The mountain-cat is larger, stronger, and fiercer, than the domesticated, and has a shorter tail. It is very daring, and sometimes attacks animals larger than itself, and even men, when they travel in obscure places, but this species is not numerous. Not so, however, with regard to the chimbicá, or Californian lion, because, not daring to kill it, the natives, through fear of a popular superstition which existed before they were Christianized, permitted it to continue multiplying, greatly to the detriment of the missions which were subsequently founded, making such ravages on cattle, and perhaps on human beings, that it was noticed particularly by the Jesuits in the later years of their occupation, when a number of tragic events occurred. They, after inducing their neophytes to overcome their ignorant and silly fears, as we will hereafter refer to, encouraged the destroying of this animal by giving them a bounty of a bull for each chimbicá that they killed, which custom prevailed always after, during the time that they had control of the missions. The chimbica is of the size of a large mastiff, has huge claws, and is of the same color of the African lion, but has no mane. As soon as he attacks any animal he fastens his hold so strongly that he does not let go, although mortally wounded. As soon as possible he cuts into its throat with its teeth, drinks the blood, devours the neck, and covers the rest with dry leaves, to return from time to time to eat when hungry, but he seldom preserves it, as hungry Indians or the buzzards generally prey on it. When the Indians observe these birds hovering in flocks around a place they infer that there is the carcass of some dead animal near, and directly proceed to the spot, and if the meat is not entirely putrefied, they carry it home or make a fire there and roast it. Notwithstanding the chimbica is so daring, he runs from dogs, and, when closely pursued, jumps up a tree and looks with savage fierceness on his pursuers, but without daring to get down until they are gone; this is the best time to shoot them. This animal is the same as the miztli of the Mexicans, the pagi of the Chilians, and the puma of Peru, although it seems different in some respects. The coyote is the quadruped that we described in the History of Mexico, and is a cross between the wolf and fox, combining the cunning of the latter with the voracity of the former. The stag of California is only distinguished from the common European stag by its horns not being erect, but inclining to the back. The antelope or chamois is larger, more active, and swifter than the goat. Animals of this kind go in herds or droves, leaping over the rocks with singular dexterity; some are black and some white; their skin is appreciated, and their meat good to eat. The tajé of California is the ibex of Pliny, and the bouquetin of Buffon. What Pliny says of the ibex (see Pliny's Natural History, lib. viii., c. 53), the natives tell of the tajé, without having either read or heard mention made of that naturalist, which proves the description of Pliny, and the particular identity of these animals to be correct. In form, color, and size, the tajé is the same as the bouquetin, and its meat is eatable. The American skunk, called by so many different names in different parts of the New World, is called by the Cochimies iiju. At the present time it is well known in Europe, but as some missionaries of California improved the opportunity to frequently observe it in its natural state, we can give a fuller account of it. California skunks are of that kind of small animal which the Mexicans call conepatl. The size of its body, independent of the tail, does not exceed eight inches in length; its head is also small; its color on its belly and feet is white; its back, sides, and tail, black and white stripes, in some cases white and lion-colored. Its tail has a handsome fringe at the end, which has a fine appearance when erect, running. It subsists on beetles, centipedes, and other insects, but prefers to any thing blood and hen's eggs, and for this reason are the scourge of hen-houses. They make their raids at night, entering by cracks or holes not so wide as their bodies; the hens make a great disturbance when they get in on them, but do not move from their places; the skunk then kills one or two of them, sucks their blood, and eats some of their flesh. They live in little holes among the rocks, and rarely show themselves except in autumn or the beginning of winter. Dr. Hernandez says in his Natural History of Mexico that the dung and urine of skunks have an intolerable smell, and this is generally believed, but by observations made in California it appears that they have never used either against their persecutors, no signs of the same ever having been seen. The weapon they constantly make use of when in danger is the discharge from behind of that insupportable odor which so perceptibly condenses the air in the vicinity, that, as a serious missionary