91 
beal’s bar. 
their instruments preparatory to their evening concert. I was 
disposed to fall in with this suggestion, from the fact, that that 
was the only night during my stay in the country, that I did not 
listen to their music. If they took the trouble to stick up a 
notice of postponement, it read, undoubtedly, as follows: “Post¬ 
poned indefinitely on account of a fright in the family.” 
We resumed our journey and at 10 P.M., arrived at the bend. 
After watering our horses we secured the ends of their lassos, 
and taking our supper, we rolled ourselves in our blankets. In 
the morning we directed our course towards Beal’s Bar, a 
higher point on the river. As we were galloping along (Cali¬ 
fornia horses cannot trot) we met a gentleman whom I recog¬ 
nized as a New York acquaintance. He was a New York 
merchant, and when at home, somewhat noted for his 
dashing appearance. His appearance on this occasion was so 
extremely ludicrous, I could not withstand the temptation of 
taking a sketch. (See Plate.) He was returning from the 
mines, and at the time we came upon him, a coyota was casting 
inquisitive glances in that direction, as if in doubt whether 
it was really a man, or a fellow-member of the California Har¬ 
monic Society . He had on a slouched hat, which, together with 
his whiskers and moustache, almost hid his face; a mariner’s 
shirt, and a pair of drawers, which were, on this occasion, serv¬ 
ing in the place of pantaloons, being suspended by two strips of 
a woolen blanket, crossed in front. A rifle on his shoulder, 
pipe in his mouth, and blankets in hand, he looked the very 
personation of a corn-field effigy. 
After a short detention we moved on, arriving at the Bar 
at 12 M. After dinner we went down to the scene of operation 
my friend wishing to purchase an interest. The bar was divided 
into thirty shares, owned by as many individuals. They worked 
as a company and divided the proceeds at night. Shares were 
commanding $2,800 each. Beal’s Bar was at this time paying 
about $20 per day to a man. They had, however, expended a 
large amount of money in turning the water from the channel. 
After remaining two hours, we started in the direction of the 
Mormon Bar, where we arrived at 9 p.m. Tracy was in an 
ecstasy. He provided supper with great alacrity, and even let 
my friend occupy half his bed. 
