SOCIETY. 381 
Bar.—A low bank of sand or gravel, at the side of a river, 
deposited by the stream. 
Bummer.—An idle, worthless fellow, who does no work 
and has no visible means of support. The word “loafer,” like 
“lounger,” does not designate the general conduct or perma- 
nent character of a man, but only a temporary idleness. A re- 
spectable, industrious man may become a “ loafer” by making 
idle, impertinent visits in business places during business hours ; 
but the word “ bummer” implies a low, lazy character. It is 
probably derived from the vulgar German words Bummeln 
and Lummeler, which are about equivalent to “loafer” and 
“loaf.” Its origin has been attributed to Boehmen, the Ger- 
man name of Bohemia, a nation celebratedefor the number of 
its sharpers and adventurers. The Gipsies are called Bohemi- 
ens in France, because of their roving lives and worthless char- 
acter. ‘“ Bummer” is generally supposed here to be a Califor- 
nianism. 
Bumming, acting the bummer, used in such phrases as “he 
is bumming around.” 
Caballada (ca bal yah’ da), a herd of broken horses. 
Caiiada (can yah’ da), a small caiion, a deep ravine, a nar- 
row valley with steep sides. 
Caiton (can’ yon), originally a tube, and hence applied to 
mean a deep gorge with high, steep walls. Comparatively few 
cafions and cafiadas are to be found in that portion of the Unit- 
ed States east of the Mississippi, but they are abundant in Cal- 
ifornia. The Spaniards place the accent on the last syllable ot 
cation (can yone’), but in ordinary American usage the accent 
is on the first syllable. It is frequently spelt “canyon,” and 
“kanyon.” 
Corral (cor ral’) a pen into which a herd of cattle or horses 
is driven, when one is to be caught. 
To corral, to drive into a corral; to drive a person into a 
position from which he cannot escape. 
To coyote, a mining term, to dig a hole resembling the bur. 
row of the coyote, or small California wolf. 
