Clacy - A ladys visit to the gold diggings of Australia in 1852-53

A Lady's Visit to the Gold Diggings in Australia in 1852-53
First published in 1853
ISBN 978-1-775419-55-6
2010 The Floating Press

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It may be deemed presumptuous that one of my age and sex should ventureto give to the public an account of personal adventures in a land whichhas so often been descanted upon by other and abler pens; but when Ireflect on the many mothers, wives, and sisters in England, whosehearts are ever longing for information respecting the dangers andprivations to which their relatives at the antipodes are exposed,I cannot but hope that the presumption of my undertaking may bepardoned in consideration of the pleasure which an accurate descriptionof some of the Australian Gold Fields may perhaps afford to many; andalthough the time of my residence in the colonies was short, I had theadvantage (not only in Melbourne, but whilst in the bush) of constantintercourse with many experienced diggers and old coloniststhushaving every facility for acquiring information respecting Victoria andthe other colonies.

It was in the beginning of April, 185-, that the excitementoccasioned by the published accounts of the Victoria "Diggings,"induced my brother to fling aside his Homer and Euclid for the various"Guides" printed for the benefit of the intending gold-seeker, or toponder over the shipping columns of the daily papers. The love ofadventure must be contagious, for three weeks after (so rapid were ourpreparations) found myself accompanying him to those auriferousregions. The following pages will give an accurate detail of myadventures therein a lack of the marvellous will consist theirprincipal faults but not even to please would I venture to turnuninteresting truth into agreeable fiction. Of the few statistics whichoccur, I may safely say, as of the more personal portions, that theyare strictly true.

Everything was readyboxes packed, tinned, and corded; farewellstaken, and ourselves whirling down by rail to Gravesendtoo muchexcitedtoo full of the future to experience that sickening of theheart, that desolation of the feelings, which usually accompanies anexpatriation, however voluntary, from the dearly loved shores of one'snative land. Although in the cloudy month of April, the sun shonebrightly on the masts of our bonny bark, which lay in full sight of thewindows of the "Old Falcon," where we had taken up our temporaryquarters. The sea was very rough, but as we were anxious to geton board without farther delay, we entrusted our valuable lives in afour-oared boat, despite the dismal prognostications of our worthyhost. A pleasant row that was, at one moment covered over withsalt-waterthe next riding on the top of a wave, ten times the sizeof our frail conveyancethen came a sudden concussionin veeringour rudder smashed into a smaller boat, which immediately filled andsank, and our rowers disheartened at this mishap would go no farther.The return was still roughermy face smarted dreadfully from thecutting splashes of the salt-water; they contrived, however, to land ussafely at the "Old Falcon," though in a most pitiable plight; chargingonly a sovereign for this delightful tripvery moderate, consideringthe number of salt-water baths they had given us gratis. In the eveninga second trial proved more successful, and we reached our vesselsafely.

A first night on board ship has in it something very strange, and thefirst awakening in the morning is still more so. To find oneself in aspace of some six feet by eight, instead of a good-sized room, andlying in a cot, scarce wide enough to turn round in, as asubstitute for a four-post bedstead, reminds you in no very agreeablemanner that you have exchanged the comforts of Old England for the"roughing it" of a sea life. The first sound that awoke me was the"cheerily" song of the sailors, as the anchor was heavednot again,we trusted, to be lowered till our eyes should rest on the waters ofPort Philip. And then the cry of "raise tacks and sheets" (which I, innautical ignorance, interpreted "hay-stacks and sheep") sent many asluggard from their berths to bid a last farewell to the banks of theThames.

In the afternoon we parted company with our steam-tug, and nextmorning, whilst off the Isle of Wight, our pilot also took hisdeparture. Sea-sickness now became the fashion, but, as I cannot speakfrom experience of its sensations, I shall altogether decline thesubject. On Friday, the 30th, we sighted Stark Point; and as the lastspeck of English land faded away in the distance, an intense feeling ofmisery crept over me, as I reflected that perchance I had left thosemost dear to return to them no more. But I forget; a description ofprivate feelings is, to uninterested readers, only so muchtwaddle, besides being more egotistical than even an account ofpersonal adventures could extenuate; so, with the exception of a fewextracts from my "log," I shall jump at once from the English Channelto the more exciting shores of Victoria.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, lat. 45 degrees 57 minutes N., long. 11 degrees 45minutes W.Whilst off the Bay of Biscay, for the first time I had thepleasure of seeing the phosphoric light in the water, and the effect wasindeed too beautiful to describe. I gazed again and again, and, as thedarkness above became more dense, the silence of evening more profound,and the moving lights beneath more brilliant, I could have believed themthe eyes of the Undines, who had quitted their cool grottos beneath thesea to gaze on the daring ones who were sailing above them. At times oneof these stars of the ocean would seem to linger around our vessel, asthough loth to leave the admiring eyes that watched its glitteringprogress.

SUNDAY, 9, lat. 37 degrees 53 minutes N., long. 15 degrees 32 minutesW.Great excitement throughout the ship. Early in the morning ahomeward-bound sail hove in sight, and as the sea was very calm, ourcaptain kindly promised to lower a boat and send letters by her. What ascene then commenced; nothing but scribes and writing-desks met the view,and nought was heard but the scratching of pens, and energetic demands forforeign letter-paper, vestas, or sealing-wax; then came a rush on deck, towitness the important packet delivered to the care of the first mate,and watch the progress of the little bark that was to bear among somany homes the glad tidings of our safety. On she cameher stunsailssether white sails glittering in the sunskimming like a sea-birdover the waters. She proved to be the Maltese schooner 'Felix,' boundfor Bremen. Her captain treated the visitors from our ship with thegreatest politeness, promised to consign our letters to the first pilothe should encounter off the English coast, and sent his very lastoranges as a present to the ladies, for which we sincerely thanked him;the increasing heat of the weather made them acceptable indeed.