302 CHARACTER POPULATION PRODUCTS PEARLS. 



by means of these wells, the produce of the fields has abundantly 

 rewarded the agriculturist. Much of the soil is of volcanic origin, 

 being washed from the mountains, as we have already stated, and 

 its yield, by aid of irrigation, is alleged to be quite marvellous. It 

 is probable therefore, notwithstanding the unfavorable aspect of the 

 country as seen by a casual visiter, that its evil repute is chiefly 

 owing to the indolent and roving character of the inhabitants, and 

 that in the hands of an industrious and agricultural people, it would 

 be capable of supporting a population much more numerous than 

 the present. At an earlier period of the Territory's history, under 

 the dominion of the missions, when very small portions of the 

 soil were cultivated, and even those but rudely by the Indians, the 

 four districts of San Jose, Santiago, San Antonio and Todos Santos, 

 contained 35,000 souls, whereas the present population of the whole 

 peninsula is probably not more than nine or ten thousand. 



During the epoch when the missions of California still flourished 

 the general barrenness of this territory did not subdue the energy 

 of the priestly fathers, who in the sheltered vallies near the different 

 mission sites, which were carefully selected, produced Indian com, 

 grapes, dates, figs, quinces, peaches, pears and olives. Much of 

 these fruits was preserved and exported to the opposite coast of 

 Mexico. But these articles, together with pearls, tortoise-shell, 

 bullocks' hides, dried beef, soap and cheese constituted the whole 

 product and commerce of the peninsula. The waters of the gulf 

 were in former days more valuable to the Californians than the 

 shores. During the sixteenth century the pearl fishery produced a 

 valuable revenue, and towards its close, six hundred and ninety-seven 

 pounds of the precious article were imported into Seville from Ame- 

 ica ; but at the last authentic dates of twenty years past, the fishery 

 in lower California had dwindled into utter insignificance. Four 

 vessels and two boats were alone engaged in it; and the two hun- 

 dred divers who still searched the bottom of the coasts in their 

 perilous trade, obtained only eighty-eight ounces of pearls valued 

 at little more than thirteen thousand dollars. 



The pearl fishery seems, however, to have revived somewhat, 

 shortly anterior to the war with the United States, and a report from 

 one of our most intelligent officers in the Pacific at that period, states 

 that the annual exportation of pearls amounted then to between forty 

 and fifty thousand dollars. 



Valuable mines of gold, silver, copper and lead are known to exist 

 in the peninsula, and although only a few are rudely worked, the 

 labor expended on them is amply rewarded. The salt mines, on the 



