Tour of the Gold-fields 227 



The snows are melting so fast just now that the 

 river is within two feet of being as high as when 

 I crossed in the winter just after two nights of rain ; 

 then it was muddy, and anyone could see was not 

 in a natural state, now though almost as rapid and 

 deep its clear waters do not give the angry look it 

 had then — so much for summer and its softening 

 effects. 



The road from Stanislaus over broad prairies of 

 poor sandy soil extends for miles until nearing 

 the edge of the line of beautiful old oaks that 

 fringe French Creek and its swamps; then the 

 earth becomes richer and sends up a growth of 

 clover and beautiful grass knee high, until you 

 reach Stockton. Indeed all the best lands of the 

 San Joaquin River are admirably suited for plant- 

 ing with proper drainage and cultivation. 



The sea breeze at this season is cold and search- 

 ing, keeping the thermometer at 60 degrees and 

 62 degrees for days; when a lull comes the heat 

 is at once oppressive, and the mercury rises to 

 80 degrees or 85 degrees, and the heat dances 

 before us almost in palpable shapes; the water all 

 stagnant sends its odor of decaying vegetation 

 everywhere, accompanied by myriads of mosqui- 

 toes. These conditions exist for miles over the 

 east side, towards the mountains of the San Joa- 

 quin. 



