SOUTHEEN CALIFORNIA. 79 



peaks, sloping gradually towards eacli longitudinal extreme, with their more or less tapering 

 spurs interlocking with those of adjoining ridges, hut scarcely ever in a continuous line. 



This view of the range will serve as a useful key to explain many of its peculiarities. Thus, 

 as one fact in connexion with the general features of scenery, it will be noticed, that though the 

 bareness of vegetation would seem to favor extensive views, they are seldom, even from the 

 higher points, of that commanding character such as may serve to give a true idea of the 

 elevation attained, or to strike the mind with those ideas of grandeur elsewhere connected with 

 wide-spread mountain scenery. The horizon is, in fact, shut in, and the view confined to a 

 limited sphere, by the varied direction of these mountain spurs. Roads and passes are also 

 readily found, and routes can be modified with comparative ease by selecting the interlocking 

 spaces to pass from one range to another, or by crossing spurs at their lower depressions. 



Another fact connected with this character of the range is a marked tendency in the main 

 valleys to assume a basin shape, apparently encircled by mountains, and fringed on all sides by 

 branch valleys, affording a choice of travelling routes in every direction. We also frequently 

 meet with upland plains of a similar character, where the more extended view takes in distant 

 mountains, in which, though a more determined general direction of the range is apparent, 

 the approach to a basin feature is not lost. 



Connected with the same general cause, streams find their way by very devious courses, and 

 on the western slope, particularly, are seldom followed in any direct line of travel. 



In reference to the two slopes of this mountain range, an important point connected with their 

 distinct external features is to be noted in the fact that the axis of greatest elevation, or the 

 true divide, is much nearer to the eastern than the western base. Thus, supposing the moun- 

 tains to have an average width of 60 miles, the centre of this line would invariably fall far on 

 the western slope, the real water-shed being pretty constantly marked within ten miles of the 

 eastern base, thus leaving a proportional difference between the length of the two slopes of five 

 to one at least ; hence, as a natural consequence, the eastern slope is more abrupt and precipitous, 

 the western more gradual and circuitous ; the streams of the former dash down a limited descent, 

 and are soon lost in the absorbent debris at the base ; the streams of the latter, flowing more 

 leisurely, and drawing as tribute in their winding course a more abundaut supply, frequently 

 embody sufficient force to reach the ocean. 



Confining the attention more closely to the Pacific or western slope, we are led to observe in 

 its wider dimensions that it is made up of quite a number of parallel minor ranges, comprised 

 in the general series, forming intervening depressions, and marked off by spurs, in the above- 

 mentioned basin-shaped valleys ; towards the summits these valleys are more contracted in 

 breadth, and attain wider dimensions as you approach the coast. At the higher elevations, the 

 mountain sides are usually bare and rocky, but the immediate summit assumes a more verdant 

 character, being clothed more or less with pine and Alpine oaks. The ranges adjoining the 

 coast are smooth in outline, slope up gradually into vei'tebrated ridges, and are covered with a 

 dense, brownish shrubbery, giving a singular, smooth a-pect to their distant outline. Moisture 

 is more abundant and the streams more copious towards the higher elevations, while the wider 

 coast valleys, unfed by perennial streams, are, during the greater part of the year, destitute of 

 running water, the issue from occasional springs becoming speedily evaporated in tlie dry 

 atmosphere. 



