BORAX  LAKE  AND  SULPHUR   J\NKS  IN  CALIFORNIA.  159 
to  stoop,  for  the  carcasses  of  .hares  and  pigeons  indicate  that 
streams  of  carbonic  acid  are  flowing  in  this  trench ;  and,  in- 
deed, turn  where  you  will,  you  are  well-nigh  overpowered  by 
sensations  as  if  naught  but  mephitic  vapors  could  be  inhaled  in 
this  desolate  little  bog.  The  desolation  is,  however,  circum- 
scribed, for  beyond  the  limited  sulphur  area  there  is  luxuriant 
vegetation,  from  the  beautiful  campana  which  marks  the  spots 
where  boracic  acid  mixes  with  the  Waters  of  Clear  Lake  to  the 
pine-clad  summits  of  the  mountains.  The  ever-present  oak 
(Quercus  Nindsii),  the  Madrona  (Auburtus  Menziesii),  the 
Manzanita  (Arctostaphylos  glauca),  and  other  California  forest 
trees,  form  a  grove  hard  by,  among  which  I  recognized,  as  a 
sort  of  old  acquaintance,  the  California  nutmeg,  that  graceful 
evergreen  bearing  the  honored  name  of  one  of  my  preceptors. 
—  The  Torreya  California. 
QUICKSILVER. 
The  borax  and  sulphur  works  are  the  property  of  one  com- 
pany, which  has  been  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  the  services  of 
Professor  Oxley,  an  English  chemist,  to  whom  is  due  the  credit 
of  developing  these  mineral  resources  of  Clear  Lake.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  quicksilver  will  yet  be  found  a  paying  article  in 
this  neighborhood.  Already  California  quicksilver  has  driven 
out  of  the  Chinese,  Chilean,  Peruvian,  Mexican  and  our  own 
market  the  quicksilver  of  Spain,  and  the  indications  are  that 
innumerable  mines  remain  to  be  discovered. 
LABOR. 
But  for  Chinese  labor  neither  borax  nor  sulphur  could  be 
obtained.  White  laborers  could  not  be  induced  to  undertake 
the  labor.  However,  as  Chinamen  get  what  they  consider  good 
wages,  the  needful  supply  is  always  on  hand.  Professor  Ox- 
ley's  experiences  in  mining  are  highly  suggestive  as  to  man's 
need  of  a  Sabbath.  He  says  he  has  seen,  at  Washoe,  enough 
of  working  seven  days  in  a  week  on  seven  days'  wages  to  de- 
monstrate that .  only  five  days'  product  is  the  result ;  and  al- 
though his  Chinese  laborers  are  engaged  by  the  month,  and  are 
quite  willing  to  work  every  day  in  the  month,  he,  for  pure 
