The National tribune., 1889-05-23
BELOW SEA-LEVEL.
A Curious PART of lower Callfornia.


It is generally understood that but few
divers care to go more than so feet below the
oceans surface, and yet many persons who visit
Lower California, and the iiiiiiiaDitants OF GER
tain counties there, are from 200 to 360 feet be-
low the level of the Pacific Ocean all the time.
The Southern Pacific Railroad engineers
found, while building that road, that i'll the
eastern part of San Diego Co., Cal, there was
remarkable depression, which had evidently
at one time been the bed of lake or inland
sea. This is known as the San Felipe Sink,
and is OF singular appearance, reminding one of
the sink of the Humboldt. This San Felipe
Sink is known by another name-Conehilla
Valley-so- called from the fact that the entire
surface is covered with shells, which shows that
it has been the bed of a lake which existed
long, long ago.
The sink is about 100 miles long by 80 miles
wide, and the point of greatest depth is 800
feet below the ocean level, while the whole re-
gion is one of great interest. In the Summer
it is so hot that the thermometers, according
to native, are made on the telescope plan,
and 1862 is normal in the shade. Still, sun
stroke is never know in the sink. owing prob
ably, to the low relative humidity.
In wandering through this remarkable place
there are many things to attract the attention.
On its northern side are some fine date palms
that have been growing here for ages, at least
beyond the memory of the Oldest inhabitant.
They range from 80 to so feet in hight and
present grand and picturesque appearance
against the mountains. The trees bear dates
of commercial value, the punches weighing
from rs to 125 pounds. The trees can be seen
by the passengers Oh the train as it passes the
town of Indio, and one wonders how long they
have watched over the dismal shores, and if the
lake was lake in reality in their day.
That the lake was salt is shown by the euor-
nous deposits of this mineral. 1t is especially
noticeable at the town of Salton, where for
many miles the pedestrian travels on perfect
crust of salt, ranging from a few inches to sew
eral feet in thickness.
The principal business followed here is the
collection of salt. A number of large mills col
lect and grind it, and several tons are shipped
every week TO various parts of the country. In
some parts of the SINK artesian wells have been
developed, and what was originally desert is
now rich III green's and various tropical and
mi-tropical fruits and flowers are raised. The
tourist should stop at the town of lndio, and
make this the central point from which investi-
| cations can be made, and he will be well re-
| paid
The native inhabitants of this curious region
! are tribe OF about 400 CohuiIa Indians, who
have apparently strayed out here from the Co.
! hula Valley. They are, as q rule, a worthless
| set, with little or no ambition beyond obtain
| ing their living from the Government and no
| little sympathy has been wasted upon them,
| though it is true that they have been cheated
/ and had lands stolen from them. Dr. Stephen
| Bowlands III an interesting paper read before
| the Ventura County (Cal.) Natural History So
cety, gives some new ideas regarding them. He
considers them lineal descendants OF the old
Aztecs. Their religion includes sun and fire
worship at the present day, and they believe
| in the transmigration of souls. Many of their
ideas resemble those of the Buddhists. Thus,
! while the latter believe that tue soul of friend
enters into the elephant perhaps, the Cohuilla
believes that the coyote that prows around
may, perhaps, be all that is left of some of his
people. The dead are cremated. This band
makes and uses the stone mortars so common
| throughout the country for grinding the mes
quite bean and coffee, when they happen to
| have it,