The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-04-15
Lower California.
A SKETCH OF THE COUNTRY.

ueSCIlplloll vi lHdI peninsula, winch we
translate from the Eco dItalia, New York,
will no doubt be interesting to our readers.
California lies between 1l2 and 1l9 deg. of
west longitude, Calculated from the Obser-
vatory of Paris) and between % and 80 deg.
40 min. latitude north. 1t is an extensive,
regular peninsula, which from the southwest
Iof Upper California, extends to a point
whence is to be seen the beautiful region of
Sonora and Cinola, from which it is separted
by the Gulf of California, whose greatest
breadth is about 1875 miles. This tract of
country is bounded on the north by Upper
California, on the east by the Gulf of Cali
fornia, and to the south and west by the
Pacific. tsgreatest length is 78O miles, and
its breadth la miles Its superfices con-
tain about 10000 square geographical miles,
and its population does not exceed lS,000.--
Groups of isets lie near its western and
eastern shores.
Throughout the whole length, Lower Cal
iIornia is traversed by great chain of pre-
cipitous and naked mountains. Rivers are
scarce, and the few that exist have but short
course. The soil is arid and unproductive
for a great part, but in certain localities, to
the north especially, it is very fertile. Con-
sequently, Lower California abounds in
grains, fruits, cattle and game The waters
OF its seas and rivers are wonderfully pro-
life of fish. Upon the shores Of the Gulf,
are found in abundance the turtles which
furnish that valuable article of commerce
the tortoise shell. In some places beauti-
full species of whale is found But the most
interesting fact is, that in the Gulf of Cali
fornia, and particularly around the Islands,
San Francisco, st. Joseph and Santa Cruz,
the Pearl Fishery is pursued with great sue
cess and profit by the inhabitants, and es
pecially by the Indians. Cochineal IN great
masses, is gathered from the trees and plants
on the coasts. Rich mines of gold and sill
yer have, in times past, yielded abundantly to
their explorers.
The peninsula is provided with good har-
bors, which will at no distant day be sur
rounded by important towns. Among the
principal, are those Of Escondida, Loretta
and Mulega the great bay Of Magdalena has
also some excellent ones, although now en-
tirely deserted. The towns in this region are
few, and all small the largest, Loreto, upon
the Gulf of California, about 270 miles from
its mouth, not containing more than 900
inhabitants.
The country enjoys salubrious climate.
Upon the seacoast, in the warm season, a
grateful GOODNESS prevails, owing to the sea
breezes, which temper the burning rays of
the sun ; in the interior, however, the heat
is often intense The different seasons of
this peninsular territory are at almost direct
variance with those of continental Califor-
MIA; the clear weather here begins in No
vember and terminates in June.
The celebrated Cav. Duhaut Cilly says,
&c there is not, perhaps, upon the globe a
country in which greater age is attained
than in Lower California. Few of these
Californians live less than eighty years, not
a few surpass even hundred years, and al
most all live to see their fourth generation.
The Lower native Cai(ornianS are sun wor-
shippers, or idoaters, and they are perfectly
savage and brutal in their manners and GUS
toms. They resemble closely the aborigines
of Upper California. The civilized Indians
profess Catholicism, and they have inter
married with the Spaniards, who are the only
foreigners in the country We close this
account with an extract of letter from Mr.
Prim, an American traveller in this country
some years since:
' In geographical and commercial point
of view, Lower California is destined to be-
come an important possession. For for
eign power, the possession of Lower Cali
fornia seems to me more desirable than that
of the Sandwich Island group. 1t contains
more tillabe soil than that Archipelago
besides pearl fisheries, precious mines, end