a ridge covered with heavy pine
and cedar forests, but no grass, and but little water. Had nothing for
our horses to eat but brush this evening. A man was shot just back of
us. A trader had left the road to look for grass and water, when coming
to a fallen tree by a thicket, several men rose up from behind it and
snapped a gun at him, which did not go off, but the trader's revolver
did, tumbling one of them into the bushes, and the trader went off too,
before they could make another attempt.

28 miles.

20th. We Passed the forks of the Weaver Creek and Hangtown road, but
got on a wrong trail which we followed nearly to the Weaver Creek.
Found plenty of grass and cut enough to supply our horses for the
night, which would have cost us in Hangtown about five dollars. Met
some miners who, not knowing the country much better than we did,
directed us to go back by the way of Johnson's Ranch, which was about
12 miles, when we were by the right route, only seven miles from
Hangtown. We reached the diggings at the head of the emigrant ravine,
three miles from Hangtown, about nine o'clock, P.M., and camped.

20 miles.

21st. Leaving packs and horses in camp we entered the town this
morning, where we found great numbers of our friends and county people,
as also my brother, who had reached the mines 25 days ahead of us,
having started on the Council Bluffs route at the same date that I did.

3 miles.

CALIFORNIA--GENERAL REMARKS.

Having reached the mines, I shall close with some remarks in relation
to the country, &c. California is a country of contrarieties in every
respect. Probably there is no country so much belied, for, generally,
those who admire the country and speak in its praise, tell the truth in
such a way that it amounts to a falsehood, when judged by the lights
which his audiences in the States will have, to enable them to
understand him, while the man who has been unfortunate gives it the
same false coloring when detracting from its merits, and what is worse,
both parties speak literally the truth, but unless his auditors have
been here they cannot obtain a correct idea of the country. It is the
best country in the world, and at the same time the worst, as every man
will find that comes here, according to the circumstances in which he
may chance to be placed. It is thought that the diggings are exhausted,
but from observation I am satisfied that so far from this being the
case, their riches hav