Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-22
LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA.


formerly of Lawrence township, Clearield
county, will doubtless be read with interest by
his old acquaintances:
GRAFTON, New SOUTH WALES,
February goth, 1859. {
DEAR BRoTHER:-After an absence from
California of almost four years, will now at
| tempt to give You cursory account of my
rambling, &c. When left home, l did so
| with the determination of returning in two or
three years at the farthest but, alas, how Of
ten we are disappointed. 1 hoped in the mean
| time to make at least two thousand dollars,
but the gold fields were so far inferior to my
expectations that 1 determined to go to Aus
tralia, as we had heard very fattering accounts
| from that country. Accordingly, on the 7th
of March, 1852, embarked on the Sarah
| Moore, for that island. We stopped at the
Sandwich Islands for fresh supply of provi-
sions, water, &c. Our vessel had but little
ballast, and consequently very top heavy, or
| crankey; and in addition to that L, as well as
others, did not like the way the Captain man
aged her, and six of US determined to aban-
don her and wait for another. After staying
there four weeks we took passage on the brig
| Elisha, for Port Phillip. We were eleven
weeks at sea, when we put in at New Castle
During this time we had nothing fit for human
subsistence, and for two weeks but little of
| any thing good or bad more than two thous-
and miles from our destined port, which 1
have not seen yet. We cast anchor on Satur-
day the 7th of July. 1 think we were there
till Monday about O'Clock. The pilot tho't
it unsafe to remove the vessel, on account of
the wind not being favorable to sail into the
proper harbor. The roughness of the sea ON
Monday morning broke one Of our anchor
chains; SO the captain thought best to sail far
| ther up into the mouth of the River but we
had not got more than one hundred yards be-
fore We were taken broadside against the rocks
and to all human appearances we were on
fair way to total destruction. Fortunately for
US, boats were dispatched from shore to our
| relief. One boat was capsized, and several
men came nigh drowning; but we all got a
shore without loss of lite. / lost all my clothes
and all my money, except piece of gold that
l had carried loose in my pocket since first
went to California. l sold this gold for what
paid my passage to Sydney, where L stopped
four weeks, and then went to the Turan River.
distance of 15 miles. | worked there three
years without success, being poor as when
went there, disheartened and discontented.
left the gold fields in disgust, and started for
Sydney again, thinking could soon earn mo-
ney enough to return to California; but when
L arrived at Sydney found dull times and
nothing to do. 1, however, got a job in the
Bush, about four hundred miles from that
| place, on the Clarence river, where L have
been ever since. l have been building steam
saw-mill, and having to do the principal part
of the work myself, it has taken me longer
than expected. L have bought five mares,
and intend raising horses for market. Good
horses rate very high here. have seen one
that was bred here, which was sold for f2OO.
l have mare, the sire of which sold for $500.
This is great country for horse-racing. A
general race comes off twice a year; the mo-
ney run for is raised by subscription l have
sister to the swiftest horse on the river; she
has not been tried yet. but she is very hand
some grey, II hands inches high.
The natives, or aborgines, of this country
go naked. They are black, with long straight
hair; notoriously ignorant, indolent and FL
thy set of beings, having no idea of improve
ment or enterprlze. If, percharce, white
man gives them shirt or any other garment,
they invariably wear it out without even ta-
king it off. They live on game, roots and 9TH
er spontaneous productions of the country.
They build no houses; the only shelter against
rain or cold they have, is kind of roof
which they form by getting two or three sheets
of bark and propping -ene end up with two
sticks, like the roof of house, under which
they lie down on the ground, with a small fire
in front. They call their women jins or mikes.
Their form of marriage is as follows IF a
black wants a jim, he steals her off; theu en-
sues fight. He has to fight her father and
brothers, or if he can get party to help him.
they have free fight. If he or his party
whips, she belongs to him but if the fathers
party comes out victorious, her brothers take
her back, and that settles the hash.
have generally had good health since l
came here, much better than in Clearfeld or
California. think it is much healthier here
than any part of the United States 1t is very
warm in the summertime; the nights, how
ever, are cool and refreshing. I am well sit
uated, contented and satisfied with the coun-
try, and to see my friends would be all that
would induce me to return to the States. En-
closed l send you small thread that manu-
factured, as was riding along on horseback,
out of a SPIDERS web, which is a striking IL
lustration of the beauties of nature, being as
yellow as gold. There are many curiosities
of which shall attempt to speak hereafter.