p. 147:

"Such native flowers as the wild violet, the shepherd's purse,
or the blue-flowered `digger's delight.' This latter has come,
perhaps, with the seeds from some miner's holding amongst the
iron-barks in the gold country, and was once supposed to grow
only on auriferous soils. When no one would think of digging
for gold in this field, the presence of the flower is, perhaps,
as reliable an indication of a golconda underneath as the
reports and information on the strength of which many mining
companies are floated."

<hw>Diggerdom</hw>, <i>n</i>. collective noun, the diggers.

1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 43:

"Diggerdom is gloriously in the ascendant here."

<hw>Diggeress</hw>, <i>n</i>. a digger's wife.

1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 43:

"The digger marching off, followed by his diggeress, a tall,
slim young woman, who strode on like a trooper. . . . Open
carriages driving about, crowded with diggers and their
diggeresses."

1864. J. Rogers, `New Rush,' pt. ii. p. 36:

"I'm tir'd of being a diggeress,
And yearn a farmer's home to grace."

<hw>Diggings</hw>, <i>n</i>. a place where gold-mining is
carried on. The word is generally regarded as singular.
Though common in Australia, it is very old, even in the sense
of a place where digging for gold is carried on.

1769. De Foe's `Tour of Great Britain,' i. 39 (`O.E.D.'):

"King Henry VIII. was induced to dig for Gold. He was
disappointed, but the Diggings are visible at this Day."

1852. J. Morgan, `Life and Adventures of William Buckley'
(published at Hobart), p. 183 [quoting from the `Victoria
Commercial Review,' published at Melbourne, by
Messrs. Westgarth, Ross, & Co., under date September 1, 1851]:

"The existence of a `goldfield' was not ascertained until May
last. . . . Numbers of persons are daily `prospecting'
throughout this Colony and New South Wales in search of
gold. . . .In Victoria, as well as in New South Wales, regular
`diggings' are now established."

1852. Murray, `The Australian Gold Diggings: where they are
and how to get at them,' p. 1;

"It cannot but be acceptable to the crowds of intending
colonists and gold seekers, to present them with a picture of
the `Progress of the Diggins,' [sic] drawn by the diggers."

1858. T. McCombie, `History of Victoria,' c. xv. p. 234:

"Immigrants who had not means to start to the diggings."

1870. J. O. Tucker, `The Mute,