorgonius, who had held a high position in the
Emperor's household, was subjected to most
frightful torments, and was finally strangled and
his body thrown into the sea. It was, neverthe
less, secured by the Christians and was afterwards
carried to Rome.
San Gregorio (St. Gregory). See page 233.
San Ignacio (St. Ignatius). St. Ignatius Loyola
was the founder of the order of the Jesuits. "In
419

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

his youth he was a page in the court of Ferdinand
the Catholic, and later a brave and gay soldier."
He became a permanent cripple through being
severely wounded in both legs. While confined
by these sufferings, he devoted himself to reading
the life of Christ, and was thus induced to take
up religious work. After some years of study, he
induced five men to join him in forming a com
munity under the title of the "Company of
Jesus," whose especial duties are "first, preach
ing; second, the guidance of souls in confession;
third, the teaching of the young."
San Isidro, also spelled Ysidro (St. Isidore).
There were two saints bearing this name. St.
Isidore the ploughman could neither read nor
write, but performed many miracles. His master
objected to the time wasted by Isidore in prayer,
but his objections were silenced when he found,
upon entering the field one day, the plough being
drawn by two angels, while St. Isidore knelt at
his devotions. The other St. Isidore was Bishop
of Seville, and in the church in that city bearing
his name, there is a "magnificent picture which re
presents him dying on the steps of the altar, having
given all his property to the poor." See page 341.
420

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

San Jacinto (St. Hyacinth). See pages 83 and
340. San Jacinto Viejo (St. Hyacinth the Old).
San Joaquin (St. Joachim). See pages 274 and
34o. Sanjon (deep ditch or slough). Also spelled
zanjon. Sanjon de los Moquelumnes (Moquelumne slough) .
San Jose (St. Joseph). See pages 168 and 340.
San Jose de Buenos Aires (St. Joseph of good
airs). San Jose y Sur Chiquito (St. Joseph and little
south). These are the names of two creeks near
Monterey. San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist).
See pages 154 and 340.
San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana (St. John canyon,
literally "box," of St. Anne). Deep canyons
were often called cajones (boxes).
San Juan Capistrano. See page 35.
San Juan Point (St. John Point). See page 83.
San Julian (St. Julian). This seems to have
been a favorite name for saints, since there were
twelve who bore it. Only two, however, are of
special importance, St. Julian Hospitator, and
421

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

St. Julian of Rimini. The first had the fearful
misfortune to kill his own father and mother
through an error, and to make reparation, he
built a hospital on the bank of a turbulent stream
in which many persons had been drowned. "He
constantly ferried travelers over the river without
reward, and, one stormy night in winter, when it
seemed that no boat could cross the stream, he
heard a sad cry from the opposite bank. He went
over, and found a youth, who was a leper, dying
from cold and weariness. In spite of his disease
the saint carried him over, and bore him in his
arms to his own bed, and he and his wife tended
him till morning, when the leper rose up, and his
face was transformed into that of an angel, and
he said: 'Julian, the Lord hath sent me to thee;
for thy penitence is accepted, and thy rest is near
at hand' ... St. Julian is patron saint
of ferrymen and boatmen, of travelers and of
wandering minstrels." Little is known of St.
Julian of Rimini except that he "endured a pro
longed martyrdom with unfailing courage." —
(Stories of the Saints.) See page 340.
San Justo (St. Justus). Little authentic is
known of this saint, except that he was the fourth
422

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

archbishop of Canterbury, and died there about
627. San Leandro (St. Leander). See page 233.
San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence). See page 234.
San Lucas (St. Luke). See page 162.
San Luis Gonzaga (St. Louis Gonzaga). This
saint, also known as St. Aloysius, was the son of a
noble Italian lady, the Marchese di Castiglione.
"He entered the Society of Jesus when not yet
eighteen years old, and became eminently dis
tinguished for his learning, piety and good works.
He died at Rome in 1591 of fever, which he con
tracted while nursing the sick." — (Stories of the
Saints.) San Luis Obispo (St. Louis the Bishop). See
pages 117 and 340.
San Luis Rey (St. Louis the king). See page 30.
San Marcial (St. Martial) was the Bishop of
Limoges, and is especially noted for the conver
sions he accomplished, in particular that of the
beautiful virgin St. Valerie, who suffered martyr
dom for her faith.
San Marcos (St. Mark). "This evangelist was a
disciple of St. Peter. He founded the church at
Alexandria, and on account of his miracles the
423

