on his back that
would almost have contained a house. It was really a dreadful thing to
see the poor man, full-cry for California, toiling along with his
enormous burden, under a tropical sun, the heat of which he required
to endure through forty miles of wilderness, and no chance of relief
or refreshment by the way. Yet this serio-comic spectacle is not
singular. Multitudes seem to have gone to the diggings with every
species of encumbrance, and in a totally unsuitable garb. Splendid
dress-coats and waistcoats, boots and pantaloons, but no
working-clothes, nor implements for camping, and in many instances not
even a cloak: everything suitable for the enjoyment of their golden
promises, with nothing to assist in realising them.

Nearly the same thing has occurred in innumerable instances as regards
Australia. The men going thither must in general be shepherds or their
masters; and to be either to any purpose, they must go far into the
bush. For this they required a talent for constructing huts for
themselves and servants, and hurdles for the cattle, and consequently
tools to assist them; but they often went without either tools or
talents, and so had to pay extravagantly for very common services.
They may have had common clothes, but they had made no provision for
living far from the assistance of women; and consequently, if a
coat-sleeve was torn, it must hang just as it was; if a stocking was
out at heel, having neither needles nor worsted, nor the power of
using them, they had no other resource but to _tie_ the _hole_
together. They had no idea of washing and dressing, and consequently
must want clean linen, or stockings, and every other article of clean
apparel, till a woman could be heard of, and bribed to assist them.
The consequence was, that it was cheaper to buy new articles than
either wash or mend the old. It is doubtful whether many had not
omitted to learn to shave themselves, or to provide razors or strops,
or even scissors.

Then as to baking bread, or cooking the humblest meal, they were
equally at a loss. They seem to have had no idea of the humblest
grate, or even of a flat and easily-cleaned stone for a hearth; and
so, having kneaded their 'damper,' it is never said how they thrust it
in the ashes till it was partially heated, and comparatively fit to
be eaten. They have mutton, and mutton only; but how cooked is equally
unknown. It is not known that they have any apparatus whatever, stew
or fryin