HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 19 



was visited by Sir Francis Drake, the English naviga- 

 tor, who Landed on the shores of a bay supposed to be 

 thai of San Francisco. He formally took possession 

 of the country in the name of Queen Elizabeth, and 

 called it New Albion. lie left California on the 22d 

 of July, loTO. Ill the spring of 159G, Sebastian 

 Viscaino, under orders from the viceroy of Mexico, 

 attempted to plant colonies on the peninsula of Cali- 

 fornia, but the country was soon abandoned on account 

 of the barrenness of the soil and the ferocity of the 

 natives. Yiscaino visited the coast of Upper Califor- 

 nia in 1G02, and discovered and named some of the 

 places Cabrillo had discovered and named long before. 

 The Port San Miguel of Cabrillo vras named Port San 

 Diego ; Cape Galera was named Cape Conception, 

 the name now borne by it ; the Port of Pines was 

 named Port Monterey. This was the last expedition 

 made by the Spaniards along the coast of California 

 for tfiore than a hundred and sixty years. 



Various attempts were made to establish colonies, 

 garrisons, and fishirig or trading ports, on the eastern 

 side of the peninsula of California, during the seven- 

 teenth century, but all failed, either from the want of 

 funds, the sterility of the country, or the hostility of 

 the natives. The pearl fishery in the gulf was the 

 principal bait that attracted the Spaniards, and they 

 succeeded in obtaining a considerable quantity, some 

 of which were very valuable. 



