The Australian Captive; Or, an Authentic Narrative of Fifteen Years in the Life of William Jackman in Which, Among Various Other Adventures, Is Includ

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... THE HARVEST OF GOLD* Three years ago, one Mr. Smith, a gentleman engaged in ironworks in Australia, made his appearance at the Government House, Sydney, with a lump of gold. He offered, for a large sum of money, to point out where he had got it, and where more was to be found in abundance. The Government, however, thinking that this might be no more than a device, and that the lump produced might, in reality, have come from California, declined to buy a gold field in the dark, but advised Mr. Smith to unfold his tale, and leave his payment to the liberality of Government. This Mr. Smith refused to do, and there the matter ended. On the third of April, 1851, Mr. Hargraves, who had recently returned from California, addressed the Government, stating that the result of his experience in that country had led him to expect gold in Australia, that the results of his exploring had been highly satisfactory, and that for the sum of five hundred pounds he would point out the precious districts. The same answer was returned that had disposed of Mr. Smith, but with an opposite effect; for Mr. Hargraves declaring himself " satisfied to leave the remuneration for his discovery to the liberal consideration of the Government," at once named the districts, which were Lewis Tonds, Summer-Hill Creek, and Macquarie River, in Bathurst and Wellington--the present Ophir. Mr. Hargraves was directed to place himself at once in communication with the Government Surveyor. Meantime, the news began to be whispered about. A man who appeared in Bathurst with a lump of gold worth thirty * From Dickens' Household Words. pounds, which he had picked up, created a great sensation, and numbers hastened to see whether they could do likewise. The Commissioner of Crown Lands...