Piñón(pine kernel, also the scrub pine, a very picturesque tree bearing a delicious nut).
Point Pinos(point of pines). See page148.
Tres Pinos(three pines). See page163.
Pintado(painted, mottled).
Pinto Range(painted or mottled range). See page332.
El Piojo(the louse), in Monterey County, a short distance south of Jolón.
Piru, near Camulos, the name of a former Indian village.
Pismo.See page128.
Pit River.See page294.
La Pita, in San Diego County.Pita hayais the fruit of the cactus called “prickly pear.”
Placer.See page304.
Placerville.See page305.
Planada(a plain, level ground), seventy-four miles from Stockton.
Plano(a level surface), in Tulare County.
La Playa(the beach), in Santa Bárbara County.
Pleito(quarrel, lawsuit, bargain). See page161.
Plumas(feathers). See page297.
Las Plumas(the feathers), near Oroville.
Pomo.See page261.
Poncho(cloak, blanket).
Poonkiny(wormwood). Poonkiny, sometimes misspelled Pookiny, is from the Yuki Indian language.
El Portal(the gate), the entrance to the Yosemite Valley.
Portolá(a surname). See pages231and340.
Posa(well, pool, also spelled by the Spaniardspozo,poso). The fact thatposaalso has the meaning 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 translated as “the passing bell of the little bears.”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, andPosoin San Luís 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 pages46,161and231.
Potrero de los Cerritos(pasture of the little hills).
Potrero Chico(little pasture).
Potrero Grande(big pasture).
Potrero y Rincón de San Pedro de Reglado(pasture and corner of St. Peter Regalato). St. Peter Regalato was a Franciscan, and was “especially distinguished for his sublime gift of prayer.” This was the name of a land grant.
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 potrero” in the city of San Francisco.
Potrero de San Luís 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 page128.
Prado(meadow), in Riverside County. See page82. This place was so named on account of its resemblance to a prairie.
La Presa(dam, dike). See page46. This place is so called from the Sweetwater irrigation dam located there.
Presidio(garrison, prison). See page231.
Prieta(dark), a place north of San Francisco.
Los Prietos(the dark ones).
Providencia(providence).
Pueblo(town).
Los Dos Pueblos(the two towns). See page106.
Puente(bridge), near Los Ángeles. See page82.
Las Puentes(the bridges). See page161.
El Puerto(the port), of San Diego.
Pulgas(fleas). See pages82and224.
La Punta(the point), in San Diego County.
Punta Almejas(mussel point).
Punta Año Nuevo(point New Year). See page157.
Punta Arenas(sandy point). See page340.
Punta de la Concepción(point of the immaculate conception).
Punta Delgada(thin or narrow point). See page260.
Punta Gorda(fat or thick point). See pages108and260.
Punta Guijarros(pebble or boulder point).
Punta de la Laguna(point of the lagoon). See page261.
Punta Loma(hill point), near San Diego. See page45. It should bePunta de la Loma.
Punta de Pinos(point of pines). Near Monterey. Page148.
Punta de los Reyes(point of the kings). See page232.
Punta de las Ritas(point of the rites). See page108.
Purísima Point(point of the most pure conception). On the Santa Bárbara Coast.
Purísima(most pure), in San Matéo County.
Point Sal(a surname). See page108.
Point Sur(south point). See page162.
La Quemada(the burned place), from the verbquemar(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 ofLa Quemadaas “the over-full, having enough to eat.”
Quién Sabe(who knows), a familiar expression among the Spaniards.
Quintín.See page235.
Quinto(a surname). Simón Tadéo Quinto was one of the members of this pioneer family.
Raimundo(Raymond).
Ramírez(a surname), near Marysville.
Ramona(a Christian name), well known as that of the heroine of Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson’s romance.
THE MISSION OF PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN, FOUNDED IN 1880.
THE MISSION OF PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN, FOUNDED IN 1880.
Ranchería, a word meaning “settlement,” but generally used by the Spaniards to mean an Indian village.
Ranchería del Baile de las Indias(village of the dance of the Indian women). See page100.
Ranchería del Corral(village of the yard).
Ranchería de la Espada(village of the sword). See page102.
Ranchería del Río Estanislao(village of the river Stanislaus).
Ranchita de Santa Fé(little ranch of holy faith).
Rancho del Puerto(ranch of the pass).
Ratón(mouse).
Real de las Águilas(camp of the eagles).
Redondo(round). See page82.
