IN THE MINING DISTRICT 229 



traveled than below and is not covered with rocks, but 

 with veritable boulders in such a way that in places a 

 pedestrian has trouble to get over them. Here it was 

 where I got my first idea of a California mountain road. 

 About a mile beyond Toll's Diggings we became satisfied 

 that neither the oxen would be able to draw the load any 

 further, nor that the wheels would stand any longer the 

 terrible jolting they constantly received by slipping off 

 the rocks into holes 2 and 2V2 feet deep. So there was no 

 help for it— we had to take half the load off the wagon, 

 pile the things up on the side of the road, and leaving 

 myself and Reinhard in charge, the others continued on 

 their way. Towards sundown our teamster returned for 

 the rest of the load; but our oxen came near giving out, 

 consequently we did not reach camp until long after sun- 

 down. I was very glad that our friends had supper ready 

 for us. Our canrping place was on top of a big hill, 

 densely covered with firs and pines— oaks not appearing 

 any more here— and about a hundred yards away from 

 a deserted Indian village whose half-round mud huts, or 

 the so-called "wigwams," were yet in a fair condition. 

 On account of the many poisonous snakes which, infest 

 just such places as deserted huts or hollow trees, we pre- 

 ferred to spread our blankets under the blue canopy of 

 heaven, though the air was rather chilly, and the huts 

 would have offered us good protection against the cold— 

 I must say the snakes here are not to be trifled with. I 

 alone killed no less than five of them on that afternoon, 

 two of thorn being rattlesnakes — one about five feet long; 

 and one a whipsnake, a snake about as thick as a finger, 

 of brilliant colors, whose bite is said to be absolutely fatal. 

 The smaller one of the two rattlesnakes I clubbed with 

 the butt of my pistol not five yards away from the place 

 where I afterwards spread my blankets for the night. I 

 must confess that I felt a little uncomfortable on retiring 

 on that evening, and I felt nervous whenever I heard a 

 ground squirrel or anything else move. At last fatigue 

 got the better of me, and 1 slept soundly till morning, 

 dreaming that a large rattlesnake had the pious intention 

 of devouring mo, skin and hair— and then I awoke, 



