this beast is dangerous, but at maturity it attains an immense size, and is the fountain-head of whalemen's fish-yarns, and said to come up to the size of a 74-gun frigate, and can attack and throttle a sperm-whale. Its arms measure from 10 to 20 feet in length, tapering from three inches in diameter to the thickness of a man's finger. On the lower parts it is furnished with flat disks or suckers, as round as a dollar, every two or three inches apart; the body is a spherical, pulpous, flat mass, in the middle of which is a large bill or beak, shaped exactly like that of a vulture or a parrot. With these arms they seize, smother, and envelop their prey, and at leisure devour it with their sharp and formidable bills. The skin is as smooth and slippery as an eel's, and of a dark lead-color, and its greedy, round, red eyes express the ferocity of a demon, and is altogether an ugly, dangerous customer to get within a man's distance.

Sword-fish of immense sizes are also found in the peninsular waters, which have been known to attack vessels and leave their shafts in its timbers. Another singular fish is the boeps, ochione, or bull's eye, which has only one large eye, set in the centre of the upper part of its body, of the size of a bullock's, and seems to be a species of sun-fish, from the descriptions given of it. It is described by Clavijero as some two pounds in weight, entirely flat on the under parts, and elevated above, with a single eye set in the middle of the upper parts, and even when dead making an ugly, repulsive appearance. The boton is a curious fish, not well described, and the liver of which is said to contain a virulent poison.

Nearly every species and variety of edible fish found in the waters of the Mediterranean, or on the coasts of Europe, or the West Indies, and of Atlantic North America, or Chili, are found in Lower California in greater abundance than elsewhere, and which have been before touched on in this summary. Their numbers are not only incredible, but many of them are of extraordinary beauty and brilliancy of colors. The missionary and discovery writers bear invariable testimony to this feature of the animal life of California.

THE SHELL-FISHERIES-AULONES AND PEARLS-CORALINES-THE EDIBLE OYSTER.

The family of Haliotis, univalves, represented by the aulon (improperly termed abalone), or ear-shaped shells of Monterey port, number, as is said, over 18 different species or kinds on the coasts of Lower California. They are particularly abundant in the islands, and in and out of the bays and ports where rocky and not sandy formations abound. For the last ten years the northern aulonfisheries above Santa Bárbara depleting year by year, the Chinese fishermen have gathered large quantities of this excellent shell-fish, below Cedros Island, which, when dried, brings from $12 to $30 a quintal in the Chinese markets, and is considered a great delicacy. The demand for it is large and permanent. This shell-fish is much more abundant in the peninsular waters than in those of Alta California. Of later years a traffic has opened for the shipment of the shells to Europe and China, which are preferred by many manufacturers for ornamental purposes to those of the pearl oyster, or mother of pearl.

The pearl oyster is also said to exist in two distinct species, and a third is thought to be the same as those met with among the Sal Si Puedes Islands. Pearl oysters are not found everywhere on the coast, but intercalate at intervals, preferring well-sheltered bays or harbors where fresh water empties; but this rule is not invariable. They are met with, for over 1,000 miles of shore line, between Magdalena and around the cape, and all the way up the gulf north above Angel Guardian Island, and the missionary writers state that after hurricanes they are known to have been thrown up on the beaches by the cart-load. There are, doubtless, many extensive beds never fished or even discovered in these little-known seas, as is the habit of the oyster family, and there is every

likelihood they could be cultivated and increased as are the oysteries of Long Island and the Potomac, or of France and England.

