the red-letter day in California's
history, and the news that transpired that day electrified the world.
While constructing a saw-mill at Coloma Creek, a branch of the American
River, John Marshall picked up a handful of gold nuggets in the
mill-race. At once the gold fever seized all far and near. During the
ensuing year fifty thousand persons came by sea and by land from the
States east of the Rocky Mountains, and forty thousand more from other
parts of the world; all bent upon digging for gold in the new El Dorado.

From far-off Australia came vessels crowded with passengers. Among these
was Edward H. Hargraves, who had lived for twenty years in New South
Wales, where fortune had not smiled on him. Hargraves was a keen
observer and something of a geologist as well. He diligently scoured the
gullies and canyons in the gold regions of California, and when he quit
he possessed a good sum of money as a return for his labor. During his
stay in California he became convinced that gold existed in Australia,
since many of the formations and strata were similar to those of the
gold-bearing fields of California.

After working for nearly two years, he planned to return to his old
home, implicitly believing that he could win riches and fame by
discoveries of the precious metal in New South Wales; and as soon as he
had landed at Sydney he made ready to test his theories. When he
explained to his friends what he purposed to do and his reasons they
considered him half crazy. Moreover, rumors that convict shepherds had
sold gold nuggets to traders in Sydney strengthened his belief that gold
in paying quantities could be obtained by seeking for it. There were
rumors also that a gold nugget had been picked up on Fish River.

Procuring a team he set forth on his journey for the Blue Mountains
lying back of Sydney. On the fourth day out, stopping at an inn kept by
a widow, he confided to her his mission and enlisted her co-operation.
He requested a black boy for a guide; but instead she sent her son, who
was well acquainted with every inch of the region for miles around.

Taking horses, Hargraves and the young man started out from the inn. It
was a crisp autumn morning succeeding a dry summer. A careful search was
made up and down canyons and gulches. At length, during the latter part
of the day, they reached the bank of a dry creek which disclosed strata
similar to the auriferous gravels of California.

Looking about, Hargraves fo