Show idaj X creeping devil cactus of lower californium Calif ornim Wre prepared pared by the national society washington D C lower california across a part of which the path of tile the recent total eclipse of the sun passed and to which parties of scientists journeyed to make observations seldom comes in for a share of tho worlds interest while its neighbor above the united states border of which it was once indeed a part Is famed throughout the world and visited by scores of thousands of tour tourists the mexican land of the same name with a recorded history which goes back almost four centuries and Is crammed with varied events still remains one of the least feast known parts of north america lower california or baja california to give it its mexican name nain eis e Is tile the long narrow peninsula that projects about miles southeasterly gouth easterly from the southern border of califor its width varies from about 80 to over miles and its regular coastline over 2000 miles long Is bordered by numerous islands being mainly a mountainous desert region it Is thinly peopled and presents many sharply contrasting conditions here tow low sun scorched plains where death by thirst awaits the unwary traveler lie close to the bases of towering granite peaks belted with waving pine forests and capped in winter by gleaming snow enow vast desolate plateaus of ragged aggedy black lava gemlike gem like ilke valleys val leya where verdure bordered streams stream a and the spreading fronds of date palms recall the mysterious hidden vales of the arabian nights its western coast Is bathed by cool waters and abundant togs fogs while the eastern shore Is laved caved by the waves of a warm inland sea sparkling under almost continuous sunshine the early chronicles tell of its discovery in 1533 by an expedition sent out by cortes in search of a fabulously rich island said to have been inhabited by amazons it has been estimated that at the time of its discovery the peninsula including many of the bordering islands was peopled by about indians the inhabitants vigorously resented the intrusion of newcomers and fr for more than a century efforts to establish military colonies in the new land resulted in disastrous failures jesuits opened it up then the occupation of lower cal was put in the hands of the jesuits and their missionaries were wonderfully successful they explored all parts of the peninsula and established missions throughout arost of its extent at the same time introducing many of the crops and fruits of the old world in addition they established the three main trails which extend practically tho the entire length of the peninsula and to this day serve as the regular routes of travel one lends lead along salong each coast and the third down the mountainous interior tho coast trails are easier to travel because less leas broken but the middle one is most used owing to its better grazing and moro more numerous 4 water holes the records of the dangers and obstacles met and overcome by such men as padres Salvat terra kino and ugarte in their peaceable conquest of the peninsula excite ones onen deepest admiration mi ration the work they accomplished and their resourcefulness and steadfast courage entitle them to a place in the front ranks of those stouthearted stout hearted pioneer explorers who first made known the th e wildest parts of america resorted to by freebooters during ID aring one period in its history the southern shores of the peninsula served as the lurking place af sir francis drake and orthez freebooters lying in wait for the treasure laden spanish gallons on their andua annual i voyages from rom manila to mexico INt exico afterwards during the first two thirds of the last century those shores were visited by numerous half perrite smugglers and by fleets of whalers and sealers drawn there by the swarming abundance of whales fur seal sea ben elephants and sea otter so ruthless was the pursuit of these ani animals nials that in a few decades they were on the verge of extermination and the tha business ended apparently forever 1 the pearl fi fisheries sherles of the gulf coast were extremely productive at first and fumi furnished shed the spanish court with some of its richest jewels pearl fishing i still survives as a profitable in industry and Is in the hands of two or three concessionaires with headquarters at la paz most of it mountainous lower california Is for the most moat part mountainous with irregular plains mainly along the pacific coast and smaller plains and valleys here and there along the gulf coast and in tho the more elevated interior in climatic and aher physical features the northern third 0 of i the peninsula la Is a continuation of extreme southern cal with local modifications in the east the southern end of the colorado desert crosses the border a and nd continues down the gulf coast to san fellipo Felip obay bay but Is more broken by desert mountains ns than on the californian side iddo of the afie line the part of the desert lying immediately a south of the cal i border with alexic all as its chief town Is improved by irrigation from the colorado and shares with the adjacent imperial valley of california in extensive agricultural development from this source along tho the pacific side a low range of coast mountains rises from 1000 to feet a short distance inland and extends over rolles miles southerly from the border back of this range lies iles a series of narrow valleys beyond which rises tile tho main interior mountain range forming the backbone of tho the peninsula these mountains constitute a high narrow range over miles long jong extending southeasterly from fro M the california border la paz a pleasant city la paz the oldest and roost most attractive town in lower california to la at the head of la paz bay in the gulf it Is the capital of the southern district and the chief commercial port of tho the peninsula containing nearly people the streets are well laid out and there are some excellent stores and many comfor comfortable table houses the gardens are filled with pa palms imsand and various tropical fruit trees which give the place a strongly tro tropical appearance though set in the midst of nn excessively arid desert dbert plain water Is abundant near tho the surface and Is ia pumped tor for irrigation purposes pur posea za la paz has always been the base of the pearl fisheries which extend along the east coast of the peninsula and far down the west coast of the mexican mainland north of la paz paa the only towns on tho the gulf coast are the small agricultural settlements at loreto and eulege and the busy mining camp of santa rosalla Ko salla the largest town in lower california the climate of lower california in general Is hot and arld arid ns as shown by tha existing desert conditions in the northern part conditions are closel closely y like those in the adjoining parts of southern california in the middle they are more arid but the extreme southern end though arid tropical has bag more regular summer rains the rainfall on the peninsula cornea comes from two sources the winter rainy season along the north pacific coast extends commonly over the northern parts of lower california and sometimes winter storms reach its extreme southern end in sum summer mer the tropical rainy season extends across from the mexican mainland to the riou southern them end |