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We then commenced washing what we called the pay dirt we worked diligently all day in the evening washed our sliver tailings weighed it and found the whole proceeds of the days work to be three dollars or about forty three cents each. the prospect was rather discouraging but we should continue at it and have a fair trial. The next day we did not do as well and we continued on for two weeks with ever varying daily proceeds but the amount for any one days work never exceeded seventy cents per man. We concluded that was not a paying business as our expenses was about a dollar a day at the least. so we made up our minds once more to leave the mountains and start for the States. We made all the necessary arrangements to start in the morning I had the good fortune to find a purchaser for my claim I transferred it over to him for the consideration of five dollars cash. Our horses had been kept in ranche all the time of our stay the "Ranche" is a term used here for herding the herdsman would give you a receipt for the value of your horse which could be recovered in case he was lost or stolen. on taking the animal away you had to pay him ten cents per day per head. On going down to the office at Tarryall we found that our horses were twenty miles off where they said there was good grass. they promised to send for them that night and have them for us on the following day. Col St Vrain the Ranche ? proposed buying our mining tools and spare provisions so on the next day we brought down the remainder after leaving a sufficient supply to last us on the homeward journey he paid us for it three hundred and fifty dollars in gold dust the only kind of money going here. we got a good price for everything 10 c per lb for flour 30 c for ham 40 c for sugar and everything else in proportion.