Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/63



Mexicans have  recently  discovered  a  section  of  coun- try, in the  extreme  interior  of  CaUfornia,  which  af- fords ample evidences  of  the  existence  of  both  gold and silver  ore,  in  greater  or  less  quantities,  for  thirty leagues in  extent. Since this  report  is  so  very  extra- ordinary, and since  it  originated  as  above  stated,  the safest course  would  be  to  believe  but  about  half  of  it, and then,  perhaps,  we  should  believe  too  much. Doctor Sandels,  a  very  able  mineralogist,  who  had  for some time  been  employed  in  his  profession  by  the government of  Mexico,  spent  four  or  five  months  in mineralogical  investigation  in  Upper  California. It was from this  gentleman  that  the  above  information  was  de- rived, hence it  is  entitled  to  implicit  reliance."  Sutter toQ^  a  great  interest  in  this  scientist,  and  in  his  labors. Sandels  was  a  Swede  educated  in  London,  as  Bidwell says,  though  Thorpe  affirms  that  he  obtained  his  edu- cation in  a  government  institution  in  his  own  country, and  that  he  called  himself  one  of  the  king's  orphans ; that  is,  in  return  for  an  education  at  the  expense  of the  government  he  was  to  make  investigations  in foreign  parts  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution,  such being  one  of  its  regulations.  Others  say  that  he  had lived  in  Mexico  and  was  sent  by  the  duke  of  Bedford to  explore  California.

Bidwell thinks  that  he  had  been  in  Brazil,  and  was for some  time  associated  with  M.  Bonpland. He is said  to  have  been  robbed  in  Mexico,  of  the  proceeds of property  sold  in  Brazil  to  the  amount  of  $189,000, though how  the  king's  orphan  obtained  such  a  sum no one  attempts  to  explain. Sandels spent  several days at  New  Helvetia  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  its proprietor, who  took  great  delight  in  his  society. Seeing him  so  much  interested  in  minerals,  and  so unwearied  in  his  researches  thereabout,  Sutter  said  to him  one  day,  *'  Doctor,  can  you  not  find  me  a  gold mine ? " Placing  his  hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  his host,  the  doctor  replied,  "  Captain  Sutter,  your  best mine is  in  the  soil. Leave to  governments  to  provide