172 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



Gold is not found on the surface of the country 

 presenting the appearance of having been thrown up 

 and scattered in all directions by volcanic action. It 

 is only found in particular localities, and attended by 

 peculiar circumstances and indications. It is found 

 in the bars and shoals of the rivers ; in ravines, and 

 in what are called the ' dry diggings.' 



" The rivers, in forming their channels, or breaking 

 their way through the hills, have come in contact with 

 the quartz containing the gold veins, and by constant 

 attrition cut the gold into fine flakes and dust, and it 

 is found among the sand and gravel of their beds at 

 those places where the swiftness of the current re- 

 duces it, in the dry season, to the narrowest possible 

 limits, and where a wide margin is, consequently, 

 left on each side, over which the water rushes, during 

 the wet season, with great force. 



" As the velocity of some streams is greater than 

 that of others, so is the gold found in fine or coarse 

 particles, apparently corresponding to the degree of 

 attrition to which it has been exposed. The water 

 from the hills and upper valleys, in finding its way to 

 the river, has cut deep ravines, and, wherever it has 

 come in contact with the quartz, has dissolved or 

 crumbled it in pieces. 



" In the dry season, these channels are mostly with- 

 out water, and gold is found in the beds and margins 

 of many of them in large quantities, but in a much 

 coarser state than in the rivers ; owing, undoubtedly, 

 to the moderate flow and temporary continuance of 

 the current, which has reduced it to smooth shapes, 

 not unlike pebbles, but has not had sufficient force to 

 cut it into flakes or dust. 



" The dry diggings are places where quartz contain- 



