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conditions.. .' However, the Australian Handbook for 1882 states (p178) in
respect to Milparinka:
'In June 1881 a camel troop, consisting of eleven camels laden with
stores and goods to a weight of three and a half tons came safely
overland from Beltana in South Australia to here.. '
As the 1882 Australian Handbook was published before the purported use
of camels in 1882 I suggest that, contrary to Gerrtisen's information,
camels were used in both 1881 and 1882.
The introduction of camels to replace horses and bullocks at least at some
times of the year was also mentioned in 1882 by the Warden, who
reported (Mines,1882:99):
'In the early part of this year provisions were getting very scarce, but
the timely arrival of a caravan of camels and two teams of camels
from South Australia afforded relief. About this time it was also
found necessary to convey the mails by camels, and the trip to
Wilcannia was performed once a fortnight...
Also in his 1882 report, the Warden (Mr. Warden King) stated 'The autumn
of this year was a very unhealthy period, and many deaths took place from
a fever of a typhoid character, and dysentery, and there were many cases
of scurvy and ophthalmia...It was found necessary to open temporary
hospitals at Milparinka and Tibooburra, and a camel waggon load of sick
men was sent away to Wilcannia, who all recovered their health...
The same report contains an acknowledgment of the contribution made by
the Chinese to overcoming the shortage of adequate food on the Albert
Goldfield. The acknowledgment, associated with the report quoted above
in respect to typhoid fever, was as follows:
"As the cool weather advanced the sickness disappeared... , and the
general health of the inhabitants is very good; this in some degree
may be attributable to the good supply of vegetables raised by the
Chinese gardeners and sold by them at reasonably remunerative
rates. About eight Chinamen are employed in two gardens; two are
employed as domestic servants, and one is a carpenter, and this
(11) numbers the whole of the Chinese population here."
(Mines, 1882:99)
Considering that a year earlier The Wilcannia Times had carried an article
stating that 'The diggers appear determined to prevent if possible
Chinamen from participating in the rush (and that) one mongolian's life has
been threatened and he has had to clear out.'(The Wilcannia Times, March
5, 1881:2) this is a remarkable acknowledgment of the part played by the
Chinese in developing the goldfield. The acknowledgment is also
significant as in his 1881 annual report the Warden had suggested