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ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA:
THE WANDERINGS OF CAPTAIN SPENCER
IN THE BUSH AND THE WILDS.
CONT.MN'IXG
ACCUR.\TE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HABITS OF THE NATIVES
AND THE N.\TURAL PRODUCTIONS AND FEATURES
OF THE COUNTRY.

MRS. R. LEE,
AUTHOR OF "the AFRICAN W.VNDERERS," "ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS," ETC.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY y. S. PROUT.
SIXTH THOUSAND, REVISED.

GRIFFITH AND FARRA N,
SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS,
WEST CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON.
NEW YORK ; E. P. DUTTON AND CO.

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PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

HE favourable reception given to the "African
Wanderers" has prompted an Australian
wanderer to recite his adventures ; and as
the natural productions of the newer world are even
more extraordinary than those longer discovered, it is
the object of the present work rather to dwell upon
them than on the fast-increasing riches of the settle
ments. To describe the latter, would be to make a
book of statistics, so rapidly varying, that new data
would be required every few months, and each colony
would deraand a volume.
The author is desirous to express her gratitude for
the assistance which she has received from private
sources, and the admirable travels which have been
written on the same subject. The names of Stokes,
Gray, Sturt, Eyre, and several others, give authority
to her assertions ; and for the verification of the de
tails of Natural History, she has received the valuable

vi PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
aid of Mr. Brown, himself an At:stralian traveller,
Professor O^en, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gould's works, as
supplied by Mr. George Gray, and Mr. Adam White.
The employment of technical or native names, a prac
tice by no means desirable to the general reader, has
been unavoidable, for they are the only terms known,
and will continue to be so till the race of the Anglo-
Saxon has overrun the whole of this favoured part of
creation, and given more familiar appellations. Some
idea of the beauty of the principal Australian plants
may be conceived by visiting the Royal Gardens at
Kew, where they bloom during the spring, in rich
luxuriance. Those who have watched the use which parrots
sometimes make of their speech, will not wonder at
the aptitude of Charlie. The family firom which he
comes is cleverer than those of all other talking birds,
and the author has witnessed its extreme facility and
intelligence.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

jlHE author of this work states, with grateful
pleasure, that a' second edition of it is now
demanded by the public j and that wishes
have been expressed for some account of the produc
tions of the Adelaide mines, and the discoveries of
gold. The former has been easily added to her
pages; but as her hero, Captain Spencer, travelled
in Australia before "the diggings" commenced, it
would have been an anachronism to have represented
him as an eye-witness of the newly-found riches of
this great country. She has endeavoured to over
come the difiiculty by annexing, at the end, as long a
description of the gold-finding as the limits of the
narrative will allow.

PREFACE TO THE SIXTH THOUSAND.

RE-ISSUE of this work having again been
called for, it has been felt necessary to give
the text a very careful revision in the light
of our extended knowledge of the vast and still
less than half-explored continent of which it treats.
This has been done with a light and sparing hand,
so as to leave the original form of the work unmodified,
because it undoubtedly presents a vivid and upon the
whole an accurate picture of the Australian Continent
as it was from thirty to forty years ago.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
I'AGE
Captain Spencer recommended to leave India on account of
his health — Hires a Malay schooner — Embarks with his
horse and dog — Cruises on the outskirts of the Indian
Archipelago — Converts a Triton shell into " tea-kettle,
and a Clamp shell into a cup— A bird caught, which Cap
tain Spencer names Charlie, and teaches to speak— Meets
with the inhabitants of the Indian Seas— The Organ-
fish— The Cuttle fish— The Diodon— Sea-snakes— Cap
tain Spencer, not gaining strength, determines to go to
Australia— Touches at Timor to take in supplies— De
scription of Coepang — Excursion ashore — A hunt—
Timoree traffic— Departure from Timor .... I
CHAPTER II.
Arrival on the northem coast of Austraha- Various sea
animals— Albatross— Tropic and Frigate birds— Touch
at an island; see natives— Go back to the continent-
Enter a river— Catch a crocodile— The country on fire-
See a Dugong— Return from the river— The Malays catch
Trepang— Captain Spencer goes ashore— Finds a curious
lizard— All go to an island to cure Trepang— See natives
—Examine their rafts— Oysters found— Playfulness of a

X CONIENTS.
PAGE
whale at sea — Flies — Natives bring a young man for them
to set his arm — Captain Spencer performs the operation —
Description of natives — Charlie and Tiger (the horse)
frighten them — Natives dance — The schooner goes to
another island — Captain Spencer finds an Eagle's nest,
and various birds — Goes ashore — Eagle shot — Captain
Spencer stays all night — Violent hurricane and storm —
Schooner lost — Malays crushed by falling of cliff — Cap
tain .Spencer enters a cave with Charlie, Tiger, and the
dog Gipsy  17
CHAPTER III.
Captain Spencer determines to start for Swan River —
Secures objects from the wreck— Running fishes — Attack
from natives — Starts for Swan River — A log of wood
converted into a shovel — A Hawk's-bill Turtle — Natives
touch the baggage — Frightened away — Natives on shore
taste pickled oysters — Put on Captain Spencer's trousers —
Insects — Birds — Impression of a cloven foot with a spur —
Flight of Parrakeets — Scrub — Captain Silencer makes a
grass hat — Albatross — Haze and mirage — Berries —
Snakes — Porpoises — Sea-shells — Meteor — Gannets . 43
CHAPTER IV.
Captain Spencer ascends a ravine — Flying Foxes — Green
Ants — Hawks, Pelicans, Parrakeets, and Cranes — •
Mullet — Porpoises — Pandanus — Nutmegs — Pigeons, etc.
— Mosquitoes — Sand-flies — Hears natives — Dangerous
attack — Captain Spencer kills a man — He is woimded
by a spear — Beautiful plain and lake — Water-lilies, etc. —
Residence on the top of a hillock — Native graves — Sees
Kangaroos — Tiger loses a shoe — Oats — Kangaroos — Skin
prepared — Mocassins made — Frilled Lizard — Gipsy nearly
killed by a Python — Kites and other birds — Cranes 
Bitterns — Owls, etc. — Sow-thistle — Falcon — Shrike 
Cuckoo — Captain Spencer rides to native huts — Spear-

CONTENTS.

PAGE

heads — Circles of stones — Bower-bird — Gourd — Cray
fish — Ciptain Spencer rides over the hills — Caves like
temples — Paintings— Vampire Bats — Carved head — Kan
garoo — Gouty tree — Vitex — Crabs — Reed — Beetles —
Fire-flies — Storm — Provisions collected for joumey — The
grass hat — A fresh start  63.
CHAPTER V.
Snake — Huts — Ovens — Basalt — Luxuriant grass — Gorge
— Another gouty-stemmed tree — Captain Spencer desires
to go to the interior — Scrub — Fishes — Gum-trees —
Large fish — Birds — Flying Opossums — Insects —
Fusanus — Casuarina — Dragon-fly — Sun to the north —
Tiger's hoofs worn — Tiger's socks — Mesembryanthe-
mum — Jerboas — Bustard — Native grave — Melaleuca —
Lark — Natives and dogs' — Dogs rash on Gipsy — Captain
Spencer saves the dog — Natives equipped for war— Cap
tain Spencer separated from his arms — Dances to conciliate
natives — Reaches his fire-arms — Frightens the natives —
Tiger comes up, and they are still more frightened —
Natives ran off — Tombs — Opossums — Magnetic hills —
River — Black Swans — Zamia — Captain Spencer poisoned
by nuts — Conduct ofhis companions — Recovers — Yams —
Moths — Peppermint — Grass-trees — Natives and dogs
come upon Captain Spencer when cleaning arms — He
frightens them away — Uninhabited villages — Yam-
grounds — Howls of dogs — Splendid Pelargonium — Tiger
attacked by a venomous snake — In saving the horse Cap
tain Spencer is bitten — Almost dies — Recovers — Natives
blow at him — Hen-Turkey — Native hut for watching
prey — Birds — Directs his way south — Water scarce —
Tiger drinks all from one can — Protete . . . .93
CHAPTER VL
Eed of a river — Native women — Captain Spencer finds
water by digging — Diamond birds — Charlie frightens

[ii CONTENTS.
PAGE
birds away — Captain Spencer takes yams from women — -
Gives a horse-shoe in exchange — Conduct of the natives
with the horse-shoe — Kangaroo — Holes of dirty water —
Gipsy falls into one of them — Comes out covered with
mud — Birds driven away by Charlie — Snake imder
saddle — A cry of distress — Finds the native whose arm
had been broken lamed by a thorn in the foot — Captam
Spencer saves him — Kinchela, name of native — Speaks
Malay — Tells his history — Conversation between the
Englishman and Australian — Captain Spencer goes to a
well — Kinchela cooks — Discourse about Boyl-yas — Kin-
chela afraid of Tiger — Opinion of Captain Spencer among
natives — Kinchela ignorant of way to Perth — Promises to
take Captain Spencer to white men — Asks so earnestly to
go with him that no refusal can be given — Grubs in Grass-
tree — Frogs — Charlie interferes with Kinchela's lesson in
English — Scarcity of clothes , . . . . .116

CHAPTER VIL
-Kinchela still afraid of Tiger — Zamia- trees — Kinchela's
first lesson in honesty — Bed of a small lake — Improved
cuisine — Australians cannot boil — Fire-stick — Wild fowl —
Birds — Kangaroo caught in Kinchela's fashion — Kinchela
greedy — Reflections of Captain Spencer — Gums — Manna
— Floss silk — Bee — Kinchela's memory of words — Cold
rain — Kinchela catches Opossums — Kinchela makes a
cloak — Burnt grass — Catch animals by burning scrub —
Kinchela mends spear — Kinchela talks of bad black men
— Magellanic clouds — Higher hills — Wallabies — Talperos
— Emu — Emu oil — Cross the mountains — Flies — Iguana
— Kinchela's fear of a telescope — Beautiful scenery —
Flowers — Lake — Ipomea — Everlastings — Nest of Leipoa
— Banksias — Finches — Stork — Dragon-fly — Beetle — Fly
— Grubs — Captain Spencer carries Gipsy everywhere on his
knapsack — Native dogs — Wombat — Snake — Kingia 
Grevillia — Inga — Eugenia, etc. — Birds and insects — Buteo

CONTENTS.

PAGE

— Birds— Sceneiy- Pieces of crystal and agate — Flowers
— Mackintosh given to Kinchela — Fungus — Natives
frightened away by gun — Python — Arrive at the ocean . 133.

CHAPTER VIIL
Captain Spencer makes a signal to ^ vessel — Boat comes
a.shore — Captain of the vessel comes in the boat — Offers
assistance — Captain Spencer and his companions go on
board the French whaling ship, the Ma7~ie — Life on
board the Marie — Native feast off a stranded whale —
Natives pay a visit to the Marie — Kinchela spoiled —
Charlie leams French — Captain Spencer leaves the Marie
— Scrab — Tiger very happy — Cranbeny — Kangaroo —
Kinchela has a fit of gluttony — Cliffs — Return to the sea
shore — Fishes — Musical Teredo — Salsolse — Eryngium —
Fruit — Plants, etc. — Reptiles — Birds — Crabs — Kinchela
ill-humoured ......... 163,

CHAPTER IX.
Spinifex — Bark of Gum-tree — Excrescence on tree — Well
— Rhagodia — Water scarce — Water from Gum-trees —
Hot wind — Dew — Salt Lake — Salsola — Mirage —
Gum-tree roots — Emigrating birds — Cold wind and
frost — Hakea — Curious stones — Absence of animal
and vegetable life — Sand, quartz, iron — Scorching sun
— No water, no food — Distress of Captain Spencer —
Dog and horse suffer much — Tiger appears to die —
Sorrow of Captain Spencer— Kinchela lies down to die —
Captain Spencer gives himself up for lost, and becomes
insensible — A shower in the night somewhat revives
him; — A Pigeop shows the way to some water — Captain
Spencer rouses himself and reaches the place, drinks, and
takes some to his companions — All go to the well — Kin
chela and Gipsy eat Kangaroo skin and fall asleep —
%Vhile sitting with his face between his hands Captain
Spencer's hat is taken off^Sees Tiger with it in his

CONTENTS.

mouth — ^Joy — Rest three days — Mountains — Country im
proves — Copious rain — Old man  184
CHAPTER X.
Plenty of food — Yellow bean — Rough ground — Emus — Fish
ing — Natives — Painted man — Birds — Man and his wife —
Rivers — Kinchela recognises the country — Finds a dead ¦
kangaroo — Kinchela not allowed to take it— Building rat —
Cold — Encampment of natives — Kinchela's friends — Cap
tain Spencer well received by them for his sake — Captain
Spencer consents to stay the winter with them — The
natives build him a house — Supply him with provisions
— Two men, Warrup and Ugat, superior to the rest —
¦Opinion of Tiger — Description of natives — A new tribe
,a,rrives — Their reception — Captain Spencer taken for the
ghost of a relation — Corobbery — Dance of hill tribe —
Warrup and Ugat talk of native customs to their guest —
New sorts of food — Native manufactures . . . 205
CHAPTER XI.
Siver overflows — Different modes of fishing — Cooking —
Frogs — Cray-fish — Tortoises — Birds — Wind — Hatchet
missing, and restored — Description of sorcerers — Sorcerers
come to cure a boy — Restrictions concerning food —
Native laws and customs — Women — Quarrel and combat
— Boomerang — Large Kangaroo hunt — Tribe goes away
and steals a young woman — Preparations for war — War-
5ong — Departure in pursuit of the enemy — Captain
,Spencer follows — Encounter of the tribes — Captain
Spencer fires,, frightens, and pursues the guilty tribe —
The young woman found bleeding to death — Taken home
to be eaten — Captain Spencer goes away . , . 223
CHAPTER XIL
"Return to the river — Beautiful shrub — Bauhinia — Marjoram
— Oruithorynchus — Natives become more frequent —

CONTENTS,

Watching necessary — A native funeral — Beautiful
country — Casuarinje — Chirping bird — Sorrel — Wood-
ducks — Spiny Ant-eater — Woman carrying dead bodies
— Old woman — Flowers — Herd of wild horses — Blue
mountains — Overlander — Cattle cross the river — Meeting
of Captain Spencer and Mr. St. John — Captain Spencer
entertains the Overlander — Conversation between the two
gentlemen — Astonishment at Charlie — Mines of Adelaide
— Murray River — Arrive at the River Darling — Character
of natives — Mr. St. John gives introductions to Captain
Spencer — The friends part with regret .... 242

CHAPTER XIIL
Captain Spencer romantic — Birds — Native — Captain
Spencer catches him, and relieves his hunger — Fairy-like
plains — Bull comes down the hills, and gentlemen on
horseback after him — Insects, and their webs and nests —
Harry Blunt attacks Captain Spencer — Harry caught
and overcome ; his companion stunned — Captain Spencer
kind to the bush-ranger — Captain Spencer goes on —
Forest flowers — Wooden pear — Lemons— Flying Foxes —
Native cherry — Beautiful plants — Green Frogs — Lizards —
Out-station — Shepherds — Laughing Jackass — • Robin —
Knife-giinder — Fish and its nest — Storm — Sorcerers make
storms — Pine forest — Plants — Metamorphosis of beetle —
Head keeper's station — Captain Spencer hospitably re
ceived — Tall black man's history — Harry Blunt's visits —
Head keeper and wife very kind and hospitable — Untidy
and deserted stations — Deserted townships — Ascend
mountains — Meet drays — Ants-^-Coipe to. the river —
Arrival at Mr. Onslow's farm  267

CHAPTER XIV.
Description of Mr. Onslow's farm — Cordial reception of
Captain Spencer — Clothes supplied — Conversations about

xvi CONTENTS, PAGE.
Aborigines — Mr. Onslow wishes for Kinchela to enter his
service ; Kinchela refuses — Dingoes, sheep, cattle — Mrs.
Onslow's garden — Hunt stray cattle — Wayside inn — Cap
tain Spencer's courage and nerve — Tiger's good behaviour
— Letter from stock-keeper, Richardson, describing an in
terview with Harry Blunt — Endeavours to persuade Cap
tain Spencer to settle in Australia — Conversation with
Mr. Onslow — Description of woods — Mare kills a foal — -
English plant springs up in the neighbourhood of cattle-
Tarantula — Native Cat —Adventure of the pumpkins —
Parting — Mr. Onslow goes to Sydney with Captain
Spencer — Kinchela rides with them — Mrs. Onslow's
courage when attacked by natives — Arrival at Sydney —
Charlie — Attempt of Gipsy, Tiger, and Charlie to accom
pany their master — Hariy Blunt taken — Captain Spencer
obtains a mitigation of his sentence — Han-y afterwards
becomes a faithful servant to Mr. Onslow — Captain
Spencer sends presents to all his friends — Arrival of all
the travellers in Bombay  300
CONCLUSION.
Letter from Mr. George Onslow about the gold mines . 330'

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Wreck  Frontispiece.
CAPTAIN Spencer Heals the Native's Foot To face 122
The Kangaroo Hunt  ,,235
Hunting the Stray Cattle ... ,, 316.

ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA

THE WANDERINGS OF CAPTAIN SPENCER.

CHAPTER I.
jEALLY, Spencer, your constitution, after the
late campaign, requires some change, and
you must for a time leave India. Why linger,
when you know that there is a necessity for going? "
Such were the observations of Dr. Dynes to Captain
Spencer, of the — th regiment of Bombay Native Infantry,
who pettishly replied that " he would not go to Europe."
" It is not necessary that you should," said the doctor ;
" you can get as far as the Cape."
" I hate the Cape," growled out the patient.
" Well, go where you will," continued the good-natured
adviser, smiling ; " both mind and body need renovation,
and I shall send you the proper certificate, as my last
prescription." So saying, he left the room, and Captain
Spencer remained for some time in deep thought. ,
At last, turning himself impatiently on his couch, he

i AD VENTURES IN A USTRALlA.
muttered, " If it must be done, the sooner I set about
it the better." The energy of the young man, of which
he had a large share, being now awakened, his counte
nance brightened, his movements became more elastic.
As he rose and walked up and down his room, his pace
gradually quickened; and when his servant presented
him with an envelope containing the aforesaid document,
he said to him, "Yacoub, would you like to have a
long holiday?"
" Yes, if Sahib please," replied the man, grmning.
" "Yery well ; vanish ! "
At these words the servant disappeared, wondering
what was meant by the holiday ; while his master, having
slipped on his uniform, repaired to his commanding
officer. After remaining with him for some little time,
he proceeded to the port, stepped into a small boat,
and was seen wending his way among the Malay craft
then at anchor in the bay. He went on board several
vessels which were waiting for freight or hire, and retumed
to his quarters before the heat of the day commenced.
Fatigued with his exertions, he threw himself on a sofa ;
but his mind was at first evidently too full of the future
to sleep. One hand hung listlessly down by his side,
and it was soon saluted by a cold nose, and the gentle
touch of a tongue. "Ah! Gipsy, why do you disturb
your master?" was the answer to this caress. "Wl:at
will you do without me, my poor dog ? "
At these words a small black-and-tan terrier leaped
upon him, and nestling her head under his jacket, com
posed herself to sleep. After a pause, her master, patting
her head, seemed to have come to a fresh resolution, for
he said, "Gip, you shall go with me; we have never
been separated since you were born, two years ago. You

HIRES A SCHOONER. 3
shall go with your master, and help to take care of him ;
and, what is more. Tiger shall go too. He is as playful
as a kitten ; he can sleep on deck ; he can step in and
out of a boat like a waterman ; he can swim like a fish ;
and, still better, he has not forgotten how to fight with his
fore-feet. We'll all go together." Having thus settled
matters to his satisfaction. Captain Spencer hugged Gipsy
close up to him, turned round upon his side, and fell
fast asleep.
The arrangements for the voyage were not long
making. Leave of absence was granted for a year,
certaui ; and if not returned at that time, it was to be
extended to the soldier for at least another year. A
pretty little schooner, with rakish masts and a comfort
able cabin below, was engaged. She was manned by five
Malays, who were well and favourably known in the
port; she was provided with a small boat, and a kind
of stall was knocked up on the deck for Tiger ; but this
accommodating steed, a half-bred Arab, grey in colour,
and having a long white mane and tail, could, in case
of bad weather, come down the cabin stairs and remain
with his master. One of the Malays undertook to curry
and attend to him, and an ample store of food was pro
vided for his sustenance. Captain Spencer discharged
some of his servants, gave others the long holiday of
which he had spoken to Yacoub, with an allowance
of wages through his agent; and taking leave of his
friends in Bombay, started for a cruise on the western
side of the Indian Archipelago. He did not like to go
much between the islands, for fear of piracy; but he kept
within their reach, that he might occasionally renew his
stock of eatables. The idle and the dissipated wondered
"at him; his acquaintances said he was an odd fellow;

4 AD VENTURES IN A USTRAIIA.
and his friends, knowing how much "good stuff" there
was in him, thought him right to please himself Tea,
sugar, hams, flour, biscuit, rice, and water were placed
in the small hold, with various other comforts; and
poultiy was lodged on the deck. The traveller furnished
himself with books, drawing and writing materials, took
a quantity of fishing-tackle, extra horse-shoes, various
tools, a double-barrelled gun, a brace of double-barrelled
pistols, a short sword, and a plentiful supply of ammu
nition. He also had a good chart, and a small but
powerful potket-telescope. A close friendship existed
between Tiger and Gipsy ; and as all the life of the latter
had been spent with her master and the horse, she was
perfectly happy when with them, wherever it might be;
and as to Tiger, he emulated Gipsy in docility and
attachment. The litde party proceeded smoothly; the health of
the four-footed animals was preserved by now and then
landing on one of the islands, and taking a run and a
gallop ; and for a time the invalid was pleased with the
dreamy sort of hfe which such a scene afforded. One
great source of interest lay in watching the inhabitants
of those seas, which are so varied, so beautiful, and at
times so grotesque. A morning's amusement consisted
of converting one of those enormous shells called Tritons ^
into a tea-kettle. Not that Captain Spencer was without
this necessary utensil, but the singularity of the thing,
as described to him, had struck his fancy ; so, when one
of the crew brought him the shell complete, witli its lid,
or operculum, he determined to exercise his skill upon
it. Laying it upon the table in his cabin, he with a
gimlet bored a hole opposite to the part on which it
^ Triton variegatus.

TEACHES A BIRD TO SPEAK, g
rested steadily, and inserted a thick iron wire into it;
with a pair of pincers he twisted this at the lower end, so
as to prevent it from slipping through the hole; and at
the top he bent it into a handle, round which he put
some plaited hairs out of Tiger's tail. Into the oper
culum he inserted a smaller and shorter wire secured
in the like manner, and the long canal of the shell served
for a spout. In the evening, after being put on the hot
ashes of the caboose fire, water was brought to him in it,
boiling with great bubbles, as French people call it when
fit for making tea, and he was perfectly satisfied with his
own workmanship. He afterwards completed his tea-
service by making use of the Clamp shell ^ as a cup,
which on one of his excursions ashore he found attached
to a rock by its thick tough byssus. He chopped this
away with his hatchet, and then removed the velvet-
looking animal within, covered with its beautiful spots,
and lying in a heap in one part of the shell. He had
chosen one of the least, for some of them weighed six
hundred pounds; still his equipage was heavy, it must
be owned ; but it had the advantage of not being liable
to break. One of Captain Spencer's daily occupations was to
teach a bird to speak, which one of his men had caught
in the interior of an island. At first he thought it was
what Linnaeus called the Gracula religiosa, which now
bears the name of Eulabes ; but its beak differed, and he
concluded, from its entire resemblance in other respects,
that it must be only a different species ; iti talking
powers, however, were even more remarkable. The
Malay told him he had been attracted by its perfect
^ Tridacne gigas.

6 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
imitation of himself and his companion as they spoke,
and he had easily captured it, owing to an injury it had
received in one of its wings. In a short time the bird
called Gipsy and Tiger, and talked most impertinently to
its master as Ned Spencer.
The invalid might have recruited his strength with
bird's-nest soup, formed of a marine plant which his men
called Agal-agal, and which, when made into nests, hung
to the sides of shallow caves, like watch-pockets ; but he
did not relish its insipid taste. The Malays, however,
procured a great number of these, with the intention
of selling them on their retum; and they frequently
asked their master's permission to stay in some spots,
where they dived for pearls. They brought him several
specimens of their treasures, some of which were of a
pale straw colour, and others taken from the shell called
Pinna, were quite black. Occasionally, as he stepped
over a rough beach during his excursions, he was amused
with the Carrier Trochus, as it jumped over the obstacles
in its way, gathering fresh fragments of shells and sand
as it went along, lifting its superfluous burden by the
action of its body, and trailing its operculum behmd.
The tentacula were generally stretched out, the creature
bent down its thick pink proboscis, its large black eyes
seemed to watch sharply for its food, and its carrier
labours seemed almost ludicrous, from tlie idea they
conveyed to the observer of being unnecessary.
Multitudes of fishes played about the rocks, particu
larly the ScorpencB, which attracted notice by the extra
ordinary development of the spines about their head, also
of their fins, and by their brilliant colours. There was
a great variety of beautiful, branching Corallines, and sea
weeds of strange forms and splendid hues, showing a rich

THE ORGAN-FISH 7
world of interest beneath the waters. In the Mangrove
swamps they found the Close-eyed Gudgeon,^ which,
when it landed on firm ground, jumped about like a frog,
slid along on its belly, or climbed the roots of the trees.
They took some of the fighting fishes on board, and there
kept them in water, to watch the fury with which they
quarrelled, changed colour, and darted at each other,
if they came in too close contact.
One night, as Captain Spencer lay asleep, he was
awoke by a strange singing and monotonous noise ; and
Gipsy at once started upon her feet, and throwing up her
head, uttered a howl which completely roused the whole
crew, who rushed on deck together with their master,
while the two who had remained up to watch and steer
spoke and looked mysteriously. All was again silent, and
then the same noise returned, accompanied by a booming
sound, as if from under the vessel. They were not near
land, the schooner having stood out to sea in apprehen
sion of an approaching storm, so that the disturbance
could not proceed from any terrestrial animal ; and then
it occurred to the Englishman that it was the sound made
by the Dmm or Organ-fish,^ of which he had read ; and
when he again heard it, swelling and dying away as it
were under his feet, he was satisfied with this explanation
of the mystery. Not so his men, although two of them
had heard it before : they shook their heads, and looked
uneasily at each other, smiling incredulously as they
lowered the nets by their master's order, and seeming
to have expected their total want of success in making
a capture. Night after night did Captain Spencer
anxiously watch by moonlight, both for the sight and
sound of these musical fishes, but in vain as far as they
' Periophthahmis. ' Fogonias.

