was occupied by Ramsay and party. As the river was very wide, deep, and in parts swift, a ferry boat was formed from a large tree scooped out, all in one piece, and half-a-crown a head was charged for crossing. On the south side we found several tents and four stores. While we were resting here the rain came down in torrents, and as many diggers came up from the Totara River en route to the Grey we decided to accompany them. That night Morey, a man named Murrell and I camped at the Arahura. The small tarpaulin I always carried we rigged above us, with boughs at the back and sides. We then made a large fire, boiled the billy and had tea. The rain then came down in torrents and put out the fire. Our blankets were soon wet through. Murrell and I were seated on a box containing my gold scales. There we sat shivering, without ‘a drap of the cratur,’ and in this plight did we remain till 1 a.m., by which time the rain ceased. Murrell was between Morey and myself, and had decidedly the best of it, for he would snooze away, first leaning his head on my shoulder, and then on Morey’s. At dawn a fresh fire was lighted, the billy boiled and some coffee made. Bush rats were about us in hundreds; the ground all around us being some inches deep in water. This was without exception the most miserable night I ever spent, and to make matters worse we, when ready to proceed on our way, discovered a whare within
