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Show 4 PERSONAL ADVENTURES 'vas at last c01npelled to renounce the attempt in despair. I then packed up our goods into a~ close a cmnpass as possible; and, having requested one of the Spaniards in Don Emanuel's party to keep watch over them, departed to explore the ravine. "\Vithin a few paces of our encampment there \Vas a large area of ground, probably half a mile square, the surface of which consisted of dark soil and slate, and was indented with innun1erable holes of every possible dimension, from six inches to as many feet or D10re, wide ann deep. In all of these lay abundance of water, of which large quantities are to be found a little beneath the surface, the ravine being supplied with it in great abundance by the rains that pour do~wn from the hills during the wet season. To the extren1e right of our carnp, the ground assumed a more rocky character ; and, fro1n the vast deposit of stagnant \Vater, did not see1n to offer many attractions to the miners. Yet there was scarcely a spot in any of these places where the crow-bar, the pick, or the IN CALIFORNIA. 5 jack-knife, had not been busy : evidence that the whole locality must have beeu extremely rich in the precious metal, or it \vould not have been so thoroughly worked. In crossing the ravine, I ·was obliged to leap from one mound of earth to another, to avoid plunging ancle-deep in mud and water. It was wholly deserted in this part, though formerly so much frequented; and, \vith the exception of a few traders, ·who, having taken up their station here \vhen times were good, had not yet made arrangements for removing to a more productive place, not a soul '''as to be seen. I walked on until I reached the tradingpost of Mr. Anderson, formerly our interpreter in the Lower Country, whom I felt delighted to tneet 'vith again. His shed was situated in one of the dampest parts of the mine, and consisted of a few upright poles, traversed by cross-pieces, and covered in 'vith ra'v hides and leaves, but yet much exposed at the sides to the wind and the 'veather. He had a few barrels of flour and biscuit, which |