Arriving on the golden ground the first impulse is to secure a good spot for future operations. Upon enquiry you resolve upon some lucky gully. The other day, you are told, a fellow nuggetted ten or twenty pounds weight, and, of course, you see no reason why half a hundred weight might not be lying snugly ensconced awaiting the revelations of your pick. You walk to the place, strike in your claim as near the centre of the gully as possible, mark your boundaries, determine upon the size and character of your hole, and at once to vigorous exercise of muscle. Your mate spells you with the use of his spade or shovel. The top soil is off, the sands and clays are entered, and all goes on pretty smoothly until the pick comes into contact with something that soon drives it back again, with the loss perhaps of its steel point. At it again with good heart. A harder thrust is made. Again the tool rebounds. Never despair. Blows thick and fast descend until an entrance is gained, and some insignificant pieces are knocked off. You pause to gather breath and strength. “Why I have got into some iron here,” you exclaim. Some neighbouring bearded digger turns round and condescendingly remarks, that it is only the “burnt stuff,” and that you must “drive away.” But the points of the new pick are sadly robbed of their glory. The blacksmith is sought at his primitive looking forge. After paying only half-a-crown for each point being steeled, you return to your claim and dash into it once more. But the day is closing, and the aching back and arms assure you that it is high time to think of home and supper. Day after day the toil is continued. A little relief comes after the burnt stuff, in the shape of some more agreeable, separateable conglomerate, or some yellow or blue clay. Soon the necessity is seen for steps being cut in the side of the hole, and the back is rather tried with the throwing up of the stuff. Afterwards a few sticks are laid across one side of the top, as a footing place for the drawer up of the bucket, which has now to be employed. Several awkward lumps of quartz give a little trouble and test the patience of the miner. As you go on, your hopes are more strongly exercised. Eagerly do you notice the progress of your neighbours. Anxiously do you enquire about their luck when they have got down. In proportion to their success, so is the elevation of your spirits. Should any one strike upon a rich vein, you are very inquisitive about the particular direction of that vein, and the possibility of its running through your domain.