CHAPTER XXI.—Lump of gold lost.—Indians at their game of arrows.—Camp of the gold-hunters.—A Sonoranian gold-digger.—Sabbath in the mines.—The giant Welchman.—Nature of gold deposits.—Average per man.—New discoveries 282 CHAPTER XXII.—Visit to the Sonoranian camp.—Festivities and gambling.—The doctor and teamster.—An alcalde turned cook.—The miner’s tattoo.—The little Dutchman.—New deposits discovered.—A woman keeping a monté table.—Up to the knee and nine-pence.—The volcanoes and gold.—Arrival of a barrel of rum 295 CHAPTER XXIII.—Natural amphitheatre.—No scientific clue to the deposits of gold.—Soil of the mines.—Life among the gold-diggers.—Loss of our caballada.—The old man and rock.—Departure from the mines.—Travelling among gorges and pinnacles.—Instincts of the mule.—A mountain cabin 309 CHAPTER XXIV.—A lady in the mountains.—Town of Stockton.—Crossing the valley of the San Joaquin.—The robbed father and boy.—Ride to San José.—Rum in California.—Highwayman.—Woodland life.—Rachel at the well.—Farewell to my camping-tree 324 CHAPTER XXV.—Cause of sickness in the mines.—The quicksilver mines.—Heat and cold in the mines.—Traits in the Spanish character.—Health of California ladies.—A word to mothers.—The pingrass and blackbird.—The Redwood-tree.—Battle of the eggs 339 CHAPTER XXVI.—The public domain.—Scenery around Monterey.—Vineyards of los Angeles.—Beauty of San Diego.—The culprit hall.—The rush for gold.—Land titles.—The Indian doctress.—Tufted partridge.—Death of Com. Biddle 351 CHAPTER XXVII.—The gold region.—Its locality, nature, and extent.—Foreigners in the mines.—The Indians’ discovery of gold.—Agricultural capabilities of California.—Services of United States officers.—First decisive movement for the organization of a civil government.—Intelligence of the death of Gen. Kearny 365 CHAPTER XXVIII.—Ride of Col. Fremont from los Angeles to Monterey and back.—Character of the country.—The rincon.—Skeletons of dead horses.—A stampede.—Gray bears.—The return.—The two horses rode by Col. Fremont.—An experiment.—The result.—Characteristics of the California horse.—Fossil remains.—The two classes of emigrants.—Life in California.—Heads against tails 377 CHAPTER XXIX.—The tragedy at San Miguel.—Court and culprits.—Age and circumstances of those who should come to California.—Condition of the professions.—The wrongs of California.—Claims on the Christian community.—Journalists 391