8 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
were concerned. He, however, saw some Cuttle-fishes,
whose size quite verified all he had heard of them, for
they could easily have taken a grasp of twelve feet with
their long arms. They were, however, too active to be
caught, but stared with their cat-like eyes, and frequently
and suddenly cast forth a thin inky liquid from their
necks, altogether being very hideous and grotesque.
The nets were torn by a curious Diodon, or Globe-fish,
with golden eyes and black pupils, which swelled out its
body, stuck out its spines, and bit and spat at those who
took it into their hands. One morning a small spotted
shark snatched away a sheep skin which was hanging
at the bows ; and snakes of varied form and size swam
from island to island. Some of them were beautifully
marked with bands, and were the size of a man's leg,
lying lazily on the surface of the water, or forming graceful
curves. One was caught by a Malay, which had enor
mous fangs ; he formed a noose of a long piece of grass,
which had been brought on board with Tiger's food,
dexterously passed it over the head of the animal, drew
it tight, lifted the snake out of the water, and only
loosened it when the spine had been divided with a
knife. Amid so many interesting and beautiful objects, life
was varied by occasional intercourse with the inhabitants
of the gem-like spots of earth which studded the Eastern
^ Ocean, who brought fowls, fruits, and vegetables along
side for sale. Occasionally Captain Spencer thought he
saw some suspicious-looking craft, ^vearing a piratical
appearance ; but his men were faithful, and their Malay
birth was a sort of security. Health and strength how
ever, did not return as quickly as he had anticipated ¦
the heat was often intense, owing to the lingering remains

ISLAND OF TIMOR. 9
of the rainy season, and he fancied that the frequent
presence of mangrove-lined shores was unwholesome.
Tiger began to droop, although every precaution had
been taken to keep his shed cool, such as to cover its
roof ^vith boughs of trees or grass, and frequently to
sprinkle these with water. Then his master determined
to go still farther south ; and he asked his chief navigator
if he were acquainted with the Australian shores. The
man replied in the affirmative, and said that he had
frequently been on the Northern Coast, and bartered
with the natives, who were very savage, treacherous, and
difficult to deal with. Captain Spencer told him he did
not wish to visit them, or any settlement, unless it were
Sydney, where he could, if necessary, procure money,
but merely to pass backwards and forwards along the
north and north-western coasts, going ashore, as he had
already done, when he felt inclined, and returning to the
schooner when fatigued. The man answered that it
was very possible to accomplish this, but as it was some
times difilcult to land, and water and supplies very seldom
to be procured there, they had better first proceed to
some place where they could lay in a large stock. He
recommended the island of Timor; and as Captain
Spencer consented, they steered for this place, still keep
ing on the outskirts of the Archipelago, and so avoiding
the larger islands of Java and Sumatra, which he had at
first determined to visit, but the climate of which, he now
thought, would be too relaxing.
After some days' constant sailing, high, sharp, and
jagged pinnacles appeared in the distance. For these
the master steered, and at night anchored opposite the
town of Coepang— in whose bay lay some of the southern
whalers — to take in a supply of excellent water, which is

IO ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
conveyed from farther inland to the beach by means of
a pipe. When the bright moming sun lighted up the
fleecy clouds which hung about the summits of the
mountains, it disclosed rich woods and plantations at
their feet. Little boats, guided by Malays, soon came
round the schooner, and great surprise was evinced at
seeing an English officer. They all asked him to land
in their boats, but he preferred going in that of the
schooner ; and for the sake of assuming a more favour
able appearance, he laid aside his jacket, and putting on
an undress uniform coat, he and Gipsy went ashore for
the purpose of visiting the Dutch Resident. They walked
through several narrow streets, chiefly composed of
bamboo houses, in which they met many passing to and
fro, belonging to different nations, and frequently bearing
with them fruit, poultry, eggs, etc., for sale. The Timoree
men were but sparingly clothed; the women, however,
wore long loose gowns. The former were easily distin
guished by their athletic forms and crisp hair. Numerous
shops lined the streets, which seemed principally to
belong to plump, laughing, good-tempered Chinese, who,
as they sat at their door eating their breakfast of rice
with chop-sticks, asked the stranger to share their meal.
Civilly declining their hospitality, and untempted by their
merchandise, Captain Spencer pursued his way and de
scended into a valley ornamented with beautiful trees,
the most conspicuous of which were cocoa-nuts, placed
beside the broad floating leaves of the bananas.
Several good stone houses stood in the valley ; and
seeing a soldier leaning against the entrance of one of
them, Captain Spencer supposed it to be that of the
Resident. He spoke Dutch fluendy, and his inquiry of
the sentinel confirming his supposition, he asked to be

DESCRIPTION OF COEPANG. n
shown into the presence of the great man. He was in
truth a great man, for he was tall and fat, besides which
he talked very loud and fast. His good nature, however,
equalled his size, and he offered the stranger every con
venience in his power to afford, and a day's sport into
the bargain. Captain Spencer said his health would not
allow him to undergo much fatigue ; but if his Excellency
would allow him, he would come early the next morning,
with his horse and gun, and ride over some of the neigh
bourhood of the town. The Resident said all should be
ready for him, and extended his politeness so far as to
ask his visitor to inspect the fort at the present oppor
tunity. The offer was accepted, and a servant was sent
with him, not only there, but to attend and help him in
transacting his affairs in the town.
This fort stood on a madrepore rock, commanded the
port and the straggling town, and was washed on one
side by a running stream. The view from it was very
beautiful. The lofty mountains, their deep gorges filled
with the luxuriant verdure of the tropics, and the lesser
heights covered with vegetation, sloping off into planta
tions, altogether formed a sight not easily forgotten.
Numerous paddy-fields, however, told the secret of those
intermittent fevers, from which, the Resident said, the
town of Coepang greatly suffered.
Captain Spencer's guide took him to a place where
he could change his rupees into the copper currency
used in traffic; and carrying the load for him, then led
him to the warehouses where he could best procure the
provisions of which he stood in need. After superin
tending their conveyance to his boat, he followed the
man to a Malay school, where clever, intelligent children
were singing old hymns, from music noted in ancient

12 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
characters, taught to them by the Dutch clergyman, who
had converted many to Christianity. After this the
Englishman rewarded the servant for his attendance, and
returned to his floating habitation.
The next morning came Tiger's turn for an excursion ;
and his appearance was so superior to that of the native
ponies of Timor, that he excited much admiration as he
passed to the house of the Resident, who laid aside his
pipe, offered refreshment, and entered into conversation
with his guest. Speaking of the island, he said it was
subject to earthquakes, one of which had, a few years
before, destroyed the town ; that water might be had in
the northern part, but it was there tainted by a tree
which grew close to it, but of what sort he could not tell ;
that the mountains were rich in various metals, but the
custom of the mountaineers of sacrificing a life for every
bottleful of gold-dust which was collected precluded all
profit from that production ; and that sixty Dutch soldiers
had been sent to get some, but they had all been mur
dered. He spoke of the customs of the natives, and
described the people as very superstitious ; said that they
always killed a number' of pigs and ponies over the graves
of their relations, in order to propitiate the evil spirit ;
that all those fine, wild-looking men his visitor had seen
in the streets were slaves to the- Rajahs of the island,
and implicitly obedient to their commands ; that one of
the Rajahs was at that time in the town, who was styled
the Emperor; and, in conclusion, his Excellency added,
"By-the-by, although this fellow is polite and well-
mannered, he is a great rascal, and makes nothing of
cutting his wives to pieces if they give him cause for
offence.'' It was time for the traveller to start for his ride • and

EXCURSION ASHORE. 13
the Resident desired him to be taken across a well-
watered and fertile country, among trees thickly inhabited
by monkeys, into a valley, round which some lofty moun
tains rose in majestic grandeur. Some enormous trees
bordered it, and a village was scattered among them.
Here a subordinate authority, having been prepared by
the Resident, met Captain Spencer, and regaled him with
cocoa-nuts, bananas, mangoes, and honey, in a large
rambling house built near a beautiful stream, for the
occasional recreation of the Resident. This repast was,
literally speaking, a Jiors d'xuvre; for a meal, provided
by the Resident, was served immediately in rather a
novel order. Tea, coffee, and fruit came first ; and an
hour after, a train of servants entered with fowls and rice,
cooked into a number of different dishes.
In the evening Captain Spencer walked out with the
Commandant, and shot some pigeons — a task of no
small difficulty, unerring as his aim was, for they generally
perched on the uppermost boughs of the loftiest trees.
He found he was expected to stay all night ; and, de
spatching a message to his schooner to account for his
absence, he prepared for rest. The lights were merely
some threads of cotton drawn through wax, and his bed
consisted of a few mats. He was, therefore, very glad
that he had brought a mackintosh cloak across his saddle ;
and after seeing Tiger well fed, and housed in a substan
tial shed, he rolled himself up in the said mackintosh,
and passed what appeared to him a cold night in toler
able comfort, Gipsy bearing her share in imparting
warmth. Early in the morning, when the mists had cleared off
the raountains, in floating wreaths and flocky masses, the
Commandant summoned Captain Spencer to resume his

14 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
sport, and a large party of Malay servants and village
people added to their number. Each of the former was
armed with an old Tower musket, which was loaded with
common powder and stone slugs, the necessary quantity
for each charge being put into a piece of bamboo.
Besides the musket, all carried a large knife stuck into
their belt. The combination of Malays and Timorees
was picturesque; the latter, with their aquiline noses,
having much the advantage in personal beauty. They
proceeded to a plain, where, attracted by a large plant
with a very handsome leaf. Captain Spencer was about
to gather a branch of it. Before he could reach it, how
ever, the Commandant eagerly, and even roughly, struck
his hand down. He turned round with an astonished
look, when his host bowed, apologized for his seeming
rudeness, and informed him that that was " the Devil's
leaf," and if he had touched it, it would have caused
great soreness, pain, and terrible irritation for many
months, if it had not killed him— especially as his hand
had not been protected by a glove. Captain Spencer
thanked the Commandant for his kind interference ; and
on looking more closely at the plant, he saw it was a
kind of gigantic nettle.
The party was now stationed, each at some yards'
distance from the other, the deer were driven towards
them, and several were brought do^vn by the rude
weapons, the stone slugs making enormous holes. The
animals were skinned, and presented to the stranger
who restored the shot to the owners, and distributed
some coin among the whole assemblage. To the Com
mandant he presented some of his better powder and
shot, which were received with gratitude. On returning
to his boat, which by the messenger of the preceding

TIMOREE TRAFFIC. 15
evening he had ordered round to meet him, he saw the
curious mode of tillage practised by the Timorees. A
piece of ground was enclosed and well watered, after
which some bullocks were driven furiously across it, back
wards and forwards in all directions; and this was all
the preparation which the ground received before the
sowing of the grain. Taking his game with him, in order
to share it with his crew. Captain Spencer joined his
schooner; and the next morning, when he started to
pay a visit of thanks and farewell to the Resident, his
chief man requested permission to go to a distant part of
the island, in order to trade a little with the natives, he
having brought with him a small stock of merchandise,
in case of having an opportunity for traffic. Captain
Spencer desired him to wait till he returned, and then
they would all go together ; for this would give him an
opportunity of seeing more of the Timoree people, for
whom he felt considerable interest. He finished his
visit by presenting an English penknife to the Resident,
who was delighted with the gift ; and the schooner, pass
ing by dark limestone cliffs, with coral imbedded in them,
anchored off the mouth of a small river, taking its rise
in those noble heights which give such beauty to the
island. Parcels of the Indian and European goods, with
which he meant to trade, were made up by the master,
consisting of silk handkerchiefs, coarse cutlery, gun
powder (which the natives of these places are very
anxious to obtain), leathern straps, etc. ; and after laying
them down upon the shore, he retumed to the schooner.
The natives then came and examined them, after which
they placed by the side of each packet the quantity of
wax, honey, fruit, and cotton cloth of their own manu-

1 6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
fa:cture, which they meant to give, and retreated. The
master, in his turn, went to their deposits, and not think
ing the amount sufficient, left them all in the same state;
The natives came a second time, and added some nut
megs and feathers, and returned to their hiding-place.
With these the Malay trader was satisfied. He took
them away, left his own goods in exchange, and finally
embarked. This singular traffic being concluded, there
was nothing more to detain them, and the schooner
sailed for Australia, — Captain Spencer not being sorry to
leave a place which, however beautiful, was decidedly
unhealthy. A proof of this was given by one of his men
being attacked with a slight fit of cholera, which disabled
him for many hours.
Several weeks of Captain Spencer's furlough having
now elapsed, without any great improvement in his
health, he hailed the superior coolness of the breeze, as
they left the island, with pleasure ; and, full of hope and
cheerfulness, welcomed the first glimpses of the Austrahan
continent, with the full persuasion that he was now within
reach of recovery.

CHAPTER II.
RRIVED on the northern coast of Australia,
Captain Spencer occasionally entered some of
the numerous inlets with which it is indented,
and at others crossed them, as the humour of the
moment dictated, passing one or two which looked
like the mouths of promising rivers ; but he did not
attempt to ascertain their course, " For,'' said he to him
self, " I have no intention of making discoveries, and no
desire to come in contact with the very barbarous people
of these places. The rivers may flow as they will for me ;
and I am now getting so strong that I shall not have
occasion to stay long on these shores, which hitherto
have not appeared to be very tempting. Those slimy
mangroves seem to abound on the shallow coasts here,
as elsewhere, carrying their unhealthy atmosphere with
them, and harbouring those vile mosquitoes, which are
enough to frighten any one away. Even at sea they
reach me, and I must get farther into the ocean."
During an extension of sea-room, fresh denizens of
the salt water were met with, among which was a shrimp
like animal, probably a Peneus, which had a beautiful
purple shield on its head, and a Hyalea, the purple grape
colour of which cast a phosphorescent light around it.
The Velella floated on an oval but flat cartilaginous c

1 8 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
membrane, on the under side of which was a mouth, sur
rounded by tentacula. On the upper side it had a crest,
which caught every little eddy of wind, and was whirled
round by it without the power of resistance, so swimming
along, whether it pleased or not, according to the caprices
of the breeze.
There was, however, nothing prettier than the Sea-
snail,! with its beautiful violet colour, and frothy bubbles
issuing from its mouth, the shell sometimes covered with
tiny Barnacles, the animals of which had become violet
in hue, while their coverings remained white. Then there
was a Glaucus, looking like a deep-blue feather with a
white streak, shrinking from every object with which it
came in contact, and punishing every animal that dis
turbed it by emitting a most disagreeable odour.
Captain Spencer had fitted a canvas bag on to an
iron ring at the end of a long pole, in the manner of an
insect net, by which he was enabled to catch many of
these strange creatures. Having been once severely
stung by an Acalepha, two feet long, the tail of which had
a fin like that of an eel, he was careful not to touch any
of them with his hands. The canvas bag had been
thickly greased outside, therefore for a time held water,
and so he was enabled to watch them while swimming.
One very extraordinary creature^ was so nearly trans
parent, that he took it out in order to observe it more
minutely ; and when he put it on to the head of a cask,
it stood upright, and then crawled aw-ay like a beetle.
One evening a large white Albatross ^ flew over the
schooner, and remained for some time in sight. It
seemed to float in the air rather than fly ; and its grave,
solemn motion recalled Coleridge's wonderful poem of
^Tanthina. ^ Fhyllosoma. ' Diomedea exulans.

TROPIC AND FRIGATE BIRDS 19
the Ancient Mariner so forcibly, that Captain Spencer
would not have shot it on any account. As a contrast to
this mysterious-looking creature, which seemed as if it
never could be in a hurry, were both the Tropic ^ and
Frigate birds ; - the former with their extensive wings and
long narrow feathers in the tail, appearing as if they never
ceased their rapid flight, and the latter with their wings
stretching out twelve feet, swallowing all the flying fishes
they could catch, most unceremoniously knocking over
the Boobies,^ which had already caught them, and
making them relinquish their dinners. He was fortunate
enough to bring one of these down while so engaged, and
on examination found an inflated bag under its throat, to
increase its internal volume of air, and the opening to
which was placed in the middle of the shoulder-blade.
Thus he ascertained the secret of its lengthened and
powerful flight.
More Water-snakes, too, were seen ; and one which
was caught in his bag had flattened fangs, without a cut
ting edge.* To another he gave the name of the Sea-
serpent,^ from its size, it being even larger than the
Indian snake before taken. It was as big as a man's
thigh, and was several feet long ; a third kind had lids to
its nostrils, and smooth and polished scales. There was
no end of Star-fishes, with hard, round tubercles all over
them ; and a Gull, very much like that of the northern
Skua, frequently made circles round the schooner.
Several coral reefs and small islands lay more or less
in the vicinity ofthe shore ; and being curious to examine
them. Captain Spencer ordered the steersman to approach
them. When near they saw some of the natives — women
^ Fhaeton. ° Tachypetes. ^ Pelecanus sala.
* Hydrus Australimsis. ° Hypotrofhis.

20 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
as well as men — swimming away from one of them, their
progress apparently quickened by the sight ofthe schooner.
In vain did the Malays hail them. One alone, or two
together, held a large log with one hand, while with the
other they impelled themselves forward, being almost
upright in the water. Making for the largest island, some
bold coral rocks at first forbade the landing of the Indian
party, and they steered round it to find a more accessible
spot. They at length cast anchor in a shelving bay, and
Captain Spencer went ashore with three of the Malays
to search for water. The beach was thickly stre^vn with
the shells of enormous Whelks, for which probably the
natives had been seeking ; and getting a bag from the
vessel, the Malays filled it with enough for more than
one meal ; and while they explored further, the two left
on board caught what they called some Rock-cod, but
which was not in the least like Cod; these fishes had
very large mouths, and were frequently five feet long.
No water was found, and the schooner proceeded still
nearer to the continent. From the sudden bending of
the coast to the south, they thought they must have been
near some sharp promontory ; and shaping their course
along shore, they passed some rocks looking like bastions,
and found themselves in a considerable gulf, at the mouth
of which they encountered a large grey shark, with a short
nose and white belly. As they advanced, they perceived
that a river of some size fell into this gulf; and thinking
it would be a capital watering-place. Captain Spencer
determined to go up it as long as there was depth
enough for the schooner, and brave the mosquitoes. The
mangroves disappeared after a little distance, the banks
became low and muddy. Pelicans and Curlews fre
quented them, and occasionally they were covered with

CJ TCH A CR O CO DILE. 2 r
small matted-looking bushes. Detached masses of rocky
sandstone hills rose abruptly from the level plain, and in
the far distance long lines of dark-looking forest were per
ceived. Here and there a palm,i dwarfish to Indian
eyes, raised its head of fan-like fronds, and tropical
monsters of animal life accompanied tropical vegetation.
Three or four enormous Crocodiles were passed ; and a
fifth being announced as very near the schooner. Captain
Spencer fired at his head, and the ball lodged in it with
such effect, that it turned upon its back, and floated with
its feet uppermost. Captain Spencer ordered his men to
get out the boat, put a rope round its legs, and tow it
ashore. At first ^they hesitated, for they knew it was
only stunned ; so he stept into the boat with them, him
self fastened the line to one of the legs, and proceeded
with it to the bank. Before it reached land, however, it
gave signs of being still alive, and struggled ; but they
pulled vigorously, and jumping ashore, they dragged it
with all their might. Captain Spencer at the head. Their
task, however, suddenly became too easy, and turning
round to look at their prey, they found that it had drawn
its foot out of the noose, and was walking after the hind
most man with murderous intent, and its mouth open.
All at once it closed this huge aperture with a snap like
the shutting ofa gate, and the man whom it seemed to have
in its eye, fell, contracted himself almost into a ball, and
rolled away. Captain Spencer then fired again ; but he
was obliged to give the reptile six balls in its head before
it was dead. It measured fifteen feet in length; the
breadth of the head was two feet, and that of the
shoulders more than five feet. The Malays skinned it
with great pleasure ; then cutting off the best parts of
^ Livistona.

2 2 Adventures In aUstraIIa.
its flesh, while their master amused himself by shooting
some Ibises, they returned to the schooner; and the
steaks which they produced at Captain Spencer's supper-
table were like excellent veal.
Evening surprised the party in the river, and not
thinking it wise to explore by night, orders were given to
anchor in the middle of the stream. The heat had been
very great as they receded from the sea; and in the night
was almost intolerable. The moon shone so brightly
that Captain Spencer had read by her light till he was
tired ; the heat, however, would not allow him to sleep,
and he fancied some storm must be approaching. He
threw on his cloak and went on deck. Then he per
ceived that the whole country on one side of the river
was on fire. He concluded that natives were not far off,
and ordered his men to get out of the river as fast as
they could. They had scarcely turned the head of the
little vessel when they heard a great splashing in the
water; and looking over the side, Captain Spencer recog
nized an animal swiftly passing them to be a Dugong ; ^
probably making its way farther down the river from
the same cause as themselves, for the Dugong is es
teemed a great luxury by the aborigines. Its tusks, just
peeping from its moustached lips, were visible, but there
was no time for closer inspection.
On passing round the western entrance of the gulf
the next morning, the sea looked as if it were covered
with reddish sawdust. Guessing what it might be, Captain
Spencer took some up in his bag, and pouring the water
into his Tridacne cup, found that his surmise was cor
rect. It proved to be an accumulation of tiny animals,
which soon died, and sank to the bottom, and as they
' Halicore australis.

maiays catch trepang. 23
decomposed, stained the water of a bright crimson
colour. Not having procured any water in the river, they
continued to steer close to the shore in the hope of
finding some place where they could replenish their
stock. It was characterized by sharp capes, shoals, and
occasionally overhanging cliffs of red sandstone, which
sometimes rose two hundred feet from the sea, now and
then opening and forming a gulley. At the entrance of
one of these, some red objects were lying not far from the
edge of the water, and by the help of his telescope Cap
tain Spencer perceived that they were pieces of broken
pottery. When he told the men what they were, they
said that their countrymen must have visited that place
in search of Trepang. On inquiring what Trepang was,
they replied that it was an animal which lived in the sea ;
they did not think it was a fish, but it was very good to
eat ; that it frequented this and many other seas ; and
they hoped he would give them leave to stop and catch
some for themselves. Captain Spencer consented, and
creeping still nearer to the shore, they at first only saw
some Medusse, but afterwards dragged up an animal,
which he immediately recognized as the Sea-slug,-' which
the Chinese and inhabitants of the Indian Archipelago
are so fond of eating. He told the men to fish for it;
and after inspecting the gulley, and finding it accessible
•to Tiger, he started with him and Gipsy for a short
excursion. He found a low and arid country behind the
high chffs, with patches of tall reedy grass, off which,
however. Tiger, who was by no means dainty, contrived
to moisten his mouth. Several lizards were crawling
about, and- among them was one of very formidable
' HolotJm-ria.

24 adventures in AUSTRALIA.
appearance, and of whose presence he was made aware
by Gipisy. She growled, gave a short bark, plunged at
something, and then retreated, shaking her head as if
scratched or wounded : she, however, made a stand at
her enemy ; and coming up to her assistance, her master
found her engaged with a reptile about a foot and a half
long, covered all over with rows of sharp, horny spines,
and of a yellow colour, spotted with brown over the
tail, making a most fearful opponent.^ As it was not
required for eating, he called the dog off, and after a
short gallop returned to his men, who had collected a
considerable quantity of Trepangs. Just before de
scending he had passed a large mound of shells, and
knocking a hole in it, he peeped in to see what was
inside. It was, however, empty ; but the Malays told
him it was most likely a native grave.
The Trepang was generally from six to eight inches
long, of a tough, leathery texture, not at all tempting
to Europeans, and with numerous tentacula round its
mouth. It was necessary that it should be cured for
keeping, and the Malays asked to go to a neighbouring
island which looked convenient for the purpose. Captain
Spencer complied with their request, and when their
capture was embarked, they steered for this island. On
nearing its shore, they saw several of the natives depart
from the other side, men, women, and children, seated
on small rafts, one of which being empty, floated towards
them. They secured it for inspection, and found that it
was made of slender poles, fastened together very in
geniously by wooden pegs, and broader at one end, so
as to resemble a fan. After it had been examined,
Captain Spencer desired it to be launched and put off.
' Moloch horridus.

CURING THE TREPANG. 25
that it might be taken ashore by the tide ; on it he put
a handkerchief, soine biscuit, and a knife. He desired
his men to shout with all their might to the supposed
owners, but they refused to answer ; and watching with
his telescope, he saw the raft arrive, and a man take the
presents from it, which underwent the scrutiny of the
others also. Two tasted the biscuit, but immediately
spat it out again, and they left that and the other things
on the shore and ascended the cliffs.
All hands quitted the schooner, which anchored in
twelve fathoms water close to the beach. A fire was
made, and preparations were commenced ; the cooking
utensils were brought ashore ; the Mollusks were split
open on one side, put into boilers, and placed on the
ashes, which were constantly fed with bushes, where they
were to boil for eight hours. That night, and perhaps
more, must be passed on the spot ; and Captain Spencer
determining to remain quietly where he was, let Tiger roam
at large, and amuse himself on the island. Some of the
spare poles were placed against a hollow in the rock close
by ; and these and some bushes were converted into an
excellent shelter. The men said they should have to
press the Trepang with heavy stones, and stretch it open
the next moming with pieces of stick, and then dry it
in the sun, after which it was to be smoked over the
fire, and that the length of time this would occupy must
depend on the effect of the sun ; but at all events they
should be glad of a longer time than the usual period of
rest. It was a good opportunity to give Charlie a little
liberty — for so the bird was named — and try how far he
would avail himself of it ; for now his wing was perfectly
well he might at any time make his escape. When put
down upon the ground he seemed somewhat at a loss to

26 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
understand his position, and at first had some difficulty
in [stretching his wings ; by degrees, however, he rose
higher and higher, and then flew rapidly backwards and
forwards ; at last he took the direction of the mainland,
and seemed to bid adieu to his former companions,
screaming and calling out, " I'm coming, I'm coming 1 "—
" You are going, I think," said his master, as he watched
him to the opposite shore, and, in spite of the reasonable
ness of the proceeding on the part of the bird, somewhat
disappointed, for Charlie was a great favourite and
source of amusement, and Captain Spencer thought he
was gone for ever.
On walking under the rocks the Englishman found
some delicious Oysters attached to them, and he called
one of the men to collect a number. Having some
vinegar on board, he amused himself by pickling a stock
of them for future purposes. While standing by the fire"
with the Malays, he asked them what they meant to do
with their Trepang. They replied, that they should sell
it to the Chinese ; and as this was the black, or best sort,
called batoo, they should get forty dollars for every
hundred and twenty-five pounds ; but tliat the grey was
not worth more than half that money. They added,
they should like to catch some sharks, for they could
cut off their fins, and cure and sell them to the same
people at the same rate of profit. Sponges and Madre
pores, with various shells, lay scattered upon the shore of
this interesting island, which was evidently a frequent resort
of the natives, for they found various traces of them, some
of which were roots which they were apparently going to
cook ; also a spear, the shaft of which was made of man
grove wood, and was seven feet eight inches long. The
lance, or head, was a sharp splinter of quartz, fastened

RETURN TO THE MAIN COAST. 27
on with a strong gum and plaited grass ; altogether, in a
skilful hand, making a fearful weapon. Shoals of Mullet
played round the island, and many were caught, cured
with the Trepang, and packed in barrels for future use ;
and a bush, smelling like rosemary, awakened all the
home feelings of the Englishman, going as far back as
when his nurse used to wet his hair with rosemary tea to
make it thick.
Provisions were fast disappearing, and a return to
Timor was contemplated ; but Captain Spencer was
beginning to feel interested in the scenes which opened
around him, and he determined, by going ashore more
frequently with his gun, to delay the return as much as
possible. He knew he could procure any number of
Rails,' for he had seen them in hundreds when last
ashore ; and who could tell what other good things
might be procured ? besides which, who could return
from Australia without having seen a Kangaroo ? The
faithful Charlie came back in the evening after he had
been let loose, and at sunset his deep voice was heard
saying, " I'm coming, I'm coming, Ned Spencer ! " so it
was settled that he should in future have more liberty,
for he had perched himself on his master's shoulder as
his place of refuge, and consequently was likely to return
to him on other occasions.
A distant but violent storm, accompanied by torrents
of rain, had cooled the air ; the Trepang, Mullet, and
Oysters were safely stowed away in their proper places ;
the schooner returned to the main coast ; and Captain
Spencer, finding his way ashore, was not disappointed of
the Rails which he had promised himself; besides these
he procured a few species with shorter and more feeble
^ Rall-us littoralis.

