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 were 

 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 reirardcd bv 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 ^N'ew 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- 



