The splitter and fencer or shearer presented a much smarter appearance. Strong, muscular, bearded, in his prime, clad neatly and comfortably, sometimes with a spare horse carrying his baggage, he came into town hearty and jolly, to leave it, alas! too often, with an emptier pocket, and a bloodshot eye and shaking hand. moleskin trousers covering his nether way many of these men spent their short man, and a battered old felt hat on his holiday in town, and the money they had head, completed his attire; while his labored so hard for. John soon got tired pouch contained his knife, matches, and of these scenes, and took his way back to tobacco, together with his last agreement his inn. On the road he passed numerof service, a few old receipts for horses ous parties of aboriginals - the men in bought, and, in all probability, a consider- tattered shirts and trousers, mostly withable cheque-a sensible collie-dog or out hats, their heads covered with a huge two generally bringing up the rear. mass of tangled ringlets, for the black fellow who lives in the bush bestows but small attention on his cobra, as the head is usually called in the pigeon-English which they employ. The women sometimes wore merely a shirt; and a favorite article of apparel was the skirt of a white woman's dress, the band fastened over one shoulder and under the other arm, the opposite arm passing through the The neat, smart-looking, well-mounted slit. Sometimes they used cloaks made stockman passed quickly along, sitting of opossum-skin, and many carried chilhis horse with an easy grace, the result dren on their backs. of many a long overland journey or sharp mountain gallop. Now and again a squat-pulsory for them to appear clothed to a ter, mounted on a well-bred, active hack, certain extent in town, their own natural moved by, a spare horse or two being inclination being the other way. They driven by his attendant black boy. The seemed to loiter about without any parpublic-houses presented a very busy ticular object. sight; and judging by the bars, it seemed that when men were not eating, sleeping, or working, they were drinking grog and boasting (or blowing, in colonial parlance) of some feat which they had performed, or of the particular merits of some horse, bullock, dog, or man. As a rule, the conversation was very horsey or bullocky. The bar parlors seemed to be quite as full as the tap-rooms; and squatters, merchants, and professional men transacted their business, or amused themselves, very much in the same manner as their inferiors. No bargain could be completed without a "wet" over it, and no friendship formed or enmity forgotten without recourse to the bottle. Many of the shepherds and other bushmen, indeed, considered it the correct thing to put their year's wages into the hands of the publican whose house they stayed at, with the request to inform them when the money was spent until which time they themselves drank, and treated everybody else who would drink with them. Indeed they not unfrequently annoyed those whom they might chance to fall in with by insisting on standing treat a refusal being very often answered by a show of anger and an indignant "Oh, you're too proud to drink with a poor man!" Quarrelling, singing, riding furiously, a night spent in the lock-up, a recovery of misery, perhaps a touch of delirium tremens,-in this John afterwards learnt that it was com Occasionally one of the men might be seen chopping wood or fetching water, and some of the gins, as the women are called, employed in assisting at housework. Many begged, on the smallest opportunity, for toombacco (tobacco) or "white money;" others were seated or stretched lazily along the shady side of some building, incessantly singing a monotonous ditty, or enjoying a snooze. On the whole, they seemed a merry, happy, careless, tolerably well-fed, dirty, greasy, abject-looking set of black people, with a peculiar smoky, overpowering smell about them. These were part of the Ipswich tribe, and knocked out a precarious living by hunting in the bush and begging in the town. The enforced stay wearied our friend exceedingly; he found himself the only aimless person in the place. All day long there were arrivals and departures on horseback. Bullock-drays came and went; supplies were landed from the steamers, and wool was despatched. Among others, John's shipmate Boyle made a start up-country, his departure giving rise to an episode of considerable interest. He had been staying in Brisbane for a day or two, and had there purchased a handsome, though somewhat shy, black mare to carry him to his destination. This animal he had caused to be caparisoned in front of his hotel with the paraphernalia which he had brought | aiming at a stump, he fired. He had no out with him from home, thinking that time to witness the effect of his shot. in a colony so remote all saddlery was With a bound his charger flew round, difficult to procure. His steed looked and getting amongst the small crowd of brilliant, in all the shining glory of new onlookers, she put down her head, and furniture, a glistening new bit in her executed in a circle a series of remarkmouth, and a martingale half-a-dozen ably active buck-jumps. Her rider could sizes too big round her neck; while a not fall off. He sat there, trussed by huge-sized valise, sufficient for a family, the swag in front of him, desperation in crossed the pommel of his saddle, and his face, his long spurs jammed well into occupied almost the entire seat. A stiff, the sides of the mare, his hand mechanill-made English stock-whip hung on one ically holding the pistol, and with each side, and an apparatus containing a mul- succeeding jump involuntarily