270 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
full of golden specks; a few days later, at the same place it 
will be barren. The sand in the mean time has been moved 
by the waves, and replaced by other sand. 
It is a very difficult matter to know where the sand is rich 
and where it is not. The companies employed in mining on 
the beach number about ten men; and there is a foreman wha 
rides out early every morning, following the beach about two 
miles to the northward and two miles to the southward of the 
camp, for the purpose of finding where the sand is the best. 
So changeable is the sand, that a new examination is made 
every day; and only three or four men are supposed to be 
good judges of the quality of sand, from its appearance. 
When the foreman has selected a place, he orders all the 
men to it, and they go with twenty pack-mules, which carry 
the sand in alforjas, or rawhide sacks, to the place of washing, 
which is up on the bluff, probably a mile or more distant from 
the spot where the sand is obtained. It happens occasionally 
that the foreman rides long distances on the beach, and some- 
times he will order the sand to be obtained ten miles from the 
washing-place. The sand must, of course, be very rich, to pay 
for such transportation, but the beach-sand at times in the sun- 
light is said to be actually dazzling yellow with gold. The 
purpose of going upon the bluff to wash it is to get fresh water 
for washing; for the sea-water is not so good, nor can it be 
obtained conveniently. The richest dirt is that the farthest 
down on the beach, so still weather and low tide are the best 
times for getting it. When a rich place is discovered low 
down on the beach, great exertions are made to get as much 
of the sand as possible before the tide rises. When high tide 
and storm come together, little can be done. The sand, hav- 
ing been separated from all clay and soluble matter by the 
action of the sea, is very easily washed, and all collected-in a 
month can be washed in two days in a sluice. 
§ 201. Mining-Ditches.— The placer-mines of California 
would yield very little gold, were it not for the numerous 
ditches which supply them with water for washing. The au- 
