Point Lobos (seal point, from lobo marino, sea-wolf), is just outside of the Golden Gate, on the south side, near the spot where the seals crawling about on the rocks have long been one of the chief attractions of the famous Cliff House.
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
Álamo (cottonwood tree), is the name of a place in Contra Costa County, twenty-four miles northeast of San Francisco.
Alvarado (a surname), that of one of the first governors of the state. Alvarado is a village in Alameda County, on Alameda Creek, twenty-four miles southeast of San Francisco. Juan Bautista Alvarado was a central figure in California history. He was born at Monterey, February 14, 1809, and from ’27 on occupied various official positions, including that of governor of the state. Bancroft says of his character and appearance: “In physique Don Juan Bautista was of medium stature, stout build, fair complexion, and light hair; of genial temperament, courteous manners, and rare powers of winning friends. There was much in his character to praise, much to condemn. He was a man of dissipated habits, and engaged in intrigues, but in his favor it may be said that he had more brains, energy and executive ability than any three of his contemporaries combined; he was patriotic and with good intentions toward his country, honorable in private dealings, and never enriched himself by his intrigues. He was not personally guilty of having plundered the missions, only responsible through being governor at that time. The accusations made against him of an unjust policy towards foreigners were entirely false.”
Bolinas, the name of a town in Marin County, delightfully situated on Bolinas Bay, eighteen miles northwest of San Francisco. Bolinas is probably a corruption of Baulines, an Indian word of unknown meaning. A land grant called Los Baulines was located at the same place, and was probably the name of an Indian village.
Point Bonito (pretty point), is the southern extremity of Marin County, on the north side of the Golden Gate.
Carquínez is the name of the strait flowing between the counties of Contra Costa and Solano, and connects San Pablo Bay with Suisún Bay. The strait is eight miles long, and at its narrowest part nearly a mile wide. All the waters flowing through the great central valley of the state from the Sierra Nevada pass through this strait. According to the scientists the name Carquínez is derived from Karkin, the name of an Indian village in that region, but Dr. Vallejo has another story. He says the commandant at Monterey, who was a man with some classical education, named it from the Greek word karkin, crab, because of the report made by the Lieutenant Vallejo expedition of having found a great number of little crabs there. (Memoirs of the Vallejos, edited by James H. Wilkins, San Francisco Bulletin, January, 1914.)
Contra Costa (opposite coast), so-called on account of its original position directly opposite San Francisco. It should be explained that the name Contra Costa, which scarcely seems appropriate in its present application, was originally applied to the whole of the coast opposite San Francisco. Afterwards the part directly facing San Francisco was cut off to form Alameda County, thus destroying the significance of the name Contra Costa.
Martínez (a surname), is the name of the county-seat of Contra Costa County, and is on the south shore of Suisún Bay, thirty-six miles northeast of San Francisco. Ignacio Martínez was a native of the city of Mexico, born in 1771. He was a military officer under the Mexican government in California, and was commandante at San Francisco from 1822 to ’27. Bancroft says of him: “He was not popular as an officer, being haughty and despotic, but as a rancher he is spoken of as a very courteous and hospitable man. The town of Martínez takes its name from him or his family.”
Montara Point and Montara Mountains are in the western part of San Matéo County. Montara is a surname.