One Hundred Years of Exploration and Conquest: Introduction (71-75)
first writings from California date 1769.
Spanish army led by Gaspar de Porola. Creapi was the first to write at length of the climate, habits of the land as well as habits of local tribes.
California's first folk hero, Life and Times of Joaquin Mueieta (1854) by John Rollin Ridge.
William Brewer- 4 years traveling the state - Up and Down in California, 1860-64.
Clarence King, Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada (1872).
Montalvo (76-77)
Garci Rodriguez Ordonez de Montalvo wrote The Adventures of Esplandian, published in Madrid in 1510.
From a chapter of the above referenced book, Montalvo wrote of an island named California. This island was home to strong and beautiful black women who lived as Amazons. They captured baby griffins (body of a lion, head of an eagle) and would raise them to eat men and boys. These women were lead by Queen Calafia who wished to spread out, see the world and conquer.
Crespi (78-81)
Fray Juan Crespi
"first writer to provide a detailed account of what this region looked like before European settlement began." (78).
Missionary Explorer of the Pacific Coast: "The Naming of Santa Ana and Los Angeles"
I found it interesting that they experienced so many earthquakes and after shocks while in Santa Ana and Los Angeles... seems not much has changed. The chief in Santa Ana saw signs and wished Crespi and his men would stay and live with them; share the land.
The Luck of Roaring Camp (https://www.bartleby.com/310/4/1.html)
Cherokee Sal - the only female in a poor goldmining camp dies giving birth to a boy. The men all agree to keep the baby and raise him. Stumpy, helped deliver the boy and tried to save Sal. The men of the camp gifted the child with all they could. They unanimously approved a resolution to adopt the child and raise him as their own, Stumpy would be his godfather. Over time, they grew fond of him and decided he needed a name. Feeling he was a blessing and even lucky , they agreed on the name Luck and added a first name of Tommy for "greater convenience", although they referred to him as "The Luck". Time passes and the camp thrives. The Luck would go to work with the men, lay on a blanket. He was a perfect baby, content, never cried or went beyond his corral. "Nature was his nurse and playfellow." He was even seen talking to birds, reported by Kentuck. The camp flourish and its yield was prosperous. They felt their fortune was because of The Luck. The men nearly all decided (with a few still hesitant) to build a hotel and invite other families to live there, possibly including women-- for the benefit of Luck, of course. But before they could get the hotel going, a heavy winter (of 1851) passed causing the melted snow to engulf the camp, wiping out Stumpy's home... Kentuck was found holding a lifeless Tommy Luck as he soon would join The Luck of Roaring Camp.
The Land of Little Rain by Mary Hunter Austin (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/365?msg=welcome_stranger#link2H_4_0006)
Land between Death Valley and the High Sierras. Mojave desert. "Void of llife it never is, however dry the air and villainous the soil.".
3 seasons, hot June - November. Austin names many animals and plants, birds, lizards... hot and unbearable, but worth it. "For all the toll the desert takes of a man it gives compensations, deep breaths, deep sleep, and the communion of the stars."
Hi Amanda, I like how your reading notes are organized. I enjoyed reading your notes on Montalvo's story. It is amazing how big of an imagination the writer has to have a character who has the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. These creatures, the griffins would be very creepy to see in real life. Also, I noticed you wrote on more than one reading for Part A of Week 3, but I think you only had to write reading notes for one of those readings.
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