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In a few weeks we became crowded, and it would no more pay, as my people
made too many acquaintances. I broke up the camp and started on the march
further south, and located my next camp on Sutter creek (now in Amador
county), and thought that I should there be alone. The work was going on
well for a while, until three or four traveling grog-shops surrounded me,
at from one and 8, half to two miles distance from the camp; then, of
course, the gold was taken to these places, for drinking, gambling, etc.,
and then the following day they were sick and unable to work, and became
deeper and more indebted to me, and particularly the Kanakas. I found that
it was high time to quit this kind of business, and lose no more time and
money. I therefore broke up the camp and returned to the Fort, where I
disbanded nearly all the people who had worked for me in the mountains
digging gold. This whole expedition proved to be a heavy loss to me.
At the same time I was engaged in a mercantile firm in
Coloma, which I
left in January, 1849 – likewise with many sacrifices. After this I would
have nothing more to do with the gold affairs. At this time, the Fort was
the great trading place where nearly all the business was transacted. I
had no pleasure to remain there, and moved up to Hock Farm, with all my
Indians, and who had been with me from the time they were children. The
place was then in charge of a Major Domo.
It is very singular that the
Indians never found a piece of gold and
brought it to me, as they very often did other specimens found in the
ravines. I requested them continually to bring me some curiosities from
the mountains, for which I always recompensed them. I have received
animals, birds, plants, young trees, wild fruits, pipe clay, stones, red
ochre, etc., etc., but never a piece of gold. Mr. Dana of the scientific
corps of the expedition under Commander Wilkes’ Exploring Squadron, told me
that he had the strongest proof and signs of gold in the vicinity of
Shasta Mountain, and furthers south. A short time afterwards, Doctor Sandels,
a very scientific traveler, visited me, and explored a part of the
country in a great hurry, as time would not permit him to make a
longer stay.
He
told me likewise that he found sure signs of gold, and was very sorry that
be could not explore the Sierra Nevada. He did not encourage me to attempt
to work and open mines, as it was uncertain how it would pay and would
probably be only for a government.
minerals. An old attached Mexican servant who
followed me here from the United States, as soon as he knew that I was
here, and who understood a great deal about working in placers, told
me he found sure signs of gold in the mountains on Bear Creek, and
that we would go right to work after returning from our campaign in
1845, but he became a victim to his patriotism and fell into the hands
of the enemy near my encampment, with dispatches for me from General Micheltorena, and he was hung
as a spy, for which I was very sorry.
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