Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-08-02
From the New Orleans .Picdyune.
UPPER CALIFORNIA.

very meagre obtained at second hand and the whole
was so highly colored by the imagination of the writers
who were or less under the influence of the golden
MANIA that they inspired but little confidence Any trea-
se, dissertation or other work. therefore, that to
promise shed something like true light that hall ia
bilious land is welcome addition the of our soap
y knowledge, and claims at the hands OF the journalist
immediate attention. in order to increase its publicity. 1t
is in this view that we translate from the Trait Union
extremely interesting letter California, written at San
Francisco late the 23th of June and published in that
journal the 18th and 9TH inst originally address,
ed Spanish paper, the Armonia SociM of Guadaa-
lara The writer, who is evidently oil scientific
search and has long resided in the country calls i'll sum
mary description OF Upper California well under its
physca aspect as in an agricultural commercial and
meteorological point OF view We bespeak for it an atten-
tive persa promising that there is evidently mistake in
the date 1t was more probably written the 18th of
Nav.
Much has been written of late years on the territory and
productions Of Upper California. NJ Humboldt wrote on
the subject in 1922 without exact knowledge of the
country, since he never visited it. Mr. Alexander Forbes
published work on in 1885 but equally unacqlained
with the places he described he depended the accuracy
OF the accounts which had been related to him His book
consequently full OF contradictions and conectues so
that from the day Of its publication fell into ridcule and
the author must be aware of the inconsderateness
with which he wrote ST.. Castanares is the author of
another work the subject published in 1915 but
1t Is tissue OF inaccuracies, particularly regards agr
culture for the culture OF cotton tobacco and other pro-
ducts he enunerates, has never been known in the
try.
Since that date several Americans have also published the
result OF their observations; but each OF them possibly
actuated by private neresether because he possessed
land in the country because he employed to write
| by the large proprietors
Anterior publications on California, then cannot be con-
suited with confidence for to speak OF country properly
ought to have agenera acquaintance whit to have
travelled through it, and above ALL to be beyond the nfu
ence otpersonal considerations which nsensibly give
| bias opposite to truth.
1t quite unnecessary describe the geographical posi-
ton of Upper California That has been known from time
mmemora the Spanish navigators who first discovered
it determined it with sufficient precision.
The most eligible portion of Upper California is that COM
| Lot,,a tho o,In
is very narrow lnersected by barren mountains and full
ofsandy plains and table lands, destitute ofhe least signs
| of vegetation.
According to the writer's observations and the tesmo-
ny Of few English agrculrsts who have lived for many
years in the country Upper California is in general very
baren its mountains and hills are but little Shaded with
trees consequently rewood is very scarce. The spots
where timber most found are at the extreme north and
near point called Santa Cruz Some collections oftrees
found at the foot of the mountains on the few plains
that skirt their base but they Of little Importance and
there immense plains without a single tree. Sumach
the most frequently met with although there oak and
several kinds OF dye-wood; pine and poplar ofhtte i'm
The temperature Upper California is generally ungen
al The immigrant is exposed to almost nsupportable
degree OF cold the prevailing winds blowing from the
northwest, becoming unusually piercing after the fogs,
which exceedingly dense and frequent are dispersed
In the northwest are situated the Snowy Mountains,
Sieras Nevadas at the foot Of which the gold paces
Here during the day the heat is great at San Bias
Vera Cruz whilst at night and in the morning the cold is
excessive, causing numerous maladies
The temperature of the country comprehended between
east and west IS extremely hot All the arabic land in
Upper California lies between the north and SOUTH and is
monopoZed by the twenty -four missions The writer vi
sted some OF them viz those of San Tose Santa Clara
Santa Barbara and Others All indicate to the traveller
by the aspect of the ruins which they present. that they
formerly important establishments. According to
general opinion they fell with the law which ordered the
secularzaton OF the missions. The effect OF that measure
was the complete destruction of the immense quantity of
cattle belonging these establishments through the abuses
committed by the administrators appointed BY the Govern
ment, who deprived the missions, most unawully, of the
lands which were their property fact connected here
with is still more to be regretted that the denora
zaon which forthwith introduced among the six or
eight thousand Indians who composed the population of
| the missions and few neighborng villages. MANY OF
them had received elementary Instructions others were in
possession trades large number worked at agriculture
in the fields; even an attempt not altogether unsuccessful
had been made to establish manufactures the Indians
showing aptitude for weaving. Atpresent nothing re-
mains but few vestiges Of former labors, and few old
| LOOMS long unused.
The white population of the country is as it is well
known of Spanish descent, tall and robust originally eu
tvang the land and raising sheep and cattle. They
calculated at the conclusion OF the about 5000,
scattered in anchos or farms separated by immense dis
from one anether They dwell in wooden houses
The Indians have particularly disageeable physiogno-
my The face, OF bronze and round lightly compress
ed inward the nose rather Hat the forehead narrow,
I'd the sn hs s q s0al as that The In
parison with them. Their .wig&ams are like hives in
shape and convenience and it certainly wonderful how
the missionaries succeeded in giving them elementary in
struction, teaching them rades-even music for have
1t may be said that there is but little show of govern
in the country at present, The American alcaldes
even seem administer the law capncously enough The
religion that dominates Is emphacay toleration the
| first step made by the conquerors.
The territory generally laid out in table lands or
plains at the foot OF the mountains The soil is OF deep
color the surface producing grasses making
good pasurage such as clover oats and particularly
| tard seed.
have the best lands the Interior the plains of
San jose and Santa Clara among Others but on those
lands and others OF immense have not seen the
least sign OF irrigation. have noticed the remarkable
scarcity OF throughout the whole country; this in
convenience produces eporable results for the sowing of
grain very pecarous in consequence OF the uniequen
cy Of rain The periodical rains commence in December
January, and end in February March, this is during
what called good years, for occasionally happens
that for two consecutive years drop of falls from
the clouds, Those who have any, the slightest
knowledge OF agriculture, may form idea OF the capa
blles OF country where there is almost complete alb
sence OF water.
The rivers Sacramento, San Joaquin and Stanisaus of
which many wonders have been related should be
sdered comparatively Insignificant. The Sacramento
is the that possesses the largest volume of water and
that is because it situated in the North contiguous the
Sierra Nevada but the San Joaquin and the Sansaus
which rise considerably from January July, fordabe
foot in August and September and none of these
courses comprising the Sacramento, tor rriga
ton, account of the little elevation of their beds. l.
myself have seen the San Joaquin and the Stanislas and
| am capable ofexpressing correct opinion on them in
this particular The other rvuets the country scarcely
deserve notice.
Water for drinking purposes very scarce, or rather
none Is found on vast plans occasionally 1orty or nifty
leagues extent. few wells that exist give liquid of
very inferior quality The best recollect to have taken
is that from the melted snow in the stanaus; that
of the San Joaquin is unwhoesome and should not be
drank until after it has been boiled In some places the
water has taste ifsongy mpregnated with minerals
On my arrival at the placers there in the rivu
let's but short time atteward when was my return,
the latter were dry
The season for sowing grain is during the months Of
January and February that of corn and beans in May and
June. The seed sscatteedn the soft earth literally mud
the coast the better to profit by the logs, OF which
mention is made above.