The pearl-fisheries, which are always prosecuted near noon and in cloudless weather, are still pursued in the peninsular waters every year, and it is very likely the new diving-apparatus and machinery, getting into such common use in San Francisco and other large ports for submarine operations, would succeed admirably in facilitating not only the finding and working of them, but in hauling larger numbers to the surface. A New York company is now in operation in the pearl islands of the bay of Panama, with a diving-apparatus, specially adapted to this business, which is stated, in January, 1867, to be in successful working, for account of which see page 75. It is to be borne in mind that the value of good pearls will make it always profitable to look for them, and a number one size and lustre is worth still from $5,000 to $6,000, and even more, for single pearls. Ordinary pearls are always abundant every year, but extraordinary sizes and colors are very rare. The most splendid of the pearls in the Spanish regalia were brought from the gulf of California before Napoleon's invasion, and they had always been in high demand in Spain since the days of Cortez. An American minister, in 1863, says that some of these pearls were as large as pigeons' eggs, and were among the most valuable jewels in the crown regalia. The common way of pearl-diving by men from open boats is of great antiquity, and is practised in Ceylon, Persia, among the Malayan Islands, and on the islands off the coasts of Venezuela and in Panama Bay, as well as in the gulf of California. As we have mentioned before, a California pearl-diving company was instituted in London in 1825, during the great mining excitement of those times, the management of which was put under Lieutenant Hardy, who came out to Lower California afterward to prosecute the enterprise, but no reliable accounts have reached us of how much profit resulted, and it has generally been considered an entire failure. Humboldt mentions that in 1802 a Mexican priest invented a diving-bell for the purpose of taking pearl oysters, which he experimented on in one of the lakes near Mexico City, over 7,000 feet above the sea, but nothing more ever came of it. The pearl oyster has been eagerly hunted in Lower California every year since the times of Cortez, and the early divers, even before his arrival, found them much easier than they did after 1750, and the Indians possessed great numbers of them, which they counted as money, and hung in strings, as to this day they preserve their common shell money; the early traders got great bargains by exchanging trinkets and knives for valuable gems. After heavy storms in the season of 1740, immense banks of pearl oysters were thrown up by the waves, and_completely paved many parts of the ocean coasts below and above Magdalena Bay. The Indians of the vicinities of the Mission of San Ignacio, then recently civilized, knowing the estimation in which these were held by the Spaniards, brought large quantities of pearls from this sea-upheaval to the mission, and sold them to Manuel Osio and his fellow-soldiers for trifling values. With these treasures he procured his discharge, and, hastening to Sinaloa, purchased boats, supplies, and men, and in 1742 was fortunate enough to fish up not less than 127 pounds' weight of pearls, and in 1744 the large amount of 275 pounds, all of which made Osio the richest man in Lower California, and his descendants live there to this day. This lucky armador de perlas afterward commenced the first silver-mine near the Real de San Antonio, but he is said not to have made much money by his mining operations. The Jesuit writers say after 1750 the pearl-fishery was absolutely abandoned in the peninsular waters, but this is not so, as other Spanish writers state it was followed profitably at periods down to 1812, and also after the independence in 1822, and down to the American occupation of 1847.

Even since the epoch of gold, great hauls have been made, and only in 1857 it was stated in the San Francisco journals, a lucky armador, or master pearl-diver, had taken, with his boats' crews, some three bushels of pearls, many of which

were very large and valuable. Antonio de Castillo, a Spanish settler, of the port of Chiametla, below Mazatlan, made a large fortune in pearl-diving, between 1618 and 1625, and Captains Iturbi and Ortega about that time engaged in the business, and took some extra-fine pearls to Mexico City, one of which sold for $4,500, greatly stimulating the traffic. The seamen of Cavendish's ship, in 1587, of Woodes Rogers's, in 1711, and of Shelvock's, in 1720, when at the cape, in exchange for common trinkets, procured many fine pearls from the California Indians, some of which afterward became famous in England, and had considerable influence in stimulating after west-coast adventures. California pearls of good quality have been in profitable demand in Mexico and Peru for the last 300 years, and there is no more danger that the business will ever "dry up dry up" than of our gold-mines, as has often been predicted by shallowminded men. Above the Sal Si Puedes Islands, and near Isle Tiburon, in the gulf, is said to abound a small species of brilliant white-shelled pearl oyster, but we are not aware of the special quality of pearls they yield. The species of white and red coral so esteemed in jewelry has been also found in the peninsular waters in considerable abundance for some years. Between 1700 and 1710, the king's share of one-fifth of all the pearls taken in California, for each and every vessel employed or engaged, amounted annually to $12,000. The traders were obliged to procure a license from the governor of Sonora, and generally started from Guaymas. These vessels measured from 15 to 30 tons; the owners are called armadores, and the divers busos, and the barks, each, carried from 30 to 50 divers; the armador advanced all the outfits and provisions, and carried supplies, and goods to exchange with his men for pearls: a venture all round. In the years mentioned, as many as 800 divers, mostly Yaqui Indians, have been employed in the season from July to October. In 1825, as Forbes states from Hardy, 18 small vessels were employed, and, when fortunate, obtained from 500 to 1,000 dollars' worth of pearls each. In 1831 four small barks, with boats, fitted out from the Sonora ports, carrying 200 divers. One vessel got 40 ounces of pearls, worth $6,500; another, 21 ounces, worth $3,000; another, 15 ounces, worth $1,800; and the fourth, 12 ounces, worth $2,000; total, $13,300. In 1855 the value of $65,000 in pearls and pearl-shells was obtained, and in 1857 the amount of $22,000 in pearls, and $30,000 in shells.

