ft lying at anchor, or changing their position,
and the smaller boats flitting here and there in the bay. Passing
several islands, we entered San Pablo Bay [St. Paul]. The scenery on
either side was interesting, but soon, passing through the Straits of
Carquinez, we were in Suisun Bay, and neared the city of Benicia. An
arsenal, barracks for soldiers, and the works of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company are located here. While sailing in this bay, we had a
good view of Monte Diablo, a high and lonely mountain which seems to be
the landmark for all the country round. We passed the San Joaquin River,
and soon entered the Sacramento River, a muddy, turbid stream. All the
mud from the mines is washed into this river, and pours down into the
bay, and from thence to the ocean, coloring the water for a long
distance out to sea. We passed by vast quantities of _tules_ or rushes,
which cover the surface of the water for miles. Our arrival at
Sacramento was about midnight, but we remained on board the boat until
morning, and then went to the Vernon House. After breakfast we walked a
short distance up the river to a fine bridge about nine hundred feet
long.

After lunch we took the cars for Folsom, twenty miles from Sacramento,
accompanied by a friend. We passed into the mining district, and at
Folsom took a carriage. It was warm and dusty riding, as there is no
rain in the summer in that section of California. After an hour's ride,
reached Willow Springs, where were the mines we had come to see. This
was an hydraulic mine; that is, it is worked by water. We clambered
about in the excavation, saw the bed rock, upon which there is a layer
of gold-bearing gravel, then one of clay, another of gold-bearing
gravel, then of clay again, and one more of gravel. They play with a
hose on the gravel, and the water and gravel is washed down through long
sluices, the bottom of which is made uneven by blocks of wood placed
across. The bits of gold lodge on the uneven surface. In some places
they cut down the gravel with pickaxes, and wash it in pans. One man
washed out a spadeful of gravel for us, and we brought home a few specks
of gold dust. We returned to Sacramento to dine, and after dinner I rode
out to the Fair grounds, where the great State agricultural fairs are
held. This is the fashionable drive in Sacramento in the afternoon. Here
is a fine drive of a mile, outside of which are stalls for cattle. A
gentleman told us that in 1849 he so