gems, USA, Pala, San Diego County, tourmaline, California, Himalaya Mine

Up to twelve years ago, or thereabouts, it was a favorite pastime of the children of Mesa Grande to walk over to the crest of Angell Mountain, two or three miles distant from the district school, and gather numerous bright-colored pencils and crystals that were to be found in the neighborhood. These were particularly abundant after heavy rains, which washed away the sand and clay, exposing the shining objects to the searching eyes of the youngsters. They were found in all sizes, from the diameter of a slate pencil, up to several inches across; and in many colors, some as clear and transparent as glass, some black, pink, red, or green. Occasionally two or more colors were shown in the same crystal. Sometimes the children sold a particularly fine specimen to the school-teacher, and considered themselves lucky to get a dime. In the summer, tourists often came to Rancho Cereza Loma, and these frequently bought a tobacco pouch filled with crystals, paying anywhere from ten to twenty-five cents for the lot. But as a rule the children played with their treasures until they tired of them, and then threw them away. That they were of any particular value no one believed; because Indians had known of them from time immemorial, and cowboys had picked them up from time to time for years. Specimens had been found in Indian graves of great antiquity, so that this peculiar deposit must have been known for many centuries; and everyone thought that if it had been worth anything someone else would surely have found it out. At last someone took specimens to San Diego, and showed them to jewelers there, thinking that objects so beautiful must surely possess some value. The jewelers were no wiser than the people of the back country; but one volunteered to send the stuff to New York, to find out what it was, and to ascertain if the deposit was worth looking after.