A Lady's Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia in 1852-53

almost penniless upon the world. At this time the commercial advantages of Australia, the opening it afforded for all classes of men, and above all, its immense mineral wealth, were

behind with an old maiden aunt, until her husba

sappeared from her sight, and almost heart-broken she retur

ty and her grief. The whole of her aunt's income had been derived from an annuity, which of course died with her; and her personal property, when sold, realized not much more than suffici

to Port Philip, provided her passage-money was paid by her employer. This she soon obtained. The ship was a fast sailer, the winds were favourable, and by a strange chance she arrived in Melbourne three weeks before her husband. This time was a great trial to her. Alone and unprotected in that strange, rough city, without money, without friends, she

aking the usual colonial costume-loose trowsers, a full, blue serge shirt, fastened round the waist by a leather belt, and a wide-awake-Harriette passed very well for what she assumed to be-a young lad just arrived from En

e retained her boyish dress until their arrival at Bendigo. The party her husband belonged to had two tents, one of which they readily gave up to the married couple, as they were only too glad to have the company and in-door assistance of a sensible, active woman during their spell at the diggings. For the sake of economy, during the time that elapsed before they could commence their

ONS A NOS

bade farewell to my new friend, and I must confess that the pleasure of her society had for the time made me quite careless as to the quantity of gold our party might be taking up d

rother, and myself. The two former did not reach home till nearly noon, the roads were so heavy. After d

e vicinity of the lucky spot, but without success.

that I heard after m

ing, William and Octavius returned with the news that they had found a place at some, distance from the gully, which they thought would prove "paying,"

ner and their tools along with them. They worked hard enough during the day, but only brought back three

new spot, digging. Octavius and William surface washi

that they had never obtained more than an ounce of gold altogether, up to the day I left them. We were sincerely pleased with their good fortune. Harriette hoped that soon they might be able to leave this wild sort of life, and purchase a small farm, and once again have a home of their own. This could not be done near Melbourne,

ade Harriette farewell. We never expected to meet ag

oles; and on Tuesday night we determined to leave the Eagle H

selves by bringing so many goods and chattels a hundred and twenty miles or more up the country; but "experience teaches." Having parted with all encumbrances, myself excepted, we started for the Iron Bark Gully. All the gold had been

ll. Though crude and imperfect, they were sufficient to preserve complete harmony and good fellowship between five young men

es were

k by turn, one to buy, sell, take charge o

ed, and accounts settle

g tent and tools returned to him, but to have no further claim upon them or upon the gold that may be found a

by one another in all dang

and drinking spirits

e to be read ever

from the foregoing rules