Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-04-02

OOOA' AAANANs3 w LII
their provisions and money to take care Of
themselves. 1t is seldom that punishment
is necessary in the mines, but when re-
quired, l am told, that Lynch law is i'm
mediately put in force, and offenders may
expect "rough handling" There was a
good deal of liquor sold, at so cts. per
glass, and S. per bottle. There was a
nan buried short distance from our
camp, who died from the effect of drink
at these prices.
On Sunday, there was an election for
Alcalde, and an auction. l saw panol
bought, at $40 per 100 lbs for horse feed
The Mexicans prepare it by roasting the
wheat before grinding it, and eat it with
sugar and water. We saw very few men
digging on the Sabbath with the above
exceptions, the day was pretty well OBJ
served. In the evening, when nothing
was to be seen but the many camp-fres,
and all was still but the low hum of con-
versation as it came up from the different
groups gathered around the lights, all at
once, from the opposite side Of the arroyo,
loud musical voice struck up,
"on Jor'ian's stormy banks stand,"se.
1t sounded strange, and yet familiar, in
this wild, pent-up corner Of the world ; as
the sound rolled along the gulch, and re-
verberated from hill and mountain, it re-
minded us of "good old Methodist times"
at home, and we concluded that the singer
must be one of 'em.
Green, Howard, and Fox, who worked
together, were rather more lucky in dig
ging than Musser, Schaf1e, and myself.
Howard picked up piece, containing
some quartz, which weighed nine ounces. l
saw one piece that weighed five lbs, and
several others weighing 8, ., and !b.
Mr.. Armstrong became dissatisfied with
the country and diggings, and made up
his mind to 60 home. l believe he never
struck blow nor washed a grain. He
had been unwell for some days We were
sorry to see him leave; he had been
good fellow, and deserved the best wishes
of us all.
1 suffered more from sickness during
the two weeks remained in the mines,
than 1 had for many years previous.
Howard, Musser and Fox were also un-
we'll. Indeed, we did not know the con-
dition to which our systems had been re-
duced by the fatigues Of travelling, and
scanty allowance of food until we attempt
ed to work Fearing that we would not
recover until we got out of the place, Mus
ser and myself concluded to go "down
country" see San Francisco, Stockton,get
our "news," purchase tent, and supply
of provisions, pack them into the mines,
and winter there. Accordingly, We got
up "Old Whitley" for whose board we
had been paying so cts. per day with the
privilege of browsing upon the mountains,
packed seven saddles, blankets, ,saddle-bags,
empty packs, lariats, and provisions upon
her back, and started on foot, leaving
Green, Howard, Schafiie, and Fox in the
mines.
Nothing particular occurred, and we
reached Scott's ranch, on the evening of
the second day; we had travelled very
slow on account Of our weakness. Part OF
their calballada" having gone astray,
we were detained here two days, hunting
our mules. We mounted two of the best
animals, which had improved considerably,
and set out from the ranch in the after
noon, our course north, overa high barren
plain. We had no road, and when night
set in, the heavens clouded over, and a
slight sprinkle of rain fell. This was on
the 11th of October, and the first rain Of
the season. We managed to keep our
course in the darkness, until We reached
the Towalume river. We groped our
way down the bluff, and encamped on the
fat, i. e. lay down in the rain, beneath
large tree, where the big drops pelted us
all night. The Towalume river resembles
the Marcaides in many particulars per-
haps more timber growing on the fiat.
We descended the stream several miles,
found crossing, and continued down the
north side. Passed an Indian Ranch
arie," where they have constructed very
ingenious fish trap, upon which they de-
pend for subsistence, until the acorns RI
pen, and grasshoppers grow fat The wild
Indians of California are the most misera-
BILE looking, indolent, and degraded portion
of that race of people, have seen since
leaving the frontiers of the States. We