Bob; I'm in Williams Lake, BC, the Cariboo region. e-mail is rtwright@grassrootsgroup.com

The hurdy-gurdys were dancing girls here in BC during the goldrush. danced in sets of 4. most came from germany. the name was attached in California when presumably they brought the instrument over.

I have collected lots of performance music of the day; found a letter that mentions specific hurdy dance and found a few refs to "campfire' music during the epic 1862 overland trek. need more of the latter, but it's hard to find. lots of men and a few women came here from Aust. --hence my interest.

tell me more about the Great Golrush Show.

Excuse the terse note and missing caps--I have to type with my left hand as a horse kick broke my right arm and the cast is above the elbow.

If you need more I can send it snail mail or cut and paste into an e-mail.

Cheers Richard