After passing four or five days in looking about the Canadian, Eureka,
and Gravel-pits, "leads" on the Ballarat Gold-fields, and finding no
favourable opportunity of getting into a good claim, I determined to
proceed to Avoca river, for which place a big "rush" was just starting--
that, by all accounts, would turn out a success.
The day after I had formed this resolution, I saw a man with a horse and
dray, just departing for Avoca.
The man was willing to take a light load of diggers' "swags;" and,
rolling up my tent and blankets, I put them upon his dray.
The drayman did not succeed in getting all the freight he required: for
there was but one other digger besides myself, who furnished him with
anything to carry. As he, and a partner he had, were anxious to reach
the new gold-field as soon as possible, they determined to start,
without waiting to make up a load.