pulling the titudinous assortment of knives, forks, trigger, causing the bullets to fly in evspoons, dishes, tumblers, etc., as sup- ery direction. There was no more laughposed in England to be necessary for ter from the audience. With an impulse people who eat in the open air, hung on they threw themselves on the ground, the other. Everything about the whole preferring to chance being trampled on bespoke "new chum," and accordingly by the horse to being subjected to the a crowd of amused bush and town peo- erratic fire of the equestrian acrobat. ple gathered round to see the mount On the chambers being all discharged, made and the start effected. the mare ceased bucking, and no one was more astonished than the rider to find himself still in his saddle. And he departed, much to the relief of those who had thus stood, or lain down to, powder for the first time. Presently the new arrival issued from the veranda, dressed, according to his own ideas, as much like a bushman as possible, in a thick coat and waistcoat, heavy enough for an English winter, and a pair of thick, baggy cord-breeches, with long, heavy-soled Napoleon boots, garnished with formidable long-necked spurs. A bran-new cabbage-tree hat protected his head; his waist was confined by a broad leathern belt, supporting on one side a revolver, and on the other a large butcher's knife. It was a matter of no little difficulty for him to mount his steed, partly from his cumbrous attire and the huge "swag" which lay across the seat, as well as from the unpleasant way in which the newly-panelled saddle kept slipping over the fat round back of his mare whenever his weight bore on the stirrup. In time, by dint of one man holding to the opposíte stirrup, another keeping back the swag, a third holding the bridle, and a fourth pushing him behind, Mr. Boyle gained a romantic and picturesque perch, much to his own satisfaction, amidst shouts of "Stick to her, squatter!" from the deeply interested spectators, whose amusement was, however, soon to be changed into consternation; for when they had followed the cavalier a short distance to an open space, it entered into his head to see how his mare stood fire in case he might be placed in some of the perils which he fancied beset his journey. Accordingly, he drew his trusty and much-valued "double action" out of its bright new pouch. It had been loaded with much attention that morning, and VOL. XXIX. 1471 LIVING AGE. IV. A START UP-COUNTRY. An evening or two after Boyle's departure John was sitting in the veranda, when a nondescript-looking vehicle, drawn by two horses tandem-fashion, and containing a very stout woman and a stockman-looking man, drove up. John had the pleasure of meeting the stout woman at dinner, and she turned out to be the proprietress of a hotel in the neighborhood of Mr. Cosgrove's station. When she heard John was going there, but detained from want of horses, she kindly informed him that he might ride one of her two back, as she intended remaining some time in town, and was about sending back horses and man. Our hero gladly accepted the offer; and next morning, after many preparations, in close imitation of his friend Boyle, he made ready to start. His guide was the ostler of the hotel, who, being from home, was consequently on the spree. He called on John to make haste, sprang on his own horse, and in a few minutes both were galloping out of the town. The ostler proceeded in the most correct bush style. Every now and then uttering a wild cry and dashing his spurs into his nag's sides, he would fly along at his topmost speed, only to pull up again at the nearest public-house, to the veranda of which his horse's bridle was of the stock-whip reverberating through hung until he had imbibed a nobbler or the forest every now and then! How two. John's horse seemed rather aston- pleasant to see the preparations for the ished not to find his rider executing sim- evening meal, the huge fire of logs, the ilar war-cries, but he nevertheless tore galvanized-tin bucket full of tea, the smokafter his companion with a desperate en- ing dish of beef and potatoes, which, toergy, which showed the interest he took gether with many other comforts and in the proceeding, and pulled up at the luxuries, proved that the Australian buldoors of the bush inns with a sudden- lock-drivers have a partiality for good livness which, but for the swag in front of ing, and indulge it! At last they arrived him, would have sent poor John, who was at the end of their day's journey, an inn rather aghast at this desperate sort of similar to the one they spent the previous travelling, sprawling. night at; and John's romantic imagination received a considerable check, owing to the exquisite pain which an alarming abrasion of his cuticle caused him. Indeed he almost feared that the end of his journey would find him minus the greater portion of his outer man. They reached their destination towards evening-a pretty, quiet little inn, the stout, motherly landlady of which conducted our friend to a neat little parlor, and gave him a quiet supper, after which he betook himself to bed, feeling, after his twenty-five-mile ride, as if every bone in his body was broken. Next day the travellers proceeded in a much more orderly manner; and about midday a man was descried coming towards them, leading a horse. This proved to be one of Mr. Cosgrove's men, with horses for the young traveller. John enjoyed this journey through wild woods beyond measure; and when, after passing through many a dark ravine, and climbing the green slopes of the great ranges, they gazed on the distant shining peaks standing out against the blue sky, while all around rose silently