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Rh in the water attracted my attention. I readied down and drew it up; it was a piece of dark-blue looking quartz, and contained gold.

Here was a discovery! There was very probably more about, and I would procure at least a few good "specimens." I took up a handful of sand and examined it: there was plenty of "black jack," and I got the "colour." So I set to work with my axe, turning up the coarse gravel and stones along the edge and in the most likely places for "pockets." My digging operations were, however, soon brought to a close by the spike striking some solid substance that appeared to be softer than stone. I tried it again, and turned up a nugget of pure gold quite heavy enough to carry back to the camp.

On arriving there, I threw down my burden in the middle of the small circle, who were seated on logs and pieces of timber, evidently enjoying their meal.

"Melema," Yondozi quietly remarked, while looking at it, then pointed to a seat on a branch nearly opposite himself. Beyond a smile from one or two, the others did not take the slightest notice of it. I cannot say, however, that I was surprised at this, for from the first I had my misgivings as