248 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



treasure, and we regard the discovery of the abundance 

 of coal as in the highest degree important to the resi- 

 dents of California. Even amid the news of the 

 extraordinary yield of the gold region during the 

 present year, 1850, when a single vessel, in one trip, 

 brings $2,000,000 worth of gold dust to the United 

 States, we can pause to notice the discovery of the 

 more useful substances. 



The Trinity River and Humboldt Harbor, in the 

 north-western part of California, have lately become a 

 resort for the superfluous population of the Sacramento 

 and San Joaquin regions. The harbor is pronounced 

 a very good one, and the discovery of abundance of 

 gold on the branches of Trinity River, will, doubtless, 

 contribute to the building of a large town upon its 

 shores. 



In the middle of June, there was much excitement 

 in San Francisco, caused by the reported discovery 

 of a gold lake, among the mountains between the South 

 Fork of Feather River and the Yuba. One man was 

 said to have got $7000 in four days, and a party of 

 ten Kanakas were reported to have got $75,000 in a 



Marin was so designated after a great Indian chief, who made war 

 so desperately against the Spaniards. 



Sonoma is an Indian word, signifying valley of the moon. The In- 

 dians so named the valley in which the present town of that title is 

 situated. 



Napa was the name of the Indian tribe who inhabited the valley 

 of the same name. 



Mendocino was so named after the first Viceroy of Mexico. 



Yuba, a corruption of " uba," originally alluded to the immense 

 quantities of vines which shaded the river. 



Butte is a French word signifying hill, and was given by a party 

 of hunters from the Hudson Bay Company to a range of high hills 

 in the valley of the Sacramento. From thence the county is named. 



Coluse county was so called after an Indian tribe of which it was 

 the name. 



Shalta county is so styled after an Indian tribe also. 



