326 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 

fs Nature is one with rapine, a harm no preacher can heal ; 
The May-fly is torn by the swallow, the sparrow spear’d by the shrike, 
And the whole little wood where I sit is a world of plunder and prey.” 
Still, in the words of Darwin: “When we reflect on this 
struggle, we may console ourselves with the full belief that the 
war of nature is not incessant, that no fear is felt, that death is 
generally prompt, and that the vigorous, the healthy, and the 
happy survive and multiply.” There is some consolation here, but 
more when Faith’s eagle-eye is so clear as to see, from the beams 
breaking through the mists around, that all at length will be elear ; 
that warfare will be over; that peace will come, since divine love 
must conquer and prevail at last. 
CALIFORNIA. 
ABSTRACT OF MR. CHARLES OXLAND’S PAPER. 
(Read January 21st, 1875.) 
Tue name California is accounted for as having been applied by 
one of the Spanish commanders, Fernando Cortez, to the peninsula 
of Lower California; as Cala-y-fornaz, bey or cave, and furnace ; 
or Calida fornaz, rat furnace. 
The Spaniards had prepared a map of the coast as far north as 
lat. 40° thirty years previous to Sir Francis Drake’s visit in 1596, 
showing the points at which they had touched. 
The lecturer concluded an account of the habits and customs of 
the early missions by remarks on the subjugation of the Indians, 
probable descendants from Japanese whose vessels had been 
wrecked on the coast; the use made of them as agricultural 
workmen, and in the manufacture of woollen articles; and, further, 
an account of the abuses by the Padres that led to the breaking 
up of the missions, through their selfish conduct towards white 
immigrants. 
The population by census returns in 1870, 628,000 whites, 
60,000 Chinese, 5,000 negroes, 7,000 Indians; in all, 700,000. 
Of this number, 200,000 engaged in agricultural pursuits, Total 
