a gold-miner. The earliest mineswere alluvial. Of course the word is used elsewhere, but inAustralia it has this special meaning.
1852. Title:
«Murray's Guide to the Gold Diggings. – – The Australian Gold Diggings; where they are, and how to get at them; with letters from Settlers and Diggers telling how to work them. London: Stewart & Murray) 1852.»
1853. Valiant, `Letter to Council,' given in McCombie's`History of Victoria' (1853), c. xvi. p. 248:
«It caused the diggers, as a body, to pause in their headlongcareer.»
1855. W. Howitt, `Land, Labour, and Gold,'vol. ii. p. 148, Letter xxx:
«Buckland River, January 29th, 1854. The diggers here are avery quiet and civil race, at the same time that they are amost active and laborious one. . . . The principal part ofthe diggers here are from the Ovens.»
1864. J. Rogers, `New Rush,' pt. ii. p. 31:
«Drink success to the digger's trade,
And break up to the squatter's.»
1896. H. Lawson, `While the Billy boils,' p. 148:
«His Father's Mate had always been a general favourite with thediggers and fossickers, from the days when he used to slip outfirst thing in the morning and take a run across the frostyflat in his shirt.»