shepherd

I.

v.

1) to guard a mining claimand do a little work on it, so as to preserve legal rights.

1861. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 135:

«Few of their claims however are actually `bottomed,' for theowners merely watch their more active contemporaries.»

(Footnote): «This is termed `shepherding' a claim.»

1890. `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 11:

«All the ground . . . is held in blocks which are beingmerely shepherded.»

2) By transference from (1). To follow or hang about a personin the hopes of getting something out of him. Compare similaruse of shadow.

1896. Modern:

«The robbers knowing he had so much coin about him, determinedto shepherd him till an opportunity occurred of robbery withimpunity.»

II.

n. a miner who holds a claim but doesnot work it.

188 – . `Argus' (date lost):

«The term `jumper,' being one of reproach, brought quite a yellfrom the supporters of the motion. Dr. Quick retorted with adeclaration that the Grand Junction Company were all`shepherds,' and that `shepherds' are the worse of the twoclasses. The `jumpers' sat in one gallery and certainrepresentatives or deputy `shepherds' in the other. Names aredeceitful. . . . The Maldon jumpers were headed by quite avenerable gentleman, whom no one could suspect of violentexercise nor of regrettable designs upon the properties of hisneighbours. And the shepherds in the other gallery, instead ofbeing light-hearted beings with pipes and crooks – – a laWatteau and Pope – – looked unutterable things at the individualswho had cast sheep's eyes on their holding.»