The Anza Trail and the Settling of California

The Anza Trail and the Settling of California synthesizes firsthand documents and diaries from the Anza expeditions to retell the story of the exploration of the Southwest and the settlement of the San Francisco Bay Area. But it also tells, on a more personal level, the story of four very different characters—Anza, the criollo commander; his partner, Francisco Garcés, a Spanish priest and explorer; Sebastían Tarabal, a Native American and accidental guide; and Salvador Palma, chief of the Yuma nation-men who overcame and in many cases benefited from their differences to ensure the success of the expeditions.