Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-05-21

guide had brought the team to stop and
he pointed out places of interest. There
on the right, is Westminster Abbey. Just
beyond you see that boulder jutting out
into the gorge from the top OF the cliff;
that is 'Agassiz's Rock. He liked it very
much and it was named for him. That
cliff straight ahead down the canon is
across the river and is .Solomons Temple !;
| need not tell you that the mountain
almost in our path but little to the right
is the Pyramid and is on this side of the
river; we shall camp beside it tonight ="
In an hour we had reached It, The little
house at its side was very comfortable
our guide an excellent cook and our appe-
tite not impaired After supper wander
ed down To the stream and stood beside
the Pyramid The night was not dark; q
bird whose song | did not know broke the
stiffness, and as stood there with those
mysterious walls beside me. the secret of
whose making has not yet been given TO
man, thought-but what would you have
thought, dear reader. with those awful
ragged walls rising mile and half into
the air beside you?
The next morning but one we were in
portion of California which the citizens
Of that state disown. The whole party
Colorado river, which separates that state
from Arizona. to the Sierra Nevada range
of mountains nothing could be more dismal
and forsaken; sand and sage brush with
here and there hill upon which is no
form of vegets,ion; the heat is intense
with no sign of water anywhere. 4 little
north of the part We traverse is deaths
valley" Here the desert sinks to a level
six hundred feet below the sea and supports
no form of life. animal or vegetable; but
this great desert does wonderful service
10 that garden of Eden, better known as
Southern California The latter country,
we may first explain. is that part of the
State lying between the Pacific ocean on
the west aud TIE Sierra Nevada Noun
tains on the east, and is separated from
the central portion by range of noun
tains extending from the last named range
to the sea. 1t embraces the southwest
portion of the state. and is but small
part of her territory. although it embraces
more surface than New England. Numer-
Gus ranges of low hills traverse this coun-
try from east to west making it land
of valleys and hills.
The mountain range Sierra Madre)
which separates Southern California from
the country to the north, has several peaks
OF very considerable height San Bernsr-
dino. the highest. Is 1900 feet The air
heated upon the desert to which we have
referred rises and may be felt on the high
hills. hot and dry. rushing towards the
ocean. 1t will he readily understood, then
why the lower lands of southern California
have Il uniform and constant current of
air passing over them from the Pacific to
MI the vacuum further east The courte-
Gus manager of the government station III
that vicinity is my authority and it is Ger
ta!nly true that these valleys are swept BY
the gentle winds from the ocean rendering
the climate unsurpassed in that the aver
age temperature of summer aud winter
is nearly the same.
have spoken thus in detail Of the geo
graphy and climate of this section because
my next chapter will be a brief description
OF Los Angeles valley,
GEO. 4. PHIIIIrs
To DE continued.