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

heathen accused him of being a magician; and at
length, while celebrating the feast of their god
Serapis, they seized St. Mark and dragged him
through the streets until he died. Then imme
diately there fell a storm of hail, and a tempest of
lightning came with it which destroyed his mur
derers." His remains were removed in A. D. 815
to Venice, where the splendid cathedral of St.
Mark was erected over them. Many legends are
told of this saint, among them the story of his
having saved the city of Venice from destruction by
demons, who raised a great storm and came in a
boat for that purpose, but were driven away by St.
Mark, who went to meet them and held up a cross.
San Marino, near Los Angeles, was named for
a saint who was born in Dalmatia in the fourth
century. He was a poor laborer and was em
ployed in the reconstruction of the bridge of
Rimini. His piety attracted the attention of the
Bishop of Brescia, who ordained him as a deacon.
Marino retired to Mount Titano, and gave him
self up entirely to religious practices. His cell
attracted others, and this was the origin of the
city and republic of San Marino, the smallest
republic in the world. 424

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

San Martin (St. Martin) . See pages 181 and 340.
San Mateo (St. Matthew). See pages 234 and
340. San Mateo Point (St. Matthew Point). See
page 83.
San Miguel (St. Michael). See page 123.
San Miguelito (little St. Michael).
San Nicolas (St. Nicholas). Little that is
authentic can be obtained concerning the history
of this saint, but there are numerous legends of
miracles performed by him, several of them con
nected with raising children from the dead, and
similar stories. St. Nicholas is the chief patron
of Russia and of many sea-port towns, and is the
protector against robbers and violence. He is
also the patron of children and schoolboys in par
ticular, and of poor maidens, sailors, travelers,
and merchants.
San Onofre (St. Onophrius). See page 83.
San Pablo (St. Paul). See page 234.
San Pasqual (St. Pascal). This saint was a
Spanish peasant, born in Aragon in 1540. He was
a member of the Franciscan order, and was re
markable for his unfailing courtesy and charity
to the poor. 425

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

San Pedro (St. Peter). See page 84.
San Pedro, Santa Margarita, y las Gallinas
(St. Peter, St. Margaret, and the chickens) , com
bined names of three land grants.
San Quentin (St. Quentin). Seepages 235 and
34i. San Rafael (St. Raphael). See page 220.
San Ramon (St. Raymond). See page 235.
San Simeon (St. Simeon). See page 128.
Santa Ana (St. Anne). See page 59.
Santa Ana y Quien Sabe (St. Anne and "who
knows"), combined names of two land grants.
Santa Anita (St. Annie, or little St. Anne).
Santa Barbara. See page 89.
Santa Catalina (St. Catherine). See page 62.
Santa Clara (St. Clara). See page 167.
Santa Clara del Norte (St. Clara of the north).
Santa Cruz (holy cross). See page 153.
Santa Fe (holy faith), near Los Angeles. See
page 341.
Santa Cruz Island. See page 101.
Santa Gertrudis (St. Gertrude). St. Gertrude
the Great was a benedictine nun and mystic
writer, born in Germany in 1256. She is especially
noted for her learning and religious writings, all of
426

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

which were written in Latin. She was charitable
to the poor and had the gift of miracles.
Santa Inez, also spelled Ynez (St. Agnes). See
pages 109 and 341.
Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). See page 129.
Santa Margarita (St. Margaret). See page 129.
Santa Margarita y las Flores (St. Margaret and
the flowers), combined names of two land grants.
Santa Maria (St. Mary). See page no.
Santa Monica (St. Monica). See page 61.
Santa Paula (St. Paula). See page 113.
Santa Rita is the name of a village in Monterey
County, near Salinas. The patron saint of this
place was born at Rocca Porena in 1386 and died
in 1456. Her feast day is May 22, and she is
represented as holding roses, or roses and figs.
When but twelve years of age Santa Rita was com
pelled by her parents to marry a cruel, ill-tem
pered man. This man was murdered, and after
his death, his widow desired to enter the convent
at Cascia, but was at first refused admission on
account of her widow-hood. She was finally
received, however, and so many miracles were
reported to have been performed at her inter
cession that she was given in Spain the title of
427

