1852
1 December 1852
We pushed on as far as the Devil's Hole Creek, but from various reasons we did not get to Nuggetty Gully; which, however, was of no consequence, as only a very few diggers are working there. At the Devil's Hole, as well as at Long Creek, most of the parties at work were making large sums. One gentleman assured me that from six to ten ounces a day was to be reckoned upon; another was content if his claim yielded three ounces daily; a third was "paying the way" another "making wages" and so forth. At every bend in the creek little stores of the precious metal were sure to be found. The number of diggers at work was, however limited. I counted between 40 and 50, but these were not all, most of the holes employing one or two of a party, working at various depths from the surface, and who were, considerably hidden from sight. I saw one man take out a nugget which appeared to me to weigh about 1½ ozs., which he deposited in his trousers pocket with the utmost apparent indifference, and, immediately throwing down his tools, adjourned to the nearest "public" to celebrate the occasion1
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