The Diggers From China, The Story of the Chinese on the Goldfields

Description

The discovery of gold attracted many migrants to Australia, but none seemed so strange, so outlandish, so disturbing as the Chinese. In this book the nameless faceless horde becomes an adventurous stream of country men from the Pearl River delta, dutiful husbands and sons trying to better their family fortunes in the face of civil war, corrupt administration, avaricious moneylenders, drought and flood. The Chinese endured great hardship to reach the goldfields and, having got there, they faced misunderstanding and hatred. their lives on the diggings was harsh; few prospered; many died and most of the survivors paid off their debt and returned home.