125 [7]. 
= ; 
|the notes and journals of other scientific expeditions fitted out by 
the United States. | 
The journalsand 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- 
Tesented as running east of the Tulare lakes, and south of the 
parallel of 36°, and the country between the Colorado and Gila 
rivers. _ a 
_ 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 
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. — 
_ Ihave alluded, elsewhere, to the population of this country, the + 
bring the mind to the belief in the existence of such a sea of waste ee 
Savage character of which is another obstacle to its exploration, : 
and has tended to veil in mystery its true character and resources, — 
Alta California, between the 31st and 34th parallels of latitude 
‘show what an immense area is embraced in these boundaries; and, ; 
‘notwithstanding the oral accounts in regard to it, it is difficult to _ 
* 
| presents to the eastern man, accustomed to navigable rivers and i 
| broad estuaries of the ocean, topographical features of a very un- 
‘usual character. SS eee : ais . 
| wo chains of mountains traverse the country in.a direction 
nearly parallel to the sea coast, slightly converging towards each 
@ther, and finally uniting near the parallel of 32°. Here they form 
and terminating abruptly in the ocean, at Cape San Lucas. 
he first chain (that nearest the coast) may be considered a 
Steppe of the seeond or interior range of mountains. It impinges 
on the coast at three different points, Santa Barbara, San Juan de 
Capristano, and between San Luis Rey and San Diego—at the 
| first two places with so much boldness as to make it necessary to 
conduct the road along the margin of the sea, between the lines of 
high and low water mark,so that both Santa Barbara and San Juan 
present points worthy of consideration to the military command- 
the promontory of Lower California, extending its entire length, age 
| 
~The second 
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