tall, straight-stemmed trees, whose leaves whispered away above them at an immense height, the first feeling of that love of the wild bush, its silent calm, and its eloquent beauty began to dawn on him. His spirit welled up within him, and he felt, and rejoiced in, his strength he revelled in the enjoyment of life. An unknown future lay before him, but he had no care as to what that future was; he lived in the present, and all was new and fascinating. The startled kangaroo flying throughthe forest glade, the harsh-voiced, big headed, laughing jackass, the bright-hued paroquet, the screeching cockatoo, and a hundred other forms of life, amazed and delighted him. How picturesque the encampment of bullock-drays looked on the roadside, when, the day's work being completed, the bows and yokes were taken off the necks of the great oxen, and varied-toned sonorous bells fastened round them instead, and the jangling crowd was driven by a man on horseback up the creek to some well-known spot, where the pasturage was particularly good, the deep knell He slept that night the sleep of the wearied "new chum," and with his companions was on the road next morning early enough to come upon a camp of fat cattle travelling down to market. The haze of the night had scarce lifted from the dank grass of the wide rolling downs. The smoke of the camp-fire rose | lazily through the mist-laden atmosphere, at some distance from the road. A mounted horseman, enveloped in a large blanket from head to foot, emerged from the fog, and, as if out of the earth, there rose up slowly and deliberately bullock after bullock, to the number of forty or fifty, and took their way towards town, the horseman moving quietly after them in a zigzag manner. The mist clearing off soon after, disclosed a second horseman at the fire, apparently engaged in packing the food and cooking-utensils upon a spare horse, his own grazing beside him, the bridle between its legs. The scene which now met their eyes was one of the greatest beauty; and John wondered at the unsympathetic manner with which his fellow-travellers listened to his raptured expressions of delight as he viewed the vast extent of undulating, richly grassed prairie, lovely valleys with timbercrowned ridges varying the beauty of the whole, while sharp wooded promontories here and there ran far out into the wide sea of plain, ranges of blue mountains forming the frame of this enchanting picture. The lowing of the distant herd fell soothingly upon the morning air, as, graz ing slowly, the sated cattle made their way from the open country to the shady camps under the trees, beside the cool waters of the creek which flowed through this pleasant land. As they proceeded they passed camp after camp of bullock-drays, the drivers and assistants all busy in yoking up for the day. This cannot be effected without much running about, shouting, swearing, and use of the whip, which weapon the practised bullock-driver wields with the most severe effect, each lash leaving a long cut on the hide of the devoted beast, who cringes under it. As bullockdrivers are continually breaking in young cattle, there is a constant freshness in this work, which is by no means devoid of danger, many of the young bullocks and indeed some of the older onesbeing of uncertain temper, and prone, when opportunity offers, to charge and gore any unhappy wight unable to get out of their way. As the day wore on, they overtook bullock-drays lurching along heavily in the ruts of the road, the little keg of water at the tail-board swinging as if it would wrench out the staple it hung by, and the driver appealing occasionally to some bullock or other by name, following up his admonition by a sweeping cut of his "gully-raker," and a report like a musketshot. The intelligence displayed by the leaders and polers was very great; and they obeyed the word of the driver, coming to him, or moving from him, with the utmost docility. The pace they travelled at barely exceeded two miles an hour; and the mite of a small boy who in some instances drove the spare bullocks behind, found relief from ennui in addressing imperious words of command to them, couched in the strongest language, with as big a voice as his small lungs could produce. These men all seemed to go without coats or waistcoats, or braces, a waistbelt confining the trousers at the girdle. Indeed, so much did this seem the fashion, that partly induced by it, and partly by the heat, John soon followed suit, and rolled his upper clothing in the swag in front of him. Traces of favorite camping-places met their eyes at every watercourse they came to. Each lagoon or water-hole had innumerable round spots of grey ashes, with a few black embers lying among them, all around it. Many of the surrounding trees were cut down for fuel; and great numbers of empty jam-pots, salmon, lobster, and sardine tins, broken brandy-bottles, perhaps an old boot or two, and part of a rotten old saddle, lay scattered about. Soon they passed a head-station, as the homestead and main buildings of a station are invariably called. It belonged to a very rich squatter, whose name was a power in the country, and was beautifully situated. The houses were comfortably built and of handsome design. A large garden adjoined them; creepers covered the verandas and outbuildings, of which there were many; and several paddocks of great extent, encircled by substantial posts and rail fences, surrounded the whole. They shortly afterwards crossed a small running creek; and it being almost midday, a halt was called for the purpose of giving the horses a spell and having a pot of tea." 66 Accordingly, the horses were unsaddled. They were then taken down to the water and had their backs washed, to prevent the sweat hardening under the saddle and causing sores; after which each had a pair of hobbles fastened round ROADSIDE SCENES. NIGHT AT A STA- his fore fetlocks, a proceeding which he V. TION.