Living near by the diggings was a sort of doctor, who used to speculate, in various ways, in the business of gold-mining. To this individual the Tasmanian diggers betook themselves; and told him, that they had received private intelligence, from the new rush; and that they must start for it immediately, or lose the chance of making their fortunes. For that reason, they wished to sell their "wash dirt," which they knew to be worth at least two ounces to the "load;" but, as they must be off to the "new rush," they were not going to haggle about price; and would take twelve ounces for the pile--they thought, in all, about thirty loads. The doctor promised to go down the next morning, and have a look at it. In the evening the "Tasmanians" repaired to an acquaintance, who was unknown to the doctor; and requested him to be sauntering about their dirt-heap in the morning, and to have with him a washing-dish. They further instructed him--in the event of his being asked to wash a dish of the dirt--that he was to take a handful from that part of the heap, where he might observe a few specks of white quartz. Next morning the doctor came, as he had promised; but declined to negotiate, without first having some of the dirt washed, and ascertaining the "prospect." "We have no objection to that," said one of the proprietors of the dirt-heap, speaking in a confident tone. "Oh! not the slightest, doctor," added a second of the party. "Yonder's a man with a washing-dish," remarked a third. "Suppose you get him to prove some of it?" The man, apparently unconnected with any of the party, was at once called up; and was told, that the dirt was to be sold; and that the intending purchaser wished to see a "prospect" washed, by some person not interested in the sale. He was then asked, if he had any objections to wash a dish or two from the heap. Of course he had not--not the slightest--anything to oblige them. "Take a little from everywhere," said one of the owners, "and that will show what the average will yield." The confederate did as requested; and obtained a "prospect" that proclaimed the dirt probably to contain about four ounces to the load. The doctor was in a great hurry to give the diggers their price--and in less than ten minutes became the owner of the heap. The dirt had been, what the diggers call, "salted," and, as was afterwards proved, the speculating doctor did not get from it enough gold to pay the expenses of washing! At Ballarat my partners and I were successful in our attempts at gold hunting; and yet we were not satisfied with the place. Very few diggers are ever contented with the spot upon which they happen to be. Rumours of richer fields elsewhere are always floating about on the air; and these are too easily credited. In the latter part of the year 1853, a report reached the diggings of Victoria: that very rich "placers" had been discovered in Peru.