expresses it, it seems as though it can be felt by the touch. Every thing in the vicinity becomes infected in such a manner that, although exposed to the fresh air, the offensive smell is retained for a long time, and even is transmitted a great. distance. Dogs which have followed skunks become stupefied with the smell, which they show, by their vain efforts to get free of it, by scratching their noses. In the History of Mexico we described that curious quadruped called by Buffon suizo, and by the Mexicans tlalmototli, or ground squirrel, in contradistinctiou to the squirrel which inhabits trees. This kind burrows in the ground, and does great damage to growing crops. The same damage is made by tuzas, quadrupeds of the mole species, but larger, handsomer, with different eyes from the mole, as well as a difference in other particulars, as we stated in our history referred to. Another quadruped is common in California, which is similar in form to the squirrel, although smaller, ts size being about that of a common rat, but twice as long; its tail is bare, like that of the squirrel, and its back striped black and white: this is certainly the palmista of Buffon, and the sicurus palmarum of Linnæus. The rat of California, although similar in form, color, size, and mode of living, to the common rat, is nevertheless of a very different species from the common or any other known by naturalists. It has under each ear a membrane, forming a kind of bag or pouch, which communicates with the mouth, and by this means it gathers what food it can to carry to its storehouse, and the damage which they cause in granaries is greater than would be supposed from their size. When their pouches are empty they are scarcely visible, but if one is killed, and air is blown into the mouth, their pouch becomes inflated, as though it had a pigeon's egg in it, and the boys derive a great deal of fun from the ridiculous figure it makes.* Although the climate of California is not prejudicial to animals taken there from New Spain, the scarcity of food and abundance of lions retard their increase. Pasturage being poor, horses, cows, sheep, and goats, naturally scatter, seeking food in out-of-the-way places where they find herbs or shrubbery of any kind; consequently, being out of sight of their keepers, they fall an easy prey to the lions, who kill their colts and calves, and even at times the mares and cows, and commit great ravages on sheep and goats. For this reason it has been necessary every year to bring the stock required for the presidio. Dogs only seem to have degenerated in California, as they do not appear to have the same liking for their mas ters, soon leaving them for new ones, but perhaps their poverty is what obliges these hungry animals to seek their subsistence in other places. EXTRACTS FROM "HISTORIA DE LA BAJA CALIFORNIA ”-DECRETO DE MARZO. Governors of Lower California 1697 to 1699 Luis de Torres y Tortolero. 1768" 1771 Gaspar de Portala. during their Colonial Condition. 1771 to 1776 Felipe Neve. 1776" 1777 F. Xr. de Rivera y Moncada. 1777" 1790 Joaquin Cañete. 1790" 1804 José Joaquin de Arillaga. 1804" 1814 Felipe de Goicoechea. The whole cost of Lower California, from the first expedition of Cortez (1536) to 1857, as per detail in the work referred to, $5,622,895. At the last date, Lassepas, author of the above work, estimates the total value of every thing in Lower California, real and personal, at $1,369,270. The contract made between the house of Jecker, Torre y Ca. and the Mexican Government was concluded August 14, 1856. J., T. & Co. were to survey and map all public lands and make a scientific report as to climate, soil, agricultural and commercial resources, etc., within 30 months from date of contract, and receive, in compensation for the service, one-third of all the public land which might be found. California discovered by Cortez, 1534. Salvatierra, priest and missionary, landed at San Bruno, north of Loreto, 1697; his government lasted 70 years, until 1768, when the Jesuits were expelled. Commenced working mines in the south, 1746. ulations, November 21, 1828. Colonization law, August 18, 1824. Reg The two species of mole and rat may be added to the 52 others of American quadrupeds named in the catalogue found in our History of Mexico, vol. iv. ་ REPORT ON FRUIT-TREES OF LOWER CALIFORNIA. J. F. JOHNSON, Esq., SAN FRANCISCO, December 9, 1867. DEAR SIR: At your suggestion I address you in relation to those lands on the peninsula of Lower California in which you are interested as a stockholder in the Lower California Company. First, let me say to you that I have lived nearly three years at La Paz, Lower California, as "United States Commercial Agent," during the administration of President Pierce, having gone there with the express purpose of purchasing a grant of the peninsula in connection with other parties; but, unfortunately for our plans, Comonfort was just then expelled, and our effort was unsuccessful. By