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

La Santa de los Imposibles (the saint of the im
possibilities). Santa Rosa (St. Rose). See page 246.
Santa Susana (St. Susanna). This saint, who
was remarkable for her beauty and learning, was
a relative of the Emperor Diocletian, who desired
her as a wife for his adopted son Maximus. St.
Susanna, having made a vow of chastity, refused
this offer, and Diocletian, angered by her refusal,
sent an executioner to kill her in her own house.
Santa Teresa, was born at Avila in Castile,
March 28, 1515. During her earliest youth,
through reading the lives of the saints and martyrs,
she formed a desire to take up religious work.
In accordance with this desire, at the age of twenty
years, she entered the convent of Carmelites, and
chose as her life work the reforming of the order
of Mount Carmel, as well as the establishment of
a number of convents for men. It was she who
made the Carmelites go barefoot, or sandalled.
Santa Teresa had distinct literary gifts, and her
history of her life is a work of absorbing interest,
which is still read with genuine pleasure by stu
dents of the literature of Spain. She attained a
position of such authority in that country that
428

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Philip III chose her for its second patron saint,
ranking her next to Santiago (St. James).
Santa Ynez. See Santa Inez. See page 109 and
34i- Santa Ysabel, also spelled Isabel (St. Isabella
of France), who founded the convent at Long-
champs, was sister to the saintly King Louis.
She was educated with her brother by their
mother, Blanche of Castile. St. Isabel dedicated
her convent to the "humility of the Blessed Vir
gin," and gave to it all her dowry. As long as the
convent existed the festival of this saint was cele
brated with great splendor. — (Stories of Ihe
Saints.) Santiago de Santa Ana (St. James of St. Anne).
Land grant.
San Timoteo (St. Timothy). St. Timothy was
the beloved disciple of St. Paul, whom he accom
panied on many journeys. It is said that he was
Bishop of Ephesus, until at the age of eighty years
he suffered the cruel fate of being beaten to death
by pagans.
San Tomaso (St. Thomas), was a Galilean
fisherman and one of the apostles. "So great was
his incredulity that he has always been remem-
429

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

bered for that rather^than for his other charac
teristics," and it was in this way that the familiar
expression "a doubting Thomas" arose. At the
time of the ascension of the Virgin, Thomas
refused to believe in the event, and the legend
relates that in order to convince him the Virgin
dropped her girdle to him from the heavens.
Three other saints also bear this name, St. Thomas
a Becket, the celebrated English historical char
acter; St. Thomas Aquinas, a grandnephew of
Frederick I and a man of great learning; and St.
Thomas the Almoner, who was so charitable that
"as a child he would take off his own clothes to
give away to children in the street." It is related
of the last named that he wore the same hat for
twenty-six years, and that his whole life was "but
a grand series of beneficent deeds. When the
hour of his death came he had given away every
thing except the pallet on which he lay, and this
was to be given to a jailer who had assisted him
in executing his benevolent designs." There is
a remarkably beautiful picture of him by Murillo,
representing him as a child, dividing his clothing
among four ragged little ones.
San Vicente (St. Vincent). Three saints bear
43°

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

this name. St. Vincent of Saragosa was martyred
during the persecution of the Christians by
Diocletian. Legend has it that his remains were
guarded by crows or ravens, and when in the year
1 147 Alonzo I removed them to Lisbon, two crows
accompanied the vessel, one at the prow and one
at the stern. In pictures St. Vincent is always
represented as accompanied by a crow or raven.
St. Vincent Ferraris was born at Valencia in 1357.
He was a celebrated preacher and missionary,
and "so moved the hearts of his hearers that he
was often obliged to pause that the sobbing and
weeping might subside." The third of this name,
St. Vincent de Paul, was the son of a Gascon
farmer, and his charities were so various and so
many as to cause his name to be revered by all,
irrespective of religious differences. He estab
lished the Hospital La Madeleine for the Magda-
lens of Paris, a foundling hospital, and numerous
other charities. In truth, the practical good done
by this man during his life makes him well worthy
of the title of "saint."
San Ysidro. See San Isidro. See page 341.
Saticoy. See page 84.
Saucito (little alder). 431