THE GUANO DEPOSITS OF THE OCEAN AND GULF SHORES.

There are stated to be guano deposits on several of the islets and rocks of the upper gulf sections, where myriads of sea-fowl congregate; and, as rains are infrequent there, the quality is, doubtless, profitable to work. From 1855 to 1857 great excitement was created in San Francisco, touching the deposits on the ocean coast of the peninsula, and the little island of Elide, so called, as we are informed by Captain Kimberly, of Santa Barbara, from an American vessel, which first took a cargo, was the centre of some spicy events for many months. The island is said to have yielded many large cargoes for several years, gaining several hundred thousand dollars, by a few long-headed speculators; but at present, we believe, it is exhausted. Growing out of this discovery, some active California traders started off to Mexico, and are said to have secured a monopoly of all guano deposits on both coasts of Lower California, the result of which was the establishment of the well-known Mexican Guano Company, of San Francisco. Elide Island is in the northern part of Viscaino Bay, in about 28° 50°, and some 50 miles northeast of Cedros Island, and at Natividad and Assumption Islands, below Cedros, guano is also said to be found as well as on several other islets and points farther south.

CHAPTER XII.

THE NATIVE AND DOMESTICATED ANIMALS-MOUNTAIN SHEEP, AND GOATS.

THE indigenous quadrupeds, insects, birds, and reptiles of Lower California are nearly precisely those of Arizona, and the southern parts of Alta California, below Point Concepcion. The quadrupeds are grizzly and cinnamon bears, antelopes, or berendas, big-horn sheep, sometimes called by the Mexicans tajes and cervatos, the mountain-goat, deer, wild-cats, two kinds of lions, so called, very destructive to horses, ground-squirrels, gophers, skunks, badgers, raccoons, coyotes, hares, rabbits, wolves, and foxes. Among the insects are locusts, or chapules, which are very destructive at times, several species of bees and wasps, tarantula and other spiders, and many other insects peculiar to Sonora. Among the birds are two species of vultures, called Burrowes vulture, and the California condor, the common turkey buzzard, various kinds of owls, eagles, and hawks, the California quail, blackbirds, finches, humming-birds, larks, ducks, geese, a great variety of sea-birds, and numbers of others of the feathered kingdom, not met with in the southern parts of the State of California.

The Jesuit fathers mention seeing, on several occasions, large flocks of wild goats on the gulf shores above the latitudes of the Sal Si Puedes Islands, and it is likely identical with the true Rocky Mountain goat, or it may be a distinct species. The big-horn sheep, called taje by the Loreto Indians, was formerly very plentiful in the mountains, and is figured in Venegas's volumes; it has often been met with by mineral hunters since 1848.

The ox, horse, ass, sheep, goat, domestic fowl, turkey, hog, dog, and cat were introduced by the Jesuit padres before 1730, but they never increased in such proportions as they did in Alta California, from the greater scarcity of water, and the rugged nature of the country. The cattle and horses are extremely hardy, and acquire the habit of feeding on the cactus and the agave-plants, which abound in prickles; and such is the wise provision of Nature, that the tongue and inside of the mouth become so hardened as to resist and break down this spinous vegetable fodder, and they thrive on it. There can be no doubt that the fine, long-hair goats of Cashmere, Armenia, Angora, and Morocco, would succeed without difficulty in Lower California, as the common goat is extremely hardy and prolific in most parts; the northern districts are admirably adapted to the fine-haired varieties, as the temperature is warm, pleasant, and equable. These animals not only furnish abundant and easily-clipped fleeces, but they supply excellent meat for the butcher, and the cost of keeping them is much less than that of sheep or cattle. The camel could be also introduced, and would be very serviceable in travelling.

