cam_hparker_2311_f001_003.3

things in proportion. Thursday the 15th inst Fisk & I took
up a claim 60 ft square bought us a pick & shovel & commenced
mining. After working about an hour in the hot sun F got
beat out & gave up & said that he would not dig for
$20. per day so long as he could make a living in this city
& as for living as they were obliged to then he would
not do it, & that he should leave as soon as possible &
as they all made up their minds to leave rather than
be left alone I made up my mind to do the same although
I wished to give it a fair trial which we did not do
by any means but we gave it up & sold our tools for $1.50 less
than what we paid for them & engaged a man to take us
to Stockton again for which place we started for & arrived
there Saturday morning. We then looked very much like
the charcoal men who pass your house as we were completely
covered with dust & dirt from head to foot & we were burned
& tanned up so bad that had you seen me at that time you
would not have known me. For 30 miles about Stockton the land
is as hard as a house floor & is covered with scattering Oaks which
look beautifully but owing to the extreme dryness of the roads
(there having been neither rain nor dew for 3 months) it is very
unpleasant travelling. Our first move on arriving at Stockton
was to clean up again which at once gave us new life & energy.

We then looked around for an opportunity to sell our
Playing Cards which you will remember I purchased a few
of from Col Fisk previous to my leaving home. Fisk disposed
of his at a profit of $42. but owing to mine being somewhat soiled
& damaged I was obliged to dispose of them at an advance
from cost of $15. which was better than nothing.

over