HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 501 



treaty of peace ^vith Mexico ; but doubts have re- 

 cently been expressed on the policy of retaining this 

 peninsula, on account of its being of little or no value 

 to the United States. As the guerrilla forces "which 

 were sent over from Mexico the past summer, during 

 the absence of our squadron from this coast, to regain 

 possession of Lower California, and force the inhabit- 

 ants to their allegiance to the Mexican government, 

 have been defeated and completely dispersed, leaving 

 our own troops in undisputed possession of the terri- 

 tory, nothing but a conviction of the utter worthless- 

 ness of the country could now induce our government 

 to consent to its abandonmiCnt. On this subject I 

 beg leave to add a few remarks : 



The peninsula of California lies between twenty- 

 two degrees fifty minutes and thirty-two degrees thirty 

 minutes north latitude, being about seven hundred 

 miles in length, and varying from fifty to one hundred 

 miles in breadth. An irregular chain or broken ridge of 

 mountains extend from Cape St. Lucas to the frontiers 

 of Upper California, with spurs running off on each 

 side to the gulf and ocean. Between these spurs are 

 numerous broad plains covered with stunted trees, 

 and during the rainy months with a thin but nutri- 

 cious grass. In the dry season this grass is parched 

 up like hay, but from its nutricious character it affords 

 abundant food for the herds of cattle and horses 

 which constitute the principal wealth of rancheros. 

 The dryness of the soil prevent the growth of trees 

 of any considerable magnitude, except on the borders 

 of a few mountain streams. This timber, though far 

 from being plentiful, is exceedingly durable and much 

 esteemed in ship-building. The greatest height of the 

 mountains is estimated five thousand feet ; many of 



