The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-18
Soil, Climate, and TsPegrsPh Of Upper
California;.


The following observations upon the natura
features and characteristics of Upper Califor'
MIA, were communicated to the Trsifs d Unisn
a newspaper published in the city Of Mexico
by Mexican traveller In that territory. W.
find the translation In the New Orleans Plea
yune:
according to the writer's observations, spt
the testimony Of few English agriculsurstl
who have lived for many years In the country
Upper California 10 in general very barren: III
mountains and hills are but little shaded will
trees, seeuenty frewood 10 very scarce
The spots where timber 10 most found, are q
the extreme north, and near point called
Santa Cruz. Some collections Of trees are
found at the foot Of the mountains, on the few
plains that skirt their base, but they are Of little
Importance, and there are immense plains with
out single tree. Sumach IL the most frequent
ly met with, although there are oak and several
kinds Of dye-wood; pine and poplar are OF little
importance.
1.-THE temperature Of Upper California In gen
orally ungenia. The immigrant 10 exposed TO
an almost insupportsble degree Of cold, the pre-
vailing winds blowing from the northwest, be-
coming unusually piercing after the fogs. which
are exceedingly dense and frequent, are ....osf.
tains, (Sierrss Eevsdss) at the foot Of which
are the gold placsn. Here, during the day, the
heat lie as great as at San Bias OF Vera Cruz.
whilst at night and in the morning the cold 10
excessive, causing numerous maladies.
"The temperature Of the country compre.
hended between cant and west 10 extremely hot.
All the arabic land In Upper California lice be-
tween the north and soutn, ana 10 monopoisscu
by the twenty four missiono. The writer visi-
fsA IL Al. r. c. T.
Clara, Santa Barbara, and others. All indicate
to the traveller, by the aspect Of the ruins which
they present. thai they were formerly irnportant
establishments. According to general opinion,
they fell with the Law which ordered the secu-
arisstion of the missions. The effect Of that
measure was the complete destruction of the
immense quantity Of cattle belonging to these
establishments, through the abuses committed
by the administrators appointed by the govern
ment, who deprived the missions, most anlaw-
fully, Of the LANDS which were their property.
A fact connected herewith IL still mote to Be
regretted; that was the Generalization which
was forthwith introduced among the six or eight
Thousand Indians who composed the population
Of the missions and few neighboring villages.
Many Of them had received elementary instruc-
ticn; others were In possession Of trades; q
large number worked at agriculture In the
fields; even an attempt, not altogether unsuc.
cessful, had been made to establish manufac-
lures, the indians showing an aptitude for wea-
wing At present nothing remains but few
vestiges of former labors, and a few old looms,
long unused.
"The white population of the country 10, %
II is well known, OF Spanish descent, tall and
robust, originally cultivatIng the land, and raj
sing sheep and cattle. They were calculated at
the conclusion Of the war at about 5000, scat
tered in ranches, or farms, separated by I'm
mense distances from one another. They dwell
In wooden houses and lead poor existence.
"The Indians have particularly disagreea-
bic physiognomy. The face, of bronze, and
round, is slightly compressed inward; the nose
Is rather fiat, the forehead narrow, and the hair
as coarse as that Of horses name. The Indi-
ans on the table lands Of Mexico, are Europeans
in comparison with them. Their wig,sams are
like hives in shape and convenience, and Il 10
certainly wonderful how the missionaries SUE
ceeded in giving them elementary instruction,
teaching them trades, even music, fer have
seen them perform on certain instruments.
at may be ssid that there y but little slasw