To have heard most of them talk, you could scarce have believed, that there had been any disappointment! Many alleged that they had been dissatisfied with the colonies; and had only come to Peru to see that celebrated country--which they had long desired to do! Some of them claimed, that they had only left the gold fields of Victoria on a sea voyage--in order to recruit their strength; and that they intended to return, and pursue the avocation of gold-digging with greater energy than ever! Most of the Americans declared, that, they were on their way home across the Isthmus of Panama! No one would acknowledge, that he had been made a fool of. Each, according to his own showing, had come to Callao for some wise purpose, which he was anxious to explain to the rest--notwithstanding the obvious difficulty of obtaining credence for his story. About half of those, who were the victims of this gold-digging delusion, became also victims to the fevers of Peru. Some proceeded up the coast to California; others _did_ go home by the Isthmus of Panama; while a few, and only a few, returned to Australia. In Callao I parted with my friend Edmund Lea, who was one of those who took the Panama route, on his way back to the United States. He was returning to a happy home, where he would meet those--and there were many of them--who would rejoice at his return. There was no such home for me. I was alone in the world--a Rolling Stone--with no one to love--no one who cared for me--and no place, except the spot under my feet, that I could call home. Lea was a young man who won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact--at least, all whose respect was of any value. I parted from him with much regret. Before bidding adieu, we made arrangements to correspond with each other; and I have heard from him several times since. He is now, or ought to be, living in Lowell, in the State of Massachusets. In the first ship "up" for Melbourne, I engaged a passage--resolved upon returning to the gold fields of Victoria. The vessel had arrived from Melbourne only three weeks before--freighted with a full cargo of deluded diggers; and the captain was now about to extract from them some more of their money, by taking them back!