PAGE INTRODUCTORY v CHAP. I. MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME 3 II. ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP--THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND 19 III. MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND 43 IV. GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE 73 V. TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES 101 VI. ON THE HERBERT RIVER 131 VII. LEAVING THE HERBERT--RAVENSWOOD 161 VIII. SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH 185 IX. GOING TO THE PALMER 211 X. RETURNING FROM THE PALMER 231 XI. A LOVE STORY 259 XII. BRISBANE--TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND 271 XIII. THE END 315 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. (1) A SWAGSMAN _Frontispiece_ (2) LANDING OF EMIGRANTS _To face page_ 55 (3) AN ALLIGATOR POOL " " 145 (4) THE BAKER'S CART " " 190 (5) BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS " " 198 (6) ROCKHAMPTON " " 232 CHAPTER I. MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME.