214 Audubon s Western Journal 



the Stanislaus. The sunset effect was fine, but 

 I had no colors with me. 



March 2^th. After crossing the Stanislaus we 

 ascended a long hill leading about southwest, 

 towards the "Mormon Gulch" three miles dis- 

 tant. The road wound up ravines for the first 

 two miles, and would have made as beautiful a 

 walk as it did a ride. All nature was still and 

 calm, and the silent scene brought Sunday to both 

 our minds, and we agreed that whether in the 

 wilderness, or at home, the day brought a feeling 

 of tranquillity. We almost changed our minds 

 when we reached the diggings, so different was 

 the scene. The bar-rooms were all doing a 

 "thriving business," and the monte dealers were 

 doing even a better, gloating over the hard-earned 

 piles of gold dust which ought to have served a 

 better purpose. 



Passing all this, and going up a beautiful 

 gorge, winding at times so as almost to form a 

 semi-circle, we turned our course, and came upon 

 a most exquisite cascade; the water split upon a 

 bold rock about fifty feet high and tumbled in 

 leaps of from six to ten feet until it reached the 

 rocky bed, where it rushed on boiling and bubbling 

 impetuously until it joined the Stanislaus. 



Our walk to Wood's Creek was hot and tiresome, 

 and after cooling off we took a sponge bath, the 

 water being too cold for a plunge, and then saun- 