reference to the office of the Secretary of State at Washington, you can see my last report to Mr. Marcy. Of course, while on the peninsula, I made the climate, soil, and productions my study, and few, if any, are as well advised with regard to your lands as myself. I am a surveyor and civil engineer, and have had several years' experience in the public land surveys of Michigan and Wisconsin, previous to coming to this coast. I have been here twenty-one years, engaged in public and private land surveys in the southern counties of this State and Lower California. Throughout your territory are valleys, plains, table-lands, and tracts on the mountains, that are first-class agricultural lands. Water is found in many places on the surface, and almost everywhere by digging a moderate depth, or by artesian boring, in much larger quantities than superficial observers or persons not well acquainted with the country and climate would suppose. By artesian wells, or broad wells or pits, lifting the water by windmills, a large breadth of the country can be cultivated in tropical and semi-tropical productions, as well as the wheat and corn of a more northern climate. The climate of the peninsula is undoubtedly one of the healthiest in the world, and, for persons of consumptive habit, without a parallel. This fact is getting to be more and more known on this coast; and were the facilities for purchasing lands such as to afford encouragement, numbers from the population of this coast would go there to make their homes. The first requisite with the Anglo-Saxon is a good title, and the second to be able to see the boundaries on the ground of the land you propose to sell to him. The peninsula of Lower California can be made the garden-spot of the world.-Among the numerous products are the olive-tree-100 trees to the acre, begins to bear at three years, giving one gallon of olives; at six years gives 16 gallons of fruit; four gallons of fruit make one gallon of table-oil. From the residuum Castile soap is made. The almond-tree-200 trees to the acre-begins bearing at three years, and at seven years giving 80 pounds of nuts. The date-tree-100 trees to the acre-two varieties. The black gives the best fruit, yield ing 300 pounds to the tree. The yellow gives 600 pounds to the tree. The tamarind-tree-200 trees to the acre. This tree does not produce as prolifically here as in the West Indian Islands; but the fruit has an aroma and quality unknown elsewhere to commerce, giving it a far superior value. The yield per acre not known. The lime-tree, the lemon-tree, and the orange-tree, produce abundantly. The banana commences to bear at two years, and gives first-class fruit. The pomegranate--200 trees to the acre-at 10 years will give over five hundred pounds of fruit to the tree, and for its medicinal properties will soon be in great demand. The guayaba-200 trees to the acre-begins to bear at three years, gives four hundred pounds of fruit to the tree. All other kinds of tropical fruits grow to great perfection. The sugar-cane, first quality-Indian corn, three crops on the same piece of land in one year. There is a variety of cactus growing generally over the country, which, judging from some crude experiments made, will make the best quality of paper, and in unlimited quantities. Also a kind from the root of which a liquor is distilled, and having a fibre very similar in character to that of Manilla hemp. Respectfully yours, THOMAS SPRAGUE. A BEAUTIFUL PENINSULA-THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF LOWER CALIFORNIA— THE ELECTIONS-REVOLUTIONS-AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE CONSTITUTIONCOTTON, SUGAR, COFFEE, WHEAT, OATS, BARLEY, AND ALL VEGATABLES RAISED ON THE PENINSULA. LA PAZ, LOWER CALIFORNIA, December 22, 1867. Si quæris peninsulam amœnam, circumspice. If thou seekest a beautiful peninsula, behold it here. One of the old poets so sang of Italy. In after-days the statesmen of Michigan considered the motto worthy of State consecration. In still later days may not our "special correspondent," in the destiny of things, apply it to the wonderful peninsula of Lower California, and thus, when the country comes into our possession-"as it must some day or another" (popular saying)-the TELEGRAM will have the honor of furnishing the Baja (Lower) Californians with a singularly appropriate motto. And surely, if cloudless skies and an atmosphere and climate unsurpassed even by that land in which sits the Eternal City make a country beautiful, then indeed is Lower California beautiful. The peninsula has a population of fourteen thousand, about one thousand of which are Americans, Germans, and other foreigners. Of the thirteen thousand five thousand are Indians, the remaining eight thousand being Mexicans and crossed blood. It is divided into eight municipalities, each of which is represented in the Legislature by a single representative. The representatives are elected by delegates assembled in convention by the