n
for our loading at night was that the Gilbert diggings had only just
been reported, and his firm wished to get supplies on the ground early
to obtain high prices. We were to travel _via_ the Upper Cape, Lolworth,
Craigie, Wandovale, Junction Creek. Lyndhurst, and Oak Park, etc.

Long before we reached the latter place droves of people of both sexes,
in all sorts of vehicles, on horse back, and afoot, passed us. The news
had quickly spread that good gold had been found on the Gilbert.

This move of the Watson's was rather smart. They had a quantity of
damaged flour to get rid of. We had to purchase our rations from them.
The only way in which we could use the flour was to make it into johnny
cakes, and eat them hot. Flour was selling at 3/- for half-a-pint, and
the damaged flour soon found ready customers at fancy prices.

The township consisted of tents, but as the storekeepers required
something more substantial than calico, I sold my tarpaulin for a good
price, and made contracts to supply bark at 5/- per sheet. We engaged men
to strip the bark. This work kept us both busy hauling with our teams,
and lasted until the wants of the township were fully supplied.

We then started on our 350-mile journey back to Townsville, and reached
there about the end of September. Mr. Mytton arranged for me to load for
him, and I obtained a load for my mate for Lyndhurst, the station
adjoining.

This station was managed by a Mr. Smith from the Clarence River. For
some reason, I could not learn how, he was known as "Gentle J----." He
was a remarkably small man, but was noted as being a very plucky one.
His store was stuck-up by a man called "Waddy Mundoo-i," from his
having a wooden leg. Smith fought and knocked him out, afterwards giving
him help to get along the road. We spent about a fortnight in Townsville
having repairs made to the drays, etc., and we started on our return
journey to Oak Park on the 14th of November, 1869, making as much haste
as possible before the wet season set in. This, however, caught us at
the Broken River, where we had to camp for over nine weeks. We were
joined here by many other teams loaded for the Gilbert.

With us we had an old ship's carpenter, who helped to make a canoe from
a currajong tree. On the stern he attached a board, on which was painted
"Cleopatra, Glasgow." This boat proved very useful in ferrying over the
large number of footmen arriving daily, and saving our rations, as all
trave