THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS. A Digger's Narrative.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2215, 18 September 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELDS. A Digger's Narrative.

The following is a personal narrative of a returned experienced digger from Kimberley :—: — He left Blackhall in Queensland for the diggings when they first broke out, and was accompanied by his mate, another experienced digger. They started out with bright expectations. When they reached Derby, they remained there a few days to make necessary purchases. Hundreds of people were there, beut on the same errand— that is, were bound for the diggings — most of whom had brought with them tents, spades, sieves, rations, &c. The narrator says that two- thirds of the fellows en route appeared to be "sickly-looking quill-drivers," who, a good many of them, "funked" when they got to Derby, and heard about the blacks and other troubles. He saj s they were actually attired in their ordinary "town-going togs," with billy-cock hats and masher collars. Derby, he says, is about the last place God made, being intensely hot, 9iiltry and oppressive. It is situated upon a brilliant sand bed, which by its brilliance, when the nun is shining, sorely tries the eyes. With their boots on, he adds, it is impossible to walk, on account of the sand being so hot to the feet and retaining the heat. He describes the hotel fare in Derby as " enough to turn the stomach of a dead horse ;" mutton, bread and preserved potatoes being about 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 ou the table, the greater part of which appeared 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 bring "not up to much," whereas the storekeepers and publicans praised them up to the skies. The narrator says that he and his mate, as they had come so far, were not going back, notwithstanding these unfavourable reports. They equipped themselves, and started with two pack-horses and two saddlehorses. They joined a party of 20, of whom some had drays, some pack-horses. Nearly all were armed with either rifle or revolver. After the first day's stage, they, at the instance oi one of their party, who professed to know the couutry, 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 the most part, terrible. For miles you traverse nothing but salt-bush 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 of heavy sandhill*, sparsely bespecked with a few shrivelledup bushes, or the grey, woird-like trunk, or stump, of some long-dead tree, which only heightens the barrenness and the hungry-look of the prospect. Over these sandhills yeu get off your horse and lead him, for it is very heavy work for him, struggling along, almost knee-deep in the .sand. After another cheerless saltbush plain has been traversed, your eye ia Bomewhat relieved by the appearance of a stony hillock or two, covered with what is called porcupine — tall spear-grass. Occasionally the monotony ia 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 cam p. Altogether, the stages are very far apart, and at mo3t of the water- holes — not the n-itive springs, of course — the water is thick and muddy. Sometimes you come across the carcase of a hoi si' or a sheep, the stench from which is intolerable. The horses get very Jittle more than saltbnsh to feed upon. His party passed several tribes of blacks, but, seeing that the white men were many, and also armed, they did not interfere with them. At night, it was the custom to keep watch, each man gnaidinu: the camp in turn. There were about (lie should think) 2000 in the \ icinity of the diggings when he was there, but the number seemed to be decreasing if anything. All sorts and conditions of men were there — from the bank clerk and counter-jumper to the Chinaman and African nigger. Very few indeed appeared to be making anything worth speaking about. One or two diggers had found rather large nuggets— say of about two or three ounces — but they mightn't, perhaps, get so much again for months. Scores there were who were getting nothing at all. He and his mate prospected the country for miles round, but were unable to find anything that would pay them for working. At a place called Byster's Creek they were the most successful, but the gold being for the most part in the form of dust, and water so scarce, they had to abandon the claim. The narrator says that he believes there is gold to be found somewhere in the dis trict, but under the present circumstances it is impossible to cut the right vein. He says that after the periodical rains (which commence about November) will be the time to trace up these veins, because the metal is washed down the ctveka by the floods from the hills. [The information was given in the nature of a secret.] He and his mate, who ia now in Melbourne, are going again about February. Sly-grog selling is carried on, and the camp is pretty lively at night in consequence, sometimes as many as two and three fights taking place. A disease, termed "bookoo" (?), ia pretty prevalent there. Those suffering from it are unable to retain any food whatever in the stomach. It lasts usually several days, and is supposed to be caused through insufficient vegetable food. — Lyttelton Times.

Vandvli&m Extraordinary. — The Argus of a recent date thus records an act of vile wantonness : — Another of the beautiful white swans in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens succumbed to poison by arsenic last week. This will make a total of five birds which have died during the past two years from this cause, as proved by Mr William Johnson, the Government analytical chemist. No reason can be imagined for the commission of such outrages, the deaths having without doubt been purposesly caused. Only one white swan now remains on the lake, a fact which will be much regretted by the many visitors to the gardens. What a tiny place (says the Pall Mall Gazette) this gteat Empire ia, after all ! And if it were only united once into a true whole how the slightest touch upon a nerve at the extremity would thrill at the heart ! We have received an Indian postal card, addressed: "The Editor, Pall Mall Gazette, England, London," and on which was written : Bept. 10th, 18S5, a police constable by name Somaya killed a poor riot by name Singodaya. Although numerous witnesses no local officer took any notice of the horrible crime, The poor fellow was slaughtered on a high road, and everybody knows the fact. The police have not made out the case, because the crime has been comi mitted by a constable of its own force. Ganeshra." We have never coiup across anything more dramatic and picturospuo in connection with our ideal federation of the Empire than this. A poor Indian is murdered by n policeman on a lonely highway >in Southern India, and when the law there affords no rod less the friends of the mm dared man appeal upon a postal card to an editor at the focus of the Empire, and justice is done. We hope, atleast, that it will be done, it our informant speaks the truth, and in that hope we commend his commuiucaUou to the best attention of the India ollioe. Thk 'meetings of a provincial club ;ire thus annnuncftil : — '" Notice, is hereby givon th.it th« quarterly mooting of this suciot) will in future he held every six woeks, and not ovory two months, as formerly,"