The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-22

individual taste; tailoring is done up in beautiful
style. Clothes are generally patched up with
another color, sewn upon the outside with sal
| needle and Irvine, and the whole besmeared win
mud. The best recommendation that miner can
have, is dirty face, dirty shirt, old patched and
muddy pants for this looks like mon of buslne IS,
and one who works, and generally these are the
men with their pockets full OF rocks" To see
man with clean shaved face flor you must know
miners never shave), clean Shirt, boots oidcken,
and clean and whole clothes, ne Is al once
| marked as a lunatic or a crack. brain: should
| a party of miners promenade through Broad
way, In full costume, they would attract
as much attention as SO many Ho'tentots
They would no doubt have the entire sidewalk to
Ives, with all the boys in town al theil
heels Oh. this California is great country, and
surely all enjoy the biggest" kind of liberIy--al
are upon equality-there is no second class o
society. Who wouldn't sell farn, and go to
California! If any man wishes to live like an
Arab, and root about in the mud after god like a
hog after potato, let him come. This is the land
Eat your supper Of fried pork. after working hard
all day, roll yourself up in blanket, stretch out
upon the ground, and sleep like pig on a stone
wall, with clover held in perspective.
There are a large number of Mexicans, Spaniards
and Chiians here. They seem TO understand mi.
ming much better than the Americans, and will
make as much with a common pan, an Ameri-
can with a rocker; while the Indians who are too
lazy to work, go picking about for their gold in
crevices of the rocks, in water courses. They
generally move in large numbers, accompanied
with children, pappooses, and dogs. The squaws
do the work, while the Indians lay around upon
the bank, with their pappooses and dogs. Poly
gamy is Above d ameng them, and an Indian can
have as many wives as he can support. In every
respect they seem TO be about the lowest order OF
humanity. When one of their tribe dies, they dig
deep pit in the ground and, filling il with wood,
lay the corpse thereon, and burn it, while the
squaws mourn around the funeral pile, with groans
and hdeOus yells.
The land here is very mountainous, with deep
pnlcheS
Immense recks are strewn around, and piled upon
the surface, that bear evident marks of volcanic
commotion. The strata of earth that contains gold
resembles that which has been burnt, and has I'M
doubleday been exposed 10 volcanic fire. The only
trees here are the oak and pine They are thinly
scattered (much like orcherd), and of gigantic
dimensions, especially the pine, which rises TO the
height of $50 feet, as straight as arrow. The
pine is of different species from that at the East
Ii has large burs, foot loEg, and contains an
abundance of nuts that taste much like hlberts VI
these the Indians very fond, as well as OF
scorns. There is no underbrush, except here and
there cump Of greave wood The oaks seem to
be fast decaying, and, there are no young trees,
time must come when the whole land will be a
desolation. In the absence OF underbrush, the
whole land pears mole like an old Inhabited and
cultivated country than one that is new. There IS
no fruit, save The wild grape, which is ripe in Dc
ober, and is found in the greatest abundance, and
of the most delicious kind, but only upon the banks
of rivers. The country is amost solely dependent
upon others for all kinds of vegetables and every
luxury OF life consequently, while so many are In
the mines, they will be obtained at high prices, and
where people far from the settlements and main
roads in the mountains, where everything must be
transported upon mule back, or their own, it is diff
hcult TO have vegetables or fresh provisions, and
with salt provisions, exposure in mining by day,
and exposure at night, (or economy must be used
in articles Of transportation, and tents are obliged
to be light, small and uncomfortable, and many go
without tents and stay under tree upon the ground
in the open air and taking all things into consd-
is ne p "
posed life man can lead. Digging canal is not a
circumstance TO it, it requires iron constitution
TO Withstand IL. From the manner Of living, and
exposures and hardships of mining, scuIvy ague
and fever, and rheumatism PREVAIL and when the
weather becomes more warm, diarrh9a, dy sentery,
and fevers in addition, And if man escapes a
SIX months mining campaign with his life, he has
the greatest cause for thanking an everything and
kind Providence. ! see many who are completely
worn out with the toll and hardships, and un-
able to work, and, strange il may sound in
this land OF gold, many who are unable to
pay their way, and some who are actually
begging in order TO raise funds Sufficient to enaoie
them 10 return home. And while there fare so
many thousands in the mines, and SO many still
on their way, thousands must be sadly disappoint-
ed, for, in all parts of the mines, at this time,
people are so numerous, that is actually difficult
10 get claim (the extent OF claim is fifteen feet
square TO man) and should no other mines be
discovered, very soon there must be much disap-
poinlmeIt. But many will argue that the present
mines are too extensive, the rivers too long, and
too great an extent Of country, for double the
number who are here; yet, you must know, many,
very many miles upon The rivers and creeks, as
well as upon a large extent of the country, gold
cannot be found. Ii is deposited only in certain
places, and the greatest part has been thoroughly
prospecitd. Some have, and others undoubtedly
will, make fortunes at mining; hut TO one OF that
class, there will be nine Of the unfortunate. The
large amount Of dust sent TO the States seem 10
convince many that all are making fortunes; but
when you average the amount among the tens of
IL
each. II is astonishing that 80 many are still
coming on, when such facts presented to them,
and confirmed by thousands who have, and are
returning, many without dollar, and many sick,
and with ruined constitutions.
The temptations To vice, in this country, regret
To record, are leading many astray, and will prove
their ruin. Gambling Is practsed to an alarming
extent throughout the mines, and drinking goes
hand in hand with IT. You speak to some about
gambling, and they reply "there IL no harm in III
II is common in this country, among the bes
class, and there Is Mr. -, and Mr.. -" men.
tioning over several names Of prominent men, who
are well known, es an excuse. Shame those
men Of character and Influence, who will set such
an example, to lead many as,ray, and cause
/ their ruin.
Many seem TO change materially, in every re.
tpect, from what they were at home, and TO give
| full sway to their natural appettes aud DISPOSE.
| tons. They seem To lose all sense Of refinement
as well as feelings Of ~ mpathy and philanthropy,
and 10 be wrapt up in selhshness, disqualification
/ and the sordid desire for gold Ii spoken to about
the great change IN them, they reply, with shrug
OF the shoulder, am In California now" IL a
man should unfortunately be taken sick, he is
liable 20 die, for the want Of proper attention from
those Immediately around him, in addition to una
voidable exposure. There is one gratifying fact,
which speaks volumes in praise of the miners and
that IL the strict observance Of the Sabbath day in
all parts OF the county. IL u very rare thing TO
\ zee a man working upon that day. Life and
property are perfectly secure throughout the Mines
, snd u ~ very rare for theft to be committed
There II not the slightest use of any ONES m
OF himself portable fertilization, as there Is
nothing TO dirk or shoot, except little game, and
/ Oh at IL scarce.
Since the final closing Of the business Of our
company, and selling the bark, in March last, our
late members have dispersed to different parts of
the country. Some are still at Dry Greek, few
al this place, few nj the North, and small party
has just gone South some 100 miles, on the Mara
pooss, and some few are following their usual avo-
cations In San Francisco and Sacramento. so far
as have heard, all are at this time in the enjoy
m, Mt Of good health, and many doing well. but the
majority poorly. Az for myself, am up my eyes la