October 31 Thursday – In Melbourne, Sam attended the wool-sales for half an hour with John H. Wagner. Sam said, “wool brokers are just like stockbrokers” [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 20].

Sam’s notebook recorded the visit:

Oct. 31. Melbourne. Went to the wool exchange with John H. Wagner. Selling the “clip” in lots — at 6 & a farthing. When a man has the clip of 100,000 sheep to sell (6 pounds of wool to the sheep) the difference of a farthing makes a big difference — 600,000 farthings.

Bidders like barking dogs — Babel — racket — gesticulation — nobody calm but the President. Everybody yelps, yaps, barks, at once, & the Prest decides which barked first — no appeal [NB 34 TS 24].

When Sam attempted to pay Dr. N.T. Fitzgerald for his services while in Australia, the good doctor refused payment and was “insulted” — Sam wrote, “Why will the physician put upon the patient these humiliations?” [NB 34 TS 24].

The Clemens party boarded the Union Co.’s 2,598-ton ship Mararoa, to sail down the eastern coast of Tasmania to Hobart, then to New Zealand. Journalist Malcom Ross was on board and gave Sam several books on Tasmanian aboriginal history. Other passengers included Irish nationalist Michael Davitt, and Sam’s agent Carlyle G. Smythe [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 20].