28 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
wings,^ and he loaded Tiger with a full meal for days,
not only for himself, but all the crew. The grass was of
a better sort, and the Malays laid in a stock of it for
Tiger ; so that all seemed to prosper. In some places
he met with sand dunes, where vegetation was stunted ;
and the only thing which grew freely there was a pale,
pink Convolvulus, whose trailing stem was an inch thick
and thirty yards long. At the bottom of the cliffs was
an abundance of Oysters and Neritse ; and a curious
Sea-urchin, with hair-like spines, afforded his men a feast ;
but the fishes were not tempting, being chiefly of the
Silurus, or Cat kind, which, on being taken out of the
water, made a singular noise, and showed a broad back
of silvery green and a white belly. Several small hil
locks at a distance, and smoke not very far off, made
him fancy that he saw the dwellings of natives ; but on
looking through his telescope he ascertained that the
former were gigantic ants' nests.
One evening, while sitting on deck, resting himself
after a hard day's sport, he was starrted by what he sup
posed to be the report of a gun at sea ; but one of the
Malays told him it was only a whale at play, and, if he
would look with his glass in the direction whence the
sound proceeded, he would see that it was so. Follow
ing the man's advice, and very much amused at the idea
of a playful whale, he beheld several fin-backed whales
lashing the sea in sport, suddenly leaping out of it, and
falling again with a noise resembling cannon. Ashore,
life seemed to become more beautiful and abundant : the
Palms told that they were still between the tropics ; the
Cycas also presented itself, but as yet its fruit was not
ripe enough to be useful ; the Grevillea Cancerina, with
' Enlabcornis CMtaneoventris.

FLIES. 29
its curved red blossoms, like crabs' claws, was of great
beauty; and flowers from bulbous roots were springing
from the earth in totally new shapes and forms. To his
game he added various pigeons, one of which had dark-
blue plumage and a white head, and afforded a delicious
repast.'' For the first time he now saw a butterfly,^
which had a large yellow spot on the upper edge of
the upper wings. White cockatoos came in flights over
his head, and he brought several down with his gun, so
that the stock of provisions was increased beyond the
apprehension of not lasting ; for it seemed as if he had
only to go ashore to procure plenty. He had, moreover,
more abundance than he liked of hornets, small scor
pions, snakes, centipedes, etc. Sand-flies, great torments
in Australia, assailed him in full force. They are so
minute as not to be easily seen ; they lodge upon the
eyelids, enter the mouth and nostrils and produce most
painful irritation, causing the lower eyelid to swell to
such an extent as to prevent sight sometimes for a day or
two. His poor horse and dog snorted and sneezed,
rubbed their heads in the grass, and jumped about as if
they were mad. At last, tired out with these tiny pests,
he took his way back to the schooner. Certainly,
thought he, the country has become more interesting ;
still it is nothing to eyes accustomed to India ; and if I
could but shoot a kangaroo, I would go back directly.
As he walked along pondering on the past, his com
panions followed : Tiger well contented to nibble on the
way; and Gip, who always assumed her master's tone of
raind, perhaps also pondering on the past, for she walked
steadily by his side, only pricking up her ears now and
then as a frog jumped out before her nose, and occasion-
i The Wonga Wonga. ^ Fapilio Stheneleus.

30 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
ally looking up at Charhe as he swooped down and said,
" Gip," to show he was close by.
On descending the cliff, Gipsy had preceded her
master a little, and all at once She paused, put her head
first on one side, then on the other, and jumping up,
commenced a most outrageous barking. A sharp turn
disclosed the cause, for there Captain Spencer saw two
of his men amicably seated on the shore among a party
of natives. The latter were, although somewhat lanky,
very fine, athletic-looking men, with all the characteristics
of their race ; but nevertheless there was a manly bearing
about them which prepossessed the Englishman in their
favour. The head and nose were large, and some had
the latter pierced for the insertion of a piece of wood or
bone ; the brow was very prominent, the eyes sparkling
and deeply set, the lips full, the mouth very wide, the
hair crisp, and frequently tied behind in a sort of club ;
the shoulders broad, the muscles of the arms well
developed, the hands and feet small and well shaped,
but the hips also small, and the lower limbs spare and
slight. Their complexions were brown, approaching to
black ; the upper parts of their bodies were tattooed,
and the scars projected at least half an inch from their
bodies, which made a very ugly appearance. They had
no clothes whatever; the older men had had one of
their front teeth knocked out, and several of them were
painted with black and white earth.
On the ground, in the midst of the group, lay a young
man, whose left arm was very much swollen, and a third
Malay was fomenting it with rum and water. They could
speak a very few English words, and were without
weapons. When they heard Gipsy bark, they started to
their feet, saying, "Ho! ho!" and then, on perceiving

BANDAGING A BROKEN ARM. 31
Captain Spencer, saluted him by bowing almost to the
ground, exclaiming rapidly and shrilly, " White fellow !
very good." When Charlie, however, mocking even
their tones, cried " Ho ! ho ! I'm coming ; come back
again, Ned Spencer," they seemed perfectly stupefied
with alarm. They stood as if awed ; and when Tiger
suddenly appeared from behind the rock, their fears came
to a climax, and all fled, except the disabled man, who
was left upon the ground. Charlie, however, went on
board the schooner ; one of the Malays took Gip and
Tiger, and Captain Spencer proceeded to the relief of
the young sufferer. His men said they thought they
could understand that a fall had brought him to this con
dition, and the swollen arm was broken. After bathing
it for about half an hour longer, the swelling had much
decreased, and then Captain Spencer found that the
upper arm was fractured, and that the poor creature had
also received several severe bruises. He tried to entice
the other natives to come back to him, and as they
gradually recovered their alarm, they appeared from
behind the rocks, but did not at first approach ; he made
signs to them that he would return, and then went to the
schooner, where he tore up some linen into bandages,
and taking his medicine-chest with him, hastened back
to the shore. Seeing one of the men with a piece of
bark in his hand, he asked for it ; it was readily given,
and he proceeded to set the limb, not without trepidation,
it is true ; but he had more than once assisted the regi
mental surgeon in such operations, and he tried to do all
he had seen done on such occasions. After putting the
arm into its proper position, he bandaged it with a
double-headed roller; by the aid of a strong knife he
cut the bark into strips in imitation of splints, and tied

32 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
these pieces on with some string which he had in his
pocket ; taking off his silk cravat, he converted it into a
sling and lodged the arm in it ; but how he was to tell
the natives it must be kept there for a month, he could
not imagine. He administered some medicine, rubbed
the patient all over with a lotion, and made up some
powders which were to be taken every night. He closed
his eyes and laid his head down to imitate going to sleep,
in the hope of conveying an idea of the time of swallow
ing them ; and endeavoured to make the longer interval
comprehended by the help of the Malays. The young
man fixed his large eyes upon him with an expression of
gratitude, and his friends carried him away ; but before
they mounted the cliffs, they took their spears from the
rock in which they had hidden them ; and besides this
description of weapon, each held a short stick, which
the Malays told their master they used in throwing their
spears. Very little water at a time had been procured at tliis
place, which little had descended to the sea through a
fissure in the rock. Captain Spencer therefore ordered
his men to steer to the south-west, it being his intention,
after he had procured a proper quantity, to retum along
the northern shores, on his way to Timor. As the
schooner receded, the natives, who had been watching it
from the top of the cliffs, danced about with very extra
ordinary gestures, which, the Malays said, showed their
friendly intentions, and bawled out, " Very good, very
good ! " till their visitors could no longer hear them ;
upon which Chariie made a littie excursion in the air,
echoing, " Very good, very good ! " till Captain Spencer
shouted with laughter, in which the bird joined with all
his power. On the whole, these men were favourable

SEARCHING FOR WATER. 33
specimens of the aborigines of Australia ; but the remark
able carriage of their head puzzled Captain Spencer;
and on mentioning it to his chief Malay, the man told
him they were obliged to keep their eyes nearly shut to
exclude the sand-flies, and therefore threw back their
heads when they required to look at anything. Fre
quently a degree of suppuration was caused by these
tiny creatures during the night, which it was necessary to
wash off the next morning, before the eyes could be
opened. The schooner again anchored close to an island, about
a mile from the continent, which had attracted Captain
Spencer from its promising appearance for procuring
water. It was formed of two ranges of cliffs with a
valley between ; and as they were to stay there two or
three days, the search for water was postponed till the
next moming. The night was tranquil, and the day
dawned with a splendour which gave every token of fine
weather. Two of the Malays went ashore before sunrise
to reconnoitre, and met with traces of natives, for whom
they sought in all directions. They had, however, sud
denly decamped at the approach of the schooner ; but
the marks of their footsteps showed the way to a pool
of water, and the men returned for implements with which
they might enlarge it, and after breakfast they began their
work. Captain Spencer proceeded to examine the island,
first shooting some of the quails, which abounded there,
and sending them back to the vessel. After going
through the valley, in which he saw a very large and
vigorous umbelliferous plant, and which made an impres
sion on him by being almost the only one of the family.
which he met with in his Australian travels,^ he and Gif)
^ Azorella.

34 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
scrambled on to the top of one of the cliffs to look
around him. There he found an enormous nest built
upon the ground, and rising two feet from it; the
branches of trees and collections of fragments in it
would have filled a small cart. There were no eggs, but
masses of seals' hair, and that of terrestrial animals, and
small bones of quadrupeds and birds. He stood looking
at it, and then exclaimed, " It was an eagle,i then, which
I saw yesterday soaring over my head, and this its eyrie !
I must try and shoot it, for I should like to take its
measurement." From this point Captain Spencer,
through his telescope, saw a fresh and tempting tract o
land on the opposite shore, and descended to get ready
and pay it a visit, in doing which he disturbed whole
flocks of sooty terns,- noddies, oyster-catchers, and sand-
pipersj which took fright at him. The heights sfeemed to
have been seldom visited, and he had excited an immense
commotion among the winged tribes, whose different
characters he could not detect in their hasty flight.
Ordering the boat to be made ready. Captain Spencer
breakfasted, and then prepared for a long and last excur
sion to the mainland while in this latitude. The men
were to make sundry repairs in the rigging, and clean his
cabin thoroughly during his absence, and were also to
catch, salt, and smoke birds and fishes for the ensuing
voyage. He took with him a large quantity of ammuni
tion, with which Tiger was chiefly loaded ; and he hoped
not only to kill the eagle, but a kangaroo, the object of
his present ambition. On leaving India, he had, for the
sake of convenience, caused holsters to be fixed to his
saddle, and into these he now thrust his pistols and many
1 Haliaettcs leucogaster (Kaup.) ; Ichthyaetus (Gould).
' Onychoprionftdiginosus Anous (Gould).

SETS OUT ON AN EXCURSION. 35
spare charges. He filled a bag with biscuit and dried
provisions, and in another put some of the roasted quails
which had been shot and cooked before breakfast ; he
slung a couple of tin cans full of water by a leathern
strap across the saddle ; and, as he surveyed his prepara
tions, said to himself, " All these things I mean to fill
with game when I retum." He took his gun in his hand;
a short sword, an axe, and a large knife were stuck into
a belt round his waist ; and he filled his pockets with odd
things, such as pincers, and several boxes of copper caps.
On the beach he found Charlie much too busy picking
up insects to accompany him, and who, when he saw his
master going away, looked up at him, saying, " Good-bye,
Ned Spencer ; make haste back to Charlie — ha ! ha !
ha!" The shore was rocky, and the surf beat high upon the
fragments of rock lying at the foot of the bluff which
the traveller now approached, of whose lofty proportions
he could only form a just idea as he approached close to
it. It was a bold headland, at least five hundred feet
high, consisting of the usual red sandstone, interspersed
with granular quartz. Before he dismissed the boat, he
sought for a track by which he might ascend the cliff;
and after some difficulty, found a part that was accessible
to such good climbers as the trio now -together ; then
telling his men that he would fire a gun from the top
when he wished to go again on board, and not to be
uneasy if he did not return at night, he and his com
panions scrambled to the summit, and the boat and her
crew retumed to the schooner.
On arriving at the top, the air was so fresh and
balmy, so laden with sweet odours from an extensively
wooded district not far off; the grass was so green, the

36 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
country was so chequered with rich yellow patches, which
were evidently the flowery districts of abundant vegeta
tion, that even flies— which here, as elsewhere, abounded
—were disregarded, and the telescope was lifted to the
eye to ascertain if natives were near. None were dis
covered. Gipsy jumped and barked with delight, and
Tiger danced, and curvetted, and kicked, and seemed
quite inclined to run off altogether, very much to the dis
composure of his master's property on his back. It was
the end of August, early spring in those latitudes ; the
grass was young and tender, flowers were blossoming,
and insects, birds, and all living things, seemed to rejoice
in the glories of creation. A large eagle was performing
circles in the air, probably the inhabitant of the ejrrie on
the island, and it caused the first disturbance in this
scene of beauty; for it evidently had an intention of
pouncing on poor Gipsy, who was quite unconscious of
her danger till the eagle suddenly dropped upon her,
when she uttered a scream of terror. At that instant,
however, the unfailing aim of her watchful master took
effect, and the monstrous bird rolled upon the ground.
It was not quite dead when Captain Spencer went up to
it ; but a blow from the back of his hatchet, put an end
to its struggles, and he longed to skin it, or at least to
preserve its beautiful brown and banded feathers. He
could only draw a few from its graduated tail, stick them
on one side of his foraging-cap, and leave the body
where it was, in the hope of securing it on his return.
Several beautiful Kingfishers^ flew past the sportsman
while busy with the eagle, as if they had been relieved
from the fear of an enemy, and took their way to the
shore. They were of a new species to him, and were of
^ Alcyone pnJchra (Gould).

THE BIVOUAC. 37
a brilliant blue, orange, and red-wine colour, forming a
contrast to a sober-looking Crow,^ which now came forth
to pick up his food from the ground ; in fact, the death
of the eagle seemed to form a jubilee among the birds, so
many now issued from their hiding-places, and appeared
so joyous that the sportsman could not find it in his heart
to disturb their happiness.
Day was beginning to close, when exercise and fresh
air made the Englishman hungry ; he took the load from
Tiger as well as his saddle and bridle, and suffered him
to graze at pleasure. There were no trees near enough
to afford shelter ; and accustomed to bivouac in all sorts
of localities, he and Gip seated themselves on the grass
where they were, and ate their meal, drawn from the
stock brought from the schooner ; cold quail and biscuit
being most acceptable. By this time the sun and heat
of the horse's body had warmed the water in the cans ;
so the traveller rose and followed Tiger, whom he saw
drinking at some distance from a stream which flowed
through the gi'ass, and fell into the sea on the opposite
side of the bluff to that where they had landed. The
cans were refilled there, and he again sat down to rest.
A range of curiously-shaped, flat-topped hills closed the ¦
horizon to the east, and a belt of dense and dull-looking
forest formed the southern boundary of the landscape,
where the ground seemed to sink. Not a trace of human
life was to be seen ; and, alas ! many miles had been
walked that day, and no kangaroos had been perceived.
Captain Spencer swept the horizon with his glass to fix
on the direction towards which he should bend his steps
with the morning's dawn, for he almost made a vow he
would not return without one of these animals. Gipsy,
' Coil-US coronoides.

38 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
however, had been much more fortunate, for she had
again been roaming, and disappeared among some thorny
bushes, whence, in a few minutes, she brought a small
animal of the marsupial kind, and laid it at her master's
feet. It was a kangaroo-rat,^ which she had nipped in
the back of the neck ; and as it was better than no
kangaroo at all, he determined to take it to the schooner.
It was now necessary to look for some spot in which
the party might pass the night comfortably ; and then,
for the first time, the traveller became conscious that an
alteration in the weather had been gradually taking
place ; the breeze had dropped, and thick masses of
clouds were gathering all round. He felt that a storm
was approaching, and he sought for some shelter : he
saw at a distance what he took for a native hut, but the
telescope only showed an ant-hill, which he knew to be
likely to crumble and overwhelm him on such an occa
sion. He sought for bushes under which he might creep,
but those around him were too low to do him any good ;
he then proceeded to a rising ground, from the top of
which he looked around him. A still more heavy mass
of thick, black clouds had gathered in the north-west,
which foreboded a fearful tempest, not far off in point of
time and distance. It was getting dark more rapidly
than usual, from the loaded state of the sky, and there
was no time to mount Tiger and seek better protection ;
so he returned to the bottom of the hill, placed himself
on the lee side, and prepared for the night with his
saddle for his pillow. He carefully secured his fire-arms
and powder from the chance of getting wet, and Gip
curied herself round upon his knees ; Tiger trotted up to
him, laying back his ears as the first drops of rain fell,
' Hypsiprymnus, or Macropus minor.

A FEARFUL lEMFEST.

39

and cast himself down by his master's side, who rolled
himself and his dog in his cloak, spread his ample
mackintosh over them all, to its utmost extent, and pre
pared to endure patiently that which was unavoidable,
saying to himself, it was "the fault of those rascally
kangaroos that he was thus exposed."
Often as Captain Spencer had spent the night in the
open field, he had seldom, if ever, encountered such an
one as this proved to be, in so defenceless a state ; and
his great fear was, that from the violence of the hurricane
all their coverings would be stripped from them. Fortu
nately, however, they remained firm, thanks to the shelter
of the hill ; but the lashing of the waves upon the cliffs,
the furious lightning which ploughed along the ground,
the roaring of the mighty thunder, the sheet of rain, were
nothing to the all-absorbing rush of the wind. Two or
three times a dull, crashing, but awful sound was heard
during a slight lull in the storm, and the ground shook
under the little party, disturbing Tiger, who lifted up his
head, and making Gipsy tremble. " Down, good beasts,"
said their master ; " you at least are safe ; but where are
my poor men, and my schooner, and Charlie ? — he can
fly to land, but I tremble for the good Malays."
After hours of unabated fury, at length the storm
passed over; and, wearied with anxiety and watching.
Captain Spencer slept till the bright sunbeams darted
upon him. Rousing himself, and immediately recol
lecting all the past events, he hastily swallowed a few
mouthfuls of food 'to give him strength, placed all his
effects on Tiger's back, and departed for the shore. It
took him some Httle time to reach the edge of the bluff;
the mists which rose in consequence of the preceding
rain had disappeared, and nothing obstructed his view,

40 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
the whole place was clear, and the schooner was not in
sight " She stood out to sea," thought he, " and she was
a strong litde craft. She may yet be safe." He fired his
gun, and anxiously awaited an answer ; not a sound was
heard, except the dashing of the waves, swelled by the
previous disturbance. He stayed some time, anxiously
looking to seaward, both with and without his glass ; and
then, full of melaricholy forebodings, he slowly bent his
steps backwards and forwards by the edge of the bluff,
stopping at every few paces to look for the approach of
the vessel, and firing again and again. Tiger and Gipsy
strayed, and each found food ; but their master was too
full of anxious forebodings to think of eating. At length
he determined to go quite round the headland ; but ere
he reached it daylight was gone, and that memorable
time never was erased from his memory. With Gip in
his arms, and Tiger for his pillow, there, on the open
ground, listening to every sound, and fancying each time
he dozed that he heard the cries of his men, lay the
soldier, who started up at daybreak, determined to search
the shore itself
The suspense was ended; for that morning's hght
showed him the sea covered with the fragments of his
schooner. He raised his glass with a shudder, and felt
thankful that he could not discover a human form among
them. Following the direction taken by the floating
wreck, he reached the extreme end of the bluff, and at
some littie distance saw a well-worn track, doubtiess made
by natives, which led to a much easier descent to the
shore ; and he determined to follow it. He thought that
his men had escaped by the boat, or had remained on the
island, or were perhaps even now waiting for him at the
foot of the cliff. As he advanced he perceived that

WRECK OF TIIE SCHOONER. 41
enormous masses had been detached from the top of the
headland ; and cautiously peeping over at 'the first point
where he could with safety plant his foot on the edge, the
whole dreadful truth was revealed. The crew had tried
to escape in the boat, and had been about to shelter
themselves on the farther side, where the fragments (the
crash of which Captain Spencer had heard the first night)
had fallen upon them, to their utter destruction. It was
with difficulty that the stout-hearted soldier prevented
himself from falling over the brink of the cliff in his
agony and horror ; but he reeled back a few paces, and
then nerving himself, he went hastily down the side,
followed by Gipsy and Tiger, who both seemed to know
that something was the matter. They passed a comfort
able-looking cave, and the little stream from above
dripped in tiny cascades from rock to rock ; but Captain
Spencer could not then take much note of such things.
He set his foot on the flat beach, turned round a sharp
angle of rock, and beheld two of his men, one of whom
was the master, lifeless on the sands, and evidently killed
by the fallen rocks, for their bodies were dreadfully
mangled ; another was nearly buried under a huge mass ;
and the other two had disappeared altogether. Pieces of
the boat were strewn about, and combined with those of
the schooner in telling the tale of desolation.
Tiger had started at the first glimpse of the master's
body, and would not advance a step farther ; Gip ran
round and round the three bodies, licking their faces and
hands, and whining and moaning her lamentations for
her good friends. Her master stood with his eyes fixed
upon them, deploring the sudden fate of his good and
faithful servants, and 'thinking what he could do for the
burial of the bodies. He tried to scoop a hole in the

42 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
sand by means of the broken spars, and succeeded with
two of them ; but he was unable to move the third from
under the superincumbent mass ; he therefore heaped as
much soil upon him as would cover him, repeating the
burial service of his Church over all, and praying for
them to God, concluded by expressing his fervent grati
tude for his own preservation. Leaving the spot with a
more tranquillized spirit, he retired to the cave which he
had seen on his way down to the shore, to ponder upon
his present situation, and to form plans for the future.
Tiger, who had made an ample meal in the moming,
entered the cave with him, and threw himself down near
the entrance ; and Gip and her master, after convincing
themselves there were no inhabitants already in it, took
possession of the interior.

CHAPTER IIL

OR a time Captain Spencer sat with his head
buried in his hands, and could scarcely realize
his own position, so filled was he with grief
and horror at the loss of his five men, drowned, as it
were, for his sake. His horse and dog seemed now to
be of double value ; and as he sat with one arm round
Gipsy's neck, it occurred to him that Charlie had not
made his appearance. " My poor Charlie, too ! " he
said. The word Charlie was repeated, and he started ;
but as all was again silent, he thought the sound must
have proceeded from an echo in the cavern. " All
dead ! " he exclaimed, as his head again dropped. "All
dead ! all dead ! Charlie's coming, Ned Spencer ! "
exclaimed the bird, and thus signified his escape. He
hopped up to his master, who hugged and caressed him,
poor, wet, sandy, and miserable-looking creature as he
was, as if another dear object had been preserved. The
bird had probably been frightened by the hurricane to
take refuge in the cave, or had crept out from under the
masses of fallen rock ; at all events he was overjoyed at
finding his master and his companions. Gip, who had
hitherto been rather jealous of him, actually licked him ;
and Tiger raised his head and fixed his large eyes upon
him in a most amicable manner.

44 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
This circumstance roused the energy of Captain
Spencer, and the necessity for immediate exertion pre
sented itself The desolate nature of the country on
which he was thus cast, the dangerous reputation of its
inhabitants, and many other evils, stood before him with
almost appalling force; yet the more he thought, the
more did his natural courage and piety revive. " Shall
I," said he, " who have faced death hand to hand mth
the enemies of my country, who have fought my way
through ranks of foes, and held England's possessions
against a besieging army, fear a handful of rude savages ?
Nevertheless," added he, " they are perhaps more for
midable because they are treacherous, and defy the laws
of honourable warfare." Throwing himself on his knees,
he again thanked God for his own preservation, and
prayed fervently for aid and support.
Strengthened and refreshed by prayer, the wanderer
began to consider what was best to be done. Tliree
ways seemed to present themselves, one of which was to
remain near the coast, on the chance of seeing a vessel ;
but when he recollected that all the time he had already
been there he had not beheld a sail of any kind, this was
rejected. The second suggestion was to return along the
northern coast, and so reach Port Essington; but he
fancied he was nearer to Perth on the Swan River, and if
he had to travel, it might as well be in a totally new
country; and he accordingly decided on proceeding close
to tiie western shore, in the hope of perhaps seeing a
vessel which was going to that port, or at all events
reaching that settlement in some way or otiier. His
chart, his sextant, were gone ; he had nothing but his
compass to guide him ; but he deemed it an easy matter
to steer in a south-west direction, which must lead him

ARTICLES SAVED FROM WRECK.

