The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-17

NO04S NAA ~ 4 nm
bottom al its shaIlowest point. This was proved by
frequent experiments. Its width was so great that
a musket ball discharged horizontally fell about a
quarter of the way across. This chasm appears to be
a vast sink in the general level of the country, the
result Of some ancient volcanic CONFUSION. They
descended to the bottom, and explored 1t TO its
mouth. In it they discovered the Indian trail to the
MOjave villages.
EXTRAORDINARY NATURAL FEATURES.
Some peculiar characteristics in the feature OF
this section of country are worthy OF remark. Inc
road extending over the mesas more a
work Of art, like the roads constructed by the Ro-
man generals and Napoleon, than natural formations.
The palisade formations, on all hands, loomed up
like gigantic Notifications. singular TO say, the
volcanic rock was carpeted with the most luxurlant
blue gramma grass, affording food for animals as nu-
tricious as oats. Only a thin stratum Of soil laid
between this and the rock: Specimens OF petrihca,
tions of the most wonderful description presented
themselves, And there, on the western bank OF the
Rio de 10 Nara, they found a rock about twenty-five
feet square in the heart of which was q large petrifed
tree. Thisfragment was detached from the main body,
in which the boughs were distinctly visible. They
also found in the beginning of their new route, in
s~criptions on the rocks, evincing the progression Of
the writers from the Ideagraphic to the Phonetic
Character cnaioN nhi1ergues 9 very hlSh degree 81 Of cut, Gni.s.
regions, as do their Notifications.
ARRIVAL AT TIE COLORADO RIVER.
The guides having proved unworthy of rustS,the
expedition vas preceded by parties detached in
search of water, which was invariably found, show
ing that, up to this point, the route is in every way
available for emigrant trains, it being scarcely neces-
sary TO double teams in a single instance. Nothing
of consequence occurred from this point until the
arrival of the expedition at the Colorado river, which
they gained without difficulty, camping on its banks
for the first time on the 10th Of October, having rid
den over the country on either side Of the route for q
considerable distance.
They encampsi in a grove of cotton wood, en- the
- l--1, r. H. ..nan nlsat sn,,ft r. 4hA No
jave villages. OF course the camp was dlcd with
the Indians, who were readyto trade in corn, which
is plentiful in the valley, and exchanged by the
savages fOr'blankets, beads and trinkets. Vhe pas
sage OF the Colorado was made without any hos
t%ilities, and IN the same place by which Lieut.. Whip
pies expeditsOn passed.
CROSSING TEE RIVER.
The baggage was conveyed over in an India rnb-
| Der boat, brought from New York for the purpose.
The river is here about 200 yards breed, but has
several bars in its bed, which enable animals forrest.
The currs1t runs about four miles an hour. 1t is
only necessary to swim the animals for a short dis
lance on,the eastern side.
wIHMIN THE CAMELs,
At misplace the cansls themselves reAted some
assertionSwhich haveobcen confidently made CT then
that they are unable to swim. Father Hue, in his
work. describes his detention upon the ReiCw river
in Chinay on. account Of the difficulty Of crossing his
camels; fof he says, "the animal cannot SWIM
The opinion ~has also been supported by many wri
terAS On this occasion Lieutenant Beale 'Ietermin
| u " tTy ii c1ptrlHltut-ltu III VI lii suIkCt "
lus t0the bank of the river, and had him driven int,
the water. As soOr as he found himself out of hi
depth, he struck off without hesitation fer the or
posite shore, swimming high an6 with perfect ease
The rest of the train were crossed in patches of tw
and six; not one of them, apparently, had tn
slightest difficulty in the passage.
A PORTION OF THE GREAT DESERT.
Here the travellers found theifirst sandy countr,
water at longersintervals than they had yet found it
They were enabled, however, to procure a suficien
supply, without any suffering, and continued theil
course due west until they struck the Aojave river
a distance of e5out eighty niles-shat is, to where
water appears flowing in the bed of the river. This
is a northern continuation of the Great American
Desert of NsT Mexico, bur presents less of the
sterile and desolate featurescf the southern or main
body Of the desert, and liz infinitely preferable to
travebover.
ARRIVAL AT Los ANGELES.
The routenow followed the Mojsve on its eastern
bank until the party reached the Mormon road
which they&ept, crossing the San Pernardino noun
tains at the Cajon Pass, and continued the iourne,
| over the well known road from Sen Bernariino u
Los Angeles, where they arrived on the Goth q
November.
NATURAL FACILITIES OF TEE ROUTE.
The abU7e resume Of the Interesting notes Of Nj
Porter, Independent of TIE chronological ard ottie
details which they afford, are sufficient TO exhib
the fact that the route passed over by the exped
There IL no section of IL that pack animals are no
perfectly able TO traverse easily, without h'ndranc
for want of water or grass. As a sheep route IT
unsurpassed. Hitherto the ella, and the consequen
terrors Of the desert, have been encoun cred TO
this purpose. From tbist me there is no cause I'd
the use OF that route, for sheep may be driven II
any number from New Mexico into the Southern
country, in good condition, with plenty OF feed thu
entire way, without fear Of Indians.
| TRIUSPR ANT SUCCESS OF THE CAMEL ExrERIMEST
The experiment of the camels and dromedarie,
has proved a triumphant success. In opposition L
the opinions Of many United States officers, they
| have shown themselves. admirably adapted for ira
| versing The wastes Of Western America. In some
Instances these wonderful, animals went a week, and
in one, ton days, without waterfront because il did
not exis on the route, bu. from a lack of desire fol
il; and on the tenth .6fy the animal drank with
comparative Indifference. They could go, If re
quired, over two weeks without tasting watep
Their food is of the simplest and conrsest de
s~criptior; they eat, as they progress, whatever
grows en- the wayside, bending their lcng necks
and ~thrrstipg their heaSs alike into the narrowest
crevices foQfthe cactus, O. the stunted verdurc, OF
cropping the leaves fpom the bougbs of the trees
without in the least ~pcterdipg their speed. Truly
they may be called the -sbips Of the desert, and
when taken in comparison with mules, horses or cat
lie, which require food almost as regularly az man
they seem adapted by nature to tho novel task to