The Kimberley Goldfields

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 145, 20 May 1886, Page 3

The Kimberley Goldfields

The dangers and . difficulties of getting" on to tte Kimberley diggings are beings told by many papers in this colgny in such a way as to make the attempt to reach them attractive to adtentureus spirits. The Post informs us that " the water throughout the territory is brackish, and it is more than possible that the gold digger m route to Kimberley will be without water for 60 miles at a time. Around Boebbunw the blacks are quiet, but near Kiraberley they are botfi. numerous aid treacherous, and' unless very shift' waich was kept life would' be non* totf safe. In all probability Kings-S ound, 18deg. 8., and Oam'bridge Gulf, in lat. 15deg. S., will be the nearest ports to Kiinberley, and ex&pt during the hurricane season ateamei* go at intervals. from Melbotfrney Adelaide, and Perth round thevcdass.' It may be said the climate of Kiihberlsy is one of the worst in the. continent of Australia, and men j when they arrive on the diggings, will hav^ to light witilt heat, fever, thirst, anlajlthetune be on theirguard against the .nativaa. From the Canterbury TimM we learn that the country between die Fiteroy and Lennard rivers' is undulating, and for the most part covered with deiikse sdrub, except on the Viv'ers, where large open glades occur at ijitehrafe. The grass attains a height of aix feet ia -places, aud iorms a harbour for all sorts of yermio. Snakes/ sof»r^iuttsj 3 r&s ahd : other abominations too numerous to meutidii abound; everywhere, and at night the ■weairy traveller has cause to anath )- matisti the niosquitv.es and an: s. The an 4 fauna affbrds ample material ior scientific reseat eh*, many of ° the plants and animals found being pecu-liar-to'tbe district. Another writof aays the Ti>ute is not free from dairgera, but still iiot such' as 'to appal men ac«uslbo!aed.\ to the Austrailian interior. Heavy^streAs is iaid on; tlieexistem-e of '' cauiiibal lihickß," but to "men accustomed ..to i the;. New Zealand intorioV'ithisyar^fcHpfttt have no terrors. Taunting the dangers of an expedition^ is nbtthe way to prevent enterprising xneii from sharing them.