Sonora, named for the province of Sonora in Mexico, is the capital of Tuolumne County, and is situated ninety miles southeast of Sacramento. It received its name from the large number of Sonorans from the Mexican province who mined there in the very early days. This is a mining period name and has no real connection with Spanish names.
Tenaya Peak in Yosemite Valley is named for Ten-ei-ya, chief of the Yosemite Indians.
Vallecito (little valley), is in Calaveras County, fifty-five miles northeast of Stockton.
Wawona, in Mariposa County, is said by some authorities to be a Moquelumnan word meaning “big tree,” but this definition is regarded by ethnologists with doubt.
CAMINO REAL
Camino Real (royal road, or the King’s highway). The Camino Real was the road connecting the missions, and was the chief means of intercourse between the different settlements during the early years of the state’s history. After American occupation the road fell into disuse, but at present is being reconstructed along the old route, with many extensions and branches, and will, when finished, be one of the finest roads in the United States.
PRONUNCIATION OF SPANISH NAMES.
While it scarcely falls within the province of this book to enter into an elaborate discussion of the matter of pronunciation of Spanish names, it is thought desirable to present a few of the simplest rules, with some examples, so that persons unacquainted with the language may avoid at least the worst of those pit-falls set for their inexperienced feet by our nomenclature. It should be mentioned that in California the Spanish-American usage, rather than the Castilian, is followed in the pronunciation of the c and z. The rules of pronunciation quoted here are those given in Ramsey’s text books, generally regarded as excellent authority.