Tour of the Gold-fields 221 



hills and chasms until it reaches the plains, when 

 it moves quietly, but still rapidly at this season, 

 as it makes its way to the San Joaquin, ninety or a 

 hundred miles from the mouth of that stream. 



The river here rises and falls daily and nightly 

 almost with the regularity of the tide, not ordi- 

 narily more than a foot or two, this being due to the 

 effect of the sun on the snows of the mountains; 

 the warmer the day the higher the water. At 

 night many men in parties of from twenty-five to 

 fifty are here engaged in digging canals to drain 

 the bed of the river at low water. I learn how- 

 ever that they are greatly hindered in this by nu- 

 merous springs in the bottom of the river, and 

 though there is no doubt a great deal of gold, the 

 difficulties of getting it without machinery are 

 more than can be realized by any one who has not 

 been here and tried. 



The buzzards in this upper country are just 

 pairing. I have seen three or four couples of the 

 California vulture but have not secured one yet. 



The bar which was dug here last year is now 

 under water, but I am told it was very profitable 

 and many made five or six thousand from their 

 summer's work. There are many here waiting for 

 the plains to dry and snows to melt, when Hawkin's 

 celebrated bar may again be worked. While I 

 am here, I may as well try to give an idea of how 

 the work is done. When a spot has been selected 