Refugio(refuge), is in Santa Bárbara 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 asEl Rancho Nacionalbecause it was used to provide meat and horses for the military. This ranch was in Fresno County.
Reyes(kings). See page232.
Ricardo(Richard), is in Kern County.
Rincónis 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.
Rincón(corner), is in San Bernardino County.
El Rincón(the corner), is in Los Ángeles County, and comprises rich agricultural land on either side of the Santa Ana River.
Rinconadais 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.
Rincón de los Carneros(corner of the sheep). Land grant.
Rinconada de los Gatos(corner of the cats—wild-cats). Land grant.
Rincón de la Brea(corner of the asphalt). Land grant.
Rincón de los Bueyes(corner of the oxen). Land grant.
Rincón del Diablo(corner of the devil). Land grant.
Rincón de los Esteros(corner of the estuaries). Land grant.
Rincón Point(corner point). See page108.
Rincón de la Puente del Monte(corner of the bridge of the wood, or hill). Land grant.
Rincón de las Salinas(corner of the salt marshes). Land grant.
Rincón de las Salinas y Potrero Viejo(corner of the salt marshes and the old pasture). Land grant.
Rincón de San Francisquito(corner of little San Francisco). Land grant.
Rincón del Sanjón(corner of the slough). Land grant.
Río(river).
El Río de los Berrendos(the river of the antelopes). See page40.
Río Grande(big river).
Río Jesús María(River Jesus Mary). Land grant.
El Río de los Molinos(the river of the mill-stones). See page80.
El Río 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 shortened into Río Nido, or Rionido.
El Río de Santa Clara(the river of St. Clara). Land grant.
El Río de los Santos Reyes(the river of the holy kings). See page278.
Río Seco(dry river).
Río Vista(river view). See page289. Improper construction. It should beVista del Río.
El Rito(the rite, ceremony).
Rivera, literally “brook, creek,” but also a surname. The Rivera family were among the pioneers. See page82.
Roblar de la Miseria, (oak grove of poverty, wretchedness). It is likely that in this grove the Spaniards suffered from a shortage of food supplies, and named it in memory of their sufferings. Land grant.
Los Robles(the oaks), ten miles from Los Ángeles.
Rodéo(cattle round-up). See pages232and340. The town of Rodéo was first laid out to maintain a large packing-house for meat, but this was abandoned, and it has become an oil-refining town.
Rodéo de las Aguas(gathering of the waters). See page82.
Del Rosa(of the rose), in San Bernardino County. If this is not a surname it is improper in construction, and should beDe la Rosa.
Los Rosales(the rose-bushes).
Rosario(rosary), procession of persons who recite the rosary. Also a Christian name.
Sacate(grass, hay).
Sacramento(sacrament). See page271.
Sal, in the case of Point Sal a surname. See page108.
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 pages148and340.
Sal si Puedes(“get out if you can”). See page109.
La Salud(health). See page174.
San Andreas(St. Andrew). See page333.
San Andrés(St. Andrew). See page333.
San Anselmo(St. Anselm). See page232.
San Antonio(St. Anthony).
San Antonio de Padua(St. Anthony of Padua). See page141.
San Ardo(St. Ardo), is in Monterey County. St. Ardo, in LatinSmaragdus, was a Benedictine monk who wrote a life of St. Benedict which is considered reliable. He died in 843.
San Augustine(properly Agustín), born in Numidia, was the son of Santa Mónica. “In his youth he was so devoted to pleasure that his mother feared the destruction of his character,” but he became converted by the preaching of St. Ambrose, and it is thought that theTe Deumwas 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, theDiscourse on the Trinity, he saw a little child bringing water and endeavoring 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!’ exclaimed 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 page161.
San Bernabé(St. Barnabas, or Barnaby). This saint was a native of Cyprus, and a cousin of St. Mark. “He labored with Paul at Antioch, andtradition 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 page74.
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 mountains, where the storms are severe, and the cold intense.”
San Bruno(St. Bruno). See page232.
San Buenaventura(St. Bonaventure). See page95.
San Carlos(St. Charles). See page138.
San Clemente(St. Clement). See page83.
San Diegito(little St. James).
San Diego(St. James). See page21.
San Dimas“probably St. Dismas, is popularlysupposed 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 Dimasis the name of a post-village in Los Ángeles 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 fromcané(sweathouse), and was the name of a very large village situated south of the town of Sanel, on the eastern side of Hopland Valley.”—(Barrett, in Univ. Publ. in Arch. and Tech.)
