270 EESOTJRCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



full of golden specks ; a few days later, at the same place it 

 will be barren. The sand in the mean time has been moved 

 by the waves, and replaced by other sand. * 



It is a very difficult matter to know where the sand is rich 

 and where it is not. The companies employed in mining on 

 the beach number about ten men ; and there is a foreman who 

 rides out early every morning, following the beach about two 

 miles to the northward and two miles to the southward of the 

 camp, for the purpose of finding where the sand is the best. 

 So changeable is the sand, that a new examination is made 

 every day ; and only three or four men are supposed to be 

 good judges of the quahty of sand, from its appearance. 



When the foreman has selected a place, he orders all the 

 men to it, and they go with twenty pack-mules, which carry 

 the sand in alforjas^ or rawhide sacks, to the place of washing, 

 which is up on the blufi", probably a mile or more distant from 

 the spot where the sand is obtained. It happens occasionally 

 that the foreman rides long distances on the beach, and some- 

 times he will order the sand to be obtained ten miles from the 

 washing-place. The sand must, of course, be very rich, to pay 

 for such transportation, but the beach-sand at times in the sun- 

 light is said to be actually dazzling yellow with gold. The 

 purpose of going upon the bluff to wash it is to get fresh water 

 for washing ; foi the sea-water is not so good, nor can it be 

 obtained conveniently. The richest dirt is that the farthest 

 down on the beach, so still weather and low tide are the best 

 times for getting it. When a rich place is discovered low 

 down on the beach, great exertions are made to get as much 

 of the sand as possible before the tide rises. When high tide 

 and storm come together, little can be done. The sand, hav- 

 ing been separated from all clay and soluble matter by the 

 action of the sea, is very easily washed, and all collected in a 

 month can be washed in two days in a sluice. 



§ 201. Mining-Ditches. — The placer-mines of California 

 -svould yield very little gold, were it not for the numerous 

 ditches which supply them with water for washing. The au- 



