noon
We now proceeded along the right bank of the North Fork , and on the opposite side we caught a glimpse of a party of Indians at work , which we afterwards learned were that of Mr. Sinclair . In one week this party had gathered sixteen pounds troy of fine washed gold dust . They worked hard , were well fed , and had liberal rations of `` strong water '' daily . We rested a couple of hours at noon , in a pleasant bottom , heavily timbered , and afterwards , striking away from the river at an acute angle , moved leisurely on through a broken country , intersected by many water-courses , and overgrown with dense clusters of trees . During our afternoon march we passed several deserted Indian villages -- the round-shaped skeletons of the huts alone remaining to mark the former settlements . Not a member of the tribe , however , was to be seen ; the beaver may build and the deer pasture hereabouts in peace . Towards evening we entered the valley drained by the stream called Weber 's Creek .