We passed many on their way down who had become discouraged and homesick. Among them were two or three acquaintances of mine who had been into the mines about two weeks, and were now returning to the East. They explained the state of affairs, saying that there was but little gold to be found, and that it required very hard and laborious work in the hot sun to get it, and very dirty work, too, as it was away down out of sight in the mud. They, therefore, advised all acquaintances whom they met to return with them.
We concluded, however, to continue on and see with our own eyes what the chances were, and if these men who were on the way home had really spoken the truth. It required many years to find this out; and if the great majority of miners who are now mining, and others who mined many long years, were asked their opinion in relation to it, they would be unanimous in their conclusion that these men did come near telling the truth, although unconscious of the fact at the time.
It seems to have been the opinion of many who came into California soon after the discovery of gold, that the rich metal was to be found upon the surface of the ground, and that it could be very easily scraped up and cleaned from the dirt. Consequently, there was much disappointment upon finding that it was necessary to dig in the mud and water for it. When engaged in mining, soon after, near the road many emigrants who had crossed the plains with their ox teams would stop alongside of the road and watch the process of mining. Upon one occasion an emigrant inquired:
“Wall, now, and is thet the way you fellers hes to do to get the derned stuff?”
When informed that such was the method necessary to get it, he remarked:
“Yas; well, then, I don’t keer for none in mine. Gee haw, buck, jest go lang thar!”
And for this reason hundreds passed through the mining region to the valleys below.
About noon of the fourth day from Sacramento we crossed over the hill, from the summit of which the town, with its log cabins and tents, was visible below. We descended to near the foot of the hill, where we unloaded our effects among a cluster of pines. From this point we had a full view of the creek and portions of the various ravines, where we saw hundreds of busy men hard at work with pick and shovel. From the busy scene a spectator, who was unaware of the object of this laborious work, would imagine that an army had encamped in the locality and were at work in the trenches.
My native town was well represented, there being at this time about three hundred there from New Bedford who had sailed around