I went in, and my attention was directed to a series of papers unfolded on his table, in which lay about half an ounce of placer gold.

Mason said to me, "What is that ?" I touched it and examined one or two of the larger pieces, and asked, "Is it gold ?" Mason asked me if I had ever seen native gold.

I answered that, in 1844, I was in Upper Georgia, and there saw some native gold, but it was much finer than this, and that it was in phials, or in transparent quills; but I said that, if this were gold, it could be easily tested, first, by its malleability, and next by acids.

I took a piece in my teeth, and the metallic lustre was perfect.

I then called to the clerk, Baden, to bring an axe and hatchet from the backyard.