Our claim on the Avoca "lead" turned out to be worth working; and we had
five or six weeks of hard toil before us. My mate continued temperate
and industrious; and we got along together without any misunderstanding.
One day we were informed by a man passing our tent, that a very
interesting affair was to come off that evening--at a certain grog-shop
not far from where we lived.
My partner was strongly advised to be there: as there would be a
spectacle worth witnessing.
"Shall you go?" I asked, after the man had gone.
"No--not alone," replied he, "the place has a bad name; and I know that
one of the parties concerned in what is to take place is a bad bird.
You go along with me, and you'll see some amusement."
"Have you any idea what it's to be?" I inquired.
"Yes. I think they are going to have a raffle."
"A raffle! There's nothing very interesting about that!"
"That depends," significantly rejoined my partner. "Supposing it is a
woman that's to be raffled for?"
"A woman to be raffled for!"
"So I believe. There is a Hobart Town man here, who has a young wife,
with whom he has been quarrelling for the last month. He has found out
that it is impossible to live with her any longer; and is going to put
her up to be raffled for."
I had seen a negro slave disposed of in this fashion in the city of New
Orleans; but had never heard of a man raffling away his wife; and the
oddness of the thing determined me to go. Having signified my intention
to my mate, he promised to take me to the place, and also take care of
me while there.
The reader may think his promised protection unnecessary--after my
having managed for so many years to take care of myself. But I knew
that amongst "old hands," the protection or friendship, of one of their
own "kidney" was worth having; and I certainly would not have gone,
without some one to introduce, and look after me--one such as my mining
partner, who knew their ways, and would give them to understand, that I
was not to be molested.
At that time on the gold-field of Avoca, there were probably about ten
men to one woman; and a man, who was so fortunate as to possess a wife,
was thought to be a very lucky individual indeed. Any woman, however
ugly she might have appeared in other lands, would there have passed for
a Venus. Knowing this to be the state of things, I was not surprised,
when, on reaching the grog-shop with my companion, we found a large
crowd of between thirty and forty men assembled around it. In one way
only was I astonished; and that was, that the majority of those present
were not "old hands," but rather the contrary.
This observation was also made by my companion, who shook his head
significantly, but said nothing.
I did not understand what meaning he intended to convey by this
gesture--at least not at the time.
From the appearance of the crowd collected round the grog-shop, I had no
doubt but that I should be well rewarded for my trouble in walking to
the place. I could see that some pains had been taken in selecting the
company: for it appeared to be composed of that class of young miners--
known as "fast," and "flush"--that is with money to spend, and the
disposition to spend it.
The woman who was to be disposed of was in the room, seated on the edge
of a table, and swinging her legs about with perfect nonchalance. One
of her eyes bore, in distinct characters of a purplish hue, some
evidence of a very late disagreement with her husband, or some one else.
She seemed much pleased at the commotion she was causing; and quite
indifferent as to its results. She was about twenty-three years of age;
and rather good-looking.
The husband was about forty years old; and was a vulgar looking wretch--
even for a "Vandemonian." His features were twisted into a disgusting
leer, from which I could well fancy they were but seldom relieved.
I was not surprised at the woman seeming pleased at the idea of parting
with him. My wonder was, how he had ever been allowed to obtain the
power of disposing of her.
There was not a man in the room, or perhaps on the diggings, that any
creature entitled to the name of woman, should not have preferred, to
the ugly animal who claimed to be her husband.
I could perceive from the woman's behaviour, that she possessed a
violent temper, which to an ignorant brute of a man, would no doubt
render her difficult of being managed. But there appeared to be nothing
more against her--at least, nothing to prevent a man of common sense
from living with her, and having no more serious misunderstandings, than
such as are usually required to vary the monotony of connubial life.
The business of getting up the raffle, and carrying it through, was
managed by a young man, who played the part of mutual friend--the
proprietor of the article at stake, being to all appearance too drunk,
or too ignorant, to act as master of the ceremonies.
After a sufficient number of persons was thought to have arrived upon
the ground, it was decided to go on with the business of discovering: to
whom fate should decree the future ownership of the woman.
