For that, of surface earth we washed Of dray loads half a score; I'll swear that cradling never seemed Such tedious work before. To sink for gold we then commenced, With grief I must confess, 'Twas fruitless toil, although we went Down thirty feet or less. All you who've paid your one pound ten, Are on your licence told That then you are entitled to Remove alluvial gold. But if the alluvial gold's not there I'd like to have it proved By what ingenious process it Can ever be removed? Then back to Bendigo I'll haste, To seek the precious ore; Although my one pound ten I fear Returns to me no more. Yet as the boundary line I cross, My parting prayer shall be-- Ah! cruel Bonney! pray return My one pound ten to me! ANTIGROPOLOS. Adelaide, September 1852. With a short extract from the "South Australian Register" of February 7, 1853, I shall conclude my remarks on the Adelaide diggings. "THE GOLD FIELDS.--Although there is at the diggings everything to indicate gold in large quantities, none have succeeded in realizing their hopes. The majority content themselves with what they can get on Chapman's Hill and Gully, knowing that, if a fresh place is discovered, they will stand as good a chance as those who have spent months in trying to find better ground. "The quantity of gold taken to the Assay-office, during four consecutive weeks, amounting to less than four thousand ounces, the Governor has proclaimed that after the 17th of February the office will be closed." Chapter XVI. MELBOURNE AGAIN It was on Monday the 25th of October, that for the second time I entered Melbourne. Not many weeks had elapsed since I had quitted it for my adventurous trip to the diggings, yet in that short space of time how many changes had taken place. The cloudy sky was exchanged for a brilliant sunshine, the chilling air for a truly tropical heat, the drizzling rain for clouds of thick cutting dust, sometimes as thick as a London fog, which penetrated the most substantial veil, and made our skins smart terribly. The streets too had undergone a wondrous transformation. Collins Street looked quite bright and cheerful, and was the fashionable promenade of those who had time or inclination for lounging. Parties of diggers were constantly starting or arriving, trips to St. Kilda and Brighton were daily taking place; and a coach was advertised to run to the diggings! I cannot quite realize the terrified passengers being driven through the Black Forest, but can picture their horror when ordered to "bail up" by a party of Australian Turpins.