The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-28

selves on n very vortex of nne dividing ridge, send
ing water By the santa Cruz river northwest 70 the Gs
southwest towards Preside del Altar ana otnsr places
In that direction.
sierra because Of us being ana geosno
cay developed among all the serras nom mere west
towards the California Guh 1t forms type ana scale
for con sidering and comparing the rest. .
MOUNTAIN RxuKP.-vie~ ing the country towards tne
Gulf from the western peaks OF this sierra wd ana
rugged set Of mountains are spread out lnousa %
the single serras do not rise SO high put placed
close side by side, they form an inclined plane
bold mountain reiei-the grandeur OF which CON
sists in lbs horizontal extension. These pAias
dip towards south. est, leading the waters IN
more or less stragh course ns bos ss
teen English miles another cordiera Oh gneous rocks Is
visible Between this and The sierra we just treatea up
on very little drift Us seen, and where II occurs ~ s
always confined 10 valleys, until come bali way
between both serrss There, by the action OF wafer
currents and Tomas formed rising from iofsy
SIERRA DE Ia EscosprpA-The waters taking their
southwest join those coming from the east slope
of the Sierra Eeonoida, small distance south OF the
ine near place where in hidden deep CLEFT between
gneous and aygdaloid rocks OF this SIERRA perma
nens wae, sanoeS sy hs sng down Of
the from above situated nas and water holes Tue
character Of this place caused It's name, Escondida,
Gaming here the concealed WATER which name IS also
applied to the whole SIERRA In its geographical condition
this fange but gigantic volcanic dyke, here towering
up isolated, rugged crest ofigneous rocks (amyg
daIod and porphyriuc here and there intercepted
oyeriad by overhrown aud contorted crystalline strata
of grained fespathc siense The latter appear
In many places metamorphc, and in others unchanged
IN other places again with prevailing elspar and IN
others more ouarzose, imperfectiy mixed with large
scales Of a silvtry MICA
tersected by the ne scarcely more than one mile II
Ia bordered however both sides by the
upbeavas Of those crystalline beds just mentioned.
Near the locality where these singular looking peaks
mark the mentioned water place. de la Escondida, we
visited the top Of the SIERRA which in barenness super
eadac m eiar nf
portions the table nike plains on the slopes and top are
by large patches of chalcedorny investing them
almost ike The southern portion Of this sierra
hibits horizontal arrangement If It's formation
had been effected under water Its whole vicinity Is
lined and traversed by extensive table lands aud ridges
Tomas and mesas partly constituted by beds OF black
trap, partly by real dluval banks The topography OF
country 70 indicate here the Junction OF quite
number OF mountain streams and torrents.
The crossing the Sierra de Ia Escondda passes over
its crest little the north sof conspicuous peak the
highest point Of the whole range which, belonging to the
State Of Sonora tor this reason received the boundary
name Fl Cerro di Sonora.
slkRRrA GRANIzo-A low group Of granite hills on
the side Of the Sierra de la Escondda seve
raj waterfalls well known 10 the natives oil
the countryside Papago Indians and Apaches.
Some Of them are mere naas others seem 70 DC
ting In OF the rainy season. very heavy hail and
thunderstorm party encountered there occasoneo
is designated on the maps Of the boundary survey This
came meteoric incident furnished proof what little
time requires to submerge the valleys all round under
the most terrible sweep OF rain water currents. Our
camp the time the head CT ravine, an l.,
notwithstanding very short range, after an etaPse OF
Eve minutes hail and rain had created torrent OF fve
ee average depth, filing the rocky bed 70 iH top in
stantly.
SIERRA VERDE A broad, fat valley, nine miles wide
separates Sierra de 10 Escondida and the adhereni
Serrita del Graniza from the Sierra Verde which seems
be less than southern spur or branch o.
