ELDORADO 59 



minded of the following incident related by a fellow 

 miner, long ago in California: "When I was working 

 with my father," said he, "mining on Foster's bar, in 

 Yuba county, in 185 1-2, an Indian brought into camp 

 a 'recommend' that read : Xancicus is a good Indian 

 when he behaves himself, and when he don't behave, 

 kick him.' This good Indian had a pretty considerable 

 jag on, and one drink of Foster's bar "lightning 

 straight" made him ripe for a fight, and in less time 

 than it takes to tell it a miner drew a bead on him that 

 made his 'recommend' good as wheat." While hith- 

 erto we had no very serious trouble with redskins, 

 nevertheless, we were constantly on our guard. 



Two days from the Big Sandy, over a level plain, 

 along the base of the Snowy range, brought us to the 

 banks of the Green river. A large number of emi- 

 grants were here encamped for the double pur- 

 pose of recruiting their animals and making the 

 passage of the river. It was interesting to note that 

 the stock was about equally divided between horses, 

 mules and oxen. With the exception of getting foot- 

 sore, oxen appeared to stand the journey about as well 

 as horses or mules, while all were eaten in emergen- 

 cies. Oxen, even when they died from hunger and 

 fatigue, were preferred, except by the Indians, who 

 had no choice. 



Green river at this crossing is about 1 50 yards wide, 

 with a swift current and considerable depth. There 

 being no trees on the bank to which ropes could be 

 attached, the only method of crossing was in a small 

 boat that had been constructed by some of the earlier 

 emigrants. The packs and contents of wagons were 

 transported by that means at considerable risk and 



