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55 Sunday Nov 18th 1849. A very comfortable day - no rain although the clouds promise move before long. One miner says "California does what she promise. During the dry season - when we looked for clear weather - it was clear - and riliably so - no water moistening the ground though it was scorching under the burning sun - now it is the rainy season - it is just as rainy as before it was dry." I dug a hole yesterday on the hill beside our tent. Some prospecting for gold. I dug myself under very quickly - for even the rain which has fallen has softened the earth some five or six feet. Such is the character of the soil in this country - that rain cuts it quickly. It is a mixture of disentegrated granite and clayey loam. It mins like so much mud. Today the team have passed and with much mining both of mules and wagon - have with difficulty made their way along. I understand during the winter the roads are impassable - indeed all traces of road are lost - and each Spring sees a new one blocked out. Communication between the mines and cities being cut off will occassion much distress for want of provision. The winter has set in earlier than usual - most of the supplies have not been carted to the mines. I saw yesterday a man making along with his mule. He was leading his beast - and even was lugging the pack on his own bank yet passing the soft spots - his mule would be nearly engulphed. I was reminded by his situation - of the Fable of the old man and his wife. I certainly thought the time would come when he would have to shoulder his ass too. The fellow was out of all patience - for he would hardly answer our salutations - and was particularly morose when we spoke of his mule. We have been busy to day - working on the Sabbath. Knowing the prospect of scarcity of provision - we rolled into our coral - a caske of horn bad - deserted by some minors - going farther up. The water was spoiling it. One job led to another - making a tent of our Ind Rubber Blanket - to shield the provision from the threatning - and so on till the whole day - was occupied in labour. We made work of neccessity - either direct or indirect of it all -