PAI-UTE MOUNTAINS—BERNARDINO SIERRA. 
5 
properly called, tlms appears to be bounded by three mountainous ridges. According to Major 
George H. Thomas, U. S. A., who has been stationed among the Yuma Indians at the mouth 
of the Gila, the name Ah-mok-ave signifies three mountains, and it probably refers to these 
ranges. 1 
Ranges forming the eastern rim of the Great Basin — Pai-Ute Mountains .—We now pass in our 
review to the ranges west of the Colorado, and within the limits of the State of California. On 
leaving the river, the route immediately ascends a succession of elevated ridges which, by their 
close proximity and combination, form one great swell of the surface dividing between the Colo¬ 
rado and Mojave rivers, or, we may say, between the Colorado and the southern end of the 
Great Basin. This line of elevation is highly composite ; it is not one great mountain chain, 
but consists of many isolated peaks and short ranges joining and overlapping, and generally 
separated by narrow valleys or basins. In passing over this mass of mountains, the short ridges 
may be avoided by turning their points and keeping on the slopes; thus the profile along the 
trail does not show the real inequalities of the surface of the range. There, however, appear 
to be only three or four prominent ranges between the river and the Soda lake. The first, or 
that on the right bank of the Colorado, is called by Lieutenant Whipple the Havic-habi, or 
second mountain, while the others have not yet received any particular names, the whole group 
being called the Pai-Ute mountains. 
The summit of these mountains where crossed by the survey was found to be about 4,900 feet 
above the Colorado, and 5,300 feet above the sea. The general elevation of the peaks does not 
much exceed this ; they probably are not more than 600 feet higher. The two slopes of the 
range are very nearly equal in inclination, or rather, there is little difference shown by the 
profile. The direction or trend of this range is nearly north and south, although it is very 
probable that most of the ridges are northwest and southeast, trending obliquely to the main 
axis of elevation. The ridges along the Mojave river, according to my own observations, are 
nearly north and south, and this is the trend of the metamorphic schist and slates a short dis¬ 
tance northeast from the first camping place on the river after leaving the Cajon Pass. 
Bernardino Sierra. —From the valley of the Mojave river, or its termination in the Soda lake, 
at the western base of the range last described, the ascent of a long uniform slope leading to 
the summit of the last range crossed by the expedition is commenced. This borders or fronts 
the Pacific ocean, and is the southern boundary of the Basin. This is the chain for which I 
proposed the name Bernardino Sierra in order to distinguish between it and the Sierra Nevada 
and the Coast range, with which last it was in danger of being confounded for the want of any 
other and more appropriate name. 2 It forms the southern or southeastern prolongation of the great 
chain of the Sierra Nevada, with which it is connected at the Canada de las Uvas near latitude 35°. 
Its direction is, however, very different; it deflects to the east and becomes nearly transverse to the 
Sierra Nevada and to the Coast mountains, and makes a like angle with the chain which forms the 
peninsula of California, and which commences at the peak of San Bernardino. This peak of San 
Bernardino is a lofty mountain, with a rounded, bare and hoary summit, rising high above 
the surrounding ridges, about one hundred miles west of the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. 
The mountains form a continuous chain from this peak westward towards Point Conception, but it 
1 On consultation with Captain Whipple on this subject, it became plain that this signification of the word is correct. 
It was soon seen that Ahmokave is nothing more than a combination of the two dissyllabic sounds which have been ex¬ 
pressed by Captain Whipple in the words Ha-moolc and lia-bee; the former signifying three, and the latter, mountains. 
The origin of the word Mojave or Mohave has long been in doubt; but the general substitution of the letter j, for the h, 
shows that it was regarded as Spanish. If we adhere to the most truthful expression of the two dissyllables or sounds, we 
should write Ha-mook-ha-bi instead of Mojave. As these three ranges are not known by any names, Captain Whipple proposes 
to call tiie principal range on the left bank, Hamoofchabi, the range crossing the stream on the south of the val'ey, (the 
Needles,) Ascienlic-hdbi ; and that on the west, Ilavichali. These names, although given provisionally, it being probable 
that other Indian names for them will be obtained, will be used in the succeeding descriptions. 
- See Geological Report on the route surveyed in California by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, and Proceedings of American 
Association, Providence, 1855, p. 223. 
