The San Francisco call., 1895-11-25
Lower California, a Region Of
Mystery, Explored by
Scientists.
NEW RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS.
DR.. Gustav EiSen Writes About His
Discoveries in a Wonderful, FaS.
cinating Country.

valuable account OF explorations IN Lower
California Since it is very rarely that
Californian goes into foreign countries to
explore in the interest of science, and
since the southerly portion of the peninsula
of Lower California was practically terra
incognita to the scientific world, this con-
tribution TO knowledge is one of consider
able significance.
The work on Lower California forms
quite pretentious volume, which is fur
nlshed with four original maps. Every
page of it contains information of general
interest, not alone to the man of science,
but also to the mariner and the student of
geography. The title is Explorations in
the Cape Region of Baia California IN
1881. With References 20 Former Expedi-
tions of the California Academy of
Sciences. By Gustav Eisen." From
cursory perusal of its pages 1t will be seen
that DR.. Eisen has treated his work largely
in a popular way, setting forth great
number of instructive details and items OF
knowledge about Lower California. And
nearly every one of these is the result of
original Investigations, and for that reason
his pamphlet will be welcome in all insti-
tutions of learning.
In the Introductory DR.. Eisen writes:
Until quite recently the peninsula OF Baja
California, Mexico, and especially its cape
region, has been to natural science in general
a terra incognita. This refers especially TO all
lower forms of animal life, although in the
higher classes very little work had been done,
and none that conld be in any way called ex-
haustive. OF some groups a few species had
been collected and described, but the real
scientific points regarding the connections of
its fauna and flora with those OF other regions
in the immediate vicinity were almost en-
tirely unknown.
Returning to his subject after digres-
sion the doctor gives this bit of informa-
ton, which mo doubt may interest if not
indeed surprise, many readers:
In the vicinity of the cities near the coast, or
along the highways, We ind everywhere
foreign plants aud animals well established,
which are driving the native ones further
back. If we, therefore, wish 10 learn the
original aspect of Mexican animal and plant
life, before man begins to interfere too much,
We must commence our studies at once.
The need OF a special map of the cape region
has been apparent for some time. The locali-
ties visited by the members Of the various
peditlons were only indiferently marked down
on any previously existing map, and these
mostly incorrectly located. The rivers and
creeks were nowhere even limited at and the
mountain regions were everywhere found only
indicated. The academy is constantly asked
10 furnish copies OF the map compiled by T. S.
Brandegee 10 travellers miners. merchants,
scientists, etc., intending 10 visit Baia Cali
fOrnia.
The temperature of the region round
Cape st. Lucas is put down as moderate
one. Along the lOwlands up TO 800 feet or
thereabouts, frost is unknown. In the
higher levels, however, free frost belt ex-
tends as far north as La Palma. At the
slight elevation of 1000 feet, frosts have
been known to kill back the native vegeta-
ton. As during the cold months rain
seldom falls, snow is never formed; in
fact, snow has never been noticed in any
part, even on the highest peaks. The
frost only settles in low and damp places.
As a consequence of this favorable tenn
perature tender tropical plants such as
pine-apples, coffee, ETC., thrive anywhere
along the low coasts and up the San Jose
Valley. The temperature seldom rises be-
yond go degrees. Surrounded as the cape
region is by the ocean, it enjoys an excep-
tionally clear atmosphere. The sky is
always, except OF course during the. short
rainstorms, marvelously clear and bril-
liant.
Regarding sanitary aspects, it is stated
that the cape region is one of the very few
places where the various conditions of
temperature, moisture, ETC., are almost
perfect. The pureness of the air is notice
able at once and gives the visitor or in
valid an lndescribahle feeling of pleasure
and relief. Malarious fevers are almost
entirely unknown.
The three dreaded Mexican diseases.
smallpox, yellow fever and cholera, have
never visited San Jose del Cabo.
Rainfall in the cape region is much
more abundant and certain than in any
other part OF the peninsula. The rain
commences in July or August and lasts
until October or November. The first
shower causes a marvellous change in the
country. The hills and slopes and much |
of the valley or mesa lands are covered by
dense mass or jungle of shrubs and low |
trees, which in the mountains are much |
higher. During the dry season they be- |
come mostly bare and dormant, but with |
the first shower of rain they cover them !
selves with leaves and flowers, and the |
whole landscape assumes an appearance of |
wonderful beauty and verdure. The slow |
drizzling rains of temperate countries give |
place to tropical showers, which suddenly |
gather and in a few hours may precipitate |
several inches OF rain, after which the sun |
comes out warm. But springs are almost |
entirely absent. or at least very scarce. |
The San Jose River is the largest water |
course IN the cape region.
In the dry season but few of the streams |
reach the main river in the way of surface |
water. There is always sub or under |
flow, which keeps up the water in the main |
stream. The water in this is everywhere !
taken out for irrigation, but the under |
flow comes again repeatedly to the surface, |
so that at the outlet of the 'estero" at San |
Jose there was 500 cubic feet of water run
ming into the ocean in March, while three !
miles up the country the river had the ap- |
pearance of a large ditch, entirely under |
control of irrigation.
As all existing maps of Lower Califor- !
MIA show the mountain chains incorrectly
in fact running in directions contrary to |
right lines, the new maps and the informa-
tion in DR.. Elsen's book are considered
very valuable. He writes: 1.-The most in
teresting part of the cape region is the
great sierra. This sierra. which possesses
no general name, consists of a granite
mass of upheaval, very precipitous on the
western side, and little less so on the east
ern side. There is no main crest or back
bone running north or south. On the con-
trary, the sierra is composed of a number
of ridges running parallel east and west,
and separated by passes 1900 to 1000 feet
high, while the high peaks of the Sierra
reach 5000, 1000 and possibly 5000 feet"
The sierra is most imperfectly known.
Few if any of the educated people of the
region have ever visited the high noun
tains. The interior peaks were entirely
unknown and many, first explored by the
doctor and his party, never appeared on
maps So with the right possessed by
original explorers the academy party
named the various peaks.
In the various regions are found groves
of wild figs, oaks, tall and beautiful fan
palms The richness in Towering plants is