-15

more or less near to the last-mentioned colony. His
pocket-book, containing letters of credit, was sewn inside
his waistcoat ; and the latter being cashed there, would
enable him to take passage for India.
Captain Spencer's resolution being formed, he glanced
at two of his companions as promising to be most service
able in helping him through his undertaking, and he
knew that his unfailing prowess as a shot would procure
him food ; but he resolved to remain where he was for a
few days, to see if any useful articles would come ashore
firom the wreck, especially gunpowder and shot. It
seemed to have been like foresight that he should have
provided himself with so much ammunition, and made so
little use of it ; and he thought, if the chest did not come
up, he had still enough. His chief difficulties would be
want of water and clothing. "But," said he, in a more
cheerful tone, "you, my poor beasts, obey every sound
of my voice, and, please God, we shall get through our
troubles; so let us try to sleep." Thus speaking, he
stretched himself on the ground, and the four were soon
at rest, Charlie having perched himself close by on a
ledge of sandstone.
Early in the moming Captain Spencer took Tiger to
the top of the cliff to get his food, and then descended
to the beach, where he picked up some pieces of plank
and brashwood, which had been driven ashore, and
setting fire to them with a little gunpowder, he contrived
to make a hot meal for himself and Gip of some quails
which he had shot above, though he felt quite sorry to
pluck off the pretty fawn and reddish coloured feathers
firom their breast. He stewed them in one of his tin cans,
and ate them heartily, in spite of the failure of sauce and
seasoning. On going to the sea-shore, a multitude of

46 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
objects met his view which would be very useful, and,
among others, two very large pieces of tarpauling. The
ammunition-chest, to his great joy, was sticking fast in
the sand ; and having the key in his pocket, he opened
it, and found the powder but little damaged. He spread
this out on the tarpauling to dry, and was so intently
occupied, that he scarcely observed the progress of the
sun, till its descent warned him it was time to collect all
his treasures and take them to the cave. Among the
latter was a barrel of flour, which he also emptied and
dried. He then made some cakes of it, and baked them
on hot ashes, as an addition to his evening meal. Tiger
had several times peeped over the chff, as if to see
whether he were wanted, and at sunset trotted down the
path to settle for the evening. Charlie had both fed and
amused himself upon the beach, "but not approaching too
near the water, of which he seemed to have an instinctive
horror, thereby proving that he had been drenched
during the storm. " You must be tumed into a pack-
horse. Tiger," said his master ; " so come and be loaded
for your new office." The docile creature stood unmoved
as his master put the things upon his back, and walked
steadily with his burden to the cave, where, after being
unloaded, he laid himself down. Captain Spencer hear
ing Gip express herself in impatient tones, went to see
what was the matter with her, and found her pulling with
all her might at the sleeve of his thick over-coat, which
had hung up in the cabin, but which was now half-buried
in the sand. "Good dog," said he, patting her head,
and the efforts of both freed the garment. Then putting
it under one of the cascades to wash out the sand and
salt water, it was the next day dried in the sun.
The night was warm and tranquil; and the next

RUNNING FISHES, 47
morning, on returning to the beach. Captain Spencer saw
a number of fishes, which appeared to be running about
upon their elbows, to the great astonishment of Gipsy;
and he could not help smiling at the dog's look and the
ludicrous action of the fishes, with their three free spines
on their head, one of which had a tuft at the top, their
gills like a hole, and their lower fins looking like great
splay feet.i They were about nine inches long, and ran
at each other with their mouths open ; but the moment
Captain Spencer came up to them, they all at once dis
appeared in the slimy matter which had collected round
the mangroves growing on one side of the inlet. Their
pectoral fins were supported by a sort of arm or stem ;
and on this part they walked, the fins themselves looking
like hands. On trying to catch one. Captain Spencer saw
it swell itself out till it looked like a ball on four feet, of
a yellowish brown with black stripes. Gipsy seemed to
think that she was also come to the beach to look for
what might be found, and ran about with her nose
close to the sand; at last she stopped, and began
scratching with all her might, and her master, attracted
by this, came to her assistance. To" his great delight,
he found it was the trunk which contained his clothes,
and which he emptied ; but as he carried them to
the cave, and saw the pile of articles which he had
selected, he was sure he could not secure them all,
and he was losing time, and uselessly consuming pro
visions to Unger where he was; he therefore discon
tinued his search, and remained at the cave to arrange
his property. He had secured some needles and balls
of coarse thread ; and cutting one of the sheets of
tarpauling into pieces of sundry dimensions, he manu-
^ Chironectes,

48 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
factured bags for holding gunpowder, flour, and other
eatables, cases for his firearms, arid a knapsack for
himself to carry. He kept the other piece of tarpauling
entire, as a waterproof covering for all the rest, and for
Tiger in bad weather, to which he fastened strings made
of untwisted ropes, thrown ashore, so that it might be
tied underneath the horse. From his own clothes he
made what he thought a judicious selection of shoes, and
woollen articles of dress, linen, and plenty of handker
chiefs and light things, which he thought might conciliate
the natives. He hoped that the tin cans would convey
a stock of water from place to place ; and he hailed with
considerable joy two hams, which he now cooked, and
which had been but little injured by immersion in salt
water. All these preparations for his arduous journey occupied
Captain Spencer a longer time than he had at first cal
culated on, and five days had elapsed before he thought
of starting ; during which time his horse and bird fed as
usual, and he caught a sort of Guard-fish ; and, besides
this, met with one with a long muzzle like a Chelmar,
cockles, and small and well-flavoured oysters, which had
attached themselves to the mangroves. Strengthened for
the long route which he had to traverse, Captain Spencer
nevertheless contemplated setting forth with an indefinable
sadness, in spite of his faith, and the excitement which
new adventures bring to the young and courageous. Gip
had, during the last three days, taken an independent
walk on the top of the cliffs, and each time brought back
a Kangaroo-rat ; thus cheering her master by the promise
of her future services, which would spare his ammunition,
and not only make it last for procuring food, but give
him the more for self-defence. Each day he became

A TTA CKED BY NA TlVES 49
more expert in cooking, of which all soldiers who have
seen service know something; as to Charlie, he was
more intelligent than ever, repeating every word his
master spoke, and applying his phrases to all circum
stances which were similar to those under which he had
leamt them.
The night before he left his quiet retreat, Captain
Spencer was awoke by a low growl from Gipsy, as she
raised her head and pricked up her ears. " Be quiet,
Gip," said her master ; but although she did not move,
the animal continued very uneasy, and now and then
gave a stifled bark. At length Tiger was roused, and
stood upright in the cave ; and on seeing a sudden dis
turbance, Charlie exclaimed, " What's the matter ? " Then
Captain Spencer also rose, gun and pistol in hand, which
he always kept loaded, and looked out. How many dark
forms he saw before him, and on the beach, and ledges
of the rock, he never knew; but the moonlight disclosed
a formidable number who had spears in their hands.
They advanced; and two, more daring than the rest,
came close to the cave, each carrying a thick heavy club,
or " waddy." " To him, Gip ! " said Captain Spencer,
and the dog immediately seized one of them by the leg ;
while Tiger, who seemed to understand what was going
on, burst out on his hind legs, striking all within his
reach with his fore-paws, knocking them over down the
rocks. Those who were behind paused, and Captain
Spencer, who only wished to alarm, called Gipsy off, and
fired one of his pistol-barrels into the air; the ball
whizzed over their heads, and they retreated. He
cautiously looked after them, and saw them hastily
making their way upon their rafts to the island, with
their double-bladed paddles ; and he concluded that they

so ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
had discovered him from thence by the smok6 of his fire.
"This decides my departure," said he; "it is better to
go before they have recovered from their fright, and start
with to-morrow's dawn; but this night I and Gip will
watch." On the morrow Captain Spencer packed his things in
as small a compass as he could, eating his breakfast
during the operation ; he carried them to the top of the
chff, and there loaded Tiger, who was an apt and obedient
servant when his master wanted him. The whole of the
load was secured by the tarpauling, and he was much
amused at seeing Charlie seat himself on the top, saying,
• " Let us be off; all's right.'' No more was seen of the
hatives, even from the height, by means of the telescope.
The travellers followed the outline of the coast, except
where its deep and frequent indentations rendered it
more expedient to go straight across the projection. Cap
tain Spencer had lost all trace of the day of the week,
and consequently could not distinguish the Sabbath ; but
as far as prayer and praise were concerned, each day was
Sunday to him, and it seemed as if, in that wild country,
and in his isolated position, he must unceasingly invoke
the aid of his Heavenly Protector, and admire his won
derful workSi To all who have read Scripture, it is in
these scenes that the very words of Holy Writ rise uncon
sciously to the lips, as if they alone, in their grand sim
plicity, could express the feelings ; and those who, in
their intercourse with their fellow-men, would refrain from
using them as being irreverent to do so, find themselves
involuntarily speaking the language of the Bible.
The steady pace at which Captain Spencer began his
long march, as all experienced soldiers do, made Gipsy
walk by his side the first day, and the novelty of canying

STARTS FOR SWAN RIVER. 51
a burden curbed the dancing propensities of Tiger. As
for Charhe, he kept up a dignified demeanour at first, as
if he would not interfere with the grand conveyance
which he had chosen for himself. "This steadiness is
too good to last," thought Captain Spencer, as he took
off the load, and prepared for rest, dinner, and siesta,
during the heat of the day. On rising to resume his
journey, he examined the country with his glass ; saw the
jagged coast on one side; and on the other, at a con
siderable distance, the land seemed to be covered with
large districts of flowering bushes, and here and there
a patch of untidy-looking timber ; while in the far-off
horizon some hills seemed to rise, some with flat summits,
which betokened their sandstone formation. Altogether,
mind and eye ached with the immensity of space around
him, some of which he had to traverse : it was mono
tonous, yet it was grand; but the apparent absence of
animal life was oppressive, and he thought of the many
leagues which he must journey before he could find a
civihzed companion. A few birds, eagles and crows,
and others which were strange to him, were high up in
the air ; but with these exceptions he and his unreason
ing companions, as they are called, seemed to be alone.
He had read something about the country in which it
had thus pleased God to place him, and knew that it was
unhke any other in its features and productions ; yet he
hoped that the littie knowledge which he possessed of
natural history would be of some help in procuring sus
tenance, for he thought the great laws of creation must
be the same everywhere. As he stood gazing around
him, and absorbed in his reflections, a soft velvet-like
touch upon his cheek made him start, and turning round
he saw Tiger, who went up to one of the cans as if to

1 2 AD VENTURIS IN A USTRALIA.
ask for water. " What ! already is there a scarcity ? "
said his master ; " if you have not found any, I m'ust let
you have some from my own stock ; poor fellow ! it is
lucky that Arab horses do not require as much as others
do ; nevertheless, instead of going on now, I had better
begin to look for some. Come along, Gip." " I'm
coming," said Charlie, and flew before him. He directed
his steps towards a clump of trees covered with pale
yellow and feathery blossoms, perfuming the air with
their delicious odour. They proved to be acacias, which,
from growing near a small stream, had acquired greater
size than the neighbouring bushes of the same sort.
These bushes were also beginning to flower, and Captain
Spencer concluded they must form one of the scrubs
described as so formidable both to man and beast. He
stooped down to examine this scrub, and found that no
description had done justice to its inaccessible nature ; it
was full of sharp, woody, and branching thorns, often
eight inches long, frequently crossing each other, and he
thought with dismay of the probable necessity of making
his way through such obstacles. There was water, how
ever, under the trees ; and by raising the turf with his
axe, and scooping the earth out with his hands, he made
a hole big enough to enable him to fill his cans ; and
calling his companions to him, he resolved to remain
there all night Then Gipsy, with her usual sagacity,
dashed into the scrub, and brought her accustomed tri
bute to the meal, producing two or three rats, which, as
usual, were good to eat.
The following day Captain Spencer strolled towards
the sea, in the hope of finding something with which he
might be able to scoop out earth when he met with water
Under-ground, as the last had been. On looking over

A HAWK'S-BILL TURTLE. 53
the cliff, he discovered a log of wood which had been
washed ashore. "Why should I not shape that into
something like a shovel ? " thought he ; " it might do for
any sort of soft soil ; '' and he determined to secure it.
Leaving Gip at the top, where she stood looking down
whining and wagging her tail, afraid to follow, and yet
not liking to stay behind, he leaped from ledge to ledge
of the rock, like a birdcatcher, till he reached the bottom.
The log was too heavy for him to carry ; and while pon
dering on the possibility of conveying it up the cliff, a
much more valuable prize saluted his eyes in the shape
of a huge Hawk's-bill Turtle. To dash into the surf,
push It ashore, and turn it on its back, was the work of
two minutes ; but then came the same difficulty as had
puzzled him concerning the log. His only plan, he
thought, would be to chop both to pieces on the shore ;
but during the time this would take, he dared not leave
his packages above unguarded. In this dilemma he
tumed his head, and saw Gip at some distance running
down the cUff with ease. "A native path," thought he ;
" Tiger shall come down and drag them up." Gip
jumped with delight on reaching her master, and her
curiosity was excited by the turtle. Going up to examine
it, with her nose close to the creature, she received such
a blow from one of the fins that she thought herself
killed. On recovering her fright, however, she became
very angry, and uttered a cry of such mingled fear and
rage, that her master "could not help laughing; he took
her up in his amis and soothed her, but on inviting her
to battie with the reptile, she hung her head and tail, and
crept behind him, still showing her teeth.
Captain Spencer again mounted the cliff in order to
fetch Tiger ; and looking round with his glass, he was so

54 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
convinced of the absence of other human beings, that he
thought he might with safety leave his packages, with the
exception of the cans, closely covered with the tarpauling,
and pass the day and night on the shore. His first
business was rudely to chop the log into the shape of a
shovel, and with the chips he made a fire ; he then
chopped off the head of the turtle and the fins, and these
he put into one of the cans with some water ; he divided
the upper from the lower shell, and to his pleasure found
the turtle full of eggs ; he put the rest of the flesh into
the can, and set it on to boil, while he strewed some of
the hot wood-ashes on the ground, and roasted the eggs
in the turtle's shell. Gip had her share of them ; and the
whole party went to rest. Rising again at break of day.
Captain Spencer and the dog invigorated themselves
with more eggs, and prepared for remounting the cliff.
Charlie flew into the air, Gip jpreceded her master, and
Tiger followed — the cans, the turtle, and rude shovel
slung acro_ss his back by the pocket-handkerchiefs and
cravat of Captain Spencer.
The moment the dog reached the summit she began
to bark furiously ; and convinced that there was some
thing wrong. Captain Spencer cautiously raised his head
a little above the cliff, and saw a body of natives, armed
in the usual manner, examining the contents of the tar
pauling. They had paused on hearing Gip bark, and
one of them had raised his arm in order to spear the
poor animal, when Captain Spencer sent a ball flying
over his head, and the smoke of the powder went into
the faces of all ; then freeing Tiger from his burden, and
springing on to his back, he leaped into the midst of
them, the horse's mane and tail floating in the air, and
he firing off a bullet from the second barrel of his

NATIVES FRIGHTENED AWAY. 55
weapon. " Boyl-ya ! Boyl-ya ! " screamed the natives,
running away with the utmost rapidity, not daring even
to look behind them. Gip went barking after them, and
Charlie flew, screaming out, "I'm coming, I'm coming!
here's Charlie ! " the one acting in the defence of her
master, the other expressing his delight at a noise and
bustle. In their hurry, one of the men left his throwing-
stick behind him ; and Captain Spencer found it to be
eight feet long, smaller at both ends, and at one of these
a barb, looking as if made to fit the spear. By its side
lay a strong cord, made of twisted woody fibres, both of
which he left where they had been lying, after they had
undergone his examination.
The rout was complete, and, calling Gip off from the
pursuit. Captain Spencer gave way to a violent fit of
laughter, joined by Charlie ; but it was a lesson to him
never again to leave his things exposed; and as he
watched the Australians with his glass, till they dis
appeared down the cliff at a distance, most thankful was
he that they had not surprised him when below.
Some days elapsed without incident, the wanderers
making steady progress, and gaining much ground, when
being again near the edge of the cliff. Captain Spencer
heard some of the natives chattering below. Lying
down flat, he peered over, and was highly amused by
watching their proceedings. There was a numerous
party, and among them some women ; one with a grass
mat tied at her back, from which peeped out the head of
a child, and a large bag in her hand ; another carried a
fire-stick, which was a hard tough piece of wood, lighted
at one end, but not blazing ; a third was hugging neither
more nor less than his valuable Triton tea-kettle. On
the ground lay a dog with a long, narrow head, like that

5 6 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
of a lurcher, which seemed to be of Malay origin. The
women stood quietly looking on, while most of the "men
were squatted round some object which was in the midst
of them, and making an immense noise. Presently
several put their hands to their mouths, and immediately
after rose, spitting and stamping their feet, and then the
jar of pickled oysters came to view. They yelled, they
tossed their arms up ; and while the owner was thinking
how he could recover his oysters, two of them took the
jar and threw it into the sea. Nor was this all : one of
them rose from the ground, deliberately placed a pair of
Captain Spencer's trousers on his head, which occupied
the seat, while the legs floated over the shoulders. This
was too much : rolling himself from the edge of the cliff,
he gave way to a hearty fit of laughter, which being
echoed by Charlie, caused a sudden sensation below,
and he heard the people stealing away with voices
hushed into a whisper. They were well made ; dressed
their hair in various ways, some decorating it with
feathers ; most of them had a nose ornament ; and their
language sounded as if it were very melodious, and com
posed of words of many syllables. Among them were
two who had a much lighter complexion than the others,
probably owing to Malay blood, and they seemed to be
the chiefs of the body.
Fearing a reaction, "and perhaps a surprise. Captain
Spencer pushed on as speedily as he could, not stopping
to bivouac in the middle of the day. On the next he
travelled more leisurely, and watched Charhe pursue a
Butterfly with a golden body, green and blue wings, and
spots like black velvet,^ which he vainly tried to save
from destruction. Grasshoppers chirped so loudly at
' Prianiceps.

IMPRESSION OF A CLOVEN HOOF. 57
night that he could not sleep ; and he took that oppor
tunity of polishing and sharpening his shovel with his
knife, thereby rendering it much lighter to carry. While
so occupied he heard a bird with a full melodious whistle,
slowly uttering five or six successive half tones ; but he
could not get near enough to have an idea of its plumage.
Various Beetles had that day attracted him, one species
of which was very round, of a yellow brown, and spotted.
The flies ^ still continued to distress all except Charlie.
Large Cranes had more than once appeared in the air ;
a flight of Pigeons ^ crossed over the scrub, and Quails
with black spots on their breasts ; and some curious
Ducks ^ had given him a large stock of good eatables, in
the preparation of which he had now become very expert,
as he split and roasted them on hot ashes.
The impression of a large cloven hoof on the short
turf had excited some sensation in Captain Spencer's
mind, for he knew that no animals owning such an one as
that were indigenous to Australia. Could he be near
any cattle station ? Surely there was none so far north
as he was then. Perhaps it might be a stray bull which
had become wild, and had thus wandered. He settled
that it was so in his own mind, but yet he dwelt on the
circumstance, and he looked for it again and again. A
piece of depressed ground, however, settled the question ;
for this had'not dried since the rain had lodged in it, and
retained the marks of the foot more correctly than the
previous print He now, therefore, ascertained, from the
impression of a spur, that one of the buffaloes introduced
in the northem part of the continent, of which the
Malays had told him, had strayed to this point ; and the
' Paropsis, '^ Geophaps plumifera.
•^ Anas seniipalmata.

58 AD-VENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
hope of soon reaching a settlement was abandoned.
That he was still within the tropics was evident from the
existence of some Palm-trees. He. diverged from his
path to go to them ; and finding a young one, he cut off
the top, and boiled and ate it for his supper without fear
of its indigestible quahties.
Tired of always seeing the same things, the traveller
longed to go farther inland ; yet he dared not do so to
any extent, from the fear of completely losing his way.
He, however, came to an enormous, round projection of
land, and determined to march straight across to it In
doing this, however, he was annoyed by the scrub whicii
presented itself; no longer Acacia, but Atriplex of the
most matted and entangled kind. It was like navigating
to follow any track in which the mass of vegetation was
thinned ; but now and then, in parts which had been
bumt, and consequently cleared, a beautiful crimson
Kennedia had started into being. Poor Tiger was much
wearied by lifting his feet straight up to get them out at
all, and then stamping them down to crush the stems,
and obtain a free footing. Now and then a beautiful
creeping plant would make its way from underneath, in
the shape of a yellow papilionaceous flower, which Cap
tain Spencer believed to be a Dolichos.
A cloud seemed to pass over the travelling party,
when Charlie, who had been flying above, gravely took
his seat on the top of Tiger's back, muttering to himself,
"All's right ! all's right ! " — and looking up, his master
beheld a vast flight of Grass Parrakeets taking a direct
southerly course, and emigrating, probably, in search of
food. He fired among them, and brought down several ;
though it grieved him to destroy such pretty creatures.
At length water was scarce, and Captain Spencer was

MAKES A GRASS HAT. 59
again obliged to seek some in the vicinity of a clump of
green-looking trees. He pushed his way to them as well
as he could through the scrub, and then made his first
acquaintance with one of the distinguishing features of
Australian vegetation, for they belonged to the great tribe
of Myrtles and the genus Eucalyptus, of which there are
so many species, — gum-trees as the settlers call them ;
and to which other English names have been also given,
according to their fancied resemblances in taste and
smell, such as the Peppermint tree, the Mahogany, the
Box, the Paper Bark, etc. Their appearance was pecu
liar, and the trees had a dull, untidy look, owing to the
manner in which the leaves hung from the twisting of
the leaf-stalk, which caused them to present their edges
instead of flat surfaces to the observer. The bark hung
in picturesque festoons, and he recognized it as the same
which he had applied to the fractured arm of the man on
the coast. Under the trees was a pool of water, which
had evidently been visited by natives, for the edges had
been trodden down by many naked feet ; but tired of
the scmb, he tumed again towards the shore, Charlie
going before him, and pursuing a curious Dragon-fly^
with a bright brown and black body, and an appendage
to its tail like two small leaves. Hawk-moths ^ were also
flying about near the pool, for the sun was fast declining.
The moment he was outside the scrub he threw himself
on the ground to rest ; and then observing that the grass
was very long and silky, it struck him that he might
contrive a covering for his head, which would be cooler
and lighter than the hot cloth and leather of his cap ;
and he consequently selected some of the longest blades,
and endeavoured tcf work according to measurement,
' Pelabira. "- Deih-pliila.

6o ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
somewhat on the model of his military head-cover, only
he was decided on having a very broad brim all round.
This occupation carried him far into the night, and in
truded upon the next day; but he determined not to
leave it till finished. Do what he would, however, the
crown obstinately assumed a conical shape, and so added
to his height, which was already six feet, and the brim
would hang and flap about his face ; the former he could
not remedy, but he procured some long thorns from an
Acacia tree, and weaving them into the brim, it stood out
wide and stiff. Moreover he, to his great satisfaction,
contrived a button and loop, which fastened it up in
front at pleasure. He put his eagle's feathers on one
side, and flattered himself that he looked something like
the picturesque models of banditti of which he had seen
drawings ; but the conceit was soon taken out of him,
when Gipsy saw him put.it on; for, fancying he was
dressing himself up for fun, she ran round him, jumped
and barked, and it was some time before she could be
quite reconciled to this new head-dress. " Gipsy, you are
no judge," said her master, as he put his cap into his
knapsack ; and at that moment Charlie, whose chase had
been very successful flew to him, saying, " Ned Spencer !
Ned Spencer ! ha ! ha ! ha ! "
Another Albatross was seen near the sea, and this
time came near enough for the traveller to perceive that
it had a rose-coloured beak, that its head and neck were
of a deep brown, and that the dark back gradually
softened into white underneath ; the noise which it made
was like that of an old goose. Gip evidently expected
her master to shoot it; but he could not eat it, and
collections of natural history would have been very cum
bersome to carry, so the bird passed over in peace. On

HAZE AND MIRAGE. 6i
the same day a thick haze came over the sky, and so
much mirage appeared that he saw overhead the distant
objects to which he was coming, and among others, a
deep ravine too wide to cross, and which would therefore
force him to go inland, and skirt its sides. At night a
heavy dew fell, and but for his mackintosh, would have
wetted him through ; and when he had lain down and
covered himself, Tiger, and Gip with the tarpauling, he
was amused at seeing Charlie also creep under it, saying,
" I'm coming, I'm coming ! " All four formed a loving
party, and he felt that he had the very best substitutes
for human companions.
The next morning Captain Spencer visited the cliffs
before he turned inland, for he had full faith in the
mirage, though at what distance the ravine might be he
could not teH. On going there he saw some small
shrubs, among which were Acacias ^ of a new description,
and a Pittosporum ^ loaded with ripe, many-seeded ber
ries, which Charlie ate, and therefore his master followed
his example, having no fear of their being poisonous.
Several snakes were near them — black and yellow, and
black and green — which glided into holes in the ground,
leaving the marks of their undulating course on the sandy
ground of which the cliff was formed ; these he had
often seen before without knowing what they were.
They were numerous, and excited his gratitude that
neither he nor his followers had been bitten. A land
slip and depression tempted Captain Spencer to go down
to the sea-shore, whence he saw whales at a distance, and
porpoises swimming one after the other seemingly at play.
They resembled drawings he had seen of the Sea-serpent,
and he could scarcely persuade himself that they were
' A. lignlata. "¦ F. oleifoliuiii.

6 2 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
really not that far-famed monster. Again did he catch a
turtie, which Gip would not approach ; and again did he
bathe with two of his companions. There were plenty
of different kinds of shells on this part of the coast ; and
among them he recognised Cyprese, Coni, Volutes, and
Patellfe, — also some enormous Venus's Ears,^ one of
which he formed into a drinking-cup, and another into
a strainer. From the former he twisted off the holes
through which the inhabitant thrusts its tentacula, and
filed the edge quite smooth. The same night a large
meteor crossed the sky out at sea, leaving a long train
of light behind it, and exploded into a shower of star-
hke sparks. Numerous Petrels of different species
hovered about ; and the next morning a large flight of
Gannets passed at the rate of at least thirty miles the
hour. They were going south; and some thousands
must have been there, for they were an hour and a half
in their passage over the spot where Captain Spencer
was. Charlie sat on the top of the cliff staring up at
them, and muttering to himself; and when the last was
gone, he burst into a loud " Ha ! ha ! ha ! "
From this point the party proceeded along shore at
the foot of the deep red cliffs, till the truth of the mirage
was proved, and they reached the mouth of a wide inlet,
through which a river was flowing to the ocean.
' Haliotes gigantea.

CHAPTER IV.
O ascend the inlet at which he had now arrived
on one side, till he could cross the river flow
ing through it, and then return towards the
coast on the other, seemed to Captain Spencer to be
the only plan which he could pursue ; for although he,
Gip, and Tiger could swim well, the current was im
mensely strong, and the bed of the river full of rocks, so
that he would have found it difficult to resist being
carried out to sea by the force of the water ; and cer
tainly the light Gipsy, and Tiger with his burden could
not get across. The idea of being taken by this ravine
into a new part of the country would have caused no
regret, had he not reflected that as yet he had made but
little way in the many leagues of distance he had to
traverse. But there was no help for it, and he consoled
himself with the prospect of seeing the interior of a
country which he knew to be beautiful, but which had
not as yet presented many of its charms to his eyes. He
retreated for the night to a distance from the mangroves,
and only unpacking what was absolutely necessary to
allay thirst and hunger, he wrapped himself in his cloak,
and, sheltered by the cliffs, the whole party slept for a
few hours.
The next moming, even before the sun had risen

64 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
high enough to light up the western ocean, Captain_
Spencer was ready for starting. The sea was calm, but a
heavy tide rolling in shore, gave it that long, heavy
swell which conveys an idea that the whole of our planet
must more or less partake of the vast movement. None
but a very rugged path could be found between the banks
of the river and the high chffs which bordered them ; but
Tiger picked his way through, Gip leaped from stone to
stone, and for a time Charlie rode in his usual place on
the top of the baggage, as if afraid to trust himself out of
sight in a new scene. In their passage close to the
mangroves, they disturbed numbers of those bats which
are called Flying Foxes,i and which his Malays had told
him were good eating; but he had never tried them; and
now, as they flew past and around him, their musky
odour rendered him still more unwilling to convert them
into food. With his Indian dislike to mangroves, he
hastened on, and was well pleased, after walking for two
hours, to find that they altogether disappeared, thereby
leaving him a wider path, skirted on one side by the
rushing, tumbling river, and on the other by a thick belt
of trees of various kinds, which, in their abundance,
frequently spread their branches across the way, to the
discomfort both of master and horse; for when they
knocked against them, a swarm of green ants, whicii
built their nests among the leaves, dropped upon them
and bit them severely. According to his usual custom,
when anything annoyed Tiger, his master sought to
relieve him from it ; but there was no kind person to
perform such an office for himself; and the painful at
tacks of these little creatures made him rejoice in the
brim of his grass hat. The ears of Tiger, however,
' Pteropus eduUs,

THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE. 65
suffered so much, that he stamped and kicked ; and
Captain Spencer contrived, when he rested for the night,
to make coverings for them out of one of his handker
chiefs, and hanging from each was a long shred of the
same material, which he hoped would also keep off the
flies. The depth of the gorge and the dense vegetation
rendered the air less fresh than above, but it was far
from disagreeable. The heights were still composed of
coarse fenruginous and siliceous sandstone : and from the
foliage numbers of beautiful parrakeets rushed out, pur
sued by black-shouldered hawks; and from the former
Captain Spencer did not hesitate to derive two or three
meals. Now and then a row of pelicans, with their
solemn looks, told him that fishes were to be had in the
river; but these heavy birds slowly flew away at his
approach, wheeling off in circles near the ground, and
then soaring upwards. Large cranes ^ also came to feed
by the water side, and, with their accustomed fearlessness
of man, would probably have suffered him to go by
without being disturbed ; but when Tiger appeared, he
was too much for their courage, and they flew away, as if
unwilling to go. Plenty of mullet in the river explained
the presence of these birds, as well as that of some wild
ducks resembhng teal; and he determined to fohow their
example of having fish for dinner. Unloading Tiger, he
prepared a line and hook, which he took from one of his
jacket pockets ; and cutting a pole from one of the trees
for a fishing-rod, he baited the hook with one of the
unknown insects hovering over the water ; and seating
himself on a fragment of rock, he soon captured a plen
tiful supply ; and as he drew them out, he observed that
' Ardea antigone (Native companion).

66 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
they were of a much paler red than when they inhabited
the ocean. Experience had not taught them to avoid
man, and they seized on his bait with avidity ; but on
hearing a great splashing at some distance, they darted
away with the utmost rapidity, a shoal of porpoises had
just arrived from sea, and rapidly advancing, overtook
the hindmost ; and then Captain Spencer knew it would
be in vain for him to compete with his finny rivals ; so,
while Tiger browsed on the herbage growing between
the pieces of fallen stone, he made his fire, roasted his
mullet, and he and Gipsy enjoyed an excellent repast
The trees under the cliffs were of various kinds ; but
the Pandanus,^ having the air of a palm-tree with simple
fronds, and Nutmeg,^ were the most abundant The
traveller tasted some of the fruit of the latter, and found
it very insipid ; but it was still very young, and in this
sheltered ravine was probably never out of fmit and
flower. The brightest and most exquisitely-coloured
parrots and parrakeets, displaying all the most brilliant
plumage which could be conceived, filled the air with
their cries as they came to feed upon the nutmegs ; and
equally beautiful, though not so gay, were some white
pigeons, which came for the same purpose. Of these
Captain Spencer secured a provision for himself and
Gipsy. Various climbing plants crept up the trees ; and
the bright orange fruits of the Pandanus, having attained
something like maturity, afforded an agreeable refreshing
pulp at the bottom of each scale, in the manner of the
scales of an artichoke.
Small lateral creeks, or rather fissures, now and then
broke the monotony of the vegetation ; and at the end of
the afternoon's march, the party reached a circular open-
' Pandanus pedunculatus. = Myristica insipida.

