couple of ounces of gold. For these reasons we
determined to stand by the river. Our first business
was to see if we could manage to construct a couple
of cradles. At a large store here we met with
some pine planks, but the figure was most exorbitant.
Taking a hint from what we had noticed among the Indians
at the saw-mills, we determined to fell a couple of
stout trees, and hollow them out so as to serve our
purpose. We obtained the assistance of a man
here, a ship’s carpenter, and a most civil obliging
sort of fellow, who gave us a day’s help for
thirty dollars. He superintended the felling
of the trees, and then put us in the way of proceeding
with the work. We found the toil sufficiently
severe, and began to feel the heat, as I thought, to
a far greater extent than was the case in the lower
part of the country.
July 8th.—Yesterday we were employed,
from early in the morning till beyond noon, in trimming
and hollowing out our cradles. While we were
seated together outside the tent enjoying a few whiffs
of our pipes and cigars, after a famous dinner of
smoking-hot steaks and frijoles, we saw the camp below
was all in commotion. People were running out
of their tents, and shouting to their neighbours,
and gradually a little crowd was formed round a group
of horsemen, who were just then brought to a halt.
That same feeling of curiosity which gets together
a London crowd to see the lion on the top of Northumberland
House wag his tail, caused us to make our way, with
the rest of the gapers, down to Bennett’s shanty,
against which all this bustle appeared to be going
on. As soon as Bradley and myself could force
our way a little through the crowd, we recognised
in a moment the features of Colonel Mason. The
Colonel, who wore an undress military uniform, had
just dismounted from his horse, with the intention,
it appeared, of walking through the diggings.
In a couple of minutes’ time my friend Lieutenant
Sherman came up, and we were soon engaged in an animated
conversation in reference to the gold district.
The fact was, the Governor was on a tour of inspection
for the purpose of making a report to the Cabinet at
Washington. I took care to thank Lieutenant Sherman
for his letter of introduction to Captain Sutter,
and to explain to him the friendly manner in which
Captain Sutter received me. I then joined in the
conversation being carried on with Colonel Mason, who
was giving his opinion as to what the Government would
do with respect to the gold placer. The Colonel
was very guarded in his statements. He, however,
hinted that he thought it would be politic for Congress
to send over proper officers and workmen, and at once
to establish a mint at some convenient point on the
coast. He fully admitted the difficulties of
keeping men to their engagements under circumstances
like the present; but said some steps must be taken
to check the system of desertions on the part of the
troops quartered at Monterey and San Francisco.
The pay of the soldiers, he considered, ought to be
increased; but, without reference to this, he told
the gentlemen round him that, as good citizens, they
were bound to lend their utmost endeavours to secure
in safe custody all known deserters—men
who had abandoned their flag and exposed the country
to danger, that they might live in a state of drunkenness
at the mines.
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