336 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



washers are in full operation. Hound the base of the moun- 

 tain, on the further side, runs the river Lee, and for above a 

 mile along its bank the cradles are at work. We descend, 

 leave the road, cross the bottom, spring over a dam, and are 

 amongst the workmen. Rock, rock, rock ! swish, swash, 

 ' swish ! such are the universal sounds. 



"The cradle is placed lengthwise in the water. The 

 cradleman, holding the cradle in his left hand, with a stick 

 or scraper to break up the lumps of earth, or stir up the 

 contents, keeps the cradle constantly going. The waterman, 

 standing at the head of the cradle with a ladle of any kind, 

 keeps baling water continuously into it. A third man 

 washes carefully into a large tin dish the deposit that has fallen 

 through the sieves of the cradle on to the boards beneath, 

 carries it into the stream, where he stands knee-deep, and 

 tilting the dish up under the water, and shaking its contents, 

 the precious metal falls to the bottom, whilst the earth and 

 sand are washed out by the water. 



"After long washing the glittering dust is seen along the 

 bottom edges of the dish. This residuum is carefully washed 

 into a pannikin, dried over the fire, and carefully packed in 

 chamois leather bags. Meanwhile the cradleman and water- 

 man examine the quartz stones in the upper sieve for quartz 

 gold. Occasionally some are found with pieces of quartz 

 adhering, the rest are thrown aside. The cradle filled, the 

 men are at work again ; and the ' rock, rock !' recommences on 

 the top of the hill. The diggers are at work ; the carriers 

 descend the steep side, dragging a loaded sled filled with the 

 gold-impregnated earth ; some with tin vessels on their heads, 

 others with bags on their backs. The earth thrown down, 

 they re-ascend the toilsome way ; and this is the process 

 ' from morn till dewy eve.' 



" Returning to the road, the outer encampment, on this side 

 of Golden Point, becomes visible. A sound is heard like the 



