CALIF'ORNIA, Lower or Old, a territory of the republic of Mexico, forming a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean, united on the north to the continent, from which it is separated on the east, throughout its entire length, by the Gulf of California. It extends from about lat. 40' to 40' N. It is about 750 miles in length, and in different places 30, 60, 90 and 150 miles wide. The coast forms many capes, bays and havens, and is fringed by numerous islands. A chain of mountains extends through out, of which the greatest height is from 4,500 to 4,900 feet above the sea, the latter being the height attained by its culminating point, Cerro de la Giganta. The chain is almost destitute of vegetation, having only here and there a few stunted trees or shrubs. It. has a single vol cano, and possesses distinct traces of volcanic origin. The foot of the range is covered with cactuses of remarkable size. Some of the hollows, where the soil is formed of decom posed lava, are tolerably fertile. On the plains the soil is often of the richest quality, and when the advantage of irrigation can be ob tained, raises the most abundant crops; but this advantage often fails, owing to the great deficiency of water. Rain seldom falls in sum
mer, in most of the region ranging from under 10 to 25 inches, and the streams are very in significant. The climate varies much accord ing to locality. On the coast of the Pacific the temperature ranges in summer from 58° to At a distance from the coast, where the sea breeze is not enjoyed, the summer heat is excessive. The principal food products are maize, manioc wheat, grapes, oranges, lemons, pineapples and other choice fruits; cattle rais ing, fishing, gold mining and pearl fishing are also successfully carried on. La Paz, in the south, is the capital; Ensenada, in the north, is a rising port. Lower California was explored by order of Cortez in 1532-33, and was visited by Drake as early as 1579. In 1697 the Jesuits formed establishments in the territory, built villages and missions, and in some meas ure civilized the natives. On their expulsion in 1767, the missions were carried on by the Dominicans. Pop. about 52,244, of whom probably about half are Indians.