Tour of the Gold-fields 205 



others joined because I did. Knowing this, and 

 knowing too how many have risked their all, I 

 hesitate to leave, as long as I feel I can be of help 

 in any way, and shall go into the matter very 

 carefully with the men, most of whom however I 

 know feel as I do. 



February 2^th, iS^O. Today we all met to- 

 gether and after much serious talk, I told the men 

 that their time was more than up, and that, conse- 

 quently they were their own masters and the com- 

 pany dissolved. I told them, too, that I was ready 

 to help each and all to the best of my ability, poor 

 enough, but I believed we could do better in other 

 ways than mining. Not a word was said, and 

 silently all went to their tents ; we had been a year 

 together, in sickness and trouble, in boisterous 

 mirth and sorrowful anxiety, and like old and tried 

 friends we felt the coming separation keenly; we 

 were all greatly depressed. I shall be with the men 

 for some weeks, and shall then try to make up for 

 part of what I have lost, making drawings and 

 sketches, and collecting such specimens as I can. I 

 am bitterly disappointed for the men who have 

 been so faithful, and who have stood by me so 

 staunchly, but as Tone said to me some hours after 

 our talk: "There's more money to be made here by 

 land speculations, and every kind of work than 

 there is in mining, and those who work will get on." 

 I quite agree with him, and when one hears of the 