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Saucos (alder- trees) .
Sausal (willow-grove) .
Sausalito (little willow-grove). See page 218.
Sausal Redondo (round willow-grove). See
Redondo Beach, page 82.
El Segundo (the second), so called because at
that place the Standard Oil Company's second
refinery on the Pacific Coast is located. Modern.
Sequoia, the giant tree of California, was named
for the Cherokee, Sequoyah, who invented an
alphabet for his tribe. Sequoyah, also known as
George Gist, or Guess, was the son of a white
man and a Cherokee woman of mixed blood, and
was, after all, more white man than Indian. He
had a natural genius for mechanical invention,
and, having been crippled for life in a hunting
accident, he occupied his time in devising the
alphabet, which was accepted with such enthusi
asm by his people that every Cherokee, of what
ever age, had learned to read and write in a few
months. Sequoia, although not a place name, is
given here for the interest it may have for tourists
and other persons unacquainted with the origin
of the name of the famous "big trees."
Serena (serene). See page 113. This name is
43 2

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

spelled on some maps as Sereno, but is called Serena
by the people of the neighborhood.
Serra (a surname). See page 84.
Sespe, named for a former Chumash Indian
village said by Indians to have been on Sespe
Creek, in Ventura County.
Shasta. See page 251.
Sierra (saw, saw- toothed mountains). See
page 293.
Sierra Madre (mother sierra). See page 293.
Sierra Morena (brown range) is the name of a
spur of the Coast Range commencing about ten
miles south of San Francisco and running through
San Francisco County into Santa Clara County.
This mountain range, which contains some very
charming scenery, may have been so named on
account of its color, or it may be the namesake of
the Sierra Morena of Spain. The name is some
times spelled Moreno, and one of the possibilities
is that it was named for the pioneer Moreno family.
Sierra Nevada (snowy sierra). See page 293.
Simi, in Ventura County, is an Indian place
name. Siskiyou. See page 256.
Sis Quoc, a town and river in Santa Barbara
433

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

County, named from Souscoc, a former Chumash
village near the Santa Inez Mission.
Sobrante (residue, surplus), a term applied to
a piece of land left over after measuring off land
grants. Sobrante de San Jacinto, residue of the grant
called St. Hyacinth.
Solano. See page 268.
Soledad (solitude). See page 151.
Somis, in Ventura County, is an Indian place
name. Sonoma. See page 241.
Sonora. See page 333.
Soquel, or Souquel, was probably derived from
Usacalis, a Costanoan Indian village situated in
1819 within ten miles of the Santa Cruz Mission.
Soscol. See Suscol.
Sotoyome, a former Chumash Indian village
near Santa Inez Mission, in Santa Barbara County.
Stanislaus. See page 275.
Suerte, a word of many meanings (luck, chance,
lot of ground). In the apportionment of land by
the Spaniards a suerte was a cultivable lot of land
granted to colonists near the pueblos and within
the four leagues assigned to the pueblo. Each
434

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

suerte consisted of two hundred varas of length
and two hundred of breadth, a vara being about
thirty-three inches. Thus one suerte is one lot
(of land), and not, as one writer has translated it,
"one chance." Dos suertes is two lots.
Suisun. See page 269.
Sunol (a surname). See pages 236 and 341.
Sur (south). For Point Sur see page 162. In
this vicinity the scenery is remarkably pictur
esque. Del Sur (of the south), is in Los Angeles County.
Suscol was the name of a Moquelumnan tribe
who lived in a village on the east bank of Napa
River. See Soscol.
Tahoe. See page 306.
Tallac, an Indian word, meaning not ascer
tained. Tamalpais. See page 213.
Tambo (South American for inn, or hotel, so
called because in early days there was a stopping
place in this vicinity for travelers crossing the
continent. Near Marysville.
Tenaya Peak, in Yosemite Valley, named for
Ten-ei-ya, chief of the Yosemite Indians.
Tasajara, the name of a resort near Monterey,
435

