Coloma, where nothing of note occurred till Sunday,
the 11th of March, when Ma,rshall started the saw-
mill running. The following week was spent in deep-
ening the fall in the tail-race ; but on Sunday all went
gold-digging, when Bigler secured two ounces. About
this time Bigler took charge cf the Indians, teach-
ing them to saw and chop wood. Though anxious
enough to learn, they were extremely awkward, and
were continually hurting or cutting themselves. He
worked in this manner until Friday, the 7th of April,
when he, Stevens, and Brown, started for the fort
to have a settlement with Sutter, and to tell him
that they wished to leave for Salt Lake. On the
evening of the next day they arrived at the flouring-
mill, and found the place well-nigh deserted. They
were told that Willis and Hudson, with others, were
up the river getting gold. Bigler stayed over Sunday
at the flouring-mill to make arrangements as to what
they should buy of Sutter for their intended journey.
Those present agreed to send in advance a few men
to pioneer a route across the Sierra, the main body to
be in readiness to start in the beginning of June, with
the exception of eight men who were to leave the fol-
lowing Saturday with an express for the States. Next
day Bigler and his friends started for the fort with
Browett who was to act as si3okesman, but were una-
ble to see Sutter, or buy the seeds, cattle, horses, and
tv/o brass cannon they wished. On Tuesday they
left the fort for home, intending to turn their atten-
tion for the rest of their stay to gold-digging. As
they could not make the journey in a day, they en-
camped for the night at a creek fifteen miles from the
flouring-mill, and next morning Bigler, whose mind
was running in one direction, began to look for gold;
and he and his four companions |oon found about ten
dollars. As Willis and Hudson were not far away,
they determined to look them up and see what success
had attended them ; so keeping close to the river they
soon came across them, at what afterward was called