"Gentlemen!" said the mutual friend, rising up, and placing himself upon
a chair, "I suppose you all know the game that's up here to-night? I
believe that most of you be aware, that my friend `Brumming' here, can't
agree with his old woman, nor she with him; and he have come to the
resolution of getting rid of her. He thinks he'd be better off without
a woman, than with one, 'specially with one as he can't agree with. And
she thinks any other man be better than Ned `Brumming.' Such being the
case, they think they had better part. Now, `Brumming' wants a little
money to take him over to the other side; and to rise it for him, his
friends have been called together, and his woman is going to be put up
at a raffle for fifty pounds--twenty-five chances at two pounds a
chance. Mrs Brumming is willing to live with any man, as will support
her, and use her kindly. Who is going to help poor Ned Brumming? What
name shall I first put down on this 'ere paper?"
"Dirty Dick," "Jack Rag," "Hell Fryer," "Shiny Bright," and several
other names were called out--to the number of twenty.
It was then announced that five names were still wanted to complete the
list.
"I'll take a chance," said a man stepping forward to the table, where
the names were being written out.
The individual thus presenting himself, bore every evidence of having
obtained a passage to the colonies at the expense of his native
country--about twenty-five years before.
"What name shall I put down?" asked the youthful master of the
ceremonies.
"Jimmy from Town."
"Jimmy from hell!" screamed the woman. "You had better save your money
Jimmy from Town. I wouldn't live with an old beast like you, if you
were to win me ten times over."
The prospect of losing his two pounds, and gaining nothing, caused the
old convict to retire, which he did, apparently with no very good grace.
"We must pay something for this entertainment," whispered my mate; "I
will go halves with you in a chance."
As he said this, he slipped a sovereign into my hand.
I did not fully understand what my partner meant. He surely could not
be thinking of our winning the woman, and owning her in partnership, as
we did our mining claim?
But as he had said something about our paying for the entertainment--and
having trusted myself to him before I came away from my tent--I gave the
name of "Rolly," to the manager of the raffle, and put down the two
pounds.
Two others then came forward, took a chance each, and paid their stakes.
There were now only two more "tickets" to dispose of.
Amongst the first who had entered their name upon the list, was a young
miner, who to all appearance, took a greater interest in the proceedings
than any person present.
I saw the woman give him a glance, that might be interpreted into the
words, "I wish _you_ would win me." He appeared to notice it, and take
the hint: for he immediately entered himself for another chance.
The remaining share was then taken by somebody else; and the ceremony of
throwing the dice was commenced.
Each was to have three throws, taking three dice at each throw; and the
man who should score the highest number, was to win the woman.
A name would be called out, as it stood on the list; the owner of it
would then come forward, and throw the dice--when the number he should
score would be recorded against his name.
All the numbers made, chanced to be very low, none of them reaching over
thirty-eight--until I had finished "tossing the bones," when I was told
that the aggregate recorded in my favour was _forty-seven_.
I felt as good as certain that the woman was mine: for the chances were
more than a hundred to one against any of the five others who were to
throw after me.
The young fellow who had paid for two shares, looked very blank: his
remaining chance was now scarce worth a shilling.
"I will give you fifteen pounds for your throw," said he, addressing
himself to me.
I glanced at my mate, and saw him give his head a slight inclination: as
a sign for me to accept the offer--which I did.
The money was paid down; and after all had finished tossing, number
forty-seven was declared the winner. This had been my score. The
woman, therefore, belonged to the young man, who had bought it from me.
She was at once handed over to him; and inaugurated the "nuptials" by
flinging her arms around his neck, and giving him a sonorous "buss" upon
the cheek!
After we came away from the place, I learnt from my mate, that the
affair was what he called "a sell."
"Then why did you propose that we should take a chance?" I asked.
"Why," he replied, with a significant shrug, "well, I'll tell you. I
was told to come to the raffle, because I was working with you--who they
thought would be likely to take a share. Had you not taken one, they
would have supposed that I had cautioned you not to do so; and I should
have made enemies amongst some of the old hands--who look upon me as,
being in all things, one of themselves."
"And you think that the woman will not live with the young man who won
her?"
"I'm sure of it. She'll go along with him for awhile; but she won't
stay with him. She'll run away from him--join, Brumming, again--and the
two will repeat the same dodge at some other diggings."
I divided the fifteen pounds with my partner; and retired to my tent--
well pleased that I had so disposed of my chance, and no little amused
at the grotesque chapter of "life on the Avoca," it had been my fortune
to be witness to.
A few weeks after the occurrence, I read in a newspaper: that the police
on the Bendigo diggings had arrested a man for trying to dispose of his
wife by a raffle; and I have no doubt that the man was "poor old Ned
Brumming!"
Volume Three, Chapter VIII.