The next day (namely, July 5, 1848) we resumed our journey toward the mines, and, in twenty-five miles of as hot and dusty a ride as possible, we reached Mormon Island.

I have heretofore stated that the gold was first found in the tail-race of the stew-mill at Coloma, forty miles above Sutter's Fort, or fifteen above Mormon Island, in the bed of the American Fork of the Sacramento River.

It seems that Sutter had employed an American named Marshall, a sort of millwright, to do this work for him, but Marshall afterward claimed that in the matter of the saw-mill they were copartners.

At all events, Marshall and the family of Mr.Wimmer were living at Coloma, where the pine-trees afforded the best material for lumber.

He had under him four white men, Mormons, who had been discharged from Cooke's battalion, and some Indians.