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, &c. 
Color, 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 color. 
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 ave 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. 
Espediente, the original papers relating to some government 
business, filed in a public office. 
Eimbarcadero (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. 
Habilitation, 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 habilitation 
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 
orses. 
