HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 175 



the population of the territory, some five hundred men 

 from Oregon — Mexicans, and other foreigners, who 

 happened to be in the country, or came into it during 

 the summer and autumn — and the Indians, who wero 

 employed by or sold their gold to the whites, 



"It is supposed there were not far from five thou- 

 sand men employed in collecting gold during that sea- 

 son. If we suppose they obtained an average of one 

 thousand dollars each — which is regarded by well 

 informed persons as a low estimate — the aggregate 

 amount will be $5,000,000. 



" Information of this discovery spread in all direc- 

 tions during the following winter ; and, on the com- 

 mencement of the dry season in 1849, people came 

 into the territory from all quarters — from Chili, Peru, 

 and other States on the Pacific coast of South Ame- 

 rica ; from the west coast of Mexico, the Sandwich 

 Islands, China, and Xew Holland. 



" The immigration from the United States came in 

 last, if we except those who crossed the Isthmus of 

 Panama, and went up the coast in steamers, and a 

 few who sailed early on the voyage round Cape Horn. 



" The American immigration did not come in by 

 sea, in much force, until July and August, and that 

 overland did not begin to arrive until the last of Au- 

 gust and first of September. The Chilenos and Mexi- 

 cans were early in the country. In the month of July, 

 it was supposed there were fifteen thousand foreigners 

 in the mines. At a place called Sonoranian Camp, it 

 was believed there were at least ten thousand Mexi- 

 cans. They had quite a city of tents, booths, and 

 log-cabins ; hotels, restaurants, stores, and shops of 

 all descriptions, furnished whatever money could pro- 

 cure. Ice was brought from the Sierra, and ice- 



