The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-10-12

Prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety, Washington. ID. c.
Lower California, across q part Of
which the path Of the recent total
eclipse Of the sui passed, and TO
which parties of scientists journeyed
TO make observations, seldom ome
in for a share Of the worlds interest.
While its neighbor above the United
States border-of which ii was one
indeed n parts famed throughout
the world and visited by scores of
thousands Of tourists, the. Mexican
land Of the same name with q record
ed history which goes back almost four
centuries and is crammed with varied
events, still remains one Of the least
known parts of North America.
Lower California-Or Baja CGiifOr-
mia, to give it its Mexican name-is
the long, narroS peninsula that pro-
jectS about 500 miles S~outheaSterly
from the southern border of Califor-
MIA. Its width varies from about 80
to over 100 miles, and its regular
cOastline, over 1000 miles long, is Dor
dered by numerous islands. Being
mainly a mountainous, desert region,
it is thinly peopled and presents many
sharply contrasting conditions. Here
low, sun-scOrched plains, where death
by thirst awaits the unwary traveller,
lie close TO the bases Of towering
granite peaks, belted with waving pine
forests and capped in winter by gleam-
ing snow.
Vast desolate plateauS Of ragged.
black lava embosOm gem-like valleys,
where northumberland streams and
the spreading fronds Of date palms
recall the mysterious hidden wales Of
the Arabian Nights" It's western
coast is bathed by cool waters and
abundant fogs, while the eastern shore
is laved by the waves of q warm in
land sen, sparkling under almost con-
tinuOus sunshine.
The early chronicles tell Of its dis
covery in 1888, by an expedition sent
out by COrtes in search of a fabulous
ly rich island said to have been in
habited by AmaZons.
1t has been estimated that at the
Guiding many of the bordering islands,
was peopled by about 25,0OO Indians.
The inhabitants vigorously resented
the intrusion of newcomers, and for
more than a century efforts to estab-
lish military colonies In the new land
ro..1%ol &, Jic,ctrn,, foi1,rnc
Jesuits Opened 1t Up.
Then the occupation of Lower Cal
ifornia was put in the hands of the
JeSuits, and their missionaries were
wonderfully successful. They eX-
plored all parts of the peninsula and
established missions throughout most
Of It's extent, at the same time in
PRODUCING many of the crops and
fruits Of the Old world.
In addition they established the
three main trails, which extend prac-
tically the entire length of the PENN
sula, and to this day serve as the reg
ular routes Of travel. One leads along
each coast and the third down the
mountainous interior. Tho coast trails
are easier to travel, because less
broken; but the middle one Is most
used, owing to it's better grazing and
more numerous water holes.
The records Of the dangers and o b
stacles met and overcome by such men
as Padres %Salvatierra, Kino, and
Ugarte IL their %peaceable conquest of
the peninsula excite ones deepest ad.
miration. The work they accom-.
plished and their resourcefulness and
steadfast courage entitie them TO a
place in the front ranks Of those
stout-hearted pioneer explorers who
first made known the widest parts
Of America.
Resorted To by F~reebooters.
During one period in Its history the
served as the lurking place of Sir
Francis Drake and other freebOoters
lying In wait for the treasure-laden
Spanish galleons on their annual voy.
ages from Manila to Mexico.
Afterwards, during the first two
thirds of the last century. those shores
were visited by numerous half-pirate
s%mugglers and by fleets Of whalers
and s~ealers, drawn there by the swarm
ing abundance Of whales, fur seal, sea
elephants, and sea otter. SO ruthless
was the pursuit of these animals that
In a few decades they were on the
verge Of determination, and the bust
ness ended, apparently forever.
The pearl fisheries Of the Gulf coast
were extremely productive at first and
furnished the Spanish court with some
NJ ln rtnhact lAuvolc Daorl AShtno