477 



the western branch of the Cordilleras of Mexico, 

 resembles that, which, notwithstanding the de- 

 pression, or rather total interruption observed 

 on the west of Rio Atrato, is admitted by geo- 

 graphers, between the mountains of the isthmus 

 of Panama, and the western branch of the Andes 

 of New Grenada. The maritime Alps, little 

 elevated in the peninsula of Old California, rise 

 progressively towards the north in the Sierra of 

 Santa Lucia (lat. 34i°), in the Sierra of San 

 Marcos (lat. 37°— 38°) and in the snowy moun- 

 tains near Cape Mendocino (lat. 39o— 41°) ; the 

 last seem to attain at least the height of 1500 

 toises. From Cape Mendocino, the chain fol- 

 lows the coast of the Pacific Ocean, but at the dis- 

 tance of from 20 to 25 leagues. Between the lofty 

 summits of Mount Flood and Mount Saint 

 Helen, in 45|° latitude, it is broken by the great 

 Rio Columbia. In New Hanover, New Corn- 

 wall, and New Norfolk these rents of a rocky- 

 coast are repeated, these geognostic phenomena 

 of fiords that characterize western Patagonia, 

 and Norway. Two volcanic peaks are placed 

 where the Cordillera turns towards the west 

 {lat. 58|°, long.l39° 40') f , one of which,Mount 



* Harmon, Journal of Travels in the interior of North 

 America, p. 78. 



| Trigonometrical measurements made by the expedition 

 of Malaspina, and which appear to deserve entire confidence, 



