Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-01

verge of the valley. The Flutes are known as the white Arabs of tho desert, Their staple food is lizard flesh, which they con- | sider R great luxury and which they catch on the borders of the valley. These lizards are about two feet long. The Indians call them "chahwalla' and roast them as | caught between hot stones. White men cat them, too, but dress them and broil ] them over sagebrush fire. They are said to be very good eating and to taste quite like frogs legs
 There are no birds in this neighborhood save the weird, mysterious raven, whose ominous voice fitly croaks the fatal en- trance of those who brave the terrors of the valley. Rowling coyotes add their harsh cries to the sum of horrors about the place. Curious reptiles, uncanny and hob goblin in appearance, are found here. The most deadly creature next to the Gila monster is what the natives call a "side winder" snake which is peculiar to this desolate desert. It is a Sattler about 20 inches long, which moves from side to side with startling spring instead of gliding along. Moreover, it has horns, and don't know but hoofs too. It is assuredly of the evil one. Scorpions, tarantulas, rats, horned toads and gnats lend their aids to render Death valley the most appalling place on earth. There are mice, tOO-mice which live upon centipeds-and there are rats with huge ears, a sight to scare the dogs.
 Remarkable Effects.
 There is no humidity in the place. The frizZling heat, which remains in the neigh borhood of 150 in the shade all the time, produces remarkable effects Wood falls apart; chairs and wagons and barrels drop to pieces within a few minutes. No one can support life an hour without water. A terrible story is told of the exploring party of 1871. The commander, Lieutenant Wheeler, called his guide up and ordered him to cross the valley on foot. On the guides remOnsGrating two soldiers were ordered to start him with fixed bayonets. Before an hour had passed one soldier crawled into the camp more dead than alive. Tho other was found by a rescuing party, but the wretched guide had wan dered away beyond help, and one more vic tim was added to the roll which the ghast- ly, ghoulish spot calls for every year.
 And yet in this awful region, the most arid spot on earth, as Death valley is now conceded to be, strangely enough, one can find fish. There is an extension of Death valley proper, known as Fish Lake valley, on the line between Nevada and Califor- mia. In this valley, so my Arizona friend told me, there are many pools, brackish, 1t is true but full of carp from 10 to IS inches in length. These carp, however, have been introduced by philanthropists and have thrived ill all the waters in which they have been tried. There is an artificial pool in Death valley itself where the carp have flourishcd. There is another fish which has been caught in Saratoga Springs in the lower end of Death valley, something like a black bass, of brownish hue, with tingc of red on tho back and yellow OD the bpl1V There are dark hands running down the sides and the fins have dark borders. It feeds on insects and is caught by people who camp by the springs with pin hook on a thread for line and q small morSel of meat for bait. Fish in the streams tributary to the salty lakes of this arid region sometimes swim down to tho lakes, and their dead bodies are found atloat near the mouth of the streams GOV cred with an accumulation of sal soda crystals, which by their weight have drowned them.
 In the adjoining country about Death valley arc found many traces of former oc- cupation by a civilized people, In one range of mountains is q lofty perpendicu- lar cliff of limestone over 250 feet in height and having a smooth surface. About 100 feet from the base of this cliff are cut 0 cross and the letters X l. D. They arc at least 60 feet in height and can be readily seen from a great distance. The Indians have no traditions concerning them, and the accepted belief is that they were carved by the Jesuit priests who in 1633 established missions to the south in Arizona. To cut these letters on the face of this great cliff man must have erected @ scaffold 100 feet high or have been let down l5O feet from the top of the cliff.
 Ghosts There Too.