Notes of a Gold Digger, and Gold Diggers’ Guide
Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected.
Diggers
Routes to the Victoria Diggings
THE ROAD TO THE DIGGINGS.
Gold Fields have a most bewitching influenceupon fallen humanity. The very name begets aspasmodic affection of the limbs, which want to beoff. Then man, as a mere lover of beauty, cannothelp wishing to look upon the pretty mineral in itsvirgin home of seclusion, and his acquisitivenesspants for possession of the loveliest darlings everrocked in a cradle. But the Australian Gold Fieldsput to the blush the very fairy tales of old. TheGenii of the “Arabian Nights” would have stared,had they winged their flight over the ocean,and taken a quiet evening’s stroll under ourranges and gullies. Need we wonder that the dulleyes of the sons of earth twinkle with delight at thechamber of treasure.
“They come—they come.” Well, let them come;and I for one will be glad to see them as lucky astheir hearts can wish. In order to give the embryodigger a little insight into the wonders of thiswonderful region, I have noted down a few facts, theresult of my own experience as a Gold Digger.
Some simple hints before you start, my friend. Donot encumber yourself with too much luggage. Thedrays will not carry it for “thank ye.” There isno necessity for laying in a stock of everything, asstorekeepers at the mines do not now desire a thousandper cent upon every article. This may arisefrom a principle of benevolence, or, as some ill-naturedpeople say, from competition. If you lay ina stock in town you are likely to buy too much, asyou are surrounded by good things, and the difficultiesof the journey are unknown to you. Shouldyou reserve the purchase of most of your requirements,till you arrive at the ground, you will haveno trouble in carriage, you will know what you reallywant, and, from the high price, you will only buywhat you want. By all means, however, provideyourself with good stout clothes and boots, a coatand trousers of oil-skin cloth, a roll of canvass foryour future home, not forgetting a decent shootingjacket for Sundays, when you ought to appearcivilized. Tools are dearer up than in town.