The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-12-27
LErrrR FROM DIR. PARRY.

LETTER FROM DIR. PARRY.
We arc indebted 10 Mr.. Jas. DAIza,
sor .she Galioviog Interesting latter ron -
&C. RA.ax, ! resident ofiAhis p'acs, now
engaged in Abe gsvernsss' survey sndef
Maj. Emory
cAMp OPPOSITE JUNCTION OF GILA AND
CoLosADo RivERs, Oct. 10Th, i849. }
~ Dear FHens.-
/ have concluded TO commence
YOU letter from the banks Of tho Colorado o.
the Wcs.--shough It 10 doubtful when may DO
able 20 send it. Il 10 sometime since wrote
you from San Diego, and longer still since re-
ceiyed anything. save the stray letter that ! in
tercepted At Panama. | have nothing IRON you
direct. / hope however in few days to have
my letters forwarded from San Diego and they
will have double value in this desolate place.
Since writing you, have been staying quietly
in Camp near SIN Dicgo-eating "roast beet"
and no sspium puddinr;'' making excursions &C.
casionaliy into the vicinity, learning Spanish,
SC.
On the 9Th September we started for this place
to determine ito astronomical position, escorted
by force Of 80 dragons and 10 infantry. just
before starting we were encampcd for 2 days at
the mission of San Diego. S miles from the town.
This is the oldest Establishment Of the kind in
this country, and but about II Or Is Yeas desert
ed. Its spacious buildings and gardens are still
in good state Of preservation, but its present
military occupants will soon make il heap OF
ruins. lis chapel was hung with some excellent
pictures; and the rcmains Of saints and crucitlx-
e. ssrew the no longer sacred door. In one Of
the cloistered recesses disturbed nest Of owls,
who are now the only worshippers. There j.
library in the establishment, but did not get
an opportunity to examine 1.-THE wine cellar
too are ample. The gardens interested me
most--they are tsstefully set off with iuxnriant
olive trees, which have seen for the FIRST time
They are beautiful tree with waving, silvery
foliage like willow, and trunk some l2 inch
Is or more in diameter. and 20 to 40 feet high.
They were in full fruit, and the climate seemst
suit them exactly. Asl walked among them
could not but think Of the many scriptural asso-
Citations, that have made them sacred. In the
gardens also, there are an abundance Of Pome-
granite trees, and grapes Of the richest quality
ever tasted. We happened to be there in the
time Of full vintage, and being deprived Of fruit
80 long, they were great treat.
Leaving the Mission We commence directly
the ascent Of the Cordilleras. The passage Of
the mountains il accomplished BY winding up
valleys and crossing spun, in some places very
steep, but we were able to surmount them with
our loaded wagon. We were mostly mounted
on mules, which afforded us 4 slow, but sure
progress our course varied . little from Maj
Emory's, being more direct. On this western
slope Of the mountains, there is abundance Of
shrubbery, and the uplands grow large species
Of live oak-.he running streams are few and
The spots suited for cultivation, very few, from
the want Of water. The few ranches we passed
were principally devoted to herds Of cattle and
horses. They are generally kept BY some old
serfs, who do oil the work for their living and
clothes. On the western slope Of the moup,ains
a distinct change is percepsibIe, and the mour-
tains toward their foot are almost bare Of veget-
alton, and the country throughout desolate in
the extreme. Removed from the reviving inau-
ence Of sea breezcs, the heat in the narrow pent
up valley is intense; no cool brooks course down
the mountain sides, and we are glad to get stag
nant pools to quench our thirst. The thermom-
eter has higher range that ever experienced,
mounting 10 los deg. F. in the shade,
and in the sun, when we were obliged to ride,
to 100 deg. F. Such intense heat
would be insufferable were not the air itself dry
and elastic; Is it was, we were continually
in perspiration, and muddy water was
in great request. Approaching the desert, We
were obliged on account Of our animals to tray-
ell at night and lie by in the day. Al Carusso
Creek 10 the last running water and from this the
deser, proper commences. II seems altogether
Providential thing that at this season, in which
there is such rush Of emigration, an unusual
abundance Of rain has fallen east Of the noun
sains, 30 that route has been found across the
desert in which water may be obtained at COM
paratively short distances-ibus there is quite
nm extensive lake found 25 miles from Carusso
Creek, and beyond this again l2 miles is what
has made such stir about, being known - the
"Nsw River 1t is more properly chain Of
ponds, Of varying heights emptying into one an
other by perceptibie curren. setting to the
west. A large growth Of Mesquite trees on it.
margin shows il to be no new thing, but doubt.
less varying according to the supply Of ran.-
What is almost equally important as wa,er, a
species of grass is here found-the only supply
from the foot Of the mountains to the Colorado
We made the frs. stretch Of "a miles under on
intensely hot sun, SO hot indeed that several o,
the party were dizzicd and forced to take to the
wagons. managed by almos. stripping myself
and drinking water freely to keep my saddle;
but it was very severe on our team animals who
were almost ready to give out. At noon we took
a long rest, and dug in vain for water, our casks
were empty ard the sun as fierce as ever-how