Ex. Doc. No. 41. 125 



the notes and journals of other scientific expeditions fitted out by 



the United States. 



The journals and published accounts of these several expeditions 

 combined, will give definite ideas of all those portions of Califor- 

 nia susceptible of cultivation or settlement. From this remark is 

 to be excepted the vast basin watered by the Colorado, and the 

 country lying between that river and the range of Cordilleras, rep- 

 resented as running east of the Tulare lakes, and south of the 

 parallel of 36°, and the country between the Colorado and Gila 



rivers. 



Of these regions nothing is known except from the reports of 

 trappers, and the speculations of geologists. As far as these ac- 

 counts go, all concur in representing it as a waste of sand and rock, 

 unadorned with vegetation, poorly watered, and unfit, it is believed, 

 for any of the useful purposes of life. A glance at the map will 

 show what an immense area is embraced in these boundaries; and, 

 notwithstanding the oral accounts in regard to it, it is difficult to 

 tring the mind to the belief in the existence of such a sea of waste 

 and desert; when every other grand division of the earth presents 

 some prominent feature in the economy of nature, administering to 

 the wants of man. Possibly this unexplored region may be filled 



with valuable minerals. 



I have alluded, elsewhere, to tlie population of this country, the 

 .savage character of which is another obstacle to its exploration, 

 and has tended to veil in mystery its true character and resources. 



^Ita California, between the 31st and 34th parallels of latitude, 

 presents to the eastern man, accustomed to navigable rivers and 

 l>road estuaries of the ocean, topographical features of a very un- 

 usual character. 



Two chains of mountains traverse the country in a direction 

 D«arly parallel to the sea coast, slightly converging towards each 

 other, and finally uniting near the parallel of 32°. Here they form 

 tile promontory of Lower California, extending its entire length, 

 *nd terminating abruptly in the ocean, at Cape San Lucas. 



The first chain (that nearest the coast) may be considered a 

 Steppe of the second or interior range of mountains. It impinges 

 on the coast at three different points, Santa Barbara, San Juan de 

 ^apristano, and between San Luis Key and San Diego-at the 

 first two places with so much boldness as to make it necessary ta 

 conduct the road along the margin of the sea, between the lines oi 

 H^ and low water mark, so that both Santa Barbara and San Juan 

 present points worthy of consideration to the military command- 

 ant charged with the defence of that country. ... 



-i^etween the first and second ranges of mountains there is a val- 

 fy, traversed by a good road, leading directly from the great desert 

 *o the Pueblo de los An<^eles,and a defending fqrce would meet its 

 adversary to the greatest advantage at Cariso Creek, the termina- 

 tion of the "Jornada" across the desert. The description and lo- 

 cality of Cariso Creek has already been given. 



The second or principal range of mountains lies at no great dis- 

 ^nce from the first, and the valley between offers some arable land. 



lae distance between the" first ran— -^"-^ ^^^ ^"^ ''"ast varies iroKS 



