HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



253 



"Of course the most extravagant anticipations are 

 founded on the result of this work, induced by the 

 yield from the borders of the lake which have already 

 been realized. _The " placer" proper is very limited, 

 and little encouragement is given as to the character 

 of the surrounding country; indeed, it is probably 

 entirely unexplored, as the region lies about as far 

 up among the snows as the most adventurous have yet 

 penetrated." 



The Yuba River is destined to be thoroughly rifled 

 of its wealth. Three miles above the new town of 

 Lina, a company has turned the river from its course, 

 and made it run through a lateral slough. Prospect 

 ing of the bed has proved very satisfactory, and the 

 shares in the company's stock have sold at a high rate. 



As was apprehended, various difficulties have oc 

 curred between the owners of land at Sacramento City, 

 and a large number of squatters upon it. The ground 

 was bought and surveyed, and the title to ownership 

 was perfect. But the number of emigrants who 

 arrive at Sacramento at particular seasons forces 

 them to encamp outside of the regularly built town, 

 and when thus encamped, they consider themselves 

 as settlers, and are unwilling to give up possession of 

 the ground. The power of the law has been called 

 into requisition several times to eject these squatters. 



The emigrants to California by way of the Great 

 Salt Lake route have endured terrible hardships during 

 the present year. The rigors of the season, and the 

 want of water, have been but secondary matters. The 

 Indians, always unfriendly, have been particularly 

 hostile, and several battles between them and the emi 

 grants have taken place. In one of the battles, thirty 

 Indians were killed, while the whites had several 

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