This Was Succeeded By A Strata Almost As Hard As Iron - Technically Called "Burnt Stuff," - Which Robbed The Pick Of Its Points Nearly As Soon As The Blacksmith Had Steeled Them At A Charge Of 2s. 6d. A Point.

Luckily for their arms, this strata was but thin, and the yellow or blue clay which followed was comparatively easy work - here and there an awkward lump of quartz required the use of the.

Pick. Suddenly they came to some glittering particles of yellow, which, with heartfelt delight they hailed as gold. It WAS MICA. Many are at first deceived by it, but it is soon distinguished by its weight, as the mica will blow away with the slightest puff. After a little useless digging among the clay, they reached the solid rock, and thus having fairly "bottomed," the holes to no purpose, they abandoned them.

SUNDAY, 26. - Although impossible at the diggings to keep this day with those outward observances which are customary in civilized life, we attempted to make as much difference as possible between the day of rest and that of work. Frank performed the office of chaplain, and read the morning service in the calm and serious manner which we expected from him.

I was rather amused to see the alacrity with which, when this slight service was over, they all prepared to assist me in the formation of a huge plum-pudding for the Sunday's dinner. Stoning plums and chopping suet seemed to afford them immense pleasure - I suppose it was a novelty; and, contrary to the fact implied in the old adage, "too many cooks spoil the broth" our pudding turned out A1.

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