386 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



was indescribable — it was one extended flower-bed and 

 grass-plat ! 



Of the mineral riches of California we have already 

 given so full an account in the previous chapters of 

 this work, that it is unnecessaiy to advert to it in this 

 connexion. In justice to Mr. Farnham, however, we 

 cannot omit to quote a passage from his excellent 

 work '' Life, Adventures, and Travels in California," 

 published before the discovery of the gold mines, in 

 which the future destiny of California is distinctly 

 foretold. 



"No doubt is entertained by those best acquainted 

 with the Californias, that they will become, when 

 science shall be applied in the development in their 

 wealth, one of the richest mineral provinces in America. 

 This belief is much strengthened by the fact, that the 

 Indians, whenever they choose, can bring into the 

 settlements large quantities of these ores, which they 

 either find on the surface, or pry from the crevices of 

 the rocks with sharpened sticks, bones, or hunting 

 knives. They cannot be induced to show the whites 

 where they obtain these, on account of an old tradi- 

 tional superstition, that if they should do so, they 

 would immediately die." 