SAND-FLIES. 6^
ing, down which a rivulet dropped in tiny cascades. The
water of the river, though drinkable, was still a little
brackish ; but this was deliciously fresh, and here Cap
tain Spencer determined to remain the whole night.
Tiger was freed from his load; the fire was made and
lighted ; the fishes were split, impaled, and placed over
it ; Gipsy lay down with her paws crossed to watch the
operation ; and Charlie, who was always near when in a
new place, perched himself upon the rocks, hopping
from one to another to catch his insect supper. The
birds and fishes were cooked, and all four having feasted
to their satisfaction, laid themselves down to rest in their
accustomed fashion, as much covered as possible to
avoid the mosquitoes ; but the first heavy sleep of fatigue
over, rest was gone, in consequence of their old enemies
the sand-flies. Gip adopted her usual remedy, which
was to creep under the coat which she herself had
secured from the wreck, and on which her master
generally slept, where she nestled with one paw over
her nose. Poor Tiger, however, had no such remedy,
and started and fidgeted, and at last stood up. Captain
Spencer turned up the collar of his coat, and buried his
face in it ; but it was of no use. He also got up, and
tied a handkerchief over Tiger's nose and mouth, and
enveloping the whole of his own face in another, and
tucking his hands under his sleeves, he seated himself
with his back against the cliff, regretting the heights,
where at least he had been free from mosquitoes, and
wishing for some mosquito-gauze, through which he could
have seen ; for he well knew the continued torment to
which he should be liable whenever he was near water.
During his disturbed sleep he fancied he heard some
footsteps, and Charlie muttered. Tiger pawed the ground.

68 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
and Gip withdrew from her covering and barked ; but
no molestation followed. In the morning, however, to
his great annoyance. Captain Spencer discovered that
there was not only a well-trodden path from above to
the spot where he had passed the night, but that there
were marks of recent footsteps, which proved that none
of them had been mistaken.
Hastily swallowing his breakfast, and throwing hers to
Gipsy, while he saw that his fire-arms were in good order,
and loading Tiger, Captain Spencer, fearing some hostile
attack, departed early from his bivouac. As hours passed
away, and fresh beauties presented themselves to his
view, apprehensions of evil from the natives subsided;
and laughing to see how Tiger snorted away the flies,
and Gip rubbed her nose in the bushes, as they walked
on with their eyes almost closed, according to the native
fashion, he had some thoughts of resting, when Charlie,
who had been occasionally fl3^ng ahead of them, quickly
returning, exclaimed, " Ned Spencer ! Ned Spencer ! "
and perched upon his master's shoulder. Advancing
a few paces into a spot cleared of trees, and full of
masses of fallen cliff, the soldier stood opposite to his
enemies, mounted on the top of the cliff, and awaiting
his approach. They were headed by a man much taller
than the rest, whose face was painted white, to show that
he was in mourning; and he and the others had their
spears fixed in their throwing sticks, and uttered the
most savage yells. They pointed with fierce gestures
towards the sea, as if ordering the stranger to retum.
But the sight of Captain Spencer with Charlie on his
shoulder for a moment astonished them ; and the bark
of defiance with which Gipsy greeted them, so different
to the howl of native dogs, which never bark, arrested

A DANGEROUS ATTACK. 6g
them. Then, when Tiger appeared, they fell back, and
e\idently talked to each other concerning the whole
party ; and wishing to conciliate, Captain Spencer, unable
to find anything white as a signal of peace, broke a bough
from a tree, and, holding it up, advanced towards them.
Many of them retreated still further ; but the tall man
loudly addressed them, with passionate gestures, on
which they screamed, jumped, bit their beards and spat
them out again, and at last the chief hurled his spear.
Captain Spencer avoided it by stepping on one side ; and
thinking that he ought now to show his power, he fired
one ball from his pistol over their heads. As it whistled
through the air, they stared, and endeavoured to follow
it with their eyes. But they stood their ground; and
when again excited by their head man, a shower of spears
was about to be hurled at the party, when the able
marksman paralyzed the aim of the principal person, by
lodging a bullet in his arm. Again were the weapons
lowered, and the Englishman tried to advance ; but their
leader, in a stdl greater fury, evidently ordered them to
throw their spears. Springing behind a piece of rock,
the traveller saved his life ; but one of the spears canied
away a part of his valuable grass hat, and another became
transfixed in the load on Tiger's back, who raised his
head and neighed loudly, while Gipsy continued to bark,
and Charlie to scream overhead. Now, thought Captain
Spencer, if ever a man were justified in taking away life
in self-defence, I must destroy that fellow ; and, crouch
ing down, and resting his gun upon the rock, he fired at
the tall enemy, and sent a bullet into his heart. The
man instantly fell, and most of his companions crowded
round him, while two or three again hurled their spears.
The second banel of the gun sent a third bullet into the

70 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
leg of another man ; and then all crowded in confusion
round the body of their companion, and went away as
quickly as possible in the greatest state of alarm and
distress ; at which time Captain Spencer again heard the
syllables "boyl-ya" muttered in an undertone.
The first impulse of the traveller was to utter his
short and fervent thanks to the gracious Preserver of his
life, the next to leave the spot as quickly as possible.
On turning round to summon Tiger, he beheld the poor
beast on the ground, and in the greatest alarm he ran to
his assistance. Anxiety gave way to joy, when he found
that this faithful friend was unhurt, having been brought
down by one of the last spears, which destroyed the
equilibrium of the baggage. After reloading his gun
and pistol, he repacked the baggage, and Tiger was as
ready to start as he was. Gipsy had been behind the
rock with her master, and so escaped unhurt ; and
Charlie issued from a hole, saying, " All's right ! I'm
coming ! "
Anxious to avoid further surprise, Captain Spencer
endeavoured to find a way of getting up the cliffs ; but
this being impossible, he pushed forward at a brisk pace,
and went on without stopping till nightfall, by which time
he had gained a considerable distance. He chose a con
venient spot, where there was grass for Tiger ; and he
and Gip ate cold bird and flour-cake, as he would not
light a fire, for fear of discovering his whereabouts to the
natives. He felt stiff and uncomfortable from a slight
wound in the neck, made by the spear which canied
away part of his hat Another spear had made a deep
indentation on the surface of his powder-flask ; and "this
hair-breadth 'scape" seemed to promise him that he
should be allowed to reach home, regiment, and friends

CAPTAIN SPENCER WOUNDED. 71
in safety. He kept the spears which had pierced his
hat and upset Tiger's load, thinking they might be useful
in killing quadrupeds, and so save his ammunition. One
of them had a head of stone, deeply notched like a
series of fish-hooks ; and had it entered his flesh, could
not have been extracted without either cutting or tearing
him terribly ; the other was headed by a sharp piece of
wood, harder than the shaft of the spear. He bathed
liis wound well with cold water, put a soft handkerchief
over it, and thus alleviated the pain in some degree.
When he settled for the night, and had time to think, he
felt greatly distressed at having been obliged to kill the
native ; and restless and feverish, it preyed upon him,
although it had been necessary for his own preservation.
Tiger and Gipsy were foot-sore from their forced march,
and he suffered them to sleep in quiet, while he watched
over their safety. He did not know if Charlie were apt to
talk at night, or whether the disturbance of the day had
made a deep impression upon him ; but more than once,
during these long hours, he frequently moved his head
from under his wing, held it first on one side, and then
on the other, and after saying, " Such a row ! all's right !"
went to sleep again. When the morning began to break,
Captain Spencer, rousing Gipsy, ordered her to watch,
and, quite exhausted, he threw himself on the ground,
and slept soundly.
Refreshed by three hours of good rest. Captain
Spencer and Gipsy breakfasted upon the scraps of their
now scanty stock, and all proceeded at a steady and
unintenrupted pace for several hours ; at that time the
cliffs began rapidly to decline in height, and the river,
though still broad, became more tranquil in its course.
Anxious to get out of reach of the mosquitoes as soon

7 2 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
as it was practicable for Tiger, Captain Spencer clam
bered with him and Gip to the top of the cliffs ; and on
arriving there, stood for some minutes in silent admiration
of the beautiful scene displayed to his observation. A
large plain lay below and before him, in which the river,
whose course he had been following, spread into a wide
basin or lake, covered with white and blue water-lilies,
and here and there a head of the pink Nelumbium in
the midst of them ; its banks were adomed with reeds
and flowering plants ; the long grass of the plain was
five feet high, and very silky; and small hillocks and
beautiful shrubs, some of which were in flower, and
clumps of trees, were spread over the surface. A ridge
of sand-hills, with whimsically-shaped heads, looking as
if they had been put on by the hand of some mighty
man in sport, skirted the eastern part of the plain, and
their sloping sides, covered with verdure, almost reached
the lake, making this park-like country, hitherto un
trodden by the foot of the white man, seem to be a
pleasure-ground ; a dense forest to the south closed the
horizon in that quarter.
On descending into the plain. Tiger could not resist
nibbling the delicious bearded grass, and her master
could not help laughing at Gipsy, who jumped, and
played, and tumbled among the long blades, and yet
never got out of them, till, knowing how tired the poor
little animal was, he placed her on the top of his knap
sack, while he sought for the best spot in which to find a
resting-place. He made his way towards the hills, in
order to get above the region of water and mosquitoes ;
where, on something like an eminence, he could see
around him, and detect the approach of enemies. No
traces of natives having been recently there could be

SEES KANGAROOS 73
found ; and he concluded those with whom he had had
his late encounter had not taken that direction.
On the way to the hill a place had been cleared
amongst the grass, and a mound of earth was seen,
omamented with small sticks, some painted with red
horizontal marks, and others, which had been scraped,
had the shavings twisted round them. At a short dis
tance from this were two heaps of stones ; and taking a
large one from the top of the lowest, and peeping in.
Captain Spencer discovered a skeleton. He covered the
hole again, and concluded that all three mounds were
graves ; and looking round him, thought he saw some of
the inhabitants of the neighbourhood in the long grass at
a great distance. Notwithstanding his late encounter,
he always hoped to be friends with these people, and
knew if he could overcome the first hostile feelings, he
should probably succeed; for all savages act from im
pulse, and this once gone by, they will, generally speak
ing, listen to amicable overtures. Whether men or any
other animals, however, the dark moving objects which
he saw suddenly disappeared.
Captain Spencer had chosen the highest hillock he
could find, and thought it would be a commanding
position from which he could watch the approach of an
enemy. It was easy of ascent; and on reaching the
top, he first surveyed the country around with his glass,
and to his great delight, those which he thought were
men again leaped up, and proved to be Kangaroos.
Here, then, all his preconceived notions of Australia
were to be realized ; and forgetting dangers, savages,
mosquitoes, and all disagreeables, he said to his weary
companions, as they toiled up the hill, "Cheer up,
boys ! " " Cheer up, boys ! " was echoed by a voice over

74 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
his head ; Charlie caught the lively tone, and again and
again bade them all be cheerful. For a moment, how
ever, Captain Spencer's pleasure was clouded by seeing
Tiger walk as if he were lame, and apprehensively he
examined his feet. Fortunately, however, it was nothing
more than the loss of one of his shoes ; so when the
horse had arrived at the top of the hill, he took off the
rest, and tied them carefully together, thinkmg he would
present them to some native, who would be glad of the
novelty, and Tiger must in future go barefooted.
On the top of the hill an irregular surface presented
itself, and in one of the depressions he saw a hole.
Fearing that it might harbour some beast or reptile.
Captain Spencer thrust a spear into it, and found that it
was a cave of small extent, and would form a safe hiding-
place for all his baggage when he wished to quit it, and
might be easily made to conceal it by covering the mouth
with grass or bushes. The area of the whole summit was
quite sufficient for his purposes of rest and cooking. The
most urgent necessity now, however, was to allay hunger ;
and Tiger being unloaded, began to satisfy his appetite
on the long grass, while his master examined the state of
his larder. " These bones must do for us to-night, Gip,"
said he, "for I am too tired to get anything else, and
to-morrow we will be afoot early and shoot a kangaroo. We
shall have a glorious stock of provisions before we go
farther south." Then beating the grass all round, to
dislodge any unwelcome companion, he frightened away
some beautiful lizards, and frogs of brilliant colours ; and
in a short time the whole party was asleep, with a feeling
of security which made their slumbers more refireshing.
Early the next morning, by means of the shovel, the
hiding-place was completed ; and Tiger having descended

HUNTING THE KANGAROO. 75
the hills, and Charlie started on his foraging excursion.
Captain Spencer and Gipsy took their way in search of
kangaroos. The attention of the former was, however,
immediately arrested by a tract covered with a yellowish
grass ; and on approaching it, he found that this was a
sort of oat,^ and not only would it afford the most in
vigorating food for Tiger, but yield meal and cakes to his
master. Although he had not had any breakfast. Captain
Spencer tumed his "sword into a reaping-hook," cut
some down, and calling Tiger, placed it on his back and
bore it to the hill, where he spread it to dry upon his
large piece of tarpauling. Gip took to her usual hunting,
. and had already caught and devoured her former food,
the kangaroo-rats ; and munching some of the oats as he
went along, the traveller again started in quest of his
long-wished-for spoil, this time guiding Tiger to the spot
where he might feast.
Turning to a small tree which grew like a young elm,
but which had a dark-green, pointed leaf, he cut it do^vn
for fire-wood. The timber was very hard, and dark in
side, "with a white rim outside it an inch in thickness ;
and leaving it to take up at his leisure, he pursued his
way to the kangaroos, from which he had been twice
diverted; Charlie flying up to him occasionally, and
talking like a child from happiness.
Tall, dark figures, some of which were at least nine
feet high, raised their heads from out of the grass, and
the wary sportsman stopped ; then making a circuit, and
keeping his dog close to him, he made good his way to
some trees, near which the kangaroos were feeding.
Again did the kangaroos prick up their ears, and again
did their enemy pause ; but as they seemed inclined to
' Panicum.

7 6 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
make off, he fired at the nearest, and it lay dead upon
the plain. The report of the gun made the whole herd
decamp at their utmost speed, and Gip started after
them, not in the least daunted by their, to her, unusual
appearance, or their novel, leaping gait ; she sprang after
them like a mad thing, and fastening upon the ear of the
smallest 'and hindermost, she there hung. The poor
bewildered beast made for a tree, and placing its back
against the trunk, kicked with its hind legs. Had not
Gipsy attacked it on one side, she would probably have
been torn to pieces by the strong nails of the kangaroo ;
but she kept fast hold till her master came up to her, and
with his knife killed the animal, as if he had been a deer-
slayer. He was puzzled what to do with this abundance
of game ; but calling Tiger to him with all the force of
his lungs, the good steed heard, and galloped to him at
full speed ; then laying one portion of the spoil on his
back. Captain Spencer walked by his side to the hill, and
repeated his journey for the second kangaroo. Charlie,
however, who had heard his summons to Tiger, had also
come to him, and placing himself on the top of the last
kangaroo, screamed out, " Ha I ha ! ha ! all's right ! "
The whole of the rest of the day was spent in skin
ning the kangaroos, and cooking their flesh, that it might
keep the longer, for which Captain Spencer's only re
source lay in the tin cans, into which he put large pieces
of his game, and boiled it The kangaroos belonged to
the species which has a nail, and a tuft of hair at the end
of the tail.' "And now," said he to himself, "when I
have killed an emu, I shall be happy to quit Australia
the next morning." — "The next morning," echoed
Chariie, " ha ! ha ! ha ! "
' Maeropns unguifcr.

SKINS PREPARED. 77
For some time had the traveller seen with dismay that
his shoes were wearing out ; and now that he found
the kangaroo skin to be thick and pliant, it occurred
to him that if he could but prepare it, he might make
some mocassins and stockings, and shoes would thus be
supphed. There is no telling how much may be done
when the invention is sharpened by necessity ; so he dug
a hole near the lake, into which the water soon rose, and
throwing some pieces of bark, procured from the neigh
bouring trees, into it, he steeped the skins with them,
to imbibe the tannin which they yielded, and let them
remain there for some days ; then taking them out, he
stretched them on the ground, fastening them down with
pegs, and he scraped and beat them till they became
perfectly soft and even. By these means, which he
adopted as long as he stayed by the lake, he acquired a
valuable stock of leather, which was of more use in many
ways than he at first anticipated.
There was no end to the treasures which the plain
and its neighbourhood afforded, and Captain Spencer
determined to profit by them to the utmost. He made
a flail with two pieces of stick, fastened to each other
with a thong of leather, and threshed his oat-grass ; he
then procured two large stones from the range of hills,
with which he ground the seeds into meal, Charlie
helping himself very often during the process ; and on
this occasion, when he reached the hills, Gipsy gave a
muffled bark, and jumping away from what she had
seen, ran to her master, and asked him, as well as she
could, also to behold the strange sight It was another
remarkable lizard,^ of even more singular appearance
than any he had yet met with ; its colour was a yellowish
I Chlamydosaunis Kingii.

78 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
brown, variegated with black ; its small eyes were placed
in a ridge on the upper part of the head ; the eyelids,
and indeed the whole animal, were encased in scales of
various sizes, which more or- less projected; anda scal
loped frill began at the back of the head, and extended
along the sides of the neck, reaching as far as the chest ;
it stood upright when Gip approached, was supported
by several cartilaginous spines, which proceeded from
the tongue-bone, and the outside of it was clothed with
scales. When Gipsy went away, this strange appendage
was contracted into five plaits, and lay like a tippet upon
the shoulders ; the tail was twice as long as the body,
and the claws of the feet were hooked. It did not avoid
the approach of the strangers, as if it trusted in its frill
as a sure defence; and for a long time did Captain
Spencer examine this creature as nearly as he could,
and regret that his drawing materials had been lost in
the schooner.
At length, shouldering the stones, Captain Spencer
turned towards his temporary abode, and as he continued
for a time to skirt the foot of the hills, he heard an
agonized shriek from Gipsy, who was behind him. Turn
ing his head, he to his horror saw the faithful creature
almost enveloped in the folds of a Python. Tmce had
the reptile twisted itself round the body of the poor dog,
who was almost breathless from fear and pressure; but
quick as thought her master dropped the stones which
he was carrying, and being an accomplished killer of
serpents in Indian fashion, 'he knew what to do in
Australia, and struck the Python on the tail with his
axe, so as instantaneously to render it powerless. It
was then easy to release Gipsy, and deprive the snake
of its head as well as its tail ; and taking the poor dog

GIPSY IN DANGER. 79
up in his arms, he felt her all over with the greatest
anxiety, fearing that some of the bones might be broken;
but his succour had been timely, and she was not
seriously hurt She, however, trembled excessively, and
licked her master's hand incessantly. He left his pieces
of stone for the time, and carried her to his abiding-place,
rubbing her as he went along ; he there laid her down
on his coat, and he did not leave her till she was fast
asleep. It was many days, however, before she re
covered the squeeze and the alarm, and often awoke in
a fright, looked up in her master's face, and repeated
her caresses. It was still longer before she would hunt
again; and he left her constantly to keep guard over
the baggage, at first taking care not to go out of hearing
in case she should announce the arrival of visitors, and
be too frightened to defend herself
Finding that he and Gipsy could not devour two
kangaroos while they were good, when he procured
others. Captain Spencer cut the meat into strips, and
dried it in the sun; a plan which answered perfectly,
and by which means he had always materials in store
for a capital stew. He also met with very small mar
supial animals,' resembling mice ; they afforded much
sport to Gipsy when she was well enough to catch them,
and he split them open, and dried with the kangaroos.
The number of birds which frequented the beautiful
spot where Captain Spencer sojourned would have kept
his gun in constant requisition, had he not sought to
spare his powder and shot as much as possible, even
seeking for small stones to supply the place of bullets,
so much did he fear to be without them in case of an
attack from the natives, who, though unseen by him, he
' Acrobata pygmaa.

8o ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
was sure were not very far off; for he frequently, when
he looked towards the hills, saw thin columns of smoke
ascending above them. With the Kites, and other birds
of the ^kind, he often had a regular fight at meal-time ;
they tried to snatch the meat from his hands; and he
now and then amused himself by throwing pieces of it
into the air, and seeing them catch it as it fell. Then
the noise and struggling between them was almost
deafening ; and on these occasions Charlie, who had been
taught to abuse his brother birds, would creep into the
hole in the hill, saying, " Great rogues ! great rogues I "
A few Crows would hover about, but they did not openly
snatch their morsels; and slily coming round at the
back, dragged them away, if they were for an instant
laid down. Many flights of Cockatoos came into the
plain to feed on the numerous and beautiful Orchids
which grew there; and never did they pass overhead
without exciting Gips/s anger. They seemed to be her
particular aversion, for which Captain Spencer could not
account, till he recollected that, not long before they left
Bombay, she had had an encounter with a tame one
belonging to a lady friend, in which combat Gip was by
no means victorious.
Several species of Crane frequented the shores of
the lake, in -which were numerous fishes. One had
white plumage ; but the most common was a very large
species, which, when he was close, walked familiarly up
to the stranger, and even suffered his caresses, but wliich
instantly took flight whenever Tiger appeared, who, as
soon as he descried his master in the plain, danced up
to bid him welcome. It was of a pale grey, with a
reddish tinge on the head.i The Snipes there were
' Ardea rectirostris.

OATMEAL CAKES. 8i
large ; and it was most, entertaining to see the Plovers
use the spurs on their wings when they had a battle
with the Crows and Kites. Water-hens and Divers fre
quented the lake ; Musk Ducks with their strong odour ;
others like Sheldrakes,^ Shovellers, and also common
Teal. One sort he watched till it roosted in trees,
swinging itself backwards and forwards, and whisthng
in a pecuhar manner. He surprised a Bittern among the
reeds, and then could not resist the impulse to shoot
it for supper. Some exquisite little grey birds, like
Reed-warblers, always flew out of the rushes as he ap
proached; and at night he distinguished the almost
noiseless flight ofthe Goat-sucker, with its soft plumage ;2
while a melancholy Owl ^ worried him with its hootings.
The oatmeal cakes had been made over and over
again, and no Scotchman could have had more pleasure
in munching them than Captain Spencer and Gipsy
enjoyed ; while Tiger revelled in the gras,?, which waved
like rye,* and for a time was always to be seen in its
vicinity when his master required him. For two days,
however, he had moved away to another place, and at
night showed symptoms of having eaten a httle too
much. This excited his master's curiosity ; arid going to
him on the third day, he found him devouring the
common sow-thistle '¦' with as much avidity as if he had
been an European horse. When he called him, he only
looked round and neighed, as much as to say, " I shan't
come ; " but instantly repenting, he trotted up to his
master, and put his nose into his neck. " Your coat
shines, old fellow," said the latter, " as it used to do in
India, although I do not often curry you ; but you grow
' Tadorna Rajah, * Podargus brachypterus,
' Athene boobook. ' Panicum hevinode. ' Sonchits: a

82 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
enormously fat, and I must take a few rides upon your
back to keep you a proper size, and fit to travel; so
mind, to-morrow we will have a ramble to the other side
of the hills, that I may see what lies beyond." That
same evening, as Gip and her master were taking their
meal, Charlie, who always hovered about near home at
that time, and closed the day by having a long talk with
Captain Spencer, gave a sort of scream over his head,
and calling out his name, dropped on to his knees, and
hid himself under his jacket Gip, who was lying with a
piece of kangaroo between her paws, stared up ; but her
amazement was still greater when she looked down again,
for her meat was gone. Charlie had been pursued by a
powerful Falcon, with a white head and neck, which, dis
appointed of its living prey, had snatched the morsel
from the dog. "Tolerably impudent that," said Captain
Spencer; "if I settled here, what a falconry I would
have ! " Charlie was too much frightened to learn his
lesson, and his master spoke to him in vain ; but he was .
surprised to hear himself imitated in another quarter.
He paused to listen, and then he heard the calls of
different birds, and now and then a shrill whistle ; he
himself whistled in various tones, which the bird re
peated, even catching the tunes he uttered, and then
giving a few of its own clear, ringing notes. It came
again and again ; and when he had recovered his agita
tion, this excited Charlie's jealousy. He exerted himself
to the utmost to outdo his rival, and as soon as it began,
he tried to drown its sounds by his own. He at last fled
in a rage to the tree where it was, and frightened away a
Shrike, as big as a thrush, of a dull, brownish black, and
a white bar across its wings. This was a daily amuse
ment; the human whistler generally giving the signal

SHRIKE AND OTIIER BIRDS, S3
wlien he commenced his supper, and each bird trying
which could follow him best. The Shrike, however,
never seemed to catch words very distinctly. Birds of
splendid plumage were to be seen, which were wholly
new to the traveller ; and Pigeons of singular beauty
abounded. One had bronzed wings, and another ^ re
sembled a quail in size and habits, ran along the ground,
had a long, pointed crest, and fed in families of eight or
twelve. One of the Cuckoo tribe ^ looked something
like a pheasant, but had two toes before and two behind,
like a panot ; it climbed trees, and as it ran in the grass,
made a noise like whir-r-r-r. Multitudes of Swallows,
Finches, and other kinds hovered round the traveller's
resting-place, to pick up the grass-seeds and scraps whicii
had accidentally fallen ; and seeing this, he scattered
some on purpose, by which means he gathered round
him all the feathered tribes of the neighbourhood ; and
sometimes, while they were scrambling for their morsels.
Gipsy's aversions — some black, some white, with scarlet
and sulphur crest, some rose-colour, and accompanied by
Parrots and Parrakeets of rainbow hues — all dashing in
among the lesser birds, would assert the right of the
strongest and bear away their prizes. On all these occa
sions Charlie was evidently much annoyed, and hopped
up to his master, repeating, " Great rogues ! great
scoundrels ! Ned Spencer ! "
In pursuance of his design, Tiger was one morning
desired to stop and feed at home, and received an un
usual portion of cleaning from his master. The saddle
and bridle were put on ; and when Captain Spencer
mounted on his back, he capered and danced about half
mad with delight, while Charlie flew overhead laughing
' Geophaps plumifera. * Cucidus phasianus.

84 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
with all his might, till the Shrike began to imitate, and
then he flew away, muttering about rogues and scoundrels.
The first point to which Captain Spencer rode was that
of some native huts which he had discovered with his
telescope. They were built like bee-hives, and thatched
with long grass ; the entrance was small, and placed
opposite to the wind which most frequently blew there.
They were entirely deserted ; and, on dismounting to
examine them, all that could be discovered inside were
some fragments of agate for the making of spear-heads,
with the stones used in chipping them into shape. One
of them had been left half finished, and was of a pretty
green colour. Outside the huts were several circles of
large stones, paved at the bottom, and heaps of broken
shells were scattered around, as if they had been crushed
by the lesser stones lying about Rude troughs of bark,
and places where grass-seeds had been evidently ground,
some of the meal still adhering to them, were mixed with
these circles ; and broken shields, also of bark, were
close by.
On riding away from the village. Tiger almost stepped
upon what his master thought was a bird's nest ; but it
was the play-ground of the Bower-bird,^ formed of twigs
and grass, so as to make nearly an arch, and on the
ground underneath and about were pieces of broken
shells, bright pebbles, which evidently came from the sea
shore, feathers, flowers, and fruit-stones. At the time he
could not comprehend it ; but he afterwards came upon
another, and there saw speckled brown and white birds
enticing each other to run backwards and fonvards under
the arch. On retuming through the plain, he saw tivo
trailing plants of the Gourd kind, one with red and white
' Chlainydcra nuchalis.

