The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-23

morning sky, are undergoing constant change, becoming
lower or higher, or occasionally spreading out like
cross or merging together in one grand pile.
A GBM0ovERKD PLAIN.
plain In the vicinity Of Pilot Knob which dominates
tho Great Colorado desert, literally paved with bril-
Aanty polished pebbles Of agate jasper, varously COL
osed porphyyies greensene, and cornean. They vary
IN size from hickory nut TO hons egg, few Of them
being larger than N egg the surface Of the plain Ia
swept Of dust By the wind and this pave
meui giistens in The SUMS rays with magical effect
stones being retained In their places By bat firm
bedding on the under side.
A.MELLI BQUHTTH AND AR-wIrH-A-QuK.
Tho landscape st the junction Of the Gila and
Colorado rivers Is most magnificent. North ward
and eastward gigantic columns and mountain domes
rise high into the air above the lower but still
rough and angular outlines Of the ridges. The highest
ct these peaks ID called A-melle. O. queats by the
Yuma Indians, and Chimney peak by the people at
Fort Yuma Arwith aque IL the Isdian name for Some
rock These rocks and peaks have never been closely
examined, believe, by persons competent to describe
them The grandeur and desoateness Of tho whole
are perhaps unsurpassed.
INDIAN EXPLANATION OF EARTHQUAKES.
~ AWE Ml-nkeb, (syie sgnuying mountain In the In
dian tensue and SAYS that It 10 named In honor Of
learned and wise chief who became . deity after his
Death. He is supposed to occupy large In the
mountains the entrance to which guarded BY raooon-
one OF bis old pets. The path that leads from
the cave to the river bank Is said TO be dis
tnCuy marked by his footsteps. he enjoys long
intervals Of Sleep and when aroused by the wckedness
Of his worshippers he is believed 10 change his position
and the act Of rolling causes the rumbing earth.
quakes that frequently felt throughout this section Of
country. This . theory Of earthquakes, which we
commend for examination 70 the Sage Of Brooklyn Heights
The Indians make regular visits to the spot like Mahome
dams 10 the shrine Of Mahomet.
INDIAN RUINS.
subsequent expedition passing through this region dis
covered extensive ruins supposed 10 be OF Aztec origin
At place the extent Of the ruins indicated that the To-
caiy had once been peoped by population Of 1000
5000. There also evidences that the Coyotero In
dams had farmed there In former times Captain Ewe
In his report Of scout made under his command 70 the
Checeehue mountains, says
reached the ella In the valley the lower end OF which
out OF sight, but evidently from twenty five 70 thirty
miles long, and from three 10 five WIDE The soil is rich
and lies well for irrigation There enough arabic
land passed through to support 0O people, surrounded
by fine prairie for grazing Broken pottery was every
many ruins some Of large visges or pueolos are 70 be
seen and at points the marks Of what must have
been noble acequia cut through such hard, strong
banks that is difficult to believe iron used in the
construction. The Pmo Indians say that these wero the
homes of their ancestors.
Colonel Bonneville also says Of IT.
After passing the Depot valley the river continues its
mountains connecting the Burro and Amoque mountains.
LOST ~ were, Tor about twenty miles in these canons
falls into large open country, extending from tho
continues westerly till IL meets the Sierrita tornado
long range Of canons from the SOUTH forces river
opg the issues anc precpces Of its northern extremity
whep seeking again is western direction 1t ws for from
seventy TO one hundred miles through valley about
forty miles wide. This vslley was remarked by all as
moet ferte-extenaive bottom lands rolling country
either SIDE, Offering the dnest grazing very
the mountains This valley Ike every other capable Of
cultural er pursuits DO doubt far more cyllzed
than the pre- sent race who desolate It.
REMARKABLE CANoS-SATuRAL MASONRY.
The country passed by the Mexican boundary survey
made under the treaty for the purchase OF the Mesis
valley abounds In natural curosit!es Major Emory In
his report, describes through wbi:h the PEGS
river forces its way for twenty miles The banks Of this
canon are composed Of high perpendicular Of lime
stone, resembling the work OF than OF nature
These walls vary fiom fifty TO three hundred feet height.
and oer e fcothtld that IN boating the river
the patty had often to travel miles without being able
fpc spot u Land.
SIERRA NEVADA.
Blu. for mountain scenery of the grspces, cbxra,tar
,oru,.,. ,o., 90 ,,,o an. r..,..... :, a.. c.. 49,,
1850 e. $3.50 W S VI e S'0'i~ No'"s'
one OF our correspondents writing 10 US under date Of
Head Waters The MERGED river July q 1857 thus de-
ecrbes the scenery
WHAT DO you tnipk ora summer 10 the lonely Businesses
OF the sierra Nevada morntsns, al an elevation OF from
Ten 70 we've ieet ABOVE the sea- tnree hundred
miles 10 tne Tar Inferior from san ffascrco, and where
lew iootseps pu tpoee OF naive Americans have ever
ucdden-vhere the esnt cliffs their granite heads
three thousand feet above the general mountain level
wnere we ecJonrnea ara smong pfecpces and crsgs 10
which your Wanted taskis, Scnooieys m untans, s1d
your 1ieen ana ME mountains are bGt N oe-
hnt les WIN DC ssid, Is on rather strpendous
SCALE ana tne just sucn yarn as TO De ex
pectea from we eAhuhatle Atmosphere % Cshforns,
wnereeVerttnn seen tnr9ugh yellow spectsces, and
tee trees aye (saa 70 PEI three hundred feet high
NeVeihelessi NC Outline have above gwen you Is not
exaggerated 10 single particular, aud under the belief
nal az account slourne! i1o Vie serfa Nevada from
rncu nav yus' WI" prove interesting 10 You,
L i"rNMu u py mAu'