Australian heroes and adventurers . outof existence unknown to any of his friends, and noteven missed in the ever-varying excitements of thetimes. CHAPTER IV. SLY GROG SHANTIES. The diggings hoh ! the diggings hah IShout for the diggings, shout hurrah ! —Digger DURING the hours of relaxation the proceedingson the diggings contrasted vividly with thedays employment. The end of the days labourswas in the early days announced by the firing of agun from the tent of the Commissioner. Thenfollowed a general abandonment of the chip, chip ofthe pick against the rock, the delving in the mud, thebarrow-
Australian heroes and adventurers . outof existence unknown to any of his friends, and noteven missed in the ever-varying excitements of thetimes. CHAPTER IV. SLY GROG SHANTIES. The diggings hoh ! the diggings hah IShout for the diggings, shout hurrah ! —Digger DURING the hours of relaxation the proceedingson the diggings contrasted vividly with thedays employment. The end of the days labourswas in the early days announced by the firing of agun from the tent of the Commissioner. Thenfollowed a general abandonment of the chip, chip ofthe pick against the rock, the delving in the mud, thebarrow-wheeling, the cradle-rocking, and the puddlingin clayey water-holes. With mud-bespattered shirt,clay-soiled pants, and heavy yellow-stained boots,each digging-party sought its tent. Then the ringingsound of axes wielded by brawny arms told ofpreparations for the evening meal. Hundreds ofthin lines of blue smoke ascending from as manyfires joined to make the large volume that waftedoverhead. Soon the singing of the kettles on the. Sly Grog Shanties. loi blazing logs cheered the weary digger with theprospect of a fragrant pannikin of tea to moisten hisdamper—a somewhat heavy staff of life, but oneadmirably adapted to support the toiling and stimulated by the evening meal, thediggers would then light their pipes, and soon thecurling wreaths of smoke circling round betokenedthe complacency of the different companies. Thenyarns were spun, arguments held, and songs sung,until the loquacious and musical ones becameexhausted or the listeners had fallen asleep. SLY GROG SHANTIES. But the harmony of such scenes was but too oftendisturbed by the noise of drunken revelry— Sottish sets more opulent than wise,The sly grog shanties and hotel comprise ;Wasting the profits of their jewelld claims,In hurtful stimulants and risky games. Although selling intoxicating liquors was an illegaloffence on the first gold-fields, yet, despite thevigilance of the Commissioners,
Size: 1232px × 2027px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidaustralianheroes00londuof
