New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-12-26
CALIFORNIA.
The Tulare Lakes,

From The San Francisco Picay
These magnificent sheets of water. which
form one of the distinctive features Of California
and which, though frequently mentioned. have moi
been generally visited by the whites are situated
the extreme end OF the Tulare Valley and close n
the northern boundary of Los Angeles County
They are three in number, and are all Of very con
Siderable size Their extent varies considerable
with the seasons but IL would be safe TO state the
width Of the largest at thirty miles and It's length
at forty The others, though somewhat smaller, d.
not vary much from this.
The two lower lakes. in the spring and early part
Of the summer, are connected bur from the upper
one there Is TO visible outlet From the lowest of
the three deep slough flows, with sluggish cur
rent, INTO the San joaquin River the course Of this
IL exceedingly iOTtuOos, ard from which other
sloughs are Continually cutting OF, So tina, would,
IN many places. be difficult 10 recognize which IS the
main stream. On the slough the timber Is exceed
iney scarce, the stream presenting, in this respect,
marked contrast 10 the San joaquin, which at the
point OF junction and for many miles above and be
low, is very heavily timbered.
more cesolae looking country than that en-
tered BY the traveller on striking the Tulare slough,
can hardly be imagined. The soil IS seemingly rot
ten IN the vicinity of water Il forms a Quagmlre
where there Is 10 moisture, II flies INTO dust and
chokes both horse and rder. The slough, IA rs
upper part, where II : much divided. IS Ia many
places unapploachable on account Of TINS peculiar
ny. and more unpleasant country % camp 10
could rot be found IN California To ind grass
the traveller has 10 sleep CT caMn ground. while no
fuel can De found but such = supplied oy the
mustangs and ~l.o cattle. The country ~ this
see OF The lekes aud slough Is exceedingly evel,
elevated as = would appear. hardly foot above the
surface Of TIE water ami the rcrse gucnce i IN =
in many spots tracts Of several hundred yards in
extent Will be pasSeC. which have evidently been
bagns that have received the water which has over
flowed from The lakes.
~ the point where the slough issues from the
lover Lake, the sheet OF Water is 50 broad that no
boundary can be dlseerned on the other side, save
tie purple streak which marks the Sierra Nevada.
Yss = h ~ of frl.ra
that portion OF them governed BY Ilnsln one ii the
most TCWeTiUl braves IN Tie southern section OF the
country. The r4nchcfi. Is large ore. consist ng
Of SOME 40 vtiy large huts. built entirely of tlle
anc capable each 90 a.commoiatDg IL thc vay ln
which The lLcia I've, rem 10 20 II persOls Tn
Sn himself a 0TaWDy -lalt whose fine would 90 NJ
pare aoSsnt geously WIN That % AS Rocky N'rn-
tam Chl1f. alC Who oO1s.s Uf trc wives posses 5es
q hut u Which - men could easl.yt,seD. TIE r4r-
chera Is 1uilt or The border of tnt Lake. ill nor e
tree IS 10 be seen within niles u
Ire Lake AZ thlS point deserves i1 the fullest eH-
tent. he name OF Iul.re ~ Tue b1r-er u these
PUSHES, OF nearly cle hundred Far-s nltt- e'rl
stalk ~ enormous SIZE, irlnges tle sneel 81 Nief
ioI male after mile In fact, az around me LAKE.
the same border extends, out II no place which We
have seen, so heavy as az the Atache p IT. The IN
CARS use the fuSheS.o Tor great variety u purposes
: heN IRIS are Quit Of them entirely he greea
roots aye used for ooc. and when ground mo pa!p
az baked nj cSAss, are very plla-soie ald set ~
20 e nutritious the Cry roots serve for iuel iloai
the SialkS baskets are made while more than Gle
inciAn coIce ais his naSelness under mat OF them
Caite and horses axe exceedingly fond % them ana
better heG than mass OF q esh- pulled tGleS no
man could &c sire.
The banks Of the Lakes, amer leaving the slough
few miles behind begin 10 rise, tAe mountains adj
vrncipg nearer TO the water, or. more properly the
water forcing its nearer to he hifls The main
sheet OF water Is stlh, however. In most places IN
accessible, mafshy border. filled with dead tule
roots, preventing approach Water Is, in many
cases, difficult to procure this account. so that
NE traveller suffers, 10 very unpleasant degree.
she tortures Of Tantalus, perishng with thirst bile
boundless expsnse OF water spre Ids before his
eyes The country, until the Sierra side Of the val
lev - reached, continues poor although pot nearly
so bad as the regisn IN the immediate neighoorhood
" The Plough.