58 CALIFORNIA. 



already producing a large number of bunches. The stem of 

 the mother plant was exhibited in Philadelphia in 1876. 



Of all the natural productions of the peninsula, or old 

 California, the pearls are the most valuable, and have attracted 

 many merchants to that country ; but now it is chiefly 

 restricted to Mazatlan, in Mexico. The oyster which pro- 

 duces the pearls has been chiefly found in the bay of Ceralvo, 

 and close to the islands of Santa Cruz and San José. During 

 the visit of Galvez in the gulf, 1768-1769, a soldier of the 

 presidio of Loreto, made a rapid fortune by fishing for 

 pearls on the coasts of Ceralvo. Since 1827, the population 

 of old. California decreased to about 5,000, and so it remained 

 until 1850. 



It was the same in Upper California until the time of the 

 taking of that country by the P'Jorth Americans in 1848. In that 

 year the population of Upper California consisted only of 7,000 

 inhabitants of Spanish origin and several thousand Indians. 

 They lived in the villages of Los Angeles, San José de 

 Guadalupe, Santa Barbara, Monterey , and San Francisco. 



North of San Francisco, a. Russian colony of about 600 

 individuals lived entirely by themselves. They argued that 

 they had an authorisation from the Spanish government to 

 occupy the harbour of Bodega, the Ross's fortress, and thirty 

 square miles of arable land. They remained there from 18 14 

 to 1842, and it was vainly that the Mexicans tried to retake 

 possession of the land. But what the Mexican government 

 could not effectuate was brought about by the intrigues of the 

 Hudson Bay Company. When leaving, the Russian sold to 

 Captain Sutter their houses, cattle, and cultures for 30.000 

 dollars, althouorh thev had no leeal title, the concession of the 

 Spanish government having never been ratified or confirmed 

 by the Mexican Republic. 



This Captain Sutter had himself established a sort 

 of independent dominion in California. The history of 

 this enterprising pioneer, whose name is associated with the 

 discovery of gold in California, is extremely curious and 

 interesting. 



John A. Sutter was born in Switzerland. Like many of 

 his countrymen, a military career was his sole means of 

 existence. He soon volunteered in the Swiss regiment that 

 Charles X. in 1830 raised against the wrath of the French. He 

 conducted himself with the characteristic loyalty of the Swiss. 

 During the revolution of July he served as a lieutenant, and 

 was wounded in the face. 



