Thursday was past in puddling and cradling, with rather better results than on the first day, still it was not to our satisfaction, and on Friday two pits were sunk. One was shallow, and the bottom reached without a speck of gold making its appearance. The other was left over till the next morning. This was altogether very disheartening work, particularly as the expenses of living were not small. There were many, however, much worse off than ourselves, though here and there a lucky digger excited the envy of all around him. Many were the tricks resorted to in order to deceive new-comers. Holes were offered for sale, in which the few grains that were carefully placed in sight was all that the buyer gained by his purchase. A scene of this description was enacted this Friday evening, at a little distance from us. The principal actors in it were two in number. One sat a little way from his hole with a heap of soil by his side, and a large tin dish nearly full of dirt in his hand. As he swayed the dish to and fro in the process of washing, an immense number of small nuggets displayed themselves, which fact in a loud tone he announced to his "mate", at the same time swearing at him for keeping at work so late in the evening. This digger, who was shovelling up more dirt from the hole, answered in the same elegant language, calling him an "idle good-for-nought." Every now and then he threw a small nugget to the tin-dish-washer, loudly declaring, "he'd not leave off while them bright bits were growing thick as taters underground." "Then be d----d if I don't!" shouted the other; "and I'll sell the hole for two hundred yeller boys down." This created a great sensation among the bystanders, who during the time had collected round, and among whom was a party of three, evidently "new chums." "It shall go for a hundred and fifty!" again shouted the washer, giving a glance in the direction in which they stood. "Going for a hundred, tin-dish as well!" letting some of the water run off, and displaying the gold. This decided the matter, and one of the three stepped forward and offered the required sum. "Money down," said the seller; "these here fellers 'll witness it's all reg'lar." The money was paid in notes, and the purchasers were about to commence possession by taking the tin-dish out of his hand. "Wait till he's emptied. I promised yer the dish, but not the stuff in it," and turning out the dirt into a small tub the two worthies departed, carrying the tub away with them. Not a grain of gold did the buyers find in the pit next morning.