382 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



Claim, the tract of land claimed for mining purposes by a 

 man or party. There are various kinds of claims, such as 

 bank, bar, hill, tunnel, flat, &g. 



Oolor^ a visible quantity of gold found m prospecting. If 

 the prospector finds one or more particles of gold in his search, 

 he says he has found the colo?\ 



To dry up, a slang phrase, meaning to stop, fail, disappear, 

 become silent. It is very expressive to Californians accus- 

 tomed to see the whole face of the country dry up in the sum- 

 mer season. 



Diggings, a general name for placer gold mines. Wet dig- 

 gings are in the banks and bars of creeks or rivers ; dry 

 diggings are in flats or the beds of gullies, which are dry the 

 greater portion of the year. 



JEspediente, the original papers relating to some government 

 business, filed in a public ofiice. 



Embarcadero (em bar ca day' ro), a landing-place. 



To freeze out, a miner's phrase, used to express the policy 

 whereby stockholders or partners in mines are driven to sell 

 out. For instance, if some rich men, owning part of a mine, 

 discover that it is very valuable, they may conceal that fact, 

 and at the same time levy heavy assessments for works which 

 can bring no speedy return ; and thus the poorer shareholders 

 will be burdened and discouraged, and induced to sell out at a 

 low price. 



Fuste (foos' te), a strong saddle-tree, made of wood and cov- 

 ered with raw cowhide, used for lassoing. 



Gulch, a gully. 



Hahilitation, from the Spanish habilitacion, a certificate, or 

 stamp on paper, which authorized it to be used for certain pur- 

 poses. To habilitate paper, to place the mark of hahilitation 

 upon it. 



To hydraulic, a mining term, to wash dirt by throwing a 

 stream of water upon it through a hose and pipe. 



Jaquima (hack' ee ma), a head- stall used in breaking wild 

 horses. 



