w of the climate in different European localities (or
rather let us confine ourselves to Great Britain, where the western
parts, especially Ireland, near to and exposed to the effects of the
Atlantic, have an increased rainfall), we (by "we" I mean others,
like me, ignorant of meteorology) would think the western Pacific
coast of America, with that boundless ocean (far wider than the
Atlantic, and stretching across to Asia) in front would fare
likewise. But it is _not_ so. In fact quite the reverse. On the
greater part of that coast, up to about latitude 42 deg. north, the
rainfall is exceedingly scanty, so much so that very little
vegetation will thrive without artificial watering, and though north
of 42 deg. there is much more, it is still less than on our western
coasts. The deficiency cannot arise, except very partially, from lack
of vegetation, for though the said coast, south of 42 deg., is very bare,
not far back exists a high and well-clad mountain range.[6]

What is the cause I know not, perhaps meteorologists do, I only state
the fact. But more: though not to the same degree, all the large
tract west of the Rocky Mountains has a deficient rainfall, and
artificial irrigation is more or less resorted to everywhere. I
shall have more to say as to how it is done when, later, I describe
the Antelope Valley.

I left the description of the journey when in the desert, and now
return there. As the line enters the State of Arizona it begins to
descend. It had ascended previously, which had made the heat
bearable. But a few hours of descent made a woful change. Coats,
waistcoats were discarded by the men, while the female passengers
followed suit as far as they could. No use! we all gasped and panted
and used many pocket-handkerchiefs. The temperature rose higher and
higher, and the night was the worst, for we were then at the lowest
point. Between Tucson and Yuma the heat was simply infernal. I
believe this tract is the bed of what, ages ago, was an inland sea;
anyhow it had all the appearance of it, and I was later told
geologists thought so too. It is, to say the least, very likely, for
Yuma, I heard, is several hundred feet below sea-level. The latitude
is 32 1/2 deg. north, a warm latitude in any case, but with desert for
hundreds of miles all round, with perhaps as low an elevation as
exists on earth, shut in on all sides so that not a breath of air can
get at it, what wonder that Yuma and all about there is hot?