| Author |
Bryant, Edwin, 1805-1869 |
| Title |
What I Saw in California
A Description of Its Soil, Climate, Productions, and Gold Mines, with the Best Routes and Latest Information for Intending Emigrants; to Which is Annexed an Appendix Containing Official Documents and Letters Authenticating the Accounts of the Quantities of Gold Found, with Its Actual Value Ascertained by Chemical Assay; also Late Communications Containing Accounts of the Highest Interest and Importance from the Gold Districts; with a Map
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 65.2 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Credits |
E-text prepared by the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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| Summary |
"What I Saw in California" by Edwin Bryant is a historical account written in the mid-19th century, specifically around the time of the Gold Rush. The narrative provides a detailed examination of California's geography, climate, economy, and social structures, as observed by the author during his travels through the region. Bryant shares insights on settled life in California, its political framework, the richness of its agricultural land, and the burgeoning gold mining industry that was attracting many new settlers. The opening of the work sets the stage by outlining the geographical layout of Upper California, including descriptions of its rivers, valleys, and towns. Bryant introduces various elements of California's society, such as missions and presidios, and notes the region's biodiversity and agricultural potential. He discusses the lifestyle of both native Californians and new settlers, highlighting the opportunities and challenges they face. The narrative begins to take shape as Bryant chronicles his own journey through the landscape, emphasizing the stark differences between the thriving natural environment and the impact of human settlement. This initial portion immerses the reader in a vivid and comprehensive picture of California during a transformative period in its history, establishing a context for the stories and observations that will unfold throughout the text. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
F850.5: United States local history: Pacific States
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| Subject |
California -- Description and travel
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| Subject |
West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
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| Subject |
Overland journeys to the Pacific
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| Subject |
California -- Gold discoveries
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
13002 |
| Release Date |
Jul 23, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 15, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
70 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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