Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02

of the writers from the Ideagraphic to the Pho netic character. This argues very hlgh degree of cultivation among the ancient inhabitants oi these regions as do their Notifications.
 ARRIVAL AT THE COLORADO RIVER.
 The guides having proved unworthy of trust, the expedition was preceded by parties detach- ed in search of water, which was invariably found, showing that up to this point, the route is in every way available for emgrant trains, it being scarcely necessary to double teams Tn single instance Nothing of consequence oc- cured from this point until the arrival of the expedition at the Colorado river, which they gained without difficulty, camping on it's banks, for the first time, on the 18th of October, hay ing ridden over the country on either slde oi the route for a considerable distance.
 They encamped in grove ot cottonwood, on the eastern bank in the immediate vicinity oi the Moiave villages. Of course the camp was filled with the Indians, who were ready to trade in corn. which is plentiful i'll the valley, and exchanged by the savages for blankets, beads and trnkets. The passage of the Colorado was made without any hostilties, and in the same place by which Lieut.. Whipple'S expedi ton passed.
 CROSSING THE RIVER.
 
 rubber boat, brought from New York for the purpose. The river is here about 29O yards broad. but has several bars in its bed, which enable animals to rest It is only necessary to swim the animals for a short distance on the eastern side.
 SWIMMING THE CAMELS.
 At this place the camels themselves refuted some assertions which have been confidently made of them-that they are unable to swim Father Huck in his work describes his deten- ton upon the Yellow river in China, on account of the difficulty of crossing his camels, for, he says, 'the animal cannot swim.' The opinion has also been supported by many writers. On this occasion, Lieutenant Beale determined tc try the experiment, led one of the large toulo: to the bank of the river and had him driver into the water As soon as he found himself out of his depth, he struck off without heslta tion for the opposite shore, swimming high and with perfect ease. The rest of the train were crossed in patches of five and six; not one Q them, apparently, had the slightest difficulty in the passage.
 PORTION OF THE GREAT DESERT.
 Here the travellers found the first sandy coun try on their route. The grass was poor and thin and water at longer intervals than they had ye found 1t. They were enabled, however, to pro cure sufficient supply, without any suffering and continued their course due west, until they struck the Mojave rver-a distance of abou eighty miles-that Is to where water appear flowing in the bed of the river. This IS north ern continuation of the great American Deser of New Mexico, but presents less of the sterile and desolate features of the southern or mail body of the desert and is infinitely preferable to travel over.
 ARRIVAL AT LOS ANGLES.
 The route now followed the Mojave on it eastern bank until the party reached the Mor mon road, which they kept, crossing the SaI Bernardino Mountains at the Cajon Pass, anC continued the journey over the well known roaC from San Bernardno to Los Angles where they arrived OF the 2O,h of November.
 NATURAL FACILITIES OF THE ROUTE.
 The above resume of the interesting notes o MT. Porter, independent of the ethnoogcalanC other details which they afford, are sufficient tc exhibit the fact that the route passed over b, the expedition Is entirely feasible for immisraut to this State There is no secton of 1t tha pack animals are not perfectly able to travers easily, without hindrance for want of water o grass. As a sheep route, 1t Is unsurpasseG.- .- Hitherto the Gila, and the consequent terror of the desert, have been encountered for thi purpose From this time there is no cause fo the use of that route, for sheep may be driver in any number, from New Mexico into tn southern country, in good condition, with plent, of feed the entire way, without fear of Indians TRIUMPHANT SUCCESS OF THE CAMEL EXPERT MENT.
 The experiment of the camels and dromeda res has proved a triumphant success. In op position to the opinions of many United State officers, they have shown themselves admirabl adapted for travelling the wastes of wester America. In some instances these wonderful animals went week, and in one, ten days without water-not because it did not exist ol the route, but from lack of desire for it; ant on the tenth day the animal drank with com parative indifference. They could go, if re quired over two weeks without tasting water Their food is of the simplest and coarsest de Scrlpuon; they eat, as they progress, whateve grows on the wayside, bending their long neck and thrusting their heads alike into the narrow est crevices for the cactGs, or the stunted yer dure or cropping the leaves from the boughs o the trees, without in the least retardng thei speed. Truly they may be called the ships Q the desert, and, when taken in comparison witt mules, horses or cattle, which require food al most as regularly as man, they seem adapted b, nature to the novel task to which our govern ment has BOW devoted them.