is divided into five or six branches, each one of which
supplies one, two, or three long-toms. There is an extra one, called
the waste-ditch, leading to the river, into which the water is shut off
at night and on Sundays. This race (another and peculiar name for it)
has already cost the company more than five thousand dollars. They sell
the water to others at the following rates. Those that have the first
use of it pay ten per cent upon all the gold that they take out. As the
water runs off from their machine (it now goes by the elegant name of
"tailings"), it is taken by a company lower down, and as it is not
worth so much as when it was clear, the latter pay but seven per cent.
If any others wish the tailings, now still less valuable than at first,
they pay four per cent on all the gold which they take out, be it much
or little. The water companies are constantly in trouble, and the
arbitrations on that subject are very frequent.

I think that I gave you a vague idea of fluming in a former letter. I
will not, therefore, repeat it here, but will merely mention that the
numerous fluming companies have already commenced their extensive
operations upon the river.

As to the rockers, so often mentioned in story and in song, I have not
spoken of them since I commenced this letter. The truth is, that I have
seldom seen them used, though hundreds are lying ownerless along the
banks of the river. I suppose that other machines are better adapted to
mining operations in the mountains.

Gold-mining is nature's great lottery scheme. A man may work in a claim
for many months, and be poorer at the end of the time than when he
commenced, or he may take out thousands in a few hours. It is a mere
matter of chance. A friend of ours, a young Spanish surgeon from
Guatemala, a person of intelligence and education, told us that after
working a claim for six months he had taken out but six ounces.

It must be acknowledged, however, that if a person work his claim
himself, is economical and industrious, keeps his health, and is
satisfied with small gains, he is bound to make money. And yet I cannot
help remarking that almost all with whom we are acquainted seem to have
_lost_. Some have had their claims jumped. Many holes, which had been
excavated and prepared for working at a great expense, caved in during
the heavy rains of the fall and winter. Often, after a company has
spent an immense deal of time and money in sinking a shaft, the wat