138 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
Unfortunately for us, this special cargo got too much sun- 
ning before being deposited in the tanks. Many consequently 
died, as we quickly discovered by the most disgusting smell 
which took possession of the greater part of the ship. It took 
many days to pick out the corpses, and in the meantime I 
caught a fever ; and notwithstanding the luxury of a bridal 
chamber for a oe a four-post spring-bed, and other comforts, 
arrived more dead than alive at San Francisco. 
From Carmen Island we went to La Paz, a beautiful little 
town which nestles amongst palm trees at the extremity of an 
inlet, surrounded by those bold mountains of variegated 
volcanic rock so common along the coast of Lower California.” 
This is the only town on the peninsula. 
Outside this bay many Yaqui Indians were diving for 
pearls, and, as may be imagined, we had a rich aquatic treat, 
watching the finest divers in the world as they brought up 
shells from eight fathoms of water. I need scarcely remark 
that these are not oyster-shells, but large flat bivalves of quite 
another family. The best pearls are contained in the body 
of the mollusc, unattached to the shell, and a common way 
of extracting them is to throw thousands of these soft lumps 
* Until 1867, the physical geography of this peninsula was Ss e unknown 
but in this year Mr. J. Ross Browne, accompanied by Mr. William M. Gabb of 
the Geological Survey of California, Dr. Von Lohr of the School of Mines, 
Freiburg, and a corps of assistants, made a scientific reconnoisance throughout 
its whole length. A full account of their researches will be found in Mr. oss 
Browne’s Official Report on the Mineral Resources of the United States for 1868, 
p- 630. A correct map of the © recrvetin was for the first time compiled from 
slice of the peninsula which now belongs to an American land company has 
been represented ; it comprises nearly the ich: of Lower California, exclusive 
of the La Paz district. 
Magdalena Bay was found to be a magnificent harbour, but fresh water was 
searce, and the land arid, from deficient rain-fall. 
article referred to is a valuable contribution to our geographical know- 
ledge, and well worth reading. 
