28 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



three sources: first, from the muddy rills which 

 in times of rain run down from the fields which 

 lie along the river banks ; second, from brooks 

 and creeks extending far inland, which in the 

 rainy season receive the washings of the country 

 through which they flow; and third, from the gold 

 mines in the mountains. 



Formerly, many gold mines were worked by 

 turning great streams of water from huge hose- 

 pipes upon banks of gravel, in which were small 

 pieces of the precious metal. The water and 

 gravel and gold would then all rush together 

 down a long trough, or flume, in the bottom of 

 which were contrivances to catch the gold. 



The stones and the heavier parts of the gravel 

 would soon settle in the bed of the stream which 

 flowed away from the flume, but the lighter por- 

 tions would travel on and on with the water, till 

 the current became so slow that the mud preferred 

 to settle. 



So much mud and gravel was brought down 

 from the mines, that some of the smaller rivers 

 became clogged and overflowed their banks, and 

 at length a law was passed, forbidding the work- 

 ing of " hydraulic mines," unless the miners would 

 keep their refuse at home. 



As this was almost impossible, most of these 



