First-hand account of early California from a feminine perspective. "Written by the wife of Thomas J. Farnham, who was noted as a traveller. Aside from the customary moral reflections common to many writers, her book contains much that is worthy of interest, presenting a fairly clear view of the formation of the vigilance committee in 1856" - Cowan. Kurutz calls the author a "pioneer California feminist." Four of the chapters are devoted to the mines. Cowan p.203; Kurutz 232.