popular vote. Heretofore the Legislature or Assembly had only one House, the members of which elected the Governor. In cases where the municipalities are not represented in full in the Legislature, even one being non-represented, the president of that body becomes Governor by virtue of his office. Two of the municipalities having failed to send representatives, the office of Governor devolves upon an old and influential resident of San Francisco, Judge C. F. Galan, president of the Legislative Assembly. The present Executive, Governor Antonio Pedrin, was appointed by President Juarez in May, 1866. Since then there has been a revolution, and Pedrin was dispossessed and driven out by armed forces under Navarete, who filled the office some four months. In his exile in Upper California, Governor Pedrin accumulated a little army of his own and laid plans for the annihilation of his dispossessor. Returning from California he moved upon the enemy, succeeded in ousting Navarete, and again assumed the sceptre of power. Navarete is now exiled from the State, and at last accounts was a follower of that adroit chieftain, General Martinez. Governor Pedrin, Señor Navarro, Señor Villarino, and Señor Castio were the principal candidates for the office of Governor before the present Legislature. At the late election the people voted for important amendments to the constitution, and it is in part the trust of this Legislature to carry out the will of the people. The amendments consist of having the Legislature represented by two Houses, a Senate and Assembly; the Governor is to have the veto power, a Lieutenant-Governor is to be elected, all reports from the Assembly to the Governor, and vice versa, are to be in writing (heretofore they were verbal), the Legislature is to have the power by a two-third vote of amending the statutes, besides some lesser amendments. When Governor Galan takes his seat it is understood that he will urge the necessity of keeping the state papers and all public documents in print and in dupliUp to the present time all official records of Lower California have been preserved in cate. manuscript. The executive head of the Government under the old system was represented by the Governor, his Secretary and his Prefect of the Frontier, who resided at Santo Tomas, near the boundary line. The proposed amendments to the constitution, if carried out, will materially change the executive power and give it greater influence. The judiciary is composed of a Judge of the First Instance (District Judge) and justices of the peace. There is a superior tribunal, consisting of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, each, however, having distinct duties assigned them. The rulings of this court are not held valid, as the Chief Justice, residing at Mazatlan, claims, under some old law, the right to exercise supreme judiciary functions in Lower California. The only officers here representing the national Government are the Gefe de Hacienda (sort of public Comptroller) and the collector of the port. Here as elsewhere the State authorities frequently find the financial treasury so meagre that many of the revenues intended for the General Government are borrowed by local officials, for worthy purposes, as a matter of con sequence. There is no doubt of the fact that Lower California is more than self-sustaining. The idea that nothing can be raised here without irrigation is fast being driven to the wall. An American gentleman, Captain C. B. Smith, who owns a large ranch at the Martires, sixty miles distant, last year produced the very finest qualities of wheat, barley, and oats without irrigation. Some of the single grains produced fifteen to thirty stalks. At the present time Captain Smith has as fine fields of wheat growing as could be found in the famous regions of Odessa. There are thousands upon thousands of acres of just such land as produce these crops, pronounced worthless by the natives, who, deriving many of their ideas from the Aztecs and old Spaniards, still cling to old prejudices and never ask for experiments. Cotton is indigenous to the soil. The writer saw a wild tree growing immediately in front of the office door of the American consul which was laden with bolls and pods-the cotton being fine and silky. This tree sprang up naturally years ago, and has never received the least care or attention, yet is very thrifty and vigorous. The cultivated cotton (upland) is of a remarkably fine, soft, and silken texture. Its productiveness is enormous, and it will grow almost anywhere without irrigation. Mazatlan is the only market, where it brings at present prices but five cents per pound in general. This is owing to the productiveness of the crop and the monopoly at Mazatlan. The seed is planted in July and matures in Decem, ber. The picking season continues until the planting season again arrives. Vines thrive here equal to any part of the world, and produce a quality of wine in taste and color but little inferior