THE KIMBERLEY RUSH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1282, 24 September 1886, Page 1

THE KIMBERLEY RUSH.

A DIGGER’S NARRATIVE. The following is a personal narra* live of a returned digger trom Kimberley He left Blackball in Queensland lor the diggings when they first broke out, and was accompanied by his mate, another experienced digger. They started out with bright expectation. When they reached Derby, they rea maiued there a few days to make ne* cessary purchases. Hundreds of people were there, bent on the same errand—that is, were bound for the diggings—most of whom had brought with them tents, spades, sieves,rations, etc The narrator says that two thirds of the fellows en route appeared, to be “ sickly-looking quill-drivers,’ who, a good many of whom “ funked ” when they got to Derby, and heard about the blacks and other troubles. He says they were actually attired in their ordinary “ town-going togs,” with billycock hats and masher coU lars. Derby, he says, is the last place God made, being intensely hot, sultry and oppressive. It is situated upon a brilliant-sand bed, which, by its brilliance, where the sun is shining, sorely tried the eyes. With their boots on, he adds, it is impossible to walk, on account of tbe sand being so hot to the feet and retaining the heat. He describes the hotel fare as “ enough to turn the stomach of a dead horse ; ” mutton, bread, and preserved potatoes, being the only “ stuff” you get in the way of “ tucker.” There is any amount of tinned fish to be had by paying extra ; jam is always on the table, £he greater part of which ap* peared to be the dead carcases of drowned flies. As a rule ten or fifteen of a party start at a time, as it is considered safer, for the blacks are very hostile in that part. Everybody in Derby -who had been up to the diggings spoke of them as being “ not up to ranch,” whereas storekeepers and publicans praised them up to the skies. The narrator says that he and his mate, as they came so far, were not going back, notwithstanding these unfavourable reports. They equipped themselves, and started with two pack horses and two saddle-horses. They joined a party of 20, of whom some had drays, some pack hors°s. Nearly all were armed with either rifle or revolver. After the -first day’s stage, they, at the instance of one of the party, who professed to know the country, branched off the beaten track, and went across country, by this means making the diggings in about 240 miles. The intervening country is described as being for (ha most part terrible. For miles you traverse nothing but saltbush plains, full of wombat holes and crab holes, with not the sight of a tree or a bush to shield your heated head and dazed eyes from the scorching rays of the sun. Then you get a change of scene in the shape of a succession ot heavy sandhills, sparsely bespecked with a few shrivelled up bushes, or the grey, weird-like trunk, or stump, cf some long dead tree, which only heightens the barrenness and the hungry look of the Sahara like prospect. Over these sand hills, you get off your horse and lead him, struggling along, almost knee keep in the sand. After another cheerless saltbush plain has been traversed, your eye is somewhat relieved by the appearance of a stony hillock or two, covered with what is called porcupine tall speargrass Occasionally, the monotony is relieved by the presence of a scrub-covered mountain, in the gullies and recesses of which are to be found Native springs near which you feel disposed to make a long camp. Altogether, the stages are very far apart, and at most of the waterholes—not tbe native springs of course- the water is thick and muddy, j Sometimes you corao across the carcase . cf a horse or a sheep, the stench from ; which is intolerable, The horses get 3 very little moie than saltbush to feed upon. His party passed several tribes of blacks, but seeing that the white men were many and also armed, they did net inteifere with them. At night it was tire custom to keep watch, each man guarding the camp in turn. There was about (ho should think) 2000 in the vicinity of the diggings when ho was there, hut tho number seemed to be increasing it anything. All sorts and conditions of ■ men were there—from tho bank clerk and counter jumper to the Chinaman 3 and African nigger. Very few ina deed appear to be making anything worth speaking about. One or two > diggers have found large nuggets — 3 say about two or three ounces—but they mightn’t, perhaps, gel so much again for months. Scores there wore ’ For rest of JS'ews see Fourth Page.