The New York herald., 1850-12-27

be eaily satisfied Some places were 90 steep and
rocky, that our only way TO get down was TO dis
mount, and slide or tumble down with our mules,
as best we could, over rocks and through the
bushes. During one OF these operations, in attempt
ing to adjust the pack upon my mule, which
threatened TO tumble over his side, he became
frightened, and giving a sudden jump, away we
both went some seventy.five feet down the noun
tain, over rocks and through the bushes, some
times the mule above, and sometimes below me,
until al last we brought up against a cump OF
bushes, with an avalanche OF stones after US, and
amid cloud of dust my donkey looked round at
me with snort, and working his long ears back
ward and forwards rather mysteriously, seemed to
ask me how liked that, which was not very well,
as was some what bruised and scratched, yet
thankful at escaping with my neck After gather
ing up our utensils that had rolled down the hill,
we again set of 10 reach the foot, only TO ascend
upon the opposite side Thus we journeyed onward,
and began to think about returning. We de-
scended 10 the river prospected, but found gold;
ascended and journeyed onward, and in doing SO,
obtained view from an eminence we had
clambered up, which repaid me for all my fatigue.
Istood upon an immense mass OF granite, some one
hundred feet in perpendicular height, upon the
brink of an almost perpendicular mountain of some
three thousand feet in height at the foot OF which,
the waters of the Mockolume were dashing on.
ward in perfect foam. Before me lay spread
out in wild and matchless beauty, noun.
tsins and hills as far as the eye could
reach, unit! relieved by s,ill higher ridge of
mountains in the, distance. On my right, in the
distance, were the valleys of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin, with the blue outlines only discern
able of the range of mountains upon the sea coast,
while upon my left, and but few miles distant
were towering high above the snow crowned
submits OF the Sierra Nevadas. Here my
enthusiasm obtained the escendancy over me,
and | gazed until | could gaze no longer Ii
was one Of the finest views | have ever had; and
could have known there was such an one in store
for me, should have thought nothing of penetrat-
ing even three days further onward Tor no other
purpose than obtaining one view.
avspe Had &. nuh ,Aal
to descend to the Rio Mockolume, in doing which
we found il long and tedious operation, but arrv-
ed Ia safety, where We spent some time in digging
deep hole and prospecting bar, with no success;
and having become satisfied in our minds, that
there was no gold, we commenced our jour-
ney homeward, which we reached in due time,
safely, but somewhat fatigued Parties this season
have penetra into the ravines and gulches of
the Nevada but with no success in finding gold,
and there is little doubt in my mind that il is only
to be found this side of the mountains, and not
very near them. The whole country, after travel
ling fifty miles from the Sacramento valley, is
nothing but hills and mountains, rising higher and
higher until you arrive at the Sierra Nevadas.
There is scarcely valley of more than five acres
in extent, and the whole cut up into gulches, ra-
vines and deep gorges. The entire country, GO
where you will, bears evident marks of volcanic
commotion. The nearer you approach the Neva-
das, the woods grow thicker, and the trees are
larger and Of greater varieties, yet there is very
little young timber The pines are the largest and
most beautiful have ever seen, rising straight as
an arrow, with no limbs within fifty feet Of the
ground, TO height. l have no doubt, of over two
hundred feet. Cedars are also found here of large
dimensions.
NY friend informed me of three redwood trees,
that he saw south of the Mockolume, some
eighteen miles southe asst of the South Branch one
of which he assisted in measuring, and they found
il TO measure ninety feet in circumference; the
other one, standing, measured over eighty feet and
one that has fallen was somewhat smaller; these,
certainly are giants of the forest. Being well ac-
aua nted with my | nof fate
although have no doubt the majority Of people
will / had intended going to see them, but the
waters of the Mockolume were too high to admit
of crossing at that time, and was obliged to aban
don il; YET shall ever regret being obliged to do
so, as deem them among the greatest curiostes
in this country-to fancy tree of thirty feet in
diameter is certainly gigantic. My friend also iu-
formed me that they were OF q single shaft, with
out limb in less than seventy-five feet, very
straight, and rising as high in proportion TO their
size as other trees, or the pine TO which they
somewhat similar. Yet have no doubt the Gre
dulity of my readers will be somewhat brought to
test. When inform them OF gathering pure white
sugar trcm pine trees, think can see their smile
OF unbelief; but such is fact, aud have a SIN all
box of it that intend bringing to the East as
curiosity. These pines are plenty in the noun
tains, as you approach the Nevadas. and differ hui
little from others, with the exception OF their bark,
which is darkerand smoother. The sugar is obtain
ed from places that have been marred, the same
gum. All the pines bear large burrs, some Of
which are foot and half in length; they contain
under their shells hsndreds of small nuts in taste
much like flberts, of which the Indians are very
fsnd, and they Of their principal articles Of
food.
After returning from my mountain excursion, |
removed to the Rio Mockolume, where i remained
and worked until came 10 this city, a short time
since. While on that river, had an opportunity
Of seeing much, and learning more, of what miners
were generally doing. II was estimated that over
5000 ople were upon that river within the space
OF hive miles, and vicinity of the Middle Bar, which
/ ehOuld
The settlement here at the Middle bar is worthy
Of note, being quite extensive, and will give little
idea Of large trading post IN the southern mines
IL ~ situated upon both sides ofthe Rio Mockolume,
and contains from five TO eight hundred people.
Ii is built by planting posts In the ground, with
cross pieces, and covering the whole with bushes,
forming large and extensive interior, where the
inhabitants live, with their horses, males and
jackasses, tied TO the posts, and where trading aud
gambling is done. The principal occupants were
Chilians, with Spanards, Mexicans, Chinese,
Kanac kas, Indians, and numerous others, together
with Americans, and several Chihan and Mexican
females, forming truly motley group. The even
ings are passed in gambling, ana findangoes TO
The music OF fiddle, hfe and drgm, with much
drunkenness, fighting, and ittle shooting and
dirking Being tented mys-li on the hill side back
Of the town, | could look down upon the whole
group; II is called settlement, bat II is in reality
a perfect Sodom. The Americans camp under the
trees around the place Several companies al spent
many weeks ia digging canals and building dams
TO turn the river, which they succeeded in doing,
but with little or no success in mining. While /
remained there, miners were not averaging four
dollars per day 10 man, and the dig gings IN the
vicinity had given out for the want OF water; aud
when even there is water, miners will be obliged
10 wash over that which has been worked the past
season. Having given them an experiment, my self,
and finding Il would not pay, as well an the Dig
pings in the whole vicinity, Ibscamc perfectly sa-
tisiied, and concluded 10 sell out and leave the
mines to others. which have done, and am now
IN this city During the last few weeks ! remained
in the mines, heard of more robberies and mll-
ders than suring the whole Of the previous time.
The mines have become so poor for individual la
bor that IL Is hard at the present expense OF liv
ing, for all TO Ray their way and as there are so
many now in the country who must rem ain during
the winter from necessity, who must have food
and clothing, that should there be no new and ex-
tensve discoveries made, there must be conside
rable suffering Desperadoes are becoming nu.
merous throughout the mines, and should Il be
known tina, a miner has eveR small amount Of
dust, he is 10 danger OF 10 ing his life. The mines
being poor, having been worked out the past sea
son in the Rulches, and there being so large