CRA Y-FISH 8s
oblong fruit, and the other with fruit the size and shape
of an orange, of a bright scarlet. He ventured to taste
them, but they were much too bitter to swallow.
"I think, Gip," said Captain Spencer, when he
reached home, " that you ought to try and run about
now ; I am sure you are quite well." So taking her in
his arms, he carried her to the banks of the lake, where
he placed her on the ground. She had recovered from
the pressure of the snake, but was a little stiff for want
of exercise ; however, she in a short time ran about
gaily, though a littie nervous, and started at the frogs
which hopped before her ; but all at once she gave a cry,
and looked at her master, as she always did when she
had made a discovery. On reaching the spot, he could
not help laughing at the poor little animal, for one of a
regiment of Cray-fish had nipped her nose, as she placed
it within reach of its claw. This was an important
addition to the already long list of eatables ; and fetch
ing a bag from the hillock, he carried many of them
home, plunging them into boiling water to kill them
immediately for his supper. They accounted for the
broken shells he had seen at the huts, which at the time
he thought must have belonged to Crustaceae. " I do
not think I have sufficiently explored this lake," said
he; "and after having been to the other side of the hills
to-monow, I will see more of it."
At first Gipsy started as usual with her master, but
when she found where he was going, she hung her tail
and head, and whined. " Go home, good dog ! " said her
master, pitying her natural apprehension. She did not
wait to be twice told, and scampered back at full speed,
not, however, without noAV and then stopping to give a
wistful look at Captain Spencer. Tiger and he scrambled

86 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
up the rude acclivities, and on reaching the top of the
ridge, he found that it formed the boundary of the fertile
country in which he had stationed himself They over
looked an immense district of scrub and shrubby trees,
intermingled with small patches of Eucalyptus, some of
which rose to a lofty stature. As far off as he could
distinguish anything, he saw a range of blue hills running
N.N.E. and S.S.W., much more lofty than those on which
he stood, and yet not very high, which sent off lateral
branches, and gave indication of basaltic stmcture in
places; the branches evidently consisted of horizontal
strata of ancient sandstone, and he thought that behind
them was that mysterious interior, which was by some
supposed to contain a large inland sea, and by others to
consist of a desert district of sand. Dark and gloomy
ravines seemed to exist between the hills ; and now and
then a silver-like thread marked the course of a small
river, in the vicinity ofwhich rose the smoke of several fires.
Cautiously descending the farther side of the hills
which bordered the plains, Captain Spencer found that
they were composed of nearly horizontal strata of dif
ferent coloured sandstone ; but rain and time had caused
the soil to crumble in some places, leaving that which
still stood in various forms, such as pillars, overthrown
obelisks, gigantic statue-like pieces ; and one part looked
so like a ruined temple, that he made his way towards it
in spite of the wiry spinifex scrub which he had to
encounter. A little imagination would have persuaded
him that these fallen masses were the works of a race
which had now disappeared. Some of the pillars were
encircled by an insignificant-looking, but sweet-smelling
Jasmine, and on others were magnificent creepers. Still
farther on he found caverns ; and dismounting, he was

TEMPLE-LIKE CAVES. 87
desirous of entering them in the hope of finding fossils.
In this he was disappointed ; but he there met with what
astonished him much more — paintings of gigantic figures,
which showed a greater degree of civilization among the
natives than he thought they possessed. The roof of
one of these caves was sloping, and on it was portrayed a
huge, grim personage,, in red and white colours on a
black ground, having red rays all round the head, and
a circle of yellow round each eye. Other faces on the
sides were merely surrounded with a rim of blue and red,
and none of them had any mouths. On one was a necklace,
and this seemed to be intended to represent a female.
Surprised and interested in his discovery. Captain
Spencer visited these caves several times, and found
others at a little distance, but which did not all contain
paintings. In one of them was an enormous black hand,
which produced a startling effect, from appearing to issue
from a crevice in the wall ; and in this cave he disturbed
a number of Vampire bats as he entered, which flew out
with a screeching noise, and filled the air with a dis
agreeable odour, resembling mildew; they settled on a
bamboo-looking tree close by, which they almost bent to
the ground by the weight of their numbers. He then
came to another cave, in which was a rude painting of a
man carrying a kangaroo, and also a number of those
animals, with a spear-head flying among them. What
the pigments were which had been used Captain Spencer
could not tell, but they were evidently mineral, and were
not to be defaced either by rubbing or washing. Some
little distance from the caves a human head was carved
on the surface of the rock, and not at all resembhng an
Australian in features. It was the best specimen of artistic
skill which had yet appeared, was two feet long, and

88 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA,
fourteen inches broad ; the ear was in the right place ;
and it seemed to have been cut with a better instrument
than the stone knives and hatchets which he had heard
that the natives alone possessed. The edges were round,
as if it had been done some time ; and farther on was a
figure without a mouth, dressed in a red gown, which
reached from the head to the feet.
Hours were passed in the examination of these
extraordinary works of art, and then hunger pressed
Captain Spencer to return. He and Tiger again clam
bered up the hills, and in so doing disturbed a species
of kangaroo, the Wallaby,^ not found in the plain,
which he shot, and slung across the saddle before him.
He passed many trailing plants, such as Convolvuli and
Ipomse ; and as he descended on the other side, he
came upon a very extraordinary tree,^ the stem of which,
at the bottom, swelled into a protuberance like an old-
fashioned decanter ; and it had horizontal branches, with
palmate leaves. He got off his horse to examine it ; and
cutting the trunk with his hatchet, he found that the
wood was stringy, and contained an agreeable, mucila
ginous pulp, some of which he carried home as a variety
of food for supper. A beautiful trailing Vitex, with a
white blossom, covered the rugged sandstone in many
parts ; and in the plain some bright blue flowers, very
like those of the borage, attracte'd his attention ; while
a tree hke a horse-chestnut carried his thoughts far away.
As soon as Captain Spencer left the hills, Gip, who
was on the watch, ran to meet him ; and Tiger's friendly
salute was that of taking her up by the skin of her back,
and giving her a good shaking, which proof of love
seemed rather pleasing to her than otherwise. The
' Pelrogah brachyotis (Gould). 2 Sterculia.

THE LAKE AND ITS PRODUCTIONS 89
kangaroo was placed in safety for the night, and prepared
the next morning ; after which Captain Spencer more
minutely examined the lake and its productions, pre
ferring the middle of the day on account of the mos
quitoes, and taking his shovel in his hand. Here he
found such treasures that he returned to the spot several
times. Of animal productions he met with Unios, or
fresh-water mussels, of which he took away a great bag
ful ; also some of the numerous other Mollusca with
which the shore abounded.^ A whole army of Crabs
was marching firom one spot to another, each with the
left claw much larger than that on the right side. AVater-
beetles, and small, merry Cicadas abounded. The greatest
of the treasures, however, was the fresh-water Turtle,
which was excellent eating.
Of vegetable food. Captain Spencer secured some of
the tubers of the Cooper's Reed,^ and the Bulrush,^ which
he had heard of persons eating in England, and which,
when well roasted, were so farinaceous, that they formed
an excellent substitute for flour. Nor did he neglect to
secure some of the seeds of the Water-lilies, especially
those of the Nelumbium, which, his Indian experience
told him, when roasted were very like coffee. A plant
very hke the Papyrus * was plentiful ; but, as evening
approached, he did not stop to gather it, the more
especially as he was very wet from wading in the water
in search of provisions. As he retumed to his hillock
heavily laden, he observed there was an unusual appear
ance of insects. When Tiger Came home for the night,
some green flies were annoying him very much ; beetles
with tiny plates, or lamellae, on their antennae, knocked
' Pla-norbis, Ancyclus, PAludina, Cyclas. ^ Arundo phragmites.
' Typha Chara. ' Biphyllura Kirbyana.

90 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
against his face ; and Charlie, as he returned, chased a
large Sphynx moth. When the sun had quite sunk, one
part of the plain was brilliantly illuminated, which told
of the gambols of Fire-flies, and which the traveller was
accustomed to see in India, though probably not the
same species. As he and Gip supped together, the
howls of some animal sainted his ears, which made Gip
prick up hers ; and he imagined it to proceed from the
native dogs. Charlie began to croak, and mutter to
himself, as he always did when he w^as disturbed. These
mysteries were explained by thick, heavy masses of
clouds, which were gathering to seaward, and the traveller
prepared all his coverings to escape a wetting. He de
fended himself and companions with the tarpauling and
skins ; Charlie crept into the cave with the baggage ;
and glad was his master that he had repaired the tar
pauling with the bags, and used the kangaroo leather in
their stead. Before he lay down, however, fearing that
the water would stand in the hollow where they were
placed, he dug a sort of sluice, by which the rain, when
it came, as it did with tropical fury, in torrents, ran off
down the hill, and they remained perfectly dry.
Although not injured by the storm, it had broken into
the general routine of everything around him. It had
swelled the lake, and consequently there would be some
unhealthy exhalations ; and it was probably the last for a
long time, when the dry season would come for months,
and the traveller began to think that he ought not to
linger in that plentiful spot as he did ; and once con
vinced of the necessity of departure, he made preparations
for it, — resolving all the time, that if he were ever to
settle in Australia, he would come there ; for he thought
the bed of the river might be improved so as to admit of

PREPARES FOR MARCHING. 91
na\igation, and if not, that it at all times afforded a
plentiful supply of water. The grass was of the most
superior kind, and covered an immense tract ; the climate
was delightful ; the abundance of Eucalypti and Acacias,
at a little distance, would afford materials for building,
thatching, tanning, etc, ; and the stones on the hills
would serve for many purposes. There had been no
drawbacks that he had seen, except a few reptiles, which
would soon desert the haunts of man, or be extirpated ;
and surely the natives might be conciliated. He wound
up " his eulogium by saying, " None but those who have
lived in the countries where ferocious beasts abound,
can appreciate the feelings of security which their certain
absence affords. I shall take care to inform the good
people of Perth what a treasure they possess within their
reach, though at some httle distance, I suspect."
That day Captain Spencer began to collect food for
his march, and in the course of his researches he stumbled
on some Cycas trees, growing in a sandy, rotten soil, and
which were from ten to twenty feet high, full of half-ripe
fruit. He cut down two, on which this fruit was the least
advanced, and extracted the sago-like pith from the
stems ; then gathered some of the cones of the others ;
and when he took them to the hill, he cut them into
slices, and dried them with the pith, so as to be put into
bags. He had always remarked that there was a great
scarcity of butterflies ; but on this day he discovered
some of the Meadow-brown, one with a broad yellow spot
on the wings,'- and those which live on the chalky soils of
Great Britain. He also saw some of the Bower-birds on
some high trees, as if seeking their fruit
While his flour of various kinds was drying, and the
' Fapilio Sihenehis.

93 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
kangaroo meat and fishes curing in the sun, Captain
Spencer washed his clothes in the lake, soaking them in
the water, stamping on them in the manner of the
Indians, and occasionally beating them, for he thought
the absence of soap could alone be made up for by
manual labour ; which labour, however, wore out the
materials much sooner than common washing or
friction would have done ; and he saw with dismay that
his linen was likely to disappear. In his "washing labours
he disturbed several water insects, but they were un
known to him ; and on his return by a different path, he
was surprised at some plants which resembled carrots.'
He was rather suspicious of any vegetable which bore such
a leaf; but he pulled one up, and to his surprise found
that its root perfectly carried out the resemblance ; and,
after cooking it, he was convinced that it was wholesome
food. He therefore procured a stock of them, chiefly to
surprise Tiger with after a long march. Much of the
meal of various kinds was made into cakes ; a few cured
Unios were added to the animal portion ; and a new
grass hat was not forgotten. It was not any improve
ment on the first, it must be owned ; and the manu
facturer was painfully convinced of his want of talent for
that peculiar department. The arms and tools were well
cleaned and put in order, and Tiger received two or
three most careful dressings. The moment the baggage
was put on his back, he altered his demeanour : he
seemed to consider that he was [then a horse of responsi
bility, and gave up dancing and jumping ; while Gip also
began her journey at a sober pace. The only one of the
party whose spirits became raised on the occasion was
Charlie, who delighted in movement and bustle of any
kind ; and when the party started, flew round and round,
screaming, " Hurrah ! I'm off ! ha ! ha ! ha ! "

CHAPTER V.
ROM a former study of the maps of Australia,
and a guess at the distance which he had come.
Captain Spencer imagined that he had reached
a bulging projection of land which lies on the western
side of the continent ; and deeming it superfluous to go
round it, and so keep close to the coast, as he had at
first intended, he determined to shape his course directly
south, and to march across it. Scrub began to take the
place of grass, but Tiger managed to get through it ; and
from it rose a tall, strong gum-tree, whose stem took an
oblique direction. Upon it was crawling a large Lizard,^
measuring at least six feet in length, and making a disagree
able noise. When Gipsy saw it, she begged so earnestly to
be taken up, that her master lifted her on to his knapsack ;
and glad was he, a few minutes after, that he had yielded
to her • entreaties, for a light-brown snake, with dark
stripes on its back, slipped through the grass, where it
had been coiled up ; and as it hid itself in the scrub, he
saw by its flattened head that it was venomous. Ant
hills again occuned, and he perceived that these clever
architects mix much clay with the sand of their dwellings,
in order to cement it. He came upon paths worn by
natives, and met with what he at flrst thought to be mere
' fguana.

94 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
temporary screens, but which he afterwards found to be
more permanent dwellings. They consisted of several
boughs of trees stuck into the earth, and then tied to
gether on the top of a forked stick, so that they were
entirely open in front These "gunyahs" faced a com
mon centre, where were the remains of a fire ; they
shelter about half the person, and all he with their feet
to the fire. The circles of stones were repeated, and in
them were some remains of eggs, which had been roasted;
and he at once guessed that they were ovens, from which
the owners had probably made a hasty retreat He dis
mounted, and going to the top of the hills, which he was
still skirting, he saw a large body of people. They had,
then, been close to him while living in the plain, and
why he had been left unmolested he could not imagine.
For his preservation, however, he poured forth an especial
prayer of thanksgiving, and entreated a blessing upon his
future journey.
The ground was for some time swampy ; and as long
as that and the sand-hills lasted, the annoyance of flies
and mosquitoes continued. Basalt, however, began to
show itself, and they decreased. The ground became
harder; but of course the supply of water was less
abundant, and a short, dry herbage took the place of the
long, silky, and luxuriant grass in which Tiger had been
lately revelling. Strange birds flew over their heads, for
which Charlie always prepared by flying closer to the
party. Valley succeeded to valley — these often with
such steep and rugged banks, that Tiger's load had to be
carried for him piecemeal, because of the slanting position
he was obliged to assume ; but he scorned to be led, and
never missed his footing. He and Charlie provided for
themselves ; and as his master and Gip used their ample

DISCOVERY OF WATER. 93
stock but sparingly, there \\'as no occasion to renew it for
many days.
In a deep, narrow gorge, more like a crevice tiian the
bed of a river, a happy discovery of water was made,
which in some measure tempered the oppressive atrao
sphere in that great crack of the earth. Growing in a
nook of the rock, Captain Spencer saw another gouty-
stemmed tree, the enlargement of which took place at a
greater distance from the ground than in the first He
examined it, and could scarcely avoid pronouncing it to
be a Capparis, very different to the previous gouty tree
in all but its stem. Its branches were loaded with hang
ing fruit about the size of a cocoa-nut, having a brown
outer rind, and a shell beneath, which was easily broken.
Within were several seeds, sunounded by a soft white
pulp of very agreeable flavour; and he gathered some,
which he added to Tiger's load. It was so like the
other gouty or bottle tree in shape, that he could scarcely
persuade himself that two of different genera, or even
families, should so resemble each other in form ; and he
cut the stem, and from it he also extracted a pith, which
came out in strings like macaroni, some of whicii acci
dentally fell into one of the cans of water, to which it
imparted a slightly acid flavour, and transformed it into
a very agreeable beverage. Tiger took such a fancy to
it, that he pushed his nose into the can, like a spoiled
horse as he was, and almost took it by main force. Some
of this pith was also collected and put into the bags ;
but as the traveller went on, he pondered on the simi
larity and differences of the trees, and not arriving at
any conclusion, he then thought that he must have been
mistaken in both of these singular vegetables ; but he
afterwards found that there were two distinct kinds.

96 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
The plentiful supplies which Captain Spencer had
hitherto met with admitted of no apprehensions for the
future, and it flashed into his mind that it would be a
noble undertaking to go directly across the continent
from west to east ; and the spirit of discovery became
stronger in him every day ; but fortunately for his own
preservation, he recollected the fearful accounts which
had been brought of the interior of that vast continent
by those who had penetrated farthest; and common
sense whispered in time that it would be foolhardy to
rush unadvisedly upon what threatened destraction. Yet
as he tumed unwillingly from the idea, he involuntarily
exclaimed : " Our wants are so few, we are so inured to
climate and exposure, and my beasts are so well trained,
that we should perhaps stand a better chance than those
travellers whose numbers alone impede their progress,
from the quantity of water and provision which they
require." The way for some time presented nothing that was
bad; the depressions in the ground amounting to furrows,
which seemed as if they took the direction of the coast,
and perhaps, in rainy seasons, conveyed the water of the
interior into the ocean. This idea was confirmed by
occasionally finding some pools of water in them, which
had not yet been dried up by the sun ; and they were so
cool and shady, that they presented tempting resting-
places. Captain Spencer, however, did not remain long in
them, for fear of being surprised by the natives, and also
from some apprehension that they might engender fever.
In one of them he found some long-necked Turtles,
and caught some fishes of the Perch kind ; nor were the
opportunities of washing linen and bathing neglected.
On the plains above, eternal scrub beset the way-

AUSTRALIAN SCRUB. c)'j
farers, which assumed various shapes, all of which were
different, and at times impossible to cross ; often com
posed of different sorts of Acacia, the leaves tot. illy
unlike those which Captain Spencer had been in the
habit of seeing ; then of Atriplex, which well deserved
its name of honida, but the young shoots of which Tiger
nibbled with much satisfaction. Again, there was the
Callithrix, ^rith its yellow flowers. " What European,"
said he, " could form an idea of these scrubs without
seeing them ? Even if I were to say that they were like
exaggerated furze bushes matted together in every direc
tion, they could scarcely comprehend the impenetrability
of Austrahan wastes.'' The old author's ' term, " Quasi
diabolus,^' as applied to the prickly Spinifex, recurred to
his memory ; and while he smiled at it, he never forgot
it when he travelled through or thought of a scrub.
It was in the water lying in the crevices that the
objects of greatest interest existed ; and in order to
catch the Jew-fishes,^ Captain Spencer fastened the hook
and line on to one of his spears, and baited the former
with pieces of tortoise. Besides these were Perch, some
small, and others of the Carp kind, yellow in colour, and
having dark longitudinal lines. On one occasion he was
surprised by a Saw-fish, which had probably come up the
ravine in high tide, and could not get back again ; it was,
however, in a very languishing condition. He found a
large fish,^ which had evidently entered the river for the
purpose of spawning, and it proved an excellent addition
to the larder for himself and Gip, who now ate fish like
a Newfoundland dog. Gum trees, tall and rugged, threw
their long, sprawling arms about, which bore tufts of
bright green, poplar-like leaves at the ends of them, and
' Dampier. 2" Gristes. ^ Seicena. H

9§ ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
on which sat multitudes of tiny birds. The bark, like
coarse white paper, hung in a profusion of shreds, strings,
and festoons, from the trunk and larger branches, and
lay in a heap on the ground. Thousands of Pigeons of
various kinds, Parrots, with their short, low flight, Parra
keets like rainbows. Cockatoos of great beauty, and
Hawks, would occasionally rest on the tops of the trees,
or feed on the fruit of a shrub with stiff leaves, covered
with berries like red acorns, enclosing two bitter seeds.
Owls made a sort of barking noise in the most retired
parts ; where also were Flying Opossums ; ^ birds' nests,
out of which he now and then took one or two eggs. A
Cracticus,^ with a strong, straight bill, hooked at the end,
and magnificent plumage, excited Charlie's ire by its
imitations ; but he revelled in the abundance and variety
of insects, the principal of which were two kinds of
Danais, one having light green transparent spots on its
dusky brown wings. He also feasted on a butterfly very
like that of the Cabbage butterfly of England, and count
less numbers of beautifully coloured flies, beetles, bees, and
wasps. A species of Sphex, and a green Chrysis, seemed
very much to affect a Tournefortia,^ with silvery white
leaves. - A Fusanus, with globular fmit, like a small apple
or Siberian crab, but which had a large rough kernel, was
most refreshing in the middle of one very hot day. He
also observed a species of the Fig-tree * tribe, with several
other plants which the traveller scarcely expected to find
there ; but when there was nothing remarkable in- them
of rarity or beauty, he passed them with a casual glance.
Not so, however, a huge Eucalyptus, nearly covered with
a rich drapery formed by a luxuriant creeping-plant, which
' Petaurus Sicardus. ^ C. destructor.
' T. argentea. * Ficus.

VARIETIES OF NATURE. 99
bore the appearance of a vine, from its hanging bunches
of fruit, resembling black grapes both in taste and colour,
and the seed within very like coffee.
A gradual change had been taking place in the vege
tation of the country, the only persisting feature of which
continued to be the several kinds of scmb ; and Captain
Spencer now came upon another of the wonders of the
land, the Casuarina, with its articulated, leafless branches,
looking like a gigantic horse's tail, over which one of the
Honeysuckle kind'- flung its trailing branches. He
thought also that he perceived some plants of Indigo,
and a prickly Solanum close by wounded his fingers, as
he attempted to gather it for inspection. It was Charlie
who generally called his attention to the insects as he
pursued them ; and one day he heard a great buzzing
noise from a Dragon-fly,^ which was trying to escape
him; the bird brought it to him at his desire, and he
found it had a brown body, very clear wings, and a bag
on each side of its head ; he afterwards saw one of the
same kind with white bags in the same place. There
was a plentiful appearance of short-nosed Beetles, with
httle tubercles all over the wing-cases; and others, with
long homs, and red patches of colour, formed by minute
scales, became quite troublesome.
A narrow river, which had once flowed freely, was
now dwindled to a thread, making the traveller appre
hend a time of suffering and scarcity. As he sat down by
it, he laid his compass on the ground ; and although the
sun had constantly been behind him as he walked, he
started when he was so plainly convinced that it was to
the north of him, and that he had passed the southern
tropic; he knew it must be so, and could not help
' Loranthus. ' Tliopha saccata.

roo ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
laughing at himself for thinking it strange to look foi-
Warmth and sunshine from that point of the compass.
Having for a few hours since he left the river traversed a
sterile region, he perceived Tiger walking as if he were
lame, and he stopped to examine his feet : the removal
of a stone restored him to his usual gait ; but his master
was dismayed to find how much the constant marching
had worn his hoofs, now they were no longer protected
by shoes, and had often encountered rough ground ; he
determined to rest, therefore, for a short time, and try to
cover them with the thickest of his kangaroo leather, and
shoe him as he had shod himself He accomplished this
with some little difficulty ; and when he put the coverings
on to the beast, he slipped about as if he did it on
purpose, and pawed the ground, and looked at his
master as if to tell him how uncomfortable he was ;
nevertheless, a little perseverance reconciled him to
them, and Captain Spencer was surprised to find how
long they lasted. As Tiger was sliding about the first
day, a pale, bluish-green-looking patch of vegetation at
some distance attracted his master's attention, afid going
up to it, he found it to be a Mesembryanthemum, "with
pale pink flowers, many of which had fallen, and a five-
sided, insipid, but juicy fruit had begun to show itself.
In the same place was matter of rejoicing to both himself
and Gipsy, for the latter caused some Jerboas to spring
from the bushes ; they leaped away rapidly, and Gipsy
. chased them till they suddenly disappeared into the
ground, where they burrowed. Captain Spencer procured
his shovel, and digging at the hole, he found that each
habitation was composed of a common central shaft, from
which several passages radiated to a distance.
Some of the Jerboas were secured, and when cooked

NATIVES WITH DOGS. loi
*
were of good flavour. Far more acceptable, however,
was a large Bustard, weighing at least twenty pounds,
which he shot and dragged to his resting-place, where he
dried some of the flesh for future occasions. A native
grave was near this spot ; and as he had his measuring
tape in his pocket, he ascertained that it was twenty-three
feet long and fourteen broad ; the ground was raised, and
over it were laid some branches of a tree, which evidently
belonged to the Myrtle family,^ and which he concluded
to be the Melaleuca, so abundant in some parts of the
country. The next morning, as he was preparing break
fast, a bird rose from the top of a neighbouring bush,
singing with a clear, melodious note like that of a lark ;
and after soaring to a great height in the air for a little
time, came down again with fluttering wings. Gipsy
looked up in her master's face, as much as to say,
"Won't you shoot it?" and he answered her by reply
ing, " No, Gip, I cannot shoot a Lark ; it puts me too
much in mind of my own country." Gip was satisfied,
apparently, that there was some good reason for denying
her request, and started off to cater for herself as usual,
soon returning with food to the bivouac.
Having made the usual provisions for starting. Cap
tain Spencer pursued his way along a sandy, rugged soil,
rising occasionally into ridges of no great elevation, but
sufficiently so to obstruct the view. Thinking that the
country at the back might be better than that in which
he then was, he determined to cross these ridges ; but
just before he loaded Tiger, Gipsy barked, ran to and fro
with great uneasiness, and the tramp of many feet was
heard approaching. She gave tongue. Head after head
appeared, and a large body of men mounted on to the
' Melaleuca.

