hat the inspector's orders
were rigid, and that we were imposing upon good nature, to make requests
in every instance where poverty compelled a miner to decline paying his
tax.

At length we reached the Chinese district, and the Celestials turned out
in great numbers to receive us. Many handed the clerks the money that
was due without a word of comment, and we experienced no trouble until
we reached the quarters of Yam Kow, an old fellow whose tail reached to
the ground, and who was reported to be the most miserly of all the
Chinese at Ballarat. That he had money there was no doubt, for he was
always at work, or trading with his countrymen, and he was never known
to spend a shilling for clothing or food. What he lived on was unknown,
and could only be conjectured; but it was said that Kow had been seen
nights setting traps for snakes and rats, and even lizards were
considered quite delicate meat for him.

Traps of most ingenious and cunning device were also set for birds, and
Kow had been known to waste a few grains of rice, for the purpose of
attracting them to his fatal snares.

The bodies of the birds were sold by Kow, and if he could find no
market, he would hold on to them until he did; and if, after all his
trouble, none of his countrymen were disposed to buy, the unhappy
Chinaman would devour them himself; and even if fly-blown and slightly
decomposed, it made no difference to Kow; his greatest anxiety was on
account of not being able to get a shilling for the body of the bird
that he was at length compelled to eat. With the plumage of the
birds--and the feathers of the birds of Australia are of the most gaudy
hue--he made, during evenings, rare trinkets, and magnificent wreaths,
and sold them to miners at a fair price, to be taken home as
curiosities. I had a box filled with such articles, and which I valued
highly; but they were lost on my voyage home, while crossing the Isthmus
of Suez.

We found old Yam Kow seated before his hut, which was made of bits of
sticks, pieces of boards, stones, and mud, all cemented and fitted
together in the neatest manner, and what was more wonderful than all,
perfectly water tight, and as clean inside as possible.

The old man was hard at work, or pretended to be, on one of his wreaths,
and seemed not to notice that we were halting in front of his abode.

"Hullo, Yam Kow!" cried the inspector, "putty mi more money, hey?" which
barbarous jargon, it seems, is always conside