to Madeira. If proper pains were taken in its manufacture, the very best quality of wine might be made from the grapes grown on this peninsula. Olives, dates, oranges, lemons, figs and all other fruit of a like nature grow in profusion. All kinds of garden vegetables are abundantly grown, and potatoes are particularly good, the sweet qualities growing to a large size and in great quantities. There is no disputing the existence of extensive mineral beds in this peninsula. This fact is so well and so extensively known to those most particularly interested that we merely mention it for the benefit of those who may be ignorant on the subject, and who desire to know where fortunes can be made. The following is a list of the silver-mines owned by American companies in Lower California and now being worked: The Triunfo mine, district of San Antonio, owned by a Philadelphia and San Francisco company. This company have a twenty-four-stamp mill, sixteen of which are working. Ore averages $50 to $70 to the ton. San Alberto mine, district of San Antonio, owned by George Cole, Esq., has a four-stamp mill. The ore is said to be very rich. San Narcissus mine, district of San Antonio, owned by De Witt C. Morgan. This mine yields from $800 to $1,000 per month. The smelting process is by the old Mexican furnace. The Tosora mine, district of Cacuchilla, owned by a San Francisco company. The ore taken out of the mine is shipped direct to San Francisco. Neither of the above mines is extensively worked, the Triunfo being the only one in which any thing like improvements and enterprise are being manifested. The others, and indeed all, are waiting to "see how things are coming out -which invariably means waiting for the peninsula to be annexed to the United States Government. Among the mines owned by Americans now lying idle, the owners waiting to "see how things are coming out," are the San José, San Joaquin, Gobernador, Rancheria, Alemania, Comstock, Ophir, Minarica del Norte, Marronana, Maria, Franco-Americana. The same company owning the latter also owns the Nacimiento, Ocota, and Gusava. Besides this large list of mines owned by Americans, it is safe to say that an equal number remains unnamed. From the foregoing statements and those which follow, it is apparent that American interests predominate on this peninsula, and that we are very rapidly becoming Americanized, whether we like it or not. This seems to be a favorite land for colonization schemes. Two American companies are already in possession of the larger and better portions of the peninsula. Whether these companies shall prove benefits and blessings to humanity, or whether they shall prove huge monopolies and establish legal systems of slavery and peonage, remains to be seen. First comes the Lower California Colonization Company. The extent of territory now owned by this company is 46,800 square miles-almost the entire peninsula. The price to be paid in gold was $260,000. Of this sum $200,000 is paid in. It is the intention of the company to colonize this territory with negroes and Chinamen, and thus procure cheap labor for the production and manufacture of those important articles of commerce to which we have already alluded. No companies and no combination of companies can colonize and control the free will of the Anglo-Saxon, the Celtic, and the Latin races. If men of such blood and lineage come to this country they will come of their own free will-their own complete masters. As a consequence, then, since the charter or purchase right of the company exacts that at least two hundred families shall be colonized within a certain period, it is most likely that such families must belong to the African or China races. Whether this planting of uncongenial and foreign seed on American soil be not sowing material for a whirlwind, political and revolutionary, at some day in the future, we leave to the profound study of that profound thinker, Professor Draper. Among the capitalists prominent in the company are Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts; Ben Holladay, of New York; Sam Brannan, of San Francisco; Caleb Cushing, Wells, Fargo & Co., and numerous others. The next American enterprise is the Peninsula Plantation and Homestead Association. This company own a vast tract of land lying along Mulegé Bay, north of Concepcion Bay, in the Gulf of California. The point at which their chief city is to be located is about seventy miles southwest of Guaymas, across the gulf. It is about midway between Cape St. Lucas and the mouth of the Colorado. The greater portion of this company's land is said to be fertile and productive, and extends for one hundred miles up the coast a perfect level. The president of the company, A. Lamott, a well-known and influential citizen of San Francisco, considers that this is the Paradise of Lower California; and the energetic agent and superintendent of the company, O. F. Gehricke, is enthusiastic as to the beauties and perfections of the para |