986 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



of the mesa sandstone covering and of the lake beds, if the latter ever 

 covered it. The granite is a light gray rock of normal type, consisting 

 of two feldspars, quartz, and both white and brown mica. Hornblende 

 was not observed. From general appearance and association it would 

 appear to be a distinct and older rock than that found in the western 

 range. To the south of these valleys the White range, composed of 

 the same granite, stretches some 10 or 15 miles east and west across the 

 peninsula, and apparently cuts off in great measure the interior valley 

 in this direction. As no contacts were found, it was impossible to 

 determine the relative age of the granite and the metamorphic series." 



ITINERARY. 



The party left San Quentin for El Eosario, some 40 miles to the 

 south, late on the afternoon of July 19, our conveyance consisting of a 

 "dead ex" wagon drawn by a pair of mules. That night we succeeded 

 in making but about 7 to 9 miles, nearly the entire distance being over 

 level sand plains, either quite bare or covered with cacti, sage brush, 

 and in places with dense growths of strong-smelling shrubs with small 

 harsh leaves and thorny branches. We encamped that night, as indeed 

 every night, in the open air, and were on the road again by 6 o'clock 

 the morning following. For nearly 10 miles the route lay along the 

 hard sands of a beautiful beach facing the open Pacific. Thousands 

 upon thousands of dark-colored sea fowl flew back and forth in long 

 undulating lines, while small flocks of gulls, curlews, and an occasional 

 brace of strong-flying pelicans enlivened the monotony of the trip. 

 The sands were beautifully hard, clean, and white, with comparatively 

 few shells or other indications of marine life. The disk-like shells of 

 echinoderms, an occasional giant clam, and more rarely yet a few 

 abalones were the most conspicuous forms. But this part of the trip 

 was only too soon at an end, and leaving the beach we turned inland, 

 journeying for the rest of the day over a nearly level i)lain with high 

 mesa sands to the east. In the distance from San Quentin to El Rosa- 

 rio fresh water was found but twice, and though in some cases the soil 

 was good the lack of moisture leaves the country essentially a desert. 

 This indeed is the condition of affairs throughout the entire region 

 traversed, excepting where along the few streams a crude form of 

 irrigation by the native Mexicans was carried on. Along the beach 

 above alluded to the soils were light and sandy and bore no vegetation 

 of suflicient size or proper foliage for casting a shade. Such plants as 

 existed consisted mainly of cacti and small, nearly leafless, thorny 

 shrubs. Earely the pole-like form of a giant cactus or an agave 

 appeared in the distance, but much more abundant were elongated, 

 serpent-like forms, 3 or 4 inches in diameter and of all lengths up to 10 

 or more feet, growing singly or in clusters. 



A miserable variety of sage brush, with its half dead, half living, 

 scrawny branches, was everywhere, while an occasional small, tubular- 