- ARRIVAL AT CAMBARANGA. THE travellers proceeded along the road, their horses walking or jogging, which are the customary paces when journeying. They encountered and overtook many teams, their drivers exchanging a morning salutation and a few words of greeting with John's two friends, who seemed to know, or know of, everybody they met. Occasionally a horseman or two, or a pedestrian carrying his worldly goods rolled up in his blanket and strapped on his back, a billy (that is, a round tin pitcher with a lid) in his hand, and with a dog or two at his heels, met and passed them, exchanging the usual "good morning." quite seemed to expect; and they hobbled off in a series of short jerks, with their noses to the ground, seeking for the softest spot in the vicinity. This was no sooner discovered than they dropped on their knees, and thence on their sides, testifying their satisfaction by rolling over and over repeatedly. Then springing to their feet and shaking themselves free from dust and dirt, they set to work to crop the grass. John was so much interested in observing this that he forgot his own duties. However, his friend the ostler unstrapped the quarts and filled them with water, the other man having made a glorious fire in a few minutes. The quart-pots were now put on to boil, swags were opened and food produced. "Look out there!" he continued; quart-pot corroborree," springing up and removing with one hand from the fire one of the quart-pots, which was boiling madly, while with the other he dropped in about as much tea as he could hold between his fingers and thumb. Then stirring it with a straw, he set it aside to draw. The other quart-pot was served in a similar way; but John's, although in a hotter spot, showed no signs of boiling. In vain he applied more fuel, the fire seemed to have no effect. "It's no use," said his friends; "them new quarts takes a month o' Sundays to bile. Ye see, ours has been used many a day, and they're battered and black, and takes kindly to it; but them new ones don't like it, somehow." And, so it was, for they had almost finished their meal before the new quart "corroborreed," as the stockman phrased it. It came in handy, however, with the after-dinner pipe which both the men indulged in. Horses were now caught and saddled, swags were strapped on, and they travelled onwards in the same manner as in the morning. They had not gone very far when the little bull-terrier pup which John had brought with him from home, and which was growing rapidly into a very handsome young dog, made a rush at something in the grass, and shook it violently. "What is it?" shouted John, greatly excited. "Snake," returned both the men in a breath. "Oh, my dog, he will be bitten!" cried poor John; and throwing himself off his horse he seized a bullock's shin-bone which happened to be lying handy. He struck the snake (a long, lithe, flat-headed black one) such a blow on the head as to deprive it of power. Bully rushed in again before John could prevent him, and crushed its head between his jaws. "Do you think he's hurt?" asked John, anxiously.. "Well, if he ain't, it won't be long be fore he will be," said the ostler; "but, Lord, you never knows when a beast gets bitten. Just the other day I was a-ridin' along, and I notices a snake- the same kind as that un under my horse's feet, and I thought I felt her give a bit of a kick with her off hind-foot, but I wasn't sure like. Howsomever, she went along picking up a mouthful of grass now an' ag'in quite lively like, when all of a sudden she stopped and trembled, then she lay down, and she died in half an hour in mortial pain." Ay, sometimes they dies in five minutes," said the other. "I think it all depends on whether their blood is hot or not. If so be as they are warm, the pison tells very quick; and I think that'ere dog is agoin' to croak." John's distress was very great at seeing his faithful little companion move about uneasily, lie down, get up, whine, lick his hand, then look up in his face as if mutely asking help. Once or twice he returned to the dead snake and shook it, and John hoped that they were mistaken in the symptoms. But it was not so; poor Bully shivered, drew up his limbs, became rigid, recovered, whined again, kept licking his master's hand, and at last died in great agony. It was with a sore heart that John mounted his horse to continue his journey. The dog had proved a loving companion, and was growing very dear to him; besides which, he was very valuable on account of his pure breed, and was generally admired. That evening they reached the hotel to which the ostler was bound; and after spending the night there, they bade him farewell next morning, the man refusing to take the gratuity which John offered him. A similar day's travelling through forest country brought them at night to a station called Cooranilla. They had struck off from the main highway early in the morning, and had passed over many miles without meeting a single traveller. Part of the distance lay over poor country, covered with ti-tree, box, and ironbark saplings, with here and there heavy timber growing on sour-looking ridges. Lignum-vitæ and bastard-myall bushes were very common; while huge, dense scrubs, composed chiefly of bugalow-trees and undergrowth, lined the road in many places. In the neighborhood of these scrubs the game was especially plentiful; and kangaroos, paddy-melons, wallabies, and kangaroo-rats crossed the road con |