102 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
top of the bank with evidently hostile intentions. They
were accompanied by dogs, which snarled and appeared
to be very savage, and two of them rushed down the
ridge upon poor Gipsy. Her master, unmindful of his
own safety, flew towards her, placed her in a cavity of
the rugged bank, and in his excitement easily put a
fragment before her, which he afterwards found it diffi
cult to dislodge from its weight, and which, though it
did not quite conceal her, opposed an effectual banier
to the attacks of her enemies. B,y this time the spears
had been placed in the throwing-sticks, ready for hurling
at him, and the people were yelling and making all their
accustomed frantic gestures of anger and defiance. They
were probably on their way to meet their enemies, for
they were equipped for war ; and coming suddenly upon
a white man, were enraged at his appearance. Their
shields were upon their amis, and they had clubs as well
as spears ; they were painted red and yellow ; their thick
hair was either fastened up behind or encircled by a
fillet, and many had it adorned with dogs' tails or emus'
feathers. Not a friendly bough was near to show his
own peaceable intentions, and for a moment the Enghsh
man thought he was lost, for, in running to save Gipsy,
he had separated himself from his fire-arms, which he laid
upon the bank in order to load the horse. The alarm
excited by the appearance of Tiger on former occasions
darted into his recollection, and he looked round for
him, but he had trotted off to take a last nibble of an
inviting patch of grass before he started; and then it
occurred to Captain Spencer that on the northern coast
the natives had danced to show their amicable feelings,
and now he would dance to show his. He immediately
began to caper with all his might ; and it was many a

FRIGHTENS THE NATIVES 103
long month, perhaps years, since he had jumped about
as he did then ; for it was no graceful sliding and bend
ing, with his feet scarcely lifted from the ground, — it
was real, jolly dancing, and had the desired effect, for
the natives paused. If he relaxed for an instant, how
ever, they again raised their spears; but the day was
won. He of course danced towards his fire-arms ; and
in one of his attitudes he took up his pistols and fired
one of the barrels over their heads. Before- they re
covered from their panic he fired a second, and all
decamped with the utmost speed. By this time Tiger
came galloping up to him, and he ordered him to stand
on the top of the bank in a most conspicuous situation,
where he neighed loudly, and where his mane and tail
spread out like a banner. The two dogs were still trying
to get at Gipsy ; but he knocked one on the head, and
the other, after a severe blow, made its escape, running
with a howl after its owners. After taking his favourite
from her place of refuge, where she lay in an agony of
apprehension, he peeped over the ridge, and saw the
party hurrying off at an immense rate in a direction quite
contrary to that in which he wished to go ; and then
calling Tiger down, he examined the dead animal, and
found it had a long, sharp nose, and was more like the
wolf or the fox than any of the European breeds.
Traces of the native Australians were now to be seen,
such as tombs of stones placed east and west, and made
of pieces of rock, which had been only seen in distant
places, and sea-shells ; heaps of ashes where fires had
been lighted, and trees which had either fallen from fire
or at least had been charred by the flames. The number
of Gum-trees increased, and some of them were in
blossom, each flower looking at first like a goblet, with

104 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
a pyramidal cover, which was pushed off when the sta
mens burst into a starry circle ; the leaves were dull, and
the white trunks were decorated by hanging strips of
bark, which assumed fantastic shapes. Up one ran an
aniraal about the size of a cat ; and as the tree leaned to
the side, Gip pursued, but it was not quick enough, for
the Opossum crept into a hole and disappeared. Some
kangaroos were shot ; and patches of grass were here
and there found in the midst of a low scrub. Hills of
sand, cemented by oxide of iron, with compact quartz
and gypsum, occurred more than once; and Captain
Spencer began to suspect that the metal in these had
attracted his compass, and that he had made too much
easting. He did all in his power to counteract this by
taking a south-west direction, for he exceedingly dreaded
greater uncertainty of route, and missing Perth altogether.
In spite of his faith and courage, when tired with a long
day's journey, his heart would occasionally sink as he
passed day after day without any traces of civilized man,
and found that heat was increasing, with its attendant
evil, drought. The quantity of water being already so
greatly lessened in the river which he had lately passed,
he became doubly anxious to reach a settlement As if
to ease his apprehensions, he after this came to what was
evidently a permanent river, on the banks of which were
large Casuarinse, and on it some black Swans majestically
sailing. He secured two of these for food ; and, after a
rest of about four hours, he refilled his skins and cans, and
marched on. Melaleucas were also growing by the side of
this river, with their small abundant blossoms ; and some
of the leaves having fallen into one of the cans, he fancied
that they had imparted to the water a Jlavour like that of
tea ; and when he came to some more of them he boiled

POISONED BY NUTS. 105
them, in the hope of finding a substitute for this invigo
rating beverage ; but he could not relish it, and did not
try the experiment again. His path was made more
uncertain by the scmb, through sorae parts of which he
could not penetrate ; and he had been constantly obliged
to carry Gip, who could not make way through it.
Captain Spencer was surprised by what he thought
the reappearance of the Cycas; but going up to the
tree which had attracted him, he found it to be of a
different species, and concluded that it was a Zaraia. He
gathered some of the fruit, and finding it agreeable, he
ate it, and proceeded on his joumey. He had not, how
ever, gone far, before he felt the most violent sickness.
With the greatest difficulty he took the baggage frora
Tiger's back, and flung hiraself on the ground, arras, hat
and all, with a can of water by his side, for his thirst was
excessive. He did not doubt that he had been poisoned ;
and it seemed to him very uncertain whether he sh6uld
survive the agony he was then enduring. Both Tiger
and Gipsy seemed to know that there was something
the matter with him, and would not leave his side.
Charlie, when he saw that they all stopped, came bus
tling up, and stuck himself into a bush, saying, " Ned
Spencer, what's the matter ? " Then he put his head
on one side to listen for the usual answer, and finding no
retum to his chattering, he went through the whole of
his vocabulary, over and over again, till the poor sufferer
wished he had never taught him a sentence. There he
lay, for hours, without being able to move hand or foot
not even to cover himself But Gipsy nestled up, and
tried to comfort him, and Tiger laid himself, when night
came, as close as he could to him, while Charlie de
scended from his bush on to the horse's shoulder. At

io6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
length the pain abated, and Captain Spencer thought, as
he dozed, that he might never wake again. He slept
the whole of that night, but was awake before his com
panions had opened their eyes. To his surprise and
thankfulness he was well, though weak ; but as his appe
tite was not yet returned, he determined not to eat more
than was necessary that day. Rousing his companions,
they fed ; and by the time they had breakfasted he was
able to lift the things on to Tiger's back, who neighed,
and did not atterapt to play, and so hinder the progress
of loading. Gipsy almost impeded him with sundry
jumps ; Chariie flew round hira, perched upon his
shoulder, and screamed " All's right !" and so they set
off. They rested for some hours during the heat of the
day, and in the evening reached a fine open plain, with
here and there a clump of trees, where Captain Spencer
encamped for the night, and ate with his usual appetite."
On crossing the plain Captain Spencer was surprised
at finding the soil full of large holes, which made it very
difficult for Tiger to keep his footing. He, however,
trusted him to his o-wn guidance, knowing that he was
sagacious enough to pick his way properly, and he found
that these holes arose from digging up a number of
tubers resembling Yams.' A short, pointed stick, broken
in two, showed the tool which had been employed in
taking thera up ; but, overjoyed at so wholesorae a dis
covery, he used his shovel, and procured several in a
very short time. He roasted some for supper; and
having that morning shot some cockatoos, he made a
thick soup with the two, and was perfectly renovated
from his late illness. He remained the whole of that
day, digging up as many as Tiger could carry, and con-
' Dioscorea,

LOCUSTS. 107
verting some of them into meal, with which he filled his
almost empty bags, and imitated his oatmeal cakes,
which Gipsy condescended to partake of As for Tiger,
he enjoyed the raash which his master made for him as
if it had been oat-gruel. It was a general feast ; for
Charlie had, the previous evening, devoured as many of
the Sphinx and Ghost Moths as he could catch. The
former had triangular marks on their wings, and measured
three inches across. Some locusts, too, had made a
loud, rattling, and most disagreeable noise, as they
settled on one of the neighbouring clumps of Eucalyptus.
They were large ; had brown bodies two inches long ;
rough legs ; a square-shaped head, with red and yellow
marks, half an inch broad ; a long proboscis, -which was
not put out except when feeding ; their wings were per
fectly transparent, and they altogether were very hand
some insects. Chancing to crush some of the leaves on
which he saw thera. Captain Spencer found that they
had a flavour of peppermint.' The whole tree raade a
beautiful appearance ; the bark was of varied tints ; the
leaves were unusually thick, were narrower, brighter, and
greener than those of other gura-trees ; and the fragrant
. blossoras looked like a mass of white fringed stars, which
yielded a quantity of honey. On one tree he caught an
Opossum, and saw several others on the neighbouring
trunks. More uneven ground was crossed, and at last the
travellers found themselves in a swampy valley, in which
Tiger greatly rejoiced, for he there met with the same
long silky grass which he had before eaten, and which he
attacked the instant he was free from his load, first, how
ever, taking a good roll among it " Poor fellow ! " said
' Eucal-yptus peperita.

io8 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
his master, " I have not been well enough to rub you
down lately, but to-morrow you shall have a good
scrubbing." Some Kangaroos seemed to relish the same
grass as that which delighted the horse; for they were
numerous there, and were of a different species to those
before seen. But that which now interested Captain
Spencer, was the appearance of some curious tufted
raasses of long, narrow, sharp leaves, growing on the top
of a round stem, of various heights, most of which fell
back and hung round the stem. This stem was rough
frora scars of fallen leaves, and was frequently five feet
high. From the middle rose a scape ten feet high, with
a spike on the top a foot long. " These must be Grass-
trees," said Captain Spencer, "and are a good sign of
my progress, for I must be getting to the south, to meet
with them."
The dew was heavy and refreshing ; the party was
well protected by coverings ; for, with the instinct which
all animals more or less possess when tame, Charlie now
always crept under them with the others ; and as it was
a spot abounding with all sorts of necessaries for his
wants. Captain Spencer decided on halting for a short
time, to repair clothes, mocassins, tarpauling, and
Tiger's socks. He examined his stock of ammunition,
and, thanks to Gip, who caught so much for him — to
Tortoises, Fishes, Unios, and vegetable food — it was
still plentiful ; but his gun and pistols wanted cleaning,
and while intently at work at them, Gipsy rushed into his
arms, followed by several native dogs, and their masters
at a distance. He gave one of the first such a blow
with the stock of his gun, that he thought he must have
killed it, and hurled the second and third to a distance.
The first, however, got up again, and slunk away to the

ADVENTURE WITH NATIVES. 109
five or six men behind, who had corae as if they had
known the moment in which the white man was defence
less. He could not retreat or shelter himself in any
way; his things were scattered about, and all he could
do was to gesticulate as much as possible, while he en
deavoured to load his pistols. He succeeded in arresting
their attention, till he had, put in the charges of two
banels ; he fired, but the first would not go off, from
being still damp after cleaning. The Australians derided
him, even mocking the sound of the pistol lock, and
were about to rush upon him, brandishing their clubs.
At this moment Tiger came tearing up to his master,
and, as usual, the astonishment and alarm of the Aus-
trahans paralyzed them ; they dropped their hands, and
looked at the horse with astonishment Captain Spencer
then reloaded, and this time succeeded; for, aiming at
a dry bush close to the people, he covered their naked
bodies with its splinters and shattered leaves ; the rest
took fire, and communicating with other bushes, a train
of flames was laid which soon drove them from their
position, and they were obliged to run hard to avoid
being bumt They did not return, and the success of
the stratagem was complete. Still on this, as on all
other occasions, thankfulness for his escape was mingled
with regret that he could not effect friendly intercourse
with his fellow-creatures. The next day he departed,
and came to some huts of a raore substantial form and
construction than any he had before seen. They were
surrounded by Yam grounds ; a well had been dug which
was full of water at that time ; and there were distinct
tracks, by means of which Tiger was able to pick
his way without stumbling into the holes from which
the tubers had been taken. At night the howls of the

1 10 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
native dogs were to be heard, reminding Captain Spencer
of those of Jackals, which they also resembled in colour,
although some are black.
Scrub, gravel, and quartz characterized the soil for
the next few day's joumey; a flight of white Cockatoos
guided the travellers to water, which was reached at
nightfall, and by which Captain Spencer again rested;
who, boiling cockatoos, and a little kangaroo fat, made a
delicious mess for supper.
From the visible diminution of water in the bed of
all the streams and rivers. Captain Spencer supposed
that at a more advanced period of the season all of them
would be perfectly dry ; it was now with difificulty that
enough was found for washing clothes as well as dressing
food, and he never contemplated its future absence
without a shudder. Near to the spot where Tiger was
feeding, he saw what looked like a large, splendid, red
Geranium, or rather Pelargonium, eight feet high, -with
flowers an inch and a half in diameter ; and fearful that
the horse would traraple on or devour it, he hastened to
gather and examine the blossoms. By the time he
reached the spot. Tiger was stamping and pawing with
his fore feet ; and, to his honor, he saw a venomous
serpent, with brown and red spots on its belly, twisted
round the poor beast's legs. He could not chop its tail,
because in so doing he might have chopped the horse
also; and fearing that the reptile would spring at his
nose or raouth, he exclairaed, " Stand, Tiger ! " hoping
that if he were quiet, the serpent would untwine itself,
and go away. Tiger obeyed at the instant, but the
flashing of his beautiful eyes proved that he was still in
a state of great excitement. His docility, however,
saved him, and the serpent left him ; but it was only to

BITTEN BY A SNAKE. tii
attack its new enemy. Captain Spencer stood still, and
met the creature with a firm grasp ; he had not, however,
seized it near enough to the head, for it inserted its
fangs into his hand. He was not at first aware that he
was bitten, and stamping -violently on its tail, he crushed
the spine, and it became passive ; then severing its head
from its body, he went up to his dear horse, and in the joy
of having saved him bestowed on him many a fond word
and caress. All at once, however, he found his arm and
hand swollen and stiff, and looking at the latter, he per
ceived two tiny red marks. These he immediately cut out
with his knife, making a deep incision, and sucking the
blood away. "I fear," thought he, "it is all over with
rae, for I have no antidote." As he took leave of his
faithful companions, and thought with corafort that they
could sustain life without his help, intense weariness seized
him from head to foot He retained his senses, but was
attacked by an almost unconquerable desire to sleep.
Several times did he resolve to give way to it, but he
knew that to sleep was to die. He had recourse to the
most violent measures — he dashed cold water over himself;
he pinched and bit his lips till they bled ; he lacerated
his bare flesh with the spiky plants growing around,
keeping up a continual course of -violent exertion ; until
wearied out, he sank upon the ground, and holding his
burning head between his hands, lost consciousness.
But he might thank Heaven that his bite was not frora
an always deadly species ; and after reraaining he knew
not how long in a state of stupor, he recovered sufl5ciently
to look up. Tiger still stood beside him, with every
appearance of sonow in his subdued look ; Gip had laid
herself down by him, and put her paws upon his arm ;
while Charlie had perched into a bush, and every now

112 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
and then peered down, -with a knowing look, to see what
next would happen to his dear " Ned Spencer." Gipsy
licked his face, and when endeavouring to return her
caress, the past by degrees returned to his memory, and
he was surprised to find himself alive ; he sat up, drank
some water, and spoke. Then did the trio, which had
so lovingly and anxiously watched him through his suf
ferings, show their delight Gip leaped on him, leaped
off again, ran a few yards, returned and licked him, and
then set off once more at full speed. Tiger kicked and
frolicked after Gipsy, and shook her well ; while Charhe,
who was always the most vociferous of the party,
screaraed, hurrahed, and laughed, till he was almost ex
hausted. Before he was able to start again, for it was some
days ere the stiffness left his arm, or his strength entirely
returned. Captain Spencer received another visit from
some natives, who appeared on a neighbouring elevation,
using more extraordinary gesticulations than any he had
yet seen ; one of these was to inflate their cheeks to their
full extent, and blow at him with all their force ; and it
was impossible to see their grotesque faces without laugh
ing. This set off Charlie, who uttered his loudest peals
of " Ha ! ha ! ha ! " which rendered the men absolutely
motionless from astonishment ; and then it struck the
Englishman that he had been hitherto looked upon as a
sorcerer, and that these poor people were now practising
counter incantations. He did all he could to make
friends, but they blew harder than ever ; and Tiger, at
his master's command, displaying his mane and tail, they
decamped with a speed which showed that they believed
themselves overmatched in witchcraft.
At length the travellers again took their way, and in

NATIVE HUT. 113
the first day's raarch Captain Spencer was startled by
what he thought was the cry of a child. Gip also listened
anxiously, and then ran about with her nose to the
ground ; the former thinking that it might be a poor
helpless infant, dropped in the hasty flight of its parents.
Nothing human, however, was met with, and the sound
ceased, when Gip put up a bird something like a Guinea-
fowl, but as large as a hen Turkey.' Captain Spencer
fired, and brought it down at the dog's feet. On pre
paring it for eating, he ascertained that it fed on insects,
was full of worms, and had a large, horny gizzard. He
had followed the course of the river, and not far frora it a
curious mound of earth presented itself, about three feet
high ; but supposing it to be a native grave, he passed it
without further examination. He then came to a hut.
He took possession of it, and from it killed what he at
first thought must be Woodcocks, from their raanner ot
running, but which proved to be Quails, some Ducks,^ a
Crane, a Bittern, and a beautiful Heron ; and saw an
immense flight of very pretty birds of a dark, dusky green,
which alighted, and ran about with their tails stuck up in
the most knowing manner. To prepare and profit by
this accumulation of good cheer it was necessary to halt ;
and when they started again, both master and horse had
much additional burden. Greatly, puzzled was the former
to know which way to go. He now felt assured that the
vicinity of the magnetic hills had influenced his compass.
His glass showed him increasing tracts of scrub to the
west, and he began to fear that he had completely missed
his way to Perth ; and the only point to ^ich he could
now direct his steps and his hopes was Adelaide. The
vision of Swan River, however, was too pleasing to part
1 Leipoa ocellata. ^ Anas ncevosa. I

114 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
with all at once, and he still took a south-westerly direc
tion. " At all events," said he, " that raust bring me to
the sea again without losing much distance ; and once
there, I may be better able to determine which is the
proper course. My preservation hitherto forbids rae to
despair, and I cannot think that these dear faithful com
panions are doomed to die in a desert.'' So speaking, he
pushed on with alacrity, and courageously encountered a
thick wood, highly scented from the blossoras of the
Gum-trees which composed it ; but the abundant growth
of underwood presented great difficulties. He carried
Gip, and cheered Tiger with his voice, which brought
thera well through it ; and as he looked at the tall stems,
bare of branches till they reached a great height, he
thought of his raore picturesque Indian forests.
The most refreshing slumbers restored the travellers,
and they proceeded on their journey, not, however, with
their usual supply of water, for this had been scarce
during some days. None had been allowed in the mom
ing before starting; so Tiger, without any ceremony,
directly his load was taken off at night, pushed his nose
into one of the cans, and drank its contents, lea-ving Gip
only a little, which she lapped up as it ran over the side
ofthe tin. " Tiger, my boy," said his master, "you must
not be in such a hurry again ; you were to have had only
half that this evening." But going with sraall allowance
hiraself, he and Gip dined from what meat he had cooked.
The next day they raarched at least twenty miles ; and
the vegetation showed their more southem latitude ; for
the patches of scrub belonged to the singular family of
ProtecB. They were of the genus called Banksia, which
is formed of long, narrow, prickly leaves, deeply indented,
and brownish green in colour, shooting athwart each

SUFFER FROM THIRST. 115
other, and forming a mass not less vexatious and difficult
than the thorny Acacias. On halting in the evening,
before coraposing himself to sleep. Captain Spencer took
only a small quantity of meal-cake, for fear meat should
make him thirsty; but Gip was fed as usual. They
again started in the raorning with a very small allowance
of water — a privation which the poor animals took very
patiently ; and after walking some time through melan
choly scrub, they found themselves standing on the edge
of table-land, and beyond the steep and rapid descent lay
a scene of uncommon beauty.

CHAPTER VL

HE bed of a noble river, which had once
watered a fertile plain, presented itself to the
eyes of Captain Spencer. How long it had
ceased to flow he could not tell ; but he thought if, in
their necessity, they followed it towards its source, they
should find water, and be able to return to their proper
path. They descended the table-land, and perceived
some women and children seated in the channel of the
stream, and with hands and sticks scraping a hole, as if
for the purpose of procuring water. He watched them
for some time; and seeing them kneel down, and put
their mouths to the hole which they had made, he ex
claimed, " Thank God, there is relief for us I " and with a
lightened heart he proceeded towards the spot The
river, when full, must have been of considerable breadth;
and had, perhaps, even within a few months, overflowed
much of the luxuriant valley through which it ran ; for
there were many signs of former tonents, such as fallen
trees, which had been brought from a distance (nothing
like them existing in the neighbourhood), masses of
soil, etc.
On arriving at the shining white sand of the water
course, some little distance from the natives, he began to
dig with his shovel, and was not a littie surprised to see

NATIVE WOMEN. 117
some beautiful little birds ^ fly in numbers around him,
and even perch upon his spade, as if they knew what he
was seeking, and were deterrained to have the' first drink.
He could not bear to take any of thera for food, when
they placed such confidence in him ; and when the
w^ater rose in the hole, which it soon did, he suffered
them to satisfy themselves ; but Tiger, who seemed to
smell the liquid, without waiting to be unloaded, rushed
to the spot, and kneeling down, put thera to flight, and
himself luxuriated in a long draught. Gipsy followed his
example, with whom Captain Spencer was a sharer ; and
then the little creatures again assembled, only to be
again dispersed by Charlie, who dashed in araong them,
screaming out, " Rogues ! scoundrels ! " as he always
did to his feathered brethren; and helping himself,
screeched and flapped his wings, as if he were the tyrant
king of plumed creatures.
Having been hitherto so unsuccessful with the men
of the native tribes. Captain Spencer- thought this would
be an excellent opportunity of trying to conciliate the
women; but as soon as he directed his steps towards
thera, they all uttered a claraorous cry and ran away.
In their haste they abandoned sorae yams which they
had with them, and he took some of them for himself.
By way of payment, however, he laid one of Tiger's old
shoes in their place. He then retired to a distance, and
with his glass watched their moveraents. After some
time, they cautiously returned to the spot they had left,
turned the horse-shoe over and over again with a stick ;
then they struck it ; and at last, as if convinced that it
was harmless, one of them took it up, examined it, and
looked through the holes where the nails had been. The
' Diamond Birds, or Amandina.

Ji8 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
others imitated her, and seemed to think it incompre
hensible. At last, running back to a man who now
advanced towards them, and who walked as if he were
lame, they, with many energetic gestures, appeared to
relate all their adventures to him. He gravely inspected
the horse-shoe, looked also through the holes, and then,
one of the women giving him a piece of cord out of a
bag which she carried upon her back, he, by means of it,
fastened it round his neck, and then they all disappeared,
probably to their dwelling-place. It was for some little
time a subject of debate with the traveller whether he
should go after them, and try to improve any good im
pression which he might have made, or pursue his way.
At last, the uncertainty of being successful detened him
from straying in that direction ; and filling his cans, etc.,
he in the evening departed. He passed over many low
hills, which were fatiguing from their rugged nature, but
at the foot of which he was still able to find water by
digging. Leaving the hills behind them, they the next morning
entered a Hakea scrub, which Hakea is a proteaceous
bush, much matted together, and having large prickly
leaves. There Gipsy killed and dragged to her master
an animal which was much too large for her to carry, and
which proved to be a sraaller kind of Kangaroo than he
had yet seen. She laid her game at her master's feet,
sat down, wagged her tail, looked in his face, and seemed
so earnestly to implore h™ to cook it, that he halted a
littie sooner than usual ; and making a rude imitation of
a native oven, contrived to bake it, for he could not
afford water for the preparation of his food. He always
made a quantity of cakes whenever he filled his cans, not
knowing when he should be able to mix the meal again.

HOLES OF DIRTY WATER. 119
He cut the Kangaroo in pieces after skinning it, and
wr.ipped it in some of the young twigs of the scrub,
covered it well with clods of earth and bushes, and was
tolerably successful, finding this a much more nutritious
method than boiling.
Holes with dirty water, evidentiy dug by the natives
were occasionally met with, but no signs of streams
saluted the thirsty mouths of the travellers, and even
these holes appeared to have been filled with the drain-
ings of the surrounding soil. Gipsy and Tiger did not
hesitate to drink from them, but it was sorae tirae before
their master could prevail on himself to follow their
example. He saw Gipsy slip into one ; and as she
kicked and struggled, he thought she must be choking,
and went to her relief. He pulled her out by the hind
legs, and could not help laughing at her appearance.
Half her body was covered with thick mud ; she sneezed,
tried to get it off with her paws, but they were also
encased in mud; and she then ran into the scrub, and
by dint of rubbing and rolling, managed to get rid of the
greater portion. Her master hoped, by enlarging the
hole, to raake the water run more freely into it, but
nothing came except mud ; and therefore, taking two
handkerchiefs, he filled thera with it, and placing each
on the top of a can, he filtered enough for Tiger and
hiraself; Charlie, by dipping his bill into the hole, pro
cured enough for his raoderate desires. Captain Spencer
found an unexpected advantage in the hole ; for as soon
as he left it. Pigeons, a beautiful Falco hypolecus, very
like the G)rr Falcon of Europe, some of the Swallow
tribe. Finches, Honey-eaters, and others which were
new to him, flocked round it to drink, and were after
wards driven away by the hasty arrival of Parrots and

I20 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
Cockatoos, which made Gipsy growl, and Charhe utter
his usual abuse ; among all of which, he, however, secured
a whole bagful of birds for future pro"vision.
Green, juicy grass was no longer to be found, except
in small patches, and these were very rare ; but Tiger
wisely accommodated hiraself to circumstances, and
grazing upon the young shoots of scrub, apparently had
wisdom enough to be quite satisfied with them. It was
almost with reluctance that his master left even the
muddy hole, so uncertain was he now of finding water ;
but filtering as much as his cans and skins would hold, he
again continued his journey. The nights were now so
much warmer, and there was such a total absence of dew,
that the party no longer huddled together under the
tarpauling ; but Captain Spencer, wrapping hiraself up in
his cloak, generally laid his head upon the saddle instead
of upon Tiger. It was with a shudder that he heard a
slight rustling as he -was about to fall asleep, and in
stantly starting up, he lifted his pillow, and saw a snake
coiled up which had crept under for shelter. He beat
the scrub well all round, and sat down, intending to
sleep in that posture ; but slumber had fled ; and as he
sat in the bright moonlight, which tinged a large extent
of country with its bright and silvery hues, he thought he
heard a wailing voice at a distance. Gipsy at that same
instant put up her head and barked, and in a moment
both master and dog were on their feet in order to find
the person from whom the cry of distress proceeded.
Gip led the way, and not far off lay a young Australian,
who now and then uttered a plaintive cry. Captain
Spencer knelt beside him, found that his pulse still beat
strongly, although he appeared • to be very helpless, and
he imagined that the sufferer had met with some accident

RELIEVES A NATIVE. 121
which had disabled him from walking. He therefore
began to examine the legs : one of them was very hot ;
and as he approached the foot, he found it was very
much swollen. A sudden start and groan from the man,
as he gently passed his fingers over one part, convinced
him that a thorn was in it ; and nothing could be done
but to wait till the morning, in order to try and extract it.
How to procure temporary relief was the great difficulty,
for he scarcely dared waste his scanty portion of water in
bathing the part affected, and rubbing would make it
worse. "V^Tiile trying to invent some means of cooling
it, the poor creature exclaimed, " Yampee, yampee ! "
Then opening his eyes, he fixed them on the white man,
as if not perfectly conscious of what was passing. What
these words meant Captain Spencer could not guess ;
but the swollen tongue and lips, the heat of the skin, and
inflamed foot, all betokened thirst ; and he congratulated
hiraself that he had still water to give him without abso
lutely depriving his horse and dog of it He imraedi
ately poured some into his shell ; and lifting the native's
head so as to lean against his shoulder, he gave him
some to drink, and with pleasure saw the relief which it
evidently afforded. He laid the man down again, and
forraed a pillow for hira with his cloak ; and raising his
foot on to the saddle, so that it should not touch any
thing, he moved all his baggage to the spot, and told
Tiger and Charlie to come and lie down there. He then
chopped off a piece of the thickest scrub he could find,
and fanned his patient with it till he fell asleep. He
ventured himself to doze a little as he sat by him ; once
or twice he gave him water during the night, and at
length sufficient light came to enable him to examine
the foot more thoroughly. The man still slept ; and he

122 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRAIIA.
took his knife, and sharpening it upon the leathern belt
which he wore round his waist, he firmly but gently
grasped the leg with one hand, and with the other
quickly drew the knife across the swelling. The thorn
was instantly discovered ; and he drew a pair of sraall
forceps from the handle of the said knife, and ex
tracted a long, sharp spine of Acacia. The native
gave a yell of pain, and to soothe him Captain Spencer
held up the thorn for him to look at. The poor creature
nodded his head, and, sick and exhausted, fell back
again and slept. His doctor bruised sorae of the tender
leaves of a plant which looked very much like a Mallow,
and bound the foot up in them ; and as his patient lay,
he watched by him, and pleased himself with the hope
that not only had he relieved a suffering fellow-creature,
but that perhaps through him he might obtain the
good-will of some of his countrymen. A still more
coraforting suggestion arose, which was, that as these
people knew every nook and corner of their country, this
man might take him to Perth, and perhaps for the present
point out the possibility of procuring water.
When the young man awoke, the word "Yampee"
again issued from his lips ; and half raising himself, he
pointed to the water-can. Captain Spencer supplied
him; but at the same time, pointing to himself and
Gipsy, who was close by, he raade signs that he must
leave some for them. The raan nodded, and fixed his
eyes on the Englishraan with a look of gratitude, and
exclairaed " Ho ! ho ! " " Ho ! ho ! to be sure," said
Charlie, and a look of alarm pervaded the features of the
native, who remained silent for a minute or two ; he
then rapidly uttered a long speech, not one word of
which was comprehensible to his benefactor until after-

^^ f
Captain Spencer heals the Native's Foot.- Page 122.

