The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1858-02-11
tute is the prevailing topography between

Zuni aud the Colorado. TLey came in
sight of the Colorado Chiauito on the 4,b
of September; on the 9th they crossed II
without difficulty. The river il q winding
narrow and muddy stream. At the for.l
there were only four feet Of water. The
camels from the first made the marches
without fatigue or tagging. They contin
oed their course on the parallel Of 35 degrees.
nnding excellent water at convenient inter
rals, and the most luxuriau, blue gramma
grass.
AN USExpLoREp CouSrRY.-The course
now lay through an unexplored region, pte.
senting the wave line, ntersected by ranges
OF irregular serrated volcanic mountains.-
They encamped upon reservoir of pure
water, discovered by the guide, Sevetlra to
which Lient. Beale gave the name of Kings
Greek. The trail of 1853, made bv Lien,.
WhIlpple, being obliterated by time, and nj.
so that Of Aubrey, Lieut.. Beale selected 4
road for himself, and thus from the point
above mentioned, the travellers, until reach.
ing the Colorado, were passing over terra
Incognita. Expeditions from the campino
place were despatched by Lieut.. Beale. in
various directions, to examine the face Of
the country.
AuBREY's CASoS.-Tn one of these. led
by Lieut.. Beale himself they discovered
what was believed 10 be the celebrated ca.
non OF Aubrey described bv him in his notes
An idea may be gathered Of the stupendous
depth OF this great chasm, from the fact ,ba,
standing on its precipitous brink, musLe,
ball discharged, occupied nearly half min
ute in reaching the bottom at its shallowest
point This was proved by frequent expe.
riments. Its width was so great, that q
musket ball, discharged horizontally, fell
about a quarter Of the way across. This
chasin appears to be vast sink in the gen
eral level OF the country, the result of some
ancient volcanic convulsion. They descend.
ed to the bottom and explored it 10 It's
mouth. In II they discovered the Indian
trail to the Mojave villages. .
ExrRAoRDIxAy NATURAL FEArrREs-
Some peculiar characteristics in the feature
OF th's section OF country are worthy Of re-
mark. The read extending over mesas re-.
sembled more work Of art, like the roads
constructed by the Roman Generals and
Napoleon, than natural formation. The
paiisade formations, on all hands. loom.
ed up like gigantic Notifications Singular
to say, the volcanic rock was carpe,ed with
the most luxuriant blue gramma grass. af
fording food for animals as nutritious as
oats. Only a thin stratum of soil laid be.
tween this and the rock Specimens of ne.
| tritactions OF the most wonderful descrip.
ton presented themselves. And there, on
the western bank Of the Rio de In Kara,
they found rock, about twenty-five feet
square, in the heart Of which was large
petritied tree. The fragment was detached
from the main body, in which the boucls
were distinctly visible. They also found. in
the beginning Of their new route, inscrip.
tions on the rocks, evincing the progression
OF the writers from the Ideagraphic to the
Phonetic character. This argues q very
high degree Of cultivation among The an.
cient inhabitants Of these regions, as do their
Notifications.
ARRIVAL At THE COLORADO RIvER.-
The guides having proved unworthy of trust,
the expedition was preceded by pa,ties de-
tacbed in search Of water. which was inyari-
ably found, showing that, up to this point.
the route is in every way available for emf.
grant trains, it being scarcely necessary 10
double teams in single instance. Notbinp
Of consequence occurred from this point un.
Ill the arrival Of the expedition at the Colo.
RADIO River, which they gained without diff.
ficulty, camping or its banks, for the first time.
on the 18th of October, having ridden over
the country on either side of the route for a
considerable distance.
SWIMMING THE CAMEIs.-At this place,
the camels themselves refuted some asser.
lions which have been confidently made of
them-that they are unable to swim. Fa.
ther Hue, in his work, describes his deten.
lion upon the Yellow River, in China, on
account of the difficulty of crossing Lis
cames, for, be says, the animal cannot
SWIM" The opinion has also been support
ell by many writer's.
On this occasion, Lieut.. Beale. de,ermiu.
ing 70 try the experiment, led one of the
large toulus to the bank Of the river. and
bad him driven Into the water. As soon as
he foard himself out of his depth, he struck
off without hesitation for the opposite shore.
swimming ldgh and with perfeci ease. The
rest OF inc tT.ia issss ssssae5 IN ba.ches nf
five and six |; not one of them, apparently.
bad She slightest difficulty in the passage.
ARaivAL At Los AseKLxs.--Ths route
now followed the Mojavo on its eastern
hank until the party reached the Mormon
| road which thav kent err.s;nSv sla c., n.