This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's books discoverable online. It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover. Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the publisher to a library and finally to you. Usage guidelines Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying. We also ask that you: + Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for personal, non-commercial purposes. + Refrain from automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. + Maintain attribution The Google "watermark" you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it. + Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe. About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : //books . google . com/ •*• M0M/^ ,??^ AU VISITED AND KEVlSlTED. A NARRATIVE OP RECENT TRAVELS AND OLD EXPERIENCES IN VIOTOEIA AND NEW SOUTH WALES. SAMUEL MOBSMAN, AUTHOB OF " THE GOLD REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA;" AND THOMAS BANISTER, AUTHOR OF " BRITAIN AND HEB DEPENDENCIES.' WITH MAPS BY A. K. JOHNSTON, GEOGRAPHER TO HER MAJESTY. LONDON: ADDEY AND CO., 21 OLD BOND STREET. 1853. 34JU3A PAINTED BT LEVEY, ROBSON, AND FB.ANKLYN, Great New Street and Fetter Lane PEEFACE. • THE authors of the following pages had doubts at the com­ mencement of their labours of being able to lay before the pub­ lic, in the present state of the Australian Gold Colonies, a work of such a character as would not only be useful to those who might determine upon hazarding their fortunes in them, but at the same time be interesting to the general reader. Though they still entertain fears of having accomplished this object, nevertheless they venture upon its publication; trusting that the truthfulness and fidelity of their statements will interest all classes of readers. Nothing that is likely to mislead people should be stated by travellers at any time; nor will we suppose that wilful mis­ statements are made by contemporary authors; but at the pre­ sent time it is particularly important to be careful and accurate either in descriptions of, or observations upon, these distant colonies, where so many of our countrymen, and those who con­ fidingly accompany them, are resolved to cast their fortunes. This consideration has had its weight with us; and if we ever w thought of indulging in flights of imagination, our inclinations ^have been checked by the fear that our so doing might tend to a. mischief. Consequently, the reader will find in these pages 5 nothing more than a simple narrative of facts observed during a . journey through these important colonies at the most interesting ^ period of their history, presenting an unvarnished picture of the ** country and its inhabitants as they exist under the new order IV PREFACE. of things created by the gold-discovery; while the details given of the ordinary occupations pursued by the colonists, and our hints regarding them, are the result of long and practical expe­ rience in the Australian colonies in the public service, as settlers, and otherwise. And although changes are rapidly taking place in these young communities, yet we are confident that the tra­ veller, with our book in his hand, some ten or even twenty years hence, will easily recognise the various cities, towns, districts, and estates herein described, however greatly they may have increased in extent and population; and we flatter ourselves that the tenour of our remarks on the social and political condition of the people are based upon those sound principles of human nature which will apply for all time. So that the intending colonist, who may be guided by our statements in his selection of a spot for his future labours, will find that we have neither exaggerated nor misrepresented the country or the inhabitants of any one locality. With these few observations we send our volume forth to the public; in the full confidence that, if there is any thing in it worthy of their approbation, it will work its way. London, February 1853. CONTENTS. —•— CHAPTER I. THE VOYAGE OUT. FAG* Safeness of the voyage—Our log—Hydrophobia—Trade-winds—Pas­ sengers* studies—Rebellious appetites—Intermediate passengers — Their discomforts—Ship-accommodation — Break in the voyage— Want of discipline an evil—Rough weather—Nearing our destina­ tion—Australian geography—The existence of a desert in the interior — Sturt and Leichhardt's explorations — Variation of time and the seasons—Ships and ship-owners—Cape Otway lighthouse • • 1 CHAPTER II, ARRIVAL AT PORT PHILIP. Cape Otway—Fate of Gellibrand and Hesse—Heads of the Barwon river—Entrance to Port Philip harbour—The pilot comes on board — First news of the gold-discovery — Peaceful demeanour of the gold-diggers—The pastoral interests of the colony in danger— Effect of the news upon OUT ship's company—Geelong harbour by sunset—Hobson Bay in the morning—Useful memoranda—The townspeople come on board — On shore at Williamstown—Steam­ boat to Melbourne—First impressions — The Yarra-Yarra river— Scenery on its banks—Arrive at Melbourne 17 CHAPTER III. ROAD TO THE DIGGINGS. The gold-diggers in town—Equipment for the journey—State of the road—Bush-flies—The inn at Deep Creek—'Classes of travellers on the road—A party from Gipps' Land—The exodus to the Mount—A literary digger—Bivouac with sailor-diggers—Black Forest—Protec­ tion of travellers—Five-mile Creek—Carlsruhe—Kyneton—An old colonist digger—Campaspie river—Columbine river—View of the Mount . 32 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. MOUNT ALEXANDER. FAOB Forest-Creek diggings—Luck of the diggers—Fortune often favours the weak—Gold-digging a matter-of-fact occupation—Discomforts of a gold-seeker's life—Subject to illness from exposure—Dust and deso­ lation— Dreary aspect of the country — General character of the diggers—Effects of the gold-discovery on colonial society—Stock and land will rise in value—Australia the real El Dorado—The labour­ ing man's view of the subject—Rise in wages—The whole subject a currency question 42 CHAPTER V. THE GOLDEN CREEKS. Visit Friar's Creek—Bush hospitality—Probable extent of the gold- deposits— The diggers' habits open to improvement — Abandoned diggings—Discomforts at the dry diggings—Hardship and fatigue comparative—Prospects for gentlemen diggers—Extraordinary in­ stances of good fortune—Gold companies—Carting the golden earth to the Loddon river—The digger's El Dorado — Gold-washing— Yield of the surface-diggings—Pit-diggings—Formation in which the gold is found—Best season to commence digging—Appearance of the gold as it is found—Colour of the Victoria gold—Hopes of the gold- digger 50 CHAPTER VI. A SHEEP STATION. Start upon our mission—The bush of Australia—Australian forest scen­ ery— Birds and insects—An Australian shepherd—The shepherd versus the gold-digger—Description of an out-station—Duties of a shepherd and hut-keeper—System of sheep-farming in Australia— Bush tracks and roads—A squatter's homestead—Character of the squatters—Effect of the gold-discovery upon the pastoral interests— Early struggles of a squatter—His apprenticeship — Progress of a sheep-station — Difference between English and Australian sheep- farming— Advice to intending squatters—Advantages of a cattle- station—Sheep-shearing—Wool-packing—Reflections • • .61 CHAPTER VII. A CATTLE STATION. Physical appearance of the male population—The gentleman squatter*- CONTENTS* VU A bushman's qualifications—Cattle pastures—Indigenous grasses— A herd of cattle—Cattle-driving—The squatter's home-—Comforts of smoking—Boiling down the order of the day—Value of cattle and sheep—Agricultural forms—Return to Melbourne .