CONTKNTS. 
XI 
CHAPTER XIV. 
Observations on the Tulare valley. 
Desert-like aspect of the Tulare plains.—Slopes near the mountains.—The valley distinct from the valley of the San Joa¬ 
quin.—Extent of the valley.—Aspect of the Coast Mountains.—Surface and soil of the valley.—Clay soil.—Alluvium.— 
Miry soil between King's river and the Four Creeks.—Gravelly slopes around the mountains.—Clay, or alluvial soil of the 
lower part of the valley, undermined by burrowing animals.—Fresh-water shells.—Cotton-wood trees.—Tule.—Vegetation 
at the mouths of the rivers.—Quantity of water in the lakes.—Communication with the San Joaquin.—Saline incrusta¬ 
tion.—Former submergence of the valley.—Great rapidity of evaporation.—Experiment to determine the amount.— 
Resemblance between the Tulare valley and the valley of the Colorado Desert. 
CHAPTER XV. 
Geology of the Tejon Pass and Canada de las Uvas.—Section of the Sierra Nevada. 
Sierra Nevada at the Tejon.—Boundaries of the Tejon.—Tejon Pass and Canada de las Uvas.—Geological map and sec¬ 
tions —Section of the Sierra Nevada at the Tejon.—Rocks of the western ridge.—Planes of structure or lamination.— 
Granitic outcrops in the plain.—Section at the Tejon ravine.—White limestone.—Rocks at the entrance to the Pass.— 
Drift deposits.—Oak trees.—Rock at the summit, and beyond.—Quartz rock.—White crystalline limestone and quartz 
reck.—Probable sedimentary origin.—Plications or folding of the strata.—Probable carboniferous age.—General trend of 
the rocks.—Tertiary and post-tertiary deposits.—Drift of the valley of the Pass.—Section at the Canada de las Uvas.— 
Observations on the section; its direction.—Similarity of the rocks to those of the Tejon.—White crystalline limestone in 
ridges.—Granite near Casteca lake.—Limestone, with trap dykes and iron ore.—Probable synchronism of the limestone 
with that of Jthe Tejon.—Volcanic rocks and sandstone.—Relations of the valley of the Pass to the Bernardino Sierra and 
the slope of the Great Basin. 
CHAPTER XVI. 
Observations on the southern part of the Great Basin. 
Boundaries of the Basin as originally assigned.—Supposed dividing range.—Mojave river not a tributary of the Colorado.— 
Boundaries according to recent explorations.—Length and breadth.—Geological structure of the southern portion.—Aspect 
of the region from the crest of the Sierra Nevada.—Influence of the Sierra Nevada on the climate.—Lost mountains.— 
Elevation of the surface.—Aspect of the bounding ranges from the plateau.—Slopes.—Channels or valleys in the slopes.—. 
Inclination of the slopes.—-Lowest parts of the Basin.—Mean elevation of the surface.—Geological structure of the Lost 
mountains.—Metamorphic rocks at the Mojave.—Grey granite.—Porphyry and volcanic rocks.—Stratified formations ; 
slopes.—-Tertiary strata and drift.—Rivers and their action on the slopes.—Dry lake-beds.—Mirage.—Prints on the clay, 
like tracks.—Whirlwinds of dust.—Streams and springs.—Mojave river ; its alternate appearance and disappearance.— 
Johnson’s river.—Springs near the Lost mountains.—Spring at the Mojave, and beyond.—Artesian wells.—Observations 
on the vegetation and distribution of plants. 
CHAPTER XVII. 
The Colorado Desert. 
Extent and boundaries of the desert.—Desert beyond the Colorado.—Surface of the desert.—Hard clay.—Slopes.—Undulating 
hills of sand.—Level and higher plain covered with pebbles.—Polished surfaces of the pebbles.—Polished and blackened 
rocks.—Abrasion and polishing produced by driving sand.—Elevation of the surface of the desert.—Depression of a por¬ 
tion below the sea-level.—Terraces.—New river.—Geological formations.—Metamorphic rocks.—Alluvium ; its extent 
and lithological characters.—Fossils.—Tertiary strata.—Fossils.—Ancient lake.—Former extension of the 'Gulf to San 
Bernardino Mount.—Origin and formation of the lake.—Elevation of the former shore.—Calcareous depositions from the 
water of the lake.—Analysis of the travertin of Pilot Knob.—Sand hills.—Position of the sand hills determined by the 
terrace.—Outline of the sand hills.—The. sand not an obstacle to the construction of a railroad.—Sources of water on the 
desert.—New river.—Cook’s well.—Alamo well. : —Soda springs.—Salt lagoon.—Distances between localities of water.— 
Necessity for wells.—Artesian wells.—-Agricultural capabilities of the desert -—Bottom-land of the Colorado and Gila.— 
Cohuilla villages.—Necessity for irrigation—Irrigation by New river.—Climate and winds.—Clearness of the air.— 
Colors of distant mountains.^—Mirage.—Effect of the climate on the vegetation. 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
Notes in the Gold Region. 
San Francisco to Stockton.—Great inland current of air through the Golden Gate.—Alluvial formation at Stockton.—Slope 
and horizontal strata.—Knight’s ferry.—Basalt.—Mica and clay slate, “grave-stone slate.”—Plateaux of basalt.— 
