Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-09-28
MISCELLANY.

DESERTS OF This i'm
mense plain, the existence of which was
until very recently, wholly unknown, is 81
tuated in the central partof Upper, or New
California, in Mexico. 1t is limited on the
north by a mass Of rocks, which separates
it from the head waters of Lewis river; on
the west by an irregular chain Of noun
tains, extending in parallel ridges along
the shores Of the Pacific ocean; on the east
by the western branches Of the Colorado,
and on the south by the valley Of the Co.
lora do. It's area is equal to that Of Virgil
MIA. and consists Of an elevated plateau or
table land; fanked on all sides, by descents
more or less inclined, according to the &C.
illogical structure. In all it's essential fea-
lures, this remarkable waste resembles the
Great Sahara, of Africa. 1t presents lit
tie less than an arid surface, broken at in
tervals by few detached mountains of Ii
mited extents, but rising at some instances
above the region Of perpetual snow. From
these mountains small streams flow during
the rainy seasons. On reaching the plains
these torrents instantly disappear in the
sand, leaving no other trace of their exis-
tence than the fragment Of rocks and peb-
bles, which are borne down by the current
and deposited at the basis of the hills
No region can present more dreary and
desolate appearance. A solitary antelope
or black taled deer, wild in the extreme,
and few struggling Indians among the
mos, wre'ched objects in creation may
sometimes be seen traversng the palms.
The country beyond the mountains which
bounds the deserts on the west, is inhabited
by numerous tribes Of short-haired indians.
They occupy the valleys of Buenosven
turn, and hunt the elk, antelope, black
tailed deer, grisly bear, &c. Immediate
ly adjoining the deserts Oh the north east.
is situated one Of the most extensive lakes
in this part Of the continent In common
with all other isolated lakes ofgreat extent,
its waters are greatly impregnated with
rock salt, which abounds 10 the mountains
on the east Turner'S Geographical Notes.
The SANTA FE ExPEDITIoN.-A judi
cious friend, we'll informed in regard to
the expedition which has recently set out
from Texas to New Mexico, gives it as his
decided opinion that not one man in ten
will ever return alive! His reasons are
these: In the first place, the expedition,
though 800 strong, we'll armed and mount
ed, with a small cannon, is necessarily in
a great degree ignorant Of the wild coun-
try through which they are to pass, and
the difficulties which it must naturally pre-
sent, the route being one hardly, if ever
before travelled by white men. This ex-
petition is to push its way or 500 miles
entirely throug h the country of fierce
and deadly savage foe, tho Camanches'
who number 1900 warriors, bold and har-
dy men, admirably we'll mounted, and who
will be goaded to fury by this daring lnva-
sion Of their firesides. These savages will
hover around the expedition, perhaps Ut
ter.y invincble, until they can surprise or
take it at disadvantage, and then wo to
the invaders! But, supposing that they
Can battle or vanguish the savages, and
reach the borders of New Mexico. they
there encounter a population of $4,000.
(nearly 5000 of them in the town of Santa