to search for gold. In the word, and inall its derivatives, the accent is thrown back on to the firstsyllable. This word, in such frequent use in Australia, isgenerally supposed to be of Australian origin, but it is inequal use in the mining districts of the United States ofAmerica.
1861. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 10:
«The forest seemed alive with scouts `prospecting.'»
1864. J. Rogers, `New Rush,' pt. i. p. 18:
«Behold him, along with his partner set out,
To prospect the unexplor'd ranges about.»
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `The Miner's Right,' p. 46:
«A promising place for prospecting. Yet nowhere did I see theshafts and heaps of rock or gravel which tell in a gold countryof the hasty search for the precious metal.»
1894. `The Argus,' March 10, p. 4, col. 6:
«The uses of the tin dish require explanation. It is forprospecting. That is to say, to wash the soil in which youthink there is gold.»
the result of the first ortest-dish full of wash-dirt.
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `The Miner's Right,' c. v. p. 54:
«The first prospect, the first pan of alluvial gold drift,was sent up to be tested.»
1890. `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 17:
«I have obtained good dish prospects after crudely crushingup the quartz.»