White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-10-29
prepared by the National Geographic
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society, washington, T. VI
n r OF often does Lower California
mi get too much rain. The long
peninsula which, in shape, re-
sembles a mans sock, thrust
ing it's toe 800 miles southwark into
the Pacific from the southern border
of California, is land scared by suns
rays and largely covered by cactus and
other growth that is found in arid re-
gions. But recently, when hurricane
struck the peninsula, large area was
drenched. Many Of it's villages includ-
Ing La Paz, the capital, suffered from
high water.
Lower California was once in the
custody Of the United States. During
the Mexican war, in 1S47, the forces
Of the United States occupied the prin-
cipal points in the peninsula and de-
clared it American territory, but re-
linquished it at the close Of HOSTILE
ties.
Its width varies from 30 to 100 miles
and it's coast line of over 1000 miles
is indented by numerous bays and Dor
dered by many islands. Most of it's
nearly 100000 inhabitants live in vii
lagos that dot the shores of the Pa
cific and the Gulf of California. It's
broad areas Of low, sun-scorched
plains, where death by thirst awaits
unwary travellers and desolate plateaus
of ragged black lava present an I'M
friendly aspect.
But all Lower California is not for
bidding. Many of it's villages of low
mud houses are set amid clumps of
lofty shade trees, although some of
them, surrounded by sandy wastes,
might almost have been set down bod
lily from Arabia.
Nature has made queer marks on the
peninsula's panoramas. Almost with
ing eyeshot Of majestic palms that
would not be out of place on Sahara
oasis, are great beds Of creeping devil
cactus which resemble nests of gigan-
tic spine-covered caterpillars creeping
In all directions from a central root
This peculiar weed is native to this
country. The 'caterpillars' creep away
from their roots sometimes 20 to 80
yards. The part of the stem resting
on the ground sends down small roots
and the older stems die in the rear
at about the same rate as they grow
In front, so they slowly move away
from the colony across the flats where
they live.
Animals Who Drink No Water.
A large number of the smaller kinds
of desert mammals never drink water
They live and thrive on dry seeds and
scraps of vegetation in places where
the heat and aridity are excessive,
without ever touching their lips to wa
ter, and it has even been found impos-
Eible to teach some of them in captiv-
tty to take water Apparently they
never know thirst or the delight of
quenching it.
Many Lower California birds and
mammals, however, are closely related
to those of southern California. Only
q few species of birds and single
land mammal, all in the extreme south
ern end Of the peninsula, appear to
have originated on the Mexican main.
land. All the others are evidently de-
rived from well-known species of
southern California, though they have
been isolated long enough to develop
numerous geographic forms. This is
in strong contrast to the great differ
ence shown by the flora in which are
numerous strongly marked species pc
culiar to this region.
AS in similar arid areas of the ex-
IRENE southwestern United States, the
plains of Lower California ordinarily
abound with small desert mammals
such as rabbits, pocket mice, kangaroo
rats, and others. During long-contin-
ued dry periods vast numbers of these
small mammals perish of starvation,
owing to the failure of necessary crops
of succulent and seed-bearing heritage;
but after two or three years of re-
newed rainfall and abundant plant life,
the desert again swarms with count.
less numbers Of these small folk.
So accustomed do the animals be-
come to depending upon plants for
moisture that travellers have come to
water holes in the hottest weather and
found no evidence that animals have
Gene there to drink while fresh tracks
have been found few rods away.
Small desert foxes, with large ears
and bodies not much larger than those
Of a cat, occur on the larger plains
throughout the peninsula. They live
in burrows and, when surprised away
from home by day, are very cunning
in conceaIing themselves. AS danger
approaches they skulk to the nearest
bush, tuft Of grass, or other little
object breaking the surface and sink
down fiat on the ground beside it, and
although they may be In plain view
they are almost certain TO escape no.