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Show 26 PERSONAL ADVENTURES tor who had a turn for business, departed for the' mines, determined to add to his wealth by trading, and turning his professional skill to account; and I was creJibly informed that he, on one occasion, realized at the rate of one hundred dollars per dose of quinine, a medicatnent much in vogue, and of which he had contrived to secure a monopoly for the time. I found him a joyous, pleasant sort of fellow, with a fund of native shrewdneBs, and a tolerable share of information, considering the limited opportunities he had enjoyed. In the course of conversation, I was in turn recognised by an old companion, one Frederick Whittle, whon1 I had last seen at New York, but whom I certainly should not have known again, from the change that bad taken place in him, from the gentlemanly young fellow to the rough miner. His face, 'vhich was still round and florid, was half-covered with a huge, shaggy beard flowing down nearly to his waist. He wore a short, green-baize jacket, buckskin breeches, leather leggings, and a wide-brimmed hat; his neck enwrapped in a dirty red band- IN CALIFORNIA. 27 kerchief, and altogether presenting, in his entire person, an appearance so different frorn the spruce exterior with which my memory was familiar, that it was no wonder I remained for some time doubtful of his identity. In consequence of a disagreement with his father, he had quitted the paternal roof, intending to make a journey to the mines, and not to return without a con1petency. ''I have been working a long time at the North Fork,'' he said, in reply to a question of mine, "where I had a rich spot, though it had been dug before. I got about five hundred dollars there; but, finding the "diggin" exhausted, and hearing a good account of tbe Stanislaus, I came on to it, but have not met with much success. Some days, however, I have been very lucky, and obtained from five to ten ounces at a time." I ventured upon some inquiries respecting the North Fork, to which he replied- " I started from Sacramento city for Sutter's Fort, getting my baggage conveyed by steamer. I reached a 'ranche close by the c 2 |