Before 1848 there were said to be in Lower California about the following numbers of domestic stock in the different mission districts, those below the San Diego frontier being the richest, i. e., between Santo Tomas and Rosario:

The ass and goat thrive better than other introduced animals. Hogs and domestic poultry are always plentiful and cheap. These figures are mere approximates, the mission fathers of the peninsula never having kept such careful statistics of their animals, products, and Indians, as did those of Upper California, so there is no other rule to go by than popular report. Lions, coyotes, wild-cats, wolves, etc., are much more destructive to domestic animals in the peninsula than above San Diego. The great drought of 1863-'64 made

great havoc among the flocks and herds of all parts of the peninsula, and injured the prospects of the northern districts on the ocean particularly.

THE NATIVE AND

VEGETABLES-FOREST

INTRODUCED FRUITS, GRAINS, AND
TREES-NO HISTORY OF ITS BOTANY KNOWN.

All kinds and varieties of the cactus or prickly-pear family, amounting to some 50 distinct species, abound in every part of Baja California, and yield the most delicious and healthy quality of fruits in the greatest abundance. The family of the agaves (mercals, magueys, or century plants) are extremely abundant and varied, and it is likely in the future will make an important article of commerce for the manufacture of spirits from the roots, and of rope, bagging, and paper fibre, from the leaves or pencas, which often weigh 50 pounds. It is certain that the fibre of the agaves could be furnished easily and in the greatest abundance, in any quantities, and within short distances of ship-anchorage. For rope and bagging it exceeds every fibre we have seen in strength, length of fibre, and durability. The family of acacia-trees, called mesquites, algarrobas, and locusts, abound in every part of the country. Two kinds of native palms, bearing edible fruit, are very abundant, and several kinds of cone-bearing trees, as pines, cedars, etc. Oaks, wild plums, cottonwoods, sycamores, willows, and elder, are also met with in mountain and valley.

The missionaries, after 1730, introduced the Arabian date-palm, which succeeds admirably, and yields abundantly, and also oranges, lemons, and all the species of the citrine family, pine-apples, bananas, plantains, and the most of the valuable and curious fruits produced in Mexico, below the level of 3,000 feet. They also planted the vine, olive, fig, pomegranate, almond, peach, quince, and even plums, apples, pears, melons, watermelons, and such like, in more elevated and cooler districts; the vine, fig, olive, currant-grape, almond, quince, and peach, are much more luscious, and grow much quicker, and with less labor and expense, than in Alta California, and in many special localities are unsurpassed in the world for luxuriance, sweetness, and flavor. The fig and grape are much sweeter than in our State, and the grape ripens better and quicker, from hotter and drier suns, and makes much richer wine, brandy, raisins, and currants. Before 1849 the Lower Californians sent up annually to Monterey large quantities of dried figs, currants, grapes, dates, and peaches, and cheese also, which were sold at reasonable rates and good profits. The cultivation of all the fruits named, and of many others of Asia and Oceanica, could be indefinitely extended, with sufficient population and a stable government.

Wheat, barley, oats, maize, or corn, and all the cereals of Europe or Asia, which have been tried, succeed well, according to localities and temperature, as well as such vegetables as sweet potatoes, okra, peas, beans, cabbages, and pumpkins, onions, egg-fruit, and the native vegetables used for the table in Mexico and Peru. The sugar cane has been cultivated for more than a century, and yields a sugar as strong and sweet as that of Peru, and very abundant in juice. Coffee has also been tried, and its quality is excellent, as the valleys of Lower California, where sheltered from heavy winds, resemble in climate and soil the elevated country near Mocha in Arabia. If there is plenty of such land in the peninsula, coffee can be easily made to become a profitable business, but it must be always grown under the line of heavy frosts, or it bears no fruit.

The date-palm, in all its varieties, such as are found in Egypt, Morocco, and Arabia, is capable of being cultivated to an indefinite extent in Baja California, as it grows in upland and lowland vigorously, and bears the finest quality of fruits. The same may be said of the cocoa-nut palm, which could be made to flourish by the million; indeed, there would be no difficulty in growing any species of palm, except those peculiar to moist districts.

No botanist has ever consecutively explored the peninsula in detail, and the