San Emygdio, “English or LatinSt. 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. Marcellus and sent to preach the Gospel at Ascoli. He received the crown of Martyrdom for confessing Christ, under Diocletian.’ He isinvoked against earthquakes.”—(Fray Zephyrin Engelhardt).
San Felipe(St. Philip). See page180.
San Fernando(St. Ferdinand). See page69.
San Francisco(St. Francis). See page185.
San Francisco de las Llagas(St. Francis of the “stigmata”). See page179.
San Francisquito(little St. Francis). Land grant.
San Gabriel(St. Gabriel). See page66.
San Gerónimo(St. Jerome). See pages233and340.
San GorgonioMountains 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, nevertheless, secured by the Christians and was afterwards carried to Rome.
San Gregorio(St. Gregory). See page233.
San Ignacio(St. Ignatius). St. Ignatius Loyola was the founder of the order of the Jesuits. “Inhis 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 community under the title of the “Company of Jesus,” whose especial duties are “first, preaching; second, the guidance of souls in confession; third, the teaching of the young.”
San Isidro, also spelledYsidro(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 represents him dying on the steps of the altar, having given all his property to the poor.” See page341.
San Jacinto(St. Hyacinth). See pages83and340.
San Jacinto Viejo(St. Hyacinth the Old).
San Joaquín(St. Joachim). See pages274and340.
Sanjón(deep ditch or slough). Also spelledzanjon.
Sanjón de los Moquelumnes(Moquelumne slough).
San José(St. Joseph). See pages168and340.
San José de Buenos Aires(St. Joseph of good airs).
San José 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 pages154and340.
San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana(St. John canyon, literally “box,” of St. Anne). Deep canyons were often calledcajones(boxes).
San Juan Capistrano.See page35.
San Juan Point(St. John Point). See page83.
San Julián(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, andSt. 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 prolonged martyrdom with unfailing courage.”—(Stories of the Saints.) See page340.
San Justo(St. Justus). Little authentic is known of this saint, except that he was the fourtharchbishop of Canterbury, and died there about 627.
San Leandro(St. Leander). See page233.
San Lorenzo(St. Lawrence). See page234.
San Lucas(St. Luke). See page162.
San Luís Gonzaga(St. Louis Gonzaga). This saint, also known as St. Aloysius, was the son of a noble Italian lady, the Marchesa di Castiglione. “He entered the Society of Jesus when not yet eighteen years old, and became eminently distinguished for his learning, piety and good works. He died at Rome in 1591 of fever, which he contracted while nursing the sick.”—(Stories of the Saints.)
San Luís Obispo(St. Louis the Bishop). See pages117and340.
San Luís Rey(St. Louis the king). See page30.
San Marcial(St. Martial) was the Bishop of Limoges, and is especially noted for the conversions he accomplished, in particular that of the beautiful virgin St. Valerie, who suffered martyrdom 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 theheathen 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 immediately there fell a storm of hail, and a tempest of lightning came with it which destroyed his murderers.” 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 Ángeles, was named for a saint who was born in Dalmatia in the fourth century. He was a poor laborer and was employed 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 himself 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.
San Martín(St. Martin). See pages181and340.
San Matéo(St. Matthew). See pages234and340.
San Matéo Point(St. Matthew Point). See page83.
San Miguel(St. Michael). See page123.
San Miguelito(little St. Michael).
San Nicolás(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 connected 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 particular, and of poor maidens, sailors, travelers, and merchants.
San Onofre(St. Onophrius). See page83.
San Pablo(St. Paul). See page234.
San Pasqual(St. Pascal). This saint was a Spanish peasant, born in Aragón in 1540. He was a member of the Franciscan order, and was remarkable for his unfailing courtesy and charity to the poor.
San Pedro(St. Peter). See page84.
San Pedro,Santa Margarita,y las Gallinas(St. Peter, St. Margaret, and the chickens), combined names of three land grants.
San Quentín(St. Quentin). See pages235and341.
San Rafael(St. Raphael). See page220.
San Ramón(St. Raymond). See page235.
San Simeón(St. Simeon). See page128.
Santa Ana(St. Anne). See page59.
Santa Ana y Quién Sabe(St. Anne and “who knows”), combined names of two land grants.
Santa Anita(St. Annie, or little St. Anne).
Santa Bárbara.See page89.
Santa Catalina(St. Catherine). See page62.
Santa Clara(St. Clara). See page167.
Santa Clara del Norte(St. Clara of the north).
Santa Cruz(holy cross). See page153.
Santa Fé(holy faith), near Los Ángeles. See page341.
