ied to, but he refused, and it was fortunate for him that
a caravan arrived before the diggers were actually in want.

With this caravan arrived a pedlar and a liquor merchant, two such
characters as cannot well be found except on a gold diggings. They
carried with them a plentiful supply of slop clothes, boots, tools, and
spirits, etc., and as luck--or ill luck--would have it, they pitched
their camp alongside ours.

One of these men rarely did business without the other. If a digger came
to purchase a pair of trousers or boots the bargain was never completed
to the satisfaction of both parties without a glass of spirits at the
adjacent grog shop to clinch it; and at night, when the diggers would
drop round the latter for a glass, many pairs of breeches, boots, or
other articles were disposed of under the happy influence of wine and
company.

[Illustration: PEDDLARS AT THE DIGGINGS.]

These men are to be met with in all parts of the Colonies where crowds
are collected, and they are usually of Jewish origin. There was nothing
objectionable about them; they were simply shrewd, energetic men of
business, ready without actual dishonesty to take every possible
advantage of the wants and weaknesses of their fellow men. We had some
pleasant evenings in their company, and many a jovial song and dance
they treated us to, for which, no doubt, they succeeded in extracting
good value for their wind and muscle.

Meat was scarce on the diggings, and at times for days together we had
none. McLean indeed did not refuse to sell fat cattle, but he demanded
prohibitive prices, and so it was customary to procure meat from a
distance.

We had been now two months on the Lindis, our funds instead of
increasing were diminishing, and we saw little or no hope of a change
for the better. An exodus had already commenced, and the incomers were
daily decreasing in number.

After holding a council meeting in our hut, it was decided that our camp
be broken up, and that we should all return together as far as Davis's
station, from whence two should proceed to Dunedin with the dray, while
the other two should purchase some fat beasts and drive them to the
diggings for sale.

The tents and tools were disposed of to a newly arrived group of
Australian diggers at a fair enough price, and we disposed of all the
remaining gear we did not actually need on the return journey, taking
with us little beyond the empty dray, and all being ready we bade