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

is probably a corruption of tasajera, a place where
jerked meat is hung up to cure. Tassajara in
Contra Costa County, and Tasajero creek in
Contra Costa and Alameda Counties are probably
different spellings of the same word.
Tecolote (owl).
Tehachapi. See page 289.
Tehama. See page 265.
El Tejon (the badger), is in Kern County.
Tejon Pass is badger pass.
Temecula. See page 47. Temecula is in the
southern part of Riverside County.
Temescal (sweathouse). See page 70.
Tequisquite is an Aztec word, probable meaning
salt-petre. Tia Juana. See page 47.
Tiburon (shark). See page 220.
Tierra Seca (dry land).
Tocaloma. See page 236.
Todos Santos (all saints).
Todos Santos y San Antonio (all saints and St.
Anthony) .
Tolenos, in Yolo County, is probably a misspel
ling of Yolenos, from the Indian Yolo. See page
268. 436

THE TALLAC TRAIL TO TAHOE.

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Toluca, near Los Angeles, is probably derived
from Tolujaa, or Tilijaes, a tribe among the
original ones at San Juan Capistrano in 1731,
although there is also a place named Toluca in
Mexico. Tomales. See page 236.
Topo Creek (gopher creek).
Toro (bull). See pages 85 and 163.
Tor os (bulls).
Tortuga (turtle, tortoise).
Trabuco (blunderbuss, a sort of wide-mouthed
gun), but it may not be used in that sense in this
case. See page 85. Trabuco Canyon is in Orange
County. Trampa del Oso (bear trap).
Trampas (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.
Tranquilldn Mountain is in Santa Barbara
County. Tranquilldn is a mixture of two kinds
of grain, such as wheat and rye, called in English
"mastlin," or "maslin."
Tres Ojos de Agua (three springs of water).
Tres Pinos. See page 163.
439

PLACF NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Trigo (wheat), is 128 miles from Stockton.
Trinity County. See page 257.
Trinidad Bay and town. See page 257.
Triunfo (triumph), is in Los Angeles County.
Tropico (tropical), near Los Angeles.
Truckee. See page 305.
Tulare (place of rushes). See page 281.
Tularcitos (little rushes, little Tulare ranch).
Tulucay Rancho, near Napa State Hospital, is
derived from the Indian word tuluka (red).
Tunitas is a place near San Francisco on the
Ocean Shore Road. The tunita is a beach plant
sometimes called the "beach apple." Tuna is
the Spanish name for the common cactus known
as "prickly pear."
Tuolumne. See page 315.
Tustin (a surname), a place in Orange County,
near Santa Ana. Fernando Tustin was one of the
early settlers, and came to California in 1845.
Ukiah. See page 262.
Usal, in Mendocino County. This is an Indian
word, derived from yosal, or yusal, the name of
a tribe of Pomos, living on the coast from Usal
northward. Las Uvas (the grapes). See page 163.
440

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Vacaville. See page 289.
Valencia Peak, near San Luis Obispo. Valencia
is a surname.
Valle (valley).
Vallecito (little valley) is the name of places in
Calaveras and San Diego Counties. See page 334.
Los Vallecitos de San Marcos (the little valleys
of St. Mark).
Vallejo (a surname). See pages 236 and 341.
Valle Mar (sea valley), on the Ocean Shore,
near San Francisco. Improper construction. It
should be Valle del Mar (valley of the sea) .
Valle de San Felipe (valley of St. Philip).
Dos Valles (two valleys).
Valle de San Jose (valley of St. Joseph).
Valle Verde (green valley). See page 85.
Valle Vista (valley view). See page 85. Im
proper construction. It should be Vista del Valle
(view of the valley) .
Vega, an open plain, or tract of level land. Vega
is also a surname.
Las Vegas (the meadows). Fremont refers to
the vegas of the Southern Central Valley in these
terms: "We encamped in the midst of another
very large basin, at a camping ground called Las
441