Santa Cruz Island.See page101.
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 ofwhich were written in Latin. She was charitable to the poor and had the gift of miracles.
Santa Inez, also spelledYnez(St. Agnes). See pages109and341.
Santa Lucía(St. Lucy). See page129.
Santa Margarita(St. Margaret). See page129.
Santa Margarita y las Flores(St. Margaret and the flowers), combined names of two land grants.
Santa María(St. Mary). See page110.
Santa Mónica(St. Monica). See page61.
Santa Paula(St. Paula). See page113.
Santa Ritais 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 compelled by her parents to marry a cruel, ill-tempered 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 widowhood. She was finally received, however, and so many miracles were reported to have been performed at her intercession that she was given in Spain the title ofLa Santa de los Imposibles(the saint of the impossibilities).
Santa Rosa(St. Rose). See page246.
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 students of the literature of Spain. She attained a position of such authority in that country thatPhilip III chose her for its second patron saint, ranking her next to Santiago (St. James).
Santa Ynez.See Santa Inez. See pages109and341.
Santa Ysabel, also spelledIsabel(St. Isabella of France), who founded the convent at Longchamps, 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 Virgin,” and gave to it all her dowry. As long as the convent existed the festival of this saint was celebrated with great splendor. (Stories of the Saints.)
Santiago de Santa Ana(St. James of St. Anne). Land grant.
San Timotéo(St. Timothy). St. Timothy was the beloved disciple of St. Paul, whom he accompanied 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 rememberedfor that rather than for his other characteristics,” 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 á Becket, the celebrated English historical character; 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 everything 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 bearthis 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 1147 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 established the Hospital La Madeleine for the Magdalens 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 page341.
Saticoy.See page84.
Saucito(little alder).
Saucos(alder-trees).
Sausal(willow-grove).
Sausalito(little willow-grove). See page218.
Sausal Redondo(round willow-grove). See Redondo Beach, page82.
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 enthusiasm by his people that every Cherokee, of whatever 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 page113. This name isspelled on some maps asSereno, but is calledSerenaby the people of the neighborhood.
Serra(a surname). See page84.
Sespe, named for a former Chumash Indian village said by Indians to have been on Sespe Creek, in Ventura County.
Shasta.See page251.
Sierra(saw, saw-toothed mountains). See page293.
Sierra Madre(mother sierra). See page293.
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 theSierra Morenaof Spain. The name is sometimes spelledMoreno, and one of the possibilities is that it was named for the pioneer Moreno family.
Sierra Nevada(snowy sierra). See page293.
Simi, in Ventura County, is an Indian place name.
Siskiyou.See page256.
Sis Quoc, a town and river in Santa BárbaraCounty, named fromSouscoc, 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 page268.
Soledad(solitude). See page151.
Somis, in Ventura County, is an Indian place name.
Sonoma.See page241.
Sonora.See page333.
Soquel, orSouquel, 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 Bárbara County.
Stanislaus.See page275.
Suerte, a word of many meanings (luck, chance, lot of ground). In the apportionment of land by the Spaniards asuertewas a cultivable lot of land granted to colonists near the pueblos and within the four leagues assigned to the pueblo. Eachsuerte consisted of two hundred varas of length and two hundred of breadth, a vara being about thirty-three inches. Thus onesuerteis one lot (of land), and not, as one writer has translated it, “one chance.”Dos suertesis two lots.
Suisún.See page269.
Suñol(a surname). See pages236and341.
Sur(south). For Point Sur see page162. In this vicinity the scenery is remarkably picturesque.
Del Sur(of the south), is in Los Ángeles County.
Suscolwas the name of a Moquelumnan tribe who lived in a village on the east bank of Napa River. See Soscol.
Tahoe.See page306.
Tallac, an Indian word, meaning not ascertained.
Tamalpais.See page213.
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,is probably a corruption oftasajera, 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 page289.
Tehama.See page265.
El Tejón(the badger), is in Kern County. Tejón Pass is badger pass.
Temécula.See page47. Temécula is in the southern part of Riverside County.
Temescal(sweathouse). See page70.
Tequisquiteis an Aztec word, probable meaning saltpetre.
Tía Juana.See page47.
Tiburón(shark). See page220.
Tierra Seca(dry land).
Tocaloma.See page236.
Todos Santos(all saints).
Todos Santos y San Antonio(all saints and St. Anthony).
Tolenos, in Yolo County, is probably a misspelling of Yolenos, from the IndianYolo. See page268.