CALIFORNIA. (ante). This name, originally given to a portion of western North America, was apparently taken from a Spanish romance published in 1510, in which the author speaks of " the great island of C., where a great abundance of gold and precious stones is found." The coast of the present C. was explored by Cabrillo, in 1542, as far up as cape Mendocino, in 42° north. In 1578, sir Francis Drake, who was plunder Spanish commerce, coasted along as far as 48° n., and landed to refit his ships either in sir Francis Drake's bay or the bay of San Francisco—probably in the for mer. In 1602, the bays of San Diego and were discovered by Viscaino, and then came an interval of a century and a half before settlements began to be made. The Jesuits, who had missions in lower C., made some settlements in the present C. about 1760; but in 1767 they were expelled from the country by the order of the king of Spaiu, and their property was turned over to the Franciscans, who established a number of missions, and prospered well until Mexico became independent (1822); thenceforward they rapidly declined, and in 1840 were broken up altogether. The treatment of the natives by these missions was such as to promote their worldly welfare, but was not especially notable for intellectual improvement; indeed, it is charged that the Indians were little better than slaves under this rule. There were in all 21 missions, the first founded in 1769, the last in 1820. They were all ou or near the coast or bay of San Francisco, and the priests displayed excellent judgment in selecting for their settlements the best garden spots in the country. The Indian population was large until about the time of the cession to the United States. In 1734, the Indians drove out the Jesuit mis sionaries, but they returued very soon and succeeded in collecting and to some extent civilizing many of the natives, so that 40 years ago the " mission" Indians numbered about 30,000. The aborigines in northern C. were much superior to those iu the south. Under Mexican rule the Indians were recognized as owners of their lands, but the United States never acknowledged the right, and now the aborigines are homeless. In 1870, there were 29,000 Indians in all the states. The principal tribes were the Klamaths, the Hoopas, the Ukies, the Redwoods, the Toles, the Tejons, the Siahs, the Wylackies, the Coucows, the Wichmunies, the Coweas, and the Vokas.
California was very little known on this side of the continent until within the past 35 years. Half a century ago, about all the trade with C. was from Boston, whose mer chants sent out groceries and cotton goods in exchange for furs, the voyage around cape Dorn lasting two years or more. Now and then a wandering American or Englislunan
would settle in C., and a few daring adventurers found their way across the continent, so that by 1830 it was thought there were as many as 500 foreigners w. of the Sierra Nevada.
The territory was once seized by the United States, but was relinquished the next day. This was m 1842, when commodore Jones of the American navy captured the fort at Monterey, and hoisted the stars and stripes; but the next morning lie hauled down his flag, and apologized for the mistake. It was about this time that three nations, the United States, France, and England, were looking with peculiar interest at the Cali fornias, upper as well as lower. Both the European powers were suspected of coveting possession, a thing the United States could not tolerate. The result was that about the time war was declared against Mexico, col. Fremont, who was scientific expedition on the Pacific coast, received—in Mav, 1846—certain instructions by an officer who had lauded from a uatioual ship at Vera Cruz, and crossed the land to Mazatlan; whereupon Fremont abandoned his investigations and made his way to Sonoma, where he organized a battalion of mounted riflemen, and on the 5th of July recommended a declaration of independence. On the 2d of that month commodore Stoat in a United States frigate put in at Monterey, and ou the 7th hoisted the stars and stripes with no intention of imitating his predecessor's example by pulling them down. He issued a proclamation declaring C. to be from that time forward a part of the United States. Some little fighting was had with the Californians, and there arose a bitter discussion among army and navy of concerning their part in the conquest of the country. Fremont brought trouble on himself by obeying the orders of commo dore Stockton (who had superseded Sloat) instead of those of gen. Kearney, who ranked him and assumed command. preferred charges, and Fremont was tried by court-martial, which found him guilty of "ninthly and disobedience of the lawful com mand of a superior officer." The president rejected the finding as to the mutiny, and remitted the penalty on the other count, but Fremont refused the clemency and resigned. Ile afterwards conducted several famous overland expeditious, which met great suffer ings, and was so much connected with Californian affairs that the people almost every where considered him the real conqueror of the territory.