A Lady's Visit to the Gold Digg

led, and made the scene unlike any other we had as yet viewed at the diggings. It was the middle of the month; here and there a stray applicant for a licence might make his appea

ropriated to receiving the gold to be forwarded to Melbourne by the G

e secure. But this was now altered; large bodies of police were placed on duty, and wooden buildings erected in various parts of the diggings for their accommodation. Assistant Commissioners (who were also m

tarted off like a shot in pursuit of a man a little way from us. We could not at first guess who it was, for in the d

ng from?" was Frank's salutation. "I thou

said Gregory, smilin

our present dilemma wa

d to give us a shelter for a few nights. This we gladly accepted, and were soon comfortably domiciled beneath a bark and canvas tent adjoining his store. Here we supped, after which Gregory left us,

le lassie there (pointing to Jessie) looks as pale and as wizened a

e of the din close beside us. It was Saturday night, and the store was full; but

m Gregory's store. As we returned, we passed near the scene of the monster meeting of 185

s in Victoria, dissatisfaction was rife, on account of the apparent disregard by the Government of the wants and wishes of the people engaged in the gold diggings, and because of the absence of all police protection, while there appeared to be no effort made to remedy this defect. Indignation was, therefore, unequivocally expressed at the several diggings' meetings which were held, and at which it was resolved to hold a monster meeting. The 'Old Shepherd's Hut,' an out station of Dr. Barker's, and very nea

o countenance the proceedings. The meeting ultimately dispersed quietly, thereby disappointing the anticipations of those who expected, perhaps even desired, a turbulent termination. The majority determined to resist

rs had climbed during the me

e that splits easily-the roof was composed of the bark from the same tree; the chimney was of stones mortared together with mud. This is the general style of building for shepherds' huts in the bush. As we passed it I could not but

many diggers, particularly those who have their families with them, keep much to one part, and thin

morning, and we set out in high spirits. A heavy rain during the night had well laid the dust. On our way we took a peep at sever

er. Frank and my brother remained with me at a little distance, whilst Octavius and William went

ole where they were working and the Creek, had given way imperceptibly UNDERNEATH. One brother, who was early in the hole at work, fancied that the water at the bottom was gradual

s and some neighbours hastened to his assistance. Ropes were procured after some further delay, and thrown to the unhappy man-but it was too late. None dared approach very near, for the ground was like a bog,

away, but no change of scene could dissipate it from ou

behind with Gregory to his great delight-we abstained from m

y us; he was followed by an immense mob, hooting, yelling, and screaming, as only a mob at the diggings can. It w

and the cry changed to, "String him up-string him

asked my brother o

n a quarrel a

up-confront him with the b

ed out, "Come on," with a most unghostlike vehemence. The fury of the mob cooled down; the people thought the man had been murdered, whereas the shot, fortunately for both, had glanced over the forehead without doing any serious i

nd in Dingley Dell itself, were tolerably contented with their gains, although in many instances, the parties who were digging in

was given to the place by a gentleman from Adelaide, and was suggested by the perpetual tinkling of the bullock's bells, it being a favourite camping place for bullock drivers, offering, as it did,

very scarce; tea, 3s.; rice, 1s.; coffee, 3s.; tobacco, 8s.; cheese, 3s.; butter, 4s.; honey, 3s. 6d.; candles, 1s. 6d; currants,

ccompanied by a stranger whom he introduced as his uncle. This surprised us, as we were ignorant of his having any relatives in the colonies. He then explained that a younger brother of his father's had about eight years ago gone to South Australia, and that never having heard of him for some years they had mourned him as dead. After many adventures he had taken a fancy to the diggings, and had just come from Melbourne with a dray full of goods. He went to Gregory's store to di

olden" has been applied to a great many spots where the deposits have been richer than, usual. There was a Golden Point at Ballarat, and when the report of the Alexander diggings drew the people from there, they carried the name with them, and applied it to this portion

est gradually faded away in the darkness, but beyond them, and through them were glimpses of the granite-like walls of the mount, brilliantly shining in and reflecting the last glowin

entures in South Australia. The posts he had filled formed a curious medley of occupations, and I almost forget the rou

hist and cribbage on board ship-I made my way to the best inn, where I stayed some days, and ran up rather a longish bill. Then I wanted to see the country, which I found impossible without a horse, so bought one, and rode about to the various stations, where I was generally hospitably received, and thus passed a few months very pleasantly, only my purse was running low. I sold the hors

ideas, a comical-looking affair-made of split logs of wood, with a bark roof, and a barrel stuck on the top of the roof at one end by way of a chimney-pot. His wife, a pale sickly little woman, seemed pleased to see us, for she had been much alarmed by the natives, who were rather numerous about the neighbourhood. There was

opper mines. That paid well. I stopped up there as overseer over four-and-twenty bullock-drays. Well, winter came, and I had little to do, though I drew my 30s. a week regularly enough, when the directors wanted a contract for putting the small copper-dust into bags, and sewing them up. I offered to do the job at 2d. a bag, and could get through a hundred and fifty a day. How much is that? Oh! 12s. 6d. a-piece. I forgot to tell you I'd a mate at the work. That was good earnings in those days; and me and my mate, who was quite a lad, were making a pretty penny, when some others offered to

nt through Bully Rook Forest, and tried my luck in the Jim Crow Ranges. This paid well; and I bought a dray, and bring up goods to the stores, which I find easier work, an

l serenade. Imagine some hundreds of revolvers almost instantaneously fired-the sound reverberating through the mighty forests, and echoed far and near-again and again till the last faint echo died away in the distance. Then a hundred blazing fires burst upon the sight-around them gathered the rough miners themselves-their sun-burnt, hair-covered faces illumined by the ruddy glare. Wild songs, and still

nt slowly onwards-a slight turn in the road, and the last tent has vanishe