the Sierra del Babuqubari TO the north Of the line The
plains bordering the dry water courses OF this
valley well furnished with good grass and seem TO
be the Hsort Of plenty Of game The borders OF .ae
water courses though usually dry, exhibit rich growth
Of trees (oak The Sierra verde-so called from the
beautiful encountered in the shelter OF its rocky
valeys-seems 10 be entirely formed by the same fes
pstbc granite which mentioned the east slope a
the Sierra de Ia Escondida The strike Is on the west
side The cross diameter, scarcely more than mile,
does any petogr sphical novelties Its lonsi
tudnal axis ranges from southeast towards northwest
where joins bold ig walls OF the Sierra Gaon
qubari, which is here at distance from tue line Of
about hfteen English niles The whole length Of the
Sierra Verde scarcely exceeds fifteen miles. Round Its
southern end uapptc hills and mounds are crossing
out Tor the diuyia main. Al the same locality, rgbi
under the steep slopesde OF the SIERRA aspiring nds R
way the surface, fitting this place 70 general camp
Ing ground for roaming Indians, or travelling Mexicans
Tue locality itself il generally kno 4n 70 the inhao
OF the country under the name "Pozo Verde
FL BABrorIn.k Almost due north from the survey
rg station established upon the crest OF this sierra The
ficacho OF the Sierra del Babuqubai Is situated This Z
one of those geographical phe nomtna of the couniry
he sing uar.y OF which could not fail 10 raise the attcn
Of the red Ia tact, the Papago nation consi
this huge mountain obelisk their palladium, taking
here refuge IN times OF famine scarcity or war aabl
qubarin told signifies, in the language OF these
b5iaps, water on the moCniano aud is 'ormei from
babu (water) and ari Nock or mountain The IN
rTe0se1 height o. the main body OF this sierra, and espe
cisy the otcsk Ike rock the top Of Il, probably ex
,Fcise Increased power Of attraction towards thf
aqueous deposits OF tie clouds, which more 90 aoasS
gathsr round rs head At the same time too more IL
access hle Of the sierra secure preservation
OF the water stores IN those higher regions.
Viewing the country westward from the height
Of the Sierra Verde another wide plain Is VIII
bic, which, at distance Of about from twelve
to fifteen miles, Is pordered oy another mountain
no ho IN m
southeast and northwest
me eastern bsf OF the intermediate plain seems to Is
developemsnto OF vegetable than the
wefrn portion, which, esp cally N is lower regions
almost entirely deprv cd OF Coral life The eatern part
aboupds IN grass and dense orushwooi, besides cons
derabe growth Of musqutewood. willis. the western
portion seems 10 have been, at first, Invested OF a.
vegetables by the destroy ing tooth OF small trocodnc
quadrupeds II a very singular fact that both parts o.
these plains bad been few days ago benefited ~ co
pous rains and not sthssndpg the western poT ON re
uained still raked coursed fat Through the I'M ;ke.-
of II slope under The Sierra Verde saw locs Of tn
black tail deer which have here It's boundary
Whit the barren hail. numbers Of shy ante
lopes freely ranged over the LEVEL unhdden oesore tne
traveller No doubt the ply sogFaphy OF the coaa,sy
here commences 20 take turn 10 ia Disadvantage q
which we sba see more after reaching the next noan
range which s unlike the others We had passad I'm
III now, bot short detached group, budding out from
the diuvial main like mountainous STAND.
sDgRA DE IA UsIos-Eoiwth OF lesser exten
sion, presents s the photographic Character by
being dualstc compound OF gucous ana crystalline
rocks, the latter taking believe the lsrg portion 10
tbc Eranlte IN Nui'ch
ed, somewhat metamorrhic state, occur whilst the west
slooc shows similar quafgose quatemary O. ante.
rimar one was mentioned az the sierrta del Grinzo
The centre part the spine OF the whole formed BY
gneous amy gdaod and porphyritic rocks hitler and
hhsr ovefisd and concealed by the crystalline strata
not having fully proiruded the former. Tue northern
end of this sierra occupied BY It's highest peak which
falling north OF the line, received the name Cerro dc b
Union.
from the surveying station established 10 the puero
the sierra dc Ia Unon we look from dividing ridge
uIon the surrounding country Through that part W.
Just had passed over, mountains and mountainous
stretches prevailed, leaving but tmall share for
the ciIuvial eeposits but from here 70 the west
The fats and Ieves Of drifting sand prevail, and conse
quenty sterty and dcsolaton become ruling GESTURE
This change 10 be bascd upon the gradual
sion Of the mountain ranges under The level Of the du
vial main thus they lose body and length abovs
ground SerrS ranging to the east uninterrupted fo'
thirty forty miller, appear but detached sbrup
parts OF ranges which be traced only By their gene
raj bearing. Cordilleras and eierras, IS tbs see
Afterwards, Of = more open texture, by prevaen
irtersperson Of drit rand Whilst ihe country bebnt
rcxenbled a narrow strait along the coast lined b.
long mountain ree the land ahead begins 10 widen and
become like the outside Of shallow coast waters, ali
spotted with small rocky Islands and pieces Of reefs ant
dykes. The open country now is Influenced by tn
climate of the Euf coast. plants.