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101 On a bed stretched along the rear of the tent he lay - a stove filled up the mouth - chests and cooking apparatus choked the little remaining space. His wife welcomed our call and Pagan with tears in his eyes - held out his wasted arm - and thanked us for our attention. The Miners in their anxiety to accumulate gold express themselves greatly. They will hardly lie idle even though the rain - pelts down unmercifully. Wet hands and wet feet are scarcely avoided - and exposure is little guarded against. Fits of sickness and death is the consequence of this conduct. Our laboring also pulls down some - and economy in living others. 'Tis very hard here to watch against all the causes near and remote which induce disease. We are anxious to make our desired sum - and anxiety warps our judgement. Then is considerable sickness in Natoma i present. Many a strong man his powerless. -

Monday January 28th 1850.

The weather continues fair. I imagine the heavy rains are about over. This evening I noticed first the tree toads. They croaked lively - seeiming to sing. "Spring Time is coming boys - coming boys - coming!" Our labor on the island gave us $16.00 for the day.