The New York herald., 1851-12-23


These nagni6cen. sheets Of water, which form
one Of the distinctive features Of California aad
which, though freqUently mentioned, have not been
generally visited BY the whites, are situated at the
extreme end Of the Tulare Valley, and close the
northern boundary Of Los Angeles county. They
are three in number, and all Of very considerable
size. Their extent varies copsiderably with the
seasons but Il would be safe 10 state the width Of
the largest at thirty miles, and IT, length at forty
The otherf, though someuhat smaller, do not vary
much from this.
The two lower lakes in the spring and early par,
Of the -ummer, are connected; bat from the upper
there is 10 visible outlet From the 10 vest Of
the three deep slough flows with sluggish cur
rent, into the San Joaquin river the course OF this
is exceedingly tortuous, and from which other
sloughS are continually eating Of, 30 that IL would
in mary places, be difisult 70 recognise which is
the main stream. On the slough the timber is
exceedingly scarce, the stream prese nting, in this
respect, a marked contrast to The san Joaquin,
which, at the point Of junction. and for many miles
above and below, is very heavily tinbered.
more dosola.t looking country than tha: en-.
tered BY the traveller on striking the alare slough,
can hardly be magiocd The soil is seemingly
rstten; in tie vicinity Of water it forms qusg-
mre where there Is no DISTURB IL flies into dust,
and ckokes both horse and rider. The slough, Ia
it's upper part, whore Il Is much divided Is in many
places urspproachable on account Of this peculiar.
ity, and more unpleasant country 10 camp in
coxld not be found in California. To find grass,
the traveller has 20 sleep on damp ground, while
no fuel be found bat such as is supplied By the
side Of the lakes and slough s exceedingly level,
elevated, az il would appear, hardly q foot above
the surface Of the water and the conseu uence IL,
that in many spots tracts Of several hundred yards
in extent will be passed, which have evidently been
basins that have received the water which has
overaowed from the lakes
At the point where the slough Issues from the
lover lake, the sheet Of water Is 70 bread that
boundary ear be discerned on the other side, save
the purJle streak which marks the Sierra Nevada.
At this point reside the Atache nation Of lHdians
Or that portion Of them governed By Tinsn, one Of
the most powerful braves In the southern scctos Of
the country. The rsscheris h a large ooe, con-
iisng Of some forty very large hus, built entirely
q tules, and capable each Of accommodating, in
The way ia which the Indians live, from ten to
tittet persons Tinsin himself, brswny giant,
whoto irame would compare sdvants geously With
that oi snJ Rocky NOuntsin chief, and Who boasts
OF I've wives, possesses a hut In which twenty men
could easily sleep The rancheria il built on the
border o. The lake, and not a tree ie 20 be seen
The lake, at this point, deserves, in the fullest
extent, the name Of Tulare, or Tule border Of
these rushes, Of nearly one hundred yards wide,
esch stalk Of enormous size. fringes the sheet Of
water for mile after mile. In faoi all around the
lake the same border extends, but in no place
whsh we have seen 50 heavy as a. The Atache
pcn,. The Indians use the rushss for a great
variety ofpurposes. Thar huts are bu. Of them
entirely. The green roots are used for food, and
when ground into pulp and baked into cakes, are
very palatsbie, and seem to be nutrlcious the dry
roots serve for fuel from the stalks baskets are
made while more than one Indian conceals his
rakcdness under q nat CT them. Cattle and horses
&c exec ceedingly ford Of them and better bed
than mass Ct fresh pulled tules, no man could
desire.
The banks Of The lakes, after leaving the slough
q few miles behind. begin to rise, the mountains
edvarcirR nearer to the water, or more properly,
The water forcing its Wsy nearer 10 the bills. The
main hcet Of water is still. however in most places,
inaccessible a marhy border filed with dead tule
rcote pftventpg approach. Water is, in many
cases, dhcult 20 procure On this account, 50 that
The traveller suffers 30 a very unpleasant degree
trc ttrtutes Of Iantolus, perishing With thirst
While bluuA.Css eZpGnre Of water sp-eade before
his eyes The country until the Sierra side Of the
valley % reached, celtlnues 1901, alsaovgh not