Thamanampalli Surekha

the best thing for him, so amidst all the noise and confusion, he went to his bed seek that rest of which he was in such need. Poor fellow! he must have had a miserable night of it, for the floor of the room was covered with people, glad to get under cover at any charge that might be demanded. And every room in the house was the same, there must have been several hundred people on the premises. After seeing our horses fed and stabled, we had some supper, and having secured, as we thought, a shake-down, fell asleep upon the sofa. It was well that we did so, for when we inquired for our bed, and sow the sort of thing offered, we preferred taking our chance at one of the bivouac fires not for distant, than be exposed to the horrors of a crowded room and a drunken atmosphere. The night was fine, and, though rather cold, with our cloaks and blankets we managed to make it out famously; and after a good wash, at early down we were ready to proceed on our journey. Our fellow-traveller was also up early, and we proceeded together: he was much better, but very for from being well, and notwithstanding the disagreeables of the night, he had slept tolerably well, thanks to his being fairly worn out. We crossed the Campaspie river at this place, over which there is a bridge a little below the hotel, and passing through a well - watered and beautifully undulating country for six miles, we reached the columbine, a clear stream running to the north, over which there is a very indifferent bridge. At this spot we stopped, lighted a fire, and partook of a good breakfast. This spot has been selected for a township, for which it is well adapted, being not only a beautiful site, but with plenty of wood and water and a rich country around it. As we proceeded, the country still continued grassy and the soil good, to the right of the road there is a considerable extent of it enclosed. The view up and down the river is very picturesque and park-like. In the distance are high hills. Mount Macedon rising proudly, dark, and frowning, and Mount Alexander visible in the distance, the country towards it rising gradually; on either side is fine open forest-land, with an abundance of grass. Forest-Greek diggings-Luck of the diggers-Fortune often favours the weak-Gold-digging a matter-of-fact occupation-Discomforts of a gold-seeker's life-Subject to illness from exposure-Dust and desolation-Dreary aspect of the country-General character of the diggers-Effects of the gold-discovery on colonial society-Stock and land will rise in value-Australia the real El Dorado-The labouring man's view of the subject-Rise in wages-The whole subject a currency question. As you approach Mount Alexander from the columbine river, the country rises more abruptly to within about four miles of its base, where you enter a slope between the hills which leads you over the higher land, and you pass into a valley, at the bottom of which is a creek: that is Forest Greek, which in all time coming will be famous for the quantity of gold found in and about it. As we proceeded, the tents of the diggers began to appear, increasing in number for about a mile, at which point the valley appeared full of tents, like the encampment of a large army. Although many parties had gone away at this season of the year on account of the deficiency of water, the Christmas holidays, and for other reasons, there could not have been less than three thousand tents, and every hour was adding to their number. About two miles into the valley we came to the "Shepherd's Hut," which had been an out-station on the run before the gold discovery. Here we met some old friends, with whom we intended to pass the few, days we should remain in this wild though interesting locality. The first night, however, we accepted the invitation, and partook of the hospitality and shelter of our fellow- traveller from Melbourne and his party at Golden Point, a considerable distance further down the creek. A more extraordinory scene cannot be imagined than what was presented at this point. The whole valley had been torn up by the diggers: in the bed of the creek, and on the rising ground on either side, and up the lesser valleys which led into it, holes and pits were dug, from one to twenty feet deep. The commissioner had judiciously restricted the extent of these, so as to afford room for the tents of the diggers and communication between them. The tents were in every place. The newspaper-offices, eating-houses, and stores, of which there were a great number, besides traffickers in gold, doctors, and such like, were principally on the sides of the main road, and near the post-office it was quite a village. From this spot the conveyances start for Melbourne during the week, there is then a great crowd, and it is the busiest locality in the valley. The diggings in this creek extend for a distance of many miles, as much as ten or twelve, to the Lodden river, the whole of the ridges and gullies running down into it have proved very rich in their yield of gold, while many of the back ranges and gullies have also produced good samples of nuggets and dust. Two miles or more from the post-office further down the creek the tent of the Commissioner appeared, well situated on a rising ground, he was surrounded by several other tents, and the scene would have made a good picture; around this official locality the largest stores had been erected, whole the whole space was thickly covered with tents. At this spot Friar's Greek joins