Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-06-03

dark that we could not see the white foam on
the rapids around us; and we did not know
what a fool-hardy feat we had done till next day.
George was a supplemented, ignorant Eng
| lishman, credulous and kind-hearted, who had
made voyage or two, when he heard of the
gold discovery, worked his passage to San Fran
cisco, and had dritted up to the Trinity, in eager
quest of fortune for his old parents and his
sweetheart in England. He was good worker
and good listener. 1t was curious that two
such men should come together more curious
! that they should have for partner MisSouri-fa-
miliarily called d" Misery''--a lank, sallow man.
with long, straight yellow hair, tobacco-oozng
mouth, broad Western speech, a habit of eXag-
! geration that was always astonishing, and cold
| sel6ShneSs that he took no pains to conceal.
My partner, Brandy, had been dentist in New
York, was still ready to pull or fill tooth, and
enjoyed as much as others the tones Of his rich,
baritone voice in laugh or song
These comprised the company that used to
meet about u common fire at night, smoke their
pipes together, talk of homes aud its friends
exchange experiences, tell stories sing songs
and crack jokes at one another'S expense. Peter
used to tell of his adventures at sea often with
so much humor that we laughed until our sides
aehed. L" Misery related his adventures with
4" bars and Injins," and told us how he "made
! things bile" when he mined at llangtown, where
the gold poured down his /" Tom" in GA yaller
stream" Brandy used to sing "The Old Folks
at Home, until the tears came into all eyes but
Misery VS." though even he grew quiet under
its influence. From how many thousand mining
camps, in the early years-before daily mails,
telegraphs and Pacific Raroad-went up that
! song of the heart with its tender, refining and
saving influence Well might old Fletcher say,
@ Let me make ;he songs of nation, and | care
not who makes its laws"
Sometimes we got into controversies on
politics, for we never saw newspapers nor heard
politicians; nor on religion for we did not
know certainly what day was Sunday, nor care
for creeds, so long as men were honest and kind.
But literary memories, and subjects connected
with our daily life, would provoke talk enough.
One night, wondered if there might not be dia-
monds in the gold deposits of California-why
not along Trinity River? had found some
very small rubies.
ooh, - said Peter, " they are likely enough to
be found, if we would only look for them
have fancied them rolling of the hopper of our
machine many time They have been found
in the mines of the Urol, and | was even told of
small ones being found in the southern dry-dig-
| gngs of California. You know something about
precious stones, Brandy, what do you Think
Brandy rejoined Z" 1t is true the diamond is
found in gold formations, associated with clay
or drift, AS in Brazil, Georgia. and North Caro-
lima. The most famous district is Golconda,
IIiudostau In the rough, the stone looks like
quartz pebble, or one of the bits of rounded
glass found on sea- beaches near cities. Unless
y person was familiar with its appearance in
this state he would surely throw it away as
worthless. If it was fractured and of good size,
it might attract attention by its lustre, and be
saved by one ignorant of its real nature as
pretty stone"
George listened to this speech with unusual
interest Missouri declared his intention to look
out for ground pebbles mighty sharp" after
this.
Brandy added that diamouds were sometimes
found in connection with oxide of iron, and
might have u metallic look on their rough sur
face and at this George gave him quick, keen
glance.
Well, it would pay better to find big dia-
mond than god-mine, said Peter, Nupo-
leon had single diamond in the ht of his
sword Of state that was worth 81 900 900. 1t
weighed 4lO carats. The Braganza diamond
weighed $50 grains, and is valued at $28 ,oo0,-
| 900"
Here "Misery gave long whistle, followed
by yelping laugh, and the characteristic excla-
nation, " That takes my pile
How big are diamonds found2" asked
George, after the laughter excited by the Mis-
sourian's racy expression Of incredulity had sub
sided
go, half the size of an egg as big as wal
nut some times, " said Brandy, rather wildly
Gas big as pcco Of chalk, added "'Mis-
cry" with n leer that let out the tobacco-juicc.
Peter remembered that Empress Oatharue, of
Russia bought of Greek merchant diamond
as large as pigeons egg, which had formed
the eye Of an idol in India. French soldier
stole it from the pagoda, and sold it for trine.
/ {" What dumb fool /" interposed Missouri
The Greek got $3.50, 900 for it, an annuity of
| $50 900, and II title Of nobility
Georges eyes dated had never seen him
taking so much interest in any conversation.
"Ah if we could only find the other eye"
suggested, "we might all quit this sayish
work" D."
THAT reminds me, &" struck in Peter, "that
it is the custom in Brazil to liberate Negro
who finds diamond of over ia carats. The
search there is followed by some thousands Of
slaves digging like us. Since we must dig
| anyhow, why not keep a keen eye on the hop
PERI"
" Wall, Brandy, kin yer tell us how the da-
mond comes 2" asked Missouri
4" guess they grow, replied Brandy, with
merry laugh, aud II wink at me.
"Perhaps there is more in that than you
think +" said Peter. "The diamond is proved
to have minute cavities and it was formed
from solution, in must have been once in a
soft state. 1t may enlarge when left in its orig
inal placo--eh2 The darkies believe the dia-
monds grow and perhaps this notion origina-
ted from their being found sometimes in clusters,
like crytals Of quartz. The natives of Golconda
had the same notions formerly. They felt for
the diamond with their naked feet, in n black
clay, as we hunted for clans at low tide in Hap
py Valley, boys"
All laughed at this coGceit My partner
thought Peter was joking altogether. The lat
ter said grayely he could quote good authority,
3" | remember when was on board the Ohio,
reading the travels of Sir John Vaudeville lie
relates that in Ethiopia the diamonds were as
large as beans or hazel-nuts, square and pointed
on all sides without artificial working growing
together, male and female, nourished by the
dew of heaven and bringing forth children that
multiply and grow all the year He testifes
that he knew from experiment that if man kept
a small one and wet il with May-dew Often 1t
would grow annually and wax great"
Here there was another laugh in which Peter
iuiu.l lnnrun nlu,n lnnL 81 .nrinua nd in