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Vegas, a term which the Spaniards use to signify
fertile or marshy plains, in contradistinction to
llanos, which they apply to dry and sterile plains."
Vega del Rio del Pdjaro (plain of the river of the
bird). Venado (deer), is in Colusa County.
Ventura (fortune). See page 113.
Ver ano (summer), is west of Napa.
Verde (green), twelve miles from San Luis
Obispo. Verdugo (a surname in this case). See page 85.
Los Vergeles (flower gardens, beautiful or
chards) .
Vicente Point (Point Vincent). See page 85.
Viento (wind), is in San Bernardino County.
Las Vir genes (the virgins). See page 341.
Vista (view), in San Diego County.
Bella Vista (beautiful view).
Buena Vista (good view).
Chula Vista (charming view). See page 42.
Vista Grande (large view), is in San Mateo
County. Monte Vista (mountain view). Improper con
struction. It should be Vista del Monte (view of
the mountain). 442

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

Rio Vista (river view) . See page 289. Improper
construction. It should be Vista del Rio (view of
the river).
Vizcaino Cape, named for the celebrated Span
ish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, who touched at
various points on the California coast in the year
1602. V olean (volcano).
Wahtoque is an Indian word meaning "pine
nut," the name of a place near Fresno.
Wawona, an Indian word of disputed meaning.
See page 334.
Weitchpec, near Hoopa valley, Humboldt
County. "The Weitspekan family consisted of
the Yurok tribe alone, inhabiting the lower Kla
math River and adjacent coast. The name is
adapted from Weitspekw, the name of a spring
in the village. At the site of the present postoffice
of Weitchpec was one of the most populous Yurok
villages, and one of only two or three at which
both the Deerskin dance and the Jumping dance
were held." — (A. L. Kroeber in Handbook of
American Indians.)
Las Yeguas (the mares), referring to a pasture
where mares were kept. 443

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

Yerba Buena (good herb). See page 205.
Yokohl, in Tulare County. This was the name
of a Yokuts tribe formerly living on the Kaweah
River, Tulare County.
Yolo. See page 268.
Yorba (a surname). This was the name of one
of Captain Fages' original Catalan volunteers.
Yorba is near Los Angeles.
Yosemite (grizzly bear). See page 321.
Yreka. See page 258.
Yuba. See page 266.
Yucaipe, in San Bernardino County, is an
Indian place name.
Zamora, probably named for the province of
the same name in the ancient kingdom of Leon, in
Spain. There is an old proverb about this place
which says: "No se gano Zamora en una hora"
(Zamora was not taken in an hour) , the same idea
as expressed in "Rome was not built in a day."
Zapatero Creek (shoemaker creek).

444

THEIR MEANING AND ROMANCE

ADDENDA
Las Calabazas means "the squashes" or "the
gourds," particularly with reference to the wild
gourds that grow in that locality. — (Mr. Charles
F. Lummis.)
El Chorro (the gushing stream), is the name of
a creek near San Luis Obispo, and was so named
from a waterfall on its course.
Garvanza is a corrupt word, possibly corrupted
from garbanzo (chick-pea). The town name is a
modern one, not given by Spaniards but by tender-
feet, and there is no known reason for its appli
cation. — (Mr. Charles F. Lummis.)
Leon turns out not to be of Spanish origin.
In a recent publication on a California subject
the definition of Palo Alto is given as "high hill,"
and of Palo Verde as "green hill," both of which
are, of course, incorrect. Anyone who will take
the trouble to consult an ordinary Spanish dic
tionary will find that palo means "stick." As
stated elsewhere in this book, the Spaniards used
this word in the sense of "tree," and Palo Alto
consequently means "high tree," as is fully set
445

PLACE NAMES OF CALIFORNIA

forth under the heading of this name in these pages.
The meaning of Palo Verde is, of course, "green
tree." Pecho (breast) Rock is so named from the shape
of the rock.
Prado (meadow) is a modern name applied with
out much regard for its fitness. — (Mr. Charles F.
Lummis.) Rivera should be spelled with a "b ' instead of a
"v." It means "banks of a stream," and the name
is given for this reason. — (Mr. Charles F. Lummis.)
Serena (serene) is incomplete in this form, as
Spaniards do not use an adjective standing alone
as a place name. It may have been originally La
Ensenada Serena (the serene bay) in reference
to the charming little cove situated there.
Triunfo (triumph) is a modern real estate name,
and has no historical significance that can be dis
covered. — (Mr. Charles F. Lummis.)