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A rare overland. Clarke was employed by the Hampden Mining Company, sailed from New York in January, 1849, and traveled through central Mexico and Arizona before reaching the California gold region in August of that year. His narrative provides the first printed description of the route from Camargo, Mexico through Chihuahua and Sonora to the Gila River of Arizona. The book is also said to contain on page 12, the earliest reference in print to petroleum in Los Angeles. Cowan p. 128; Graff 746; Howes C451; Kurutz 138a; Sabin 13393; Streeter 3169; Wagner-Camp, Becker 210.