Lre. No. 6 'Gold Diggings'
Forest Creek Victoria
Australia
January 1853
I forget what day I commenced
My dr. Father and Mother,
We left Melbourne for these Diggings on Weds. Decr. 22nd. our party consisting of 11 - A dray which is of very similar construction to an Eng. Tumball & both 2 horses took our luggage. We walk d. getting out of Town about Mid day. We commences our journey for about 3 Miles the country was Woody, presents an appearance very like a park at Home, but more wild - after clearing this dist ce. [distance] the country was more clear for roads [?] farming [?] the trees are felled and rolled to the side to form the fences & We arrived at a little place named Flemington which consisted of a Gents house - a public ho. [house] - store or 2, & a few scrabby wood & [?] buildings - the roads were what I would term in the { in the Old Country} very bad,which opinion I venture to express, the Carter looked at me in perfect astonishment & told me to exit till we made a few miles further. Many men are employed mak g [making] roads - felling trees clearing the ground at [?] per day, half a day - fellows carrying one of their gang who was dreadfully mutilated by one of the trees falling upon him - the accounts we heard about [?] were not very encouraging. These fellows are almost always [?], and well armed, going in possies of 5 or 6 The country continued much the same, with little variety hills, holes bogs swamps [?], We camped that night on the edge of Keillor Plains about 15 miles [?] in the direction [?] to cross. We pitched our Tent on the edge of steep declinity of about 150 ft in depth which ran round [?] nearly forming a circle [words crossed out] a little creek ran round the base enclosing a little [?] plot of about 100 acres, on which was a pretty little homestead, the greater portion of this being cultivated - our road to the right led thro' [through] a low valley rising to a steep hill on the other side - mountain in the distance - this view was one of the prettiest I have seen in The Colony, the low ground being very fertile - Our tent was soon pitched - the Wheel of the Dray formed one end fast to another [?] [small diagram], over this we stretched our tarpaulin - hanging up portion of our [?] tent at the end to rising on the other portion to lay upon - on the edges of the tarpaulin we placed pieces of rock[?] - stretched it round - accommodation for 5 or 6 in a few minutes - While some were pitching the tents other[s] were gone for water firewood etc - a tremendous fire was soon blazing away - tea & coffee was soon made & within ½ an hour of our coming to an anchor[?] We were taking our evening meal - after which outcome the pipes & tobacco - [?] round the fire for an hour or two afterwards talking[?] and listening to the tales of the old colonists - it is very comfortable & pleasant - We had some rain during the night [?] the most
Written across bottom edge :
my letters are written a small piece at a time - a little now - & a little week after - just what I can get a [?] generally getting distr.bn [distribution?] every few [?] that you must not be surprised if you find much tautology[?] & many errors - as can hardly [?] from time to time adds I have [?]