NATIVE SHOWS A WELL. 123
wards, but which meant that he had been travelling with
a party from place to place, as they all did when water
and provisions were scarce, and had run this thorn into
his foot His companions had tried to get it out for hira,
but had only broken and pushed it in still further ; and
as he could no longer walk with thera, they had left him
there to die, for each was obliged to provide for himself,
and in tiraes of scarcity old and sick persons were often
left behind, and died for want of nourishment.
There was something so cheering even in the society
of this savage, that Captain Spencer's spirits, which had
never entirely recovered after the depression occasioned
by the bite of the snake, insensibly rose, and he became
as hopeful as ever for his eventual safety. He, however,
looked forward with pain to the time when he and his
human companion must separate. The native directed
him to a hollow at some distance, where his people had
dug a well, and left it full when they passed, hoping to
find some remaining on their return. Calling Tiger to
hira, the horse neighed, at which the countenance of the
Australian betrayed the utmost alarm ; and he screamed
and hid his face in his hands as the animal trotted up to
its master, and laid its nose upon his shoulder. Captain
Spencer tried to reconcile him to the docile creature,
who would have made friends with him most wiUingly ;
but the man shuddered, and, lowering his voice, said
that he was a boyl-ya. The repetition of the word struck
the Englishman, but he was in a hurry to be off for
water ; so he put the saddle on the horse's back, laid all
his things together, except the cans and skins, under the
tarpauling, raade the native understand that he was to
take care of them till his return, and springing into the
saddle, was off in a raoment. Tiger occasionally jumping

124 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
into the air over patches of scrub, and Gipsy also, who
emulated his frolics, and Charlie exclaiming, " What a
row ! hurrah ! "
Some limestone ridges were passed ; the well was
found covered up with stones ; the cans and skins were
filled ; Tiger had an excellent meal off the green grass
which surrounded it ; he and Gipsy rolled together, and
Charlie laughed ; all drank with pleasure, for the water
was still tolerably good, and all returned more soberly
than they went, — the weight of the filled vessels con
vincing Tiger that his time for play was over. They
found that the native had crawled to the tarpauling, and
laid his head upon it ; and as a small kangaroo had been
shot, there was every prospect of the necessaries of life
for at least a few days. The native shuddered and
crouched as Tiger approached; but dismounting, his
master again let him loose, and showed the kangaroo to
the man, who instantly exclaimed " Wallabie ! " and said
he would cook it. Captain Spencer gave it up to him,
and although he did not take off the skin, or cut it up,
he suffered him to go on in his own -K^ay. The native,
who called hiraself Kinchela, singed off the hair with
pieces of burning stick, and constructed an oven with
clods of earth much more artistically than the English
man had done, who supplied hira with the materials as
he pointed for thera, and watched hira with interest He
heated the oven in the same way, but left the ashes in ;
he wrapped the Kangaroo in the diy herbage which
grew close by, covered it carefully with more clods of
earth, and then excluded the air entirely "with boughs of
scrub. When the tirae came for the raeal to be ready
the gra"vy was in it, and the superiority of native cookery
was evident. " How associating with our fellow-men
takes the conceit out of us ! " said Captain Spencer.

KINCHELA'S COOKERY. 125
" I have been fancying myself, of late at least, equal
to that Soyer of whom I have read in the English papers,
and now the first savage with whom I meet far outdoes
my best efforts.'' He was, however, somewhat consoled
when he saw with what avidity the savage devoured the
yara cakes made English fashion, and was surprised when
the man shared the entrails with Gipsy, which he seeraed
to prefer to the other parts of the Kangaroo. Some tops
of Grass-trees, which had grown in the hollow, were also
cooked in the oven ; but before he put them in, Kin
chela exarained all the leaves separately, and picked
something out of them which he put into his mouth.
"Can he be eating raw insects?" thought Captain
Spencer. A bag of dried Unios was still left, which,
when offered to the native, he rejected with horror,
saying " boyl-yas."
Thrown together, without other human associate, it
was astonishing how rapidly Captain Spencer and Kin
chela came to sorae understanding of each other's raean
ing. It was not many weeks before they readily con
versed by signs and words raixed. Indeed, much sooner
Captain Spencer managed to faraiharize Kinchela with
all but " Tiger"; but the boyl-ya long retained his terrors.
The foot was healing fast ; the water was again low
in quantity; and wishing to fetch some more, and yet
not leave the Australian, Captain Spencer, hoping that
he had convinced the poor man of the harmlessness of
himself and companions, proposed that he should ride
on Tiger's back and go with him, by which means the
recovery of the foot would not be impeded by exercise ;
but Kinchela's honor was so great at the idea, that it
was in vain to try and persuade him; the Englishman
therefore retumed to the well alone, and procured the
proper supply.

126 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
It was long before Kinchela could be prevailed on
to explain that boyl-ya was a sorcerer, and tuming
towards the unconscious Tiger with a look of appre
hension, he was again silent. Captain Spencer could
not forbear a smile ; but not wishing to hurt the man's
feelings, he concealed it, and begged to know why the
people had called hira a sorcerer. Lowering his voice,
Kinchela, with some hesitation, said that all his people
believed him to be one for many reasons : that he
travelled alone, which no white man had ever done
before ; that he looked at something which he held in
his hand, and then seemed to know which way to go ;
that he had a little black dog, not at all like their dingoes
(dogs), which made an odd noise, and was also a boyl-ya,
for it knew everything its master said ; and that he had
also a big dog, not like a dog at all, that was a still
bigger boyl-ya, that was very fierce, upon which he some
times flew away in the raidst of noise and sraoke ; that
he himself, killed everything by fire, and sometiraes
pulled the fire out of his body (alluding to the pistols
which Captain Spencer carried in his belt) ; and that,
when he wanted to cut down grass, he only touched it
with his big knife, and then it fell. Kinchela spoke of
the death of the tall man, and all supposed that he had
been killed because he defied the boyl-ya, and wished to
destroy hira. He said that it was understood in various
places that a boyl-ya was going through the country,
which sorae thought would be a blessing and others a
curse, and therefore the latter were determined to do him
all the mischief they could.
Captain Spencer was highly araused at the character
under which he had passed among these people, and also
at the scaring influence of Tiger's mane and tail, which.

OPINIONS OF THE NATIVES 127
added to his capers, had doubtless confirmed the idea of
his flying. He was, however, surprised at the intimate
knowledge which was possessed of all his actions, proving
how incessantly he raust have been watched. Kinchela
told hira that " the natives had followed him frora the
lake, and avoided hira by living on the other side ; but
that they peeped at him over the tops of the hills, or
from the trees in which they hid theraselves ; that they
thought the large tarpauling was a cloud which made him
and his attendant spirits invisible, for never before did birds
sleep with dogs and raan, and talk as Charlie did, which
proved what clever sorcerers all of these were ; and that
the white man's visit and escape from the caves where so
many sorcerers lived had raised their idea of his influence,
and showed that he exceeded all others in power."
Captain Spencer thought of sewing the lame foot up
in a piece of his most pliant leather ; and if with that he
could but get hira to the place where the well was, he
raight leave hira with every prospect of being able to
secure food. He asked him the way to Perth, but the
name was wholly unknown to Kinchela, as well as that
of Swan River ; and it was impossible by any allusion to
it to bring it to his raind. He said he knew there were
places where a great many white raen lived together, and
made a " big smoke ; " but he had never been to any of
them. The reaching Perth was now entirely abandoned
by the traveller ; and he inquired if the man knew where
the big water was, where the ships hved. Kinchela
replied in the affirmative, and pointed towards it, in a
direction which was very different to that which the
Enghshman would have taken, and which perfectly be
wildered hira. He said that " plenty of white people
lived a great way off," and pointed to the east, but he

128 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
had never seen them ; and then Captain Spencer decided
on making the sea his principal object; for he could
ascertain nothing respecting any other object Every
where, the native told him, there was but little water for
drinking. Captain Spencer raade all preparations for starting;
and when he asked Kinchela if he thought he should
soon overtake his own tribe, the poor raan seemed per
fectly astonished, and said he was going with the white
raan. The white raan, however, shook his head; and
then Kinchela fell upon his knees, bowed himself to the
ground, and clasping his hands together, said, " He
would find water for him, catch food for him, do any
thing for him, and never go away from him ; that his
father and brother were all dead ; he had not any wife
(gin as he called her) ; and that the white man was like
his brother come back to him, and that now he would
never go anywhere but with him." Captain Spencer did
not then know the strange ideas which many of the
Australians entertain of the reappearance of their dead
relations in the form of white men, and therefore could
not comprehend the force of the latter part of Kinchela's
speech ; but he could not treat his solicitations lightly.
At the same time he could not bear to drag this poor
creature all over the continent, and then leave him
among strangers. He tried to explain to him that he
lived in the land of the Malays ; and after he had seen
the white men a great way off, he should go back there
across the big water, and never return to Austraha ; that
he had plenty of servants in the Malay's country ; and
that he raight perhaps even go away for ever from them,
and live among white men entirely. It was useless to
make these representations ; Kinchela implored, gesticu-

KINCHELA'S SUBMISSION. 129
lated, ptomised everything he could think of likely to
make his presence desirable ; but half of what he said
was unintelligible, both from its vehemence, and from
being partly in his native language. However, the tears
which rolled down his cheeks, his sorrow, his supplications,
could not be mistaken, and Captain Spencer yielded.
On which the poor fellow laid his hands upon the white
man's shoulders, and put his head upon his breast.
Now it would be necessar-y to secure a double stock
of provisions ; and, while thinking of this, it darted into
Captain Spencer's mind that perhaps, in a moment of
frantic hunger, the man raight eat his poor Gip. He,
however, could not but be pleased, on the whole, to have
a companion who would relieve the dreadful solitude
he had often found so oppressive ; and he determined,
as long as he could, to keep up some sort of mysterious
influence, both about the horse and dog, which raight
render them more secure ; and he thought that if he at
length reached a settlement, he might easily find sorae
one who would be glad to engage a faithful servant, and
so take hira off his hands. He told hira that he raust
obey him in all things, which the raan seemed perfectly
to comprehend; and, although he thought it might be
useless, he tried to convince hira that Tiger, Gip, and
Charlie were to be as rauch respected as himself.
Now came the consideration of food ; and the wisest
thing appeared to be a final visit to the well, to increase
the supphes. And when Captain Spencer announced his
intention, Kinchela said he was quite able to walk ; and
if he did not do all that was right by the whiteman, the
dogs and the bird, and other boyl-yas, he knew^ would
torment if not eat him. His master made over to him
the two spears which he had secured in his encounter K

130 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
with the natives, and which he had never used. The
man seemed to be delighted with the present, examined
thera, poised thera in his hand, and said he would make
a throwing-stick when he came to a tree.
The whole party moved to the well, Kinchela limp
ing a little ; but he leaned on one of the spears, and his
master had patience. A hut of boughs supported by a
stick was erected, the materials for which Captain
Spencer chopped down with his hatchet ; and as there
were some fine Gum-trees of a hard wood near by, he
taught Kinchela the use of both that and his knife, for
making the throwing-stick and a club ; and with the
facility thus afforded, the native was delighted. The
Grass-trees attracted his attention ; but instead of
choosing the best-looking, he went to those which
appeared to be dying, and giving one a kick, it shook.
He then quite knocked it over, and taking a piece of
bark from a Gum-tree, he sat down upon the ground, and
picked from it more than a hundred caterpillars. He
ate one or two as he proceeded, and offered some to his
master, -who declined them with a feeling of disgust.
Kinchela, however, persevered, and wrapping thera in
the piece of bark, when the oven, which they made on
their arrival, was heated, he baked them, and so earnestly
entreated Captain Spencer to taste them, that he could
not refuse. To his surprise, he found that they tasted
like nuts; and having once conquered his repugnance,
he became as fond of thera as the Australian seemed to
be. Gipsy also acquired the taste; and Charlie, who
had always been extremely busy among the Grass-trees,
and never came to one but he sat on the top, screeched
and flapped his wings before he began to eat, seemed to
have quite as much pleasure in eating cooked as well as

NEW SOURCES OF FOOD. 131
raw caterpillars, saying, as he strutted about, " Very
good, very good ! "
Frogs were caught by the native, and cooked in the
sarae manner ; and of these Captain Spencer irame
diately partook, the Australian having taken out the
intestines ; he, however, confined hiraself solely to the
parts which are eaten in France. Cockatoos were shot,
and the whole cookery was entirely resigned to the
native, who plucked the feathers off, folded the entrails
in a piece of bark by themselves, and baked them
separately, reserving thera for himself; being now, as
well as afterwards, perfectly contented with them for his
share, provided they were of sufficient size. His master
saw that new sources of food would be opened to him,
provided he could conquer preconceived opinions, and
take that which the country afforded; and, reasoning
with himself, he made a determination from that raoraent
to eat whatever Kinchela provided for him, if the taste
were not disagreeable.
The next day they sat together after their meal, Kin
chela receiving his lesson in English, which his raaster
was determined to teach him as quickly as possible.
Charhe was rather a hindrance, for he also repeated the
words, till his master scolded him ; and then he repeated
the scolding in so ludicrous a raanner, that it was ira
posslble to help laughing, and he at length flew away,
saying, " Charlie, you rascal, hold your tongue — ha ! ha !
ha ! " The native was as quick as Charlie, and Captain
Spencer was surprised at his daily progress. At night,
the bird, before he went to sleep, repeated everything he
had leamed in the day, and completed the astonishment
of the Australian by saying, in a sort of patronizing tone,
" Kinchela, that's right," and Kinchela turned his eyes

132 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALlA.
towards him with fear and astonishment. " Good,"
thought the Englishman; "he will think Charlie the
greatest sorcerer of the four. This shall be encouraged,
for the poor bird's safety."
Clothes were mended ; the two pairs of cloth trousers
were dwindled into one, and these were much patched ; the
thread was very low ; the shirts had quite disappeared ;
but the beard- as well as moustaches having been suffered
to grow, it hid the deflciency. One cloth jacket alone
survived in a serviceable state, and those of linen were
in the utmost state of dilapidation; stockings had also
long been gone ; but, thanks to the mocassins, the
shoes which they covered were still in being. "What
shall I do," said Captain Spencer, "if I do not get to
some habitable place before long ? I may emulate my
friend Kinchela in his eating, but certainly not in the
absence of his wardrobe. I must kill some more kan
garoos, and make a dress of their skins ; but how in
sufferably hot they will be ! Well, patience ! "
And now the time of starting was arrived, Captain
Spencer, as usual, took his knapsack on his back, which
was much too light for his comfort or convenience ; he
also carried his fire-arms, his hatchet, and his sword.
Kinchela took the spears, and two additional bags which
his raaster had contrived to make from his old clothes to
hold the increased stock of provisions, some pieces of
bark, and a lighted stick, which he said was rauch better
than for white man to make fire each time ; and Tiger
had his usual burden. They at first proceeded by very
short journeys, on account of Kinchela's foot being still
tender ; but before many days were over he walked per
fectly well ; nevertheless, he was always much less able to
bear a long march than Captain Spencer.

CHAPTER VII.

HE cheerfulness of the travelling party was much
increased by the addition of Kinchela ; for
there was frequent conversation between him
and his master, and animals are always cheered by
the sound of the human voice. Both Gip and Tiger
were accustomed to dark coraplexions, and were there
fore strongly inclined to be farailiar with their new com
panion ; more so than he liked, especially as concemed
the horse, towards which he still felt an undefinable
dread. Even in the midst of cooking or talking, if Tiger
whisked his tail, he stopped short and looked at hira with
tenor. The usual practise of Captain Spencer— that of
bivouacking in the middle of the day, and marching
during the morning and evening hours — was adhered to,
unless any unforeseen event occurred to make an alteration
of plan desirable. The first moming they were all thus
travelling together they reached some -Zamia trees, frora
which Kinchela was about to gather the clustered cones ;
but his master stopped him, at the sarae tirae saying they
were poisonous, because they had made him vety ill when
he ate them. "They made white man ill," rejoined Kin
chela, " because he not know, and he eats them wet''
He added that he and his party had passed that spot,
and buried some in the ground, which would now be fit

134 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
to eat, and he would take them up. He soon found the
spot, and with the sharp point of a stick turned them out
of the holes. Captain Spencer examined and felt that they
were perfectly dty ; and seeing Kinchela eat them freely,
ventured to follow his example. They were vety superior
in flavour to those which had been recently gathered, and
he did not experience any ill effects from them. Tiger
and Charlie had their share, with whom they also agreed ;
and he could only account for this by supposing that the
oil which they originally contained had drained firom
them while they were in the ground. For evety one
which he had taken from the holes, he made Kinchela
substitute a fresh nut, saying, that unless he replaced
them, it would be robbing those who had made the
deposit Such reasoning surprised Kinchela, and was
his first lesson in the eighth commandment This seemed
to be the southern lirait of these trees, some of which
were sixteen feet high ; and they did not meet with them
again. After some days' jpurney, with a miserable supply of
water, the party reached what once had been a small
lake, surrounded by a number of rounded hills, the banks
of which were muddy, and the dry bed of which was full
of large and deep cracks. The hitherto successful digging
was here again tried, and water was reached at a depth
of eight feet from the surface. Kinchela, who had
hitherto used only his hands on such occasions, was de
lighted with the shovel, and seemed to think that it
would always produce water. The liquid was at first of
the most disagreeable flavour; but all except Captain
Spencer drank it without disgust He not only waited
till a larger quantity had risen into the hole, but, to the
astonishment of the native, he boiled it. Indeed, the

THE FIRE-STICK 135
process of boihng always seemed to be a matter of sur
prise to him ; for as the Australians have no vessels which
will stand the fire, they cannot effect this method of heat
ing food ; and Kinchela often took up the hot can and
looked at it, in doing which he more than once burnt his
fingers. According to Captain Spencer's expectation, he was
now introduced to a multitude of novelties for his misine,
and among others was the root of a fern, which he had
often seen before, and which, when baked and powdered
into meal, was excellent. No more yams were found ;
but the tubers of rushes, and of a plant something like a
reed,' yielded a good supply of farinaceous substance ;
and Kinchela soon learnt from his master how to make
it into cakes, similar to those of oatmeal.
By degrees the Australian becarae accustomed to the
sound of the gun and pistols, but never evinced the least
desire to touch them ; and his master thought it well
that he should continue to feel this repugnance. He
always carried the fire-stick, the lighted end of which was
wrapped in grass or bark, so that it remained in a smoul
dering state, and was a most acceptable saving of the
powder hitherto used in lighting the fires, or the more
laborious process of friction with two pieces of wood. As
usual, when water was procured by digging, birds flocked
round in an incredibly short space of time, and ample
food was thus supplied. Several sorts of wild fowP
issued from the reeds ; an Eagle also made its appear
ance, but did not alight, unless it had descended early in
the morning, when it was seen at a distance, flying away
as if satisfied. The incessant Cockatoos, always an
nounced by Gip's growls, brought some of their young
1 Potamogeto-n. ' Teal and Anseranus melanoleuca.

136 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
ones, just able to fly, and raaking a noise like young frogs,
to the increase of Gip's anger, and which Charlie pro-
vokingly iraitated. Then came Parrots, Panakeets, and
Pigeons, a bird which raade a clucking sound, some
Honey-eaters with cheerful notes and gaily-coloured
plumage, and another bird which, after uttering a long,
clear whistle, ended with a cry like the smart crack of a
postihon's whip. Fly-catchers and a Platycercus added
to the number, the latter having a sea-green body and
yellow shoulders; and Kinchela's hands were fiill with
catching them in all sorts of ways. He was vety skilful
in setting snares ; and one of his traps was composed of
two rods, placed among the grass, and meeting at the
top, frora which part hung a noose raade of twisted fibres
of bark, so that the birds, as they ran along, thrust
their heads into the loop, which iramediately closed
round their throats and choked them.
An enorraous Kangaroo was started, and Kinchela,
anxious to show his powers, entreated Captain Spencer
to keep Gip away, and let him kill it without assistance ;
so, to gratify him, his master held the dog in his arras to
ensure her forbearance. The native then gathered a
large bough, which effectually concealed his person, and
holding it before hira, he cautiously and stealthily ad
vanced towards his victim. The bough, however, rustled
a little against the bushes, as he passed sorae a little
higher than the rest, and then the Kangaroo raised its
head and looked round. Kinchela stood perfectly
raotionless till the animal's suspicions were quieted, and
thus drew near his prey. He had concealed his spear
also behind the bough, and now, taking good aim,
plunged it into the poor beast just under its shoulder.
It did not fall immediately, but took an enormous leap

KINCHELA KILLS A KANGAROO, 137
with the spear sticking in it, which, however, broke as
the game reached the ground. Kinchela ran to the spot ;
but the Kangaroo kicked so "violently that he could not
come veiy close, but creeping round, out of reach of the
feet, the long toe on which had an enormous nail which
might have killed him, he raade a sudden dart upon the
tail and held it "with all his strength; this reduced the
energy of the Kangaroo, and it gradually becarae weak
ened by loss of blood. It was no sooner dead than
Captain Spencer came up to the Australian, and praised
him for his skill and courage, at the sarae tirae saying
that he should like to have the skin taken off and added
to his stock of leather, for Tiger's and his own socks
were alraost exhausted.
Kinchela was quite excited ; but taking up a sharp
piece of stone, which he used much more dexterously
than he would have handled a knife, raade an incision,
by means of which he proceeded to strip the skin frora
the body, occasionally pushing it with his feet, and often
stuffing a piece of flesh into his raouth, warra and quiver
ing as it was. An oven was constructed and heated by
Captain Spencer, and as this was going on, and the
entrails were removed, they were put into it. But the
rapacity with which the native snatched at them, and
seemed to grudge Gipsy her share, so completely dis
gusted his master, that he began to repent the com
panionship which had at first given him pleasure. He
told the native that as they had plenty of other pro-
•visions, he would have the flesh of the Kangaroo dried ;
but Kinchela did not coraprehend this, and was evidently
disappointed at not eating it directly. His master was
therefore obliged to set to work hiraself; but the Aus
tralian quickly comprehended the process. The meat

138 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
was cut into strips, and hung round the oven on wooden
skewers, and when it was sufficiently cooked, it was
exposed to the sun for a day, and then stowed away
in a bag. The bones were stewed with some of the root-
flour, and then Kinchela was satisfied with the supply
for the present. He with the stone cut off all the
coarser parts of the skin, stretched it on the ground, beat
it for a long time, and renewed the process moming and
evening till it was quite soft as well as dty.
As Kinchela slept after his ample meal and great
exertions, Captain Spencer tried to reason himself out of
the disgust which he felt, by considering that this poor
wild man was, in his uncivilized condition, scarcely to be
called a reasonable being ; that his gratitude to himself
showed he possessed some of the best feelings of human
nature, and he could only expect his savage propensities
to be overcome by education, and contact with those of
his own species who were superior to himself. " We are
all too apt," said he, " to judge of untutored men accord
ing to our wishes, and by books, which generally conceal
that which would disgust Even my good Indians would
shock polite Europeans, if placed in their drawing-rooms
¦without preparation ; but they are refined beings when
compared with Kinchela. Their religion, too, though
repugnant to us, has its softening influence ; but neither
in Kinchela, nor in any part of the countty where I have
been, has any trace of religion met ray eyes, unless the
caves were temples ; and even these are relics of times
and people passed away — witchcraft alone supplies its
place. But I must do my best with Kinchela, and when
I feel annoyed at his gross habits, must steadily look to
the future, and forbear."
The progress of the travelling party was slower than

GUMS AND MANNA. 139
it had been when Captain Spencer had no human com
panion, for Kinchela secured so many kinds of food,
before unknown to the Englishraan, that they seldom
started vety early in the morning; besides which, the
former appeared to be wholly unable to make forced
marches. A great article of their consumption was a
variety of gums, gathered from different trees, especially
that of a bright amber colour proceeding from the
Acacias, which was very sweet and good, and which
Tiger also delighted to pull off the stems. There were
also some not edible, and which Kinchela told his
master were used for fastening spear-heads, etc., such
as an elastic substance something like Indian-rubber,
and others of a more resinous nature ; also what very
much resembled Gum Tragacanth, from a tree of the
Capparis kind. Besides these gums was a substance
which both Gipsy and Tiger licked up with great avidity,
as well as Kinchela, who complained of their taking pos
session of it, but who in reality dared not drive the
horse away when he saw him devouring it. It was a
white mucilaginous substance, like flakes of snow, lying
upon the trunks, and on the ground under the Gum-trees,
and which appeared to come from under their outer bark.
Captain Spencer could only compare it to Manna, and
Kinchela told him that an insect made holes in the bark
and let it out, so that it fell to the ground. He was
quite greedy after it ; but it was of too sickly a taste for
his master, who much more enjoyed the sweet drink made
for him by the native from the red or yellow flowering
cones of the Banksias. They were so full of honey, that
they had only to be shaken in water to impart to it their
sweet syrup ; and other flowers also produced the same,
although not in equal abundance. One of these was an

I40 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
Asclepias, with flowers like those of the Hoya, whose
pods were full of a substance hke white floss silk.
One day, as the party were eating their moming meal
previous to their march, Captain Spencer was surprised
to see Kinchela suddenly start up, saying, "Ah, you
fellow ! you show me where you live," and he instantly
covered a Convolvulus flower with his hand, the trailing
stems ofwhich crept along the scrab. He then pulled
some of the down from the Asclepias pod which stood
near the spot, and wetting a piece of gum in his mouth,
he with it fastened the white substance upon a bee which
he had secured. As soon as the insect was released
from captivity, it flew away ; and Kinchela, keeping his
eye upon it, followed its course, getting several tumbles
on his way from his headlong haste, and attended by
Gipj who ran and barked at she knew not what, but
thought if there were a hunt, it was her duty to take a
part At last the bee went into a hole in the tmnk of
a tree ; and Kinchela called to his master for the hatchet,
with which he chopped away the wood till he exposed
the whole nest The queen issued from it, and conse
quently all the inhabitants of the hive deserted it ; so
that the contents became an easy spoil to the wayfarers.
They poured the rich, well-flavoured honey into some
pieces of bark, and managed to secure it from ranning
out by binding these round with grass, so that it afforded
a treat for some days. Gip had suddenly disappeared ;
but a whine of distress was heard by her master and
Kinchela, who sought her in the direction whence the
sound proceeded. It proved to be the neighbourhood
of a dried-up spring, and the poor thmg had fallen
into a deep hole, which, being, covered with bushes
and sticks, had been unperceived by her. It was so

A COLD RAIN. 14 1
deep that she was with difficulty extracted frora it by
means of a string, which she held with her teeth, and so
was pulled up. Kinchela told his master that the pit
had been dug by some natives to catch the Kangaroos
when' they carae to drink at the spring, and was one of
the many modes by which they entrapped these animals.
Something was daily learned from Kinchela with regard
to the iraportant article of food ; and he in his turn
received daily information from the Englishman in the
English language, ofwhich he soon learned not only words,
but sentences, to which he gave their proper application.
The season of heat advanced in a manner which sur
prised Captain Spencer, considering the latitude in which
he supposed they were ; but in the midst of the dryness
sorae heavy clouds gathered overhead, and there seemed
to be every prospect of a heavy shower. It was, how
ever, very slight ; but the drops which did fall upon his
face and hands raade hira start in consequence of their
icy coldness. Kinchela seized 'upon the skin of the
Kangaroo, which still remained unappropriated, and
covering his shoulders with it, crouched down in the
scrub, refusing to stir till the rain was over. "Boccolo
Sahib," said he, coming after his master, who had slowly
proceeded, "we stop when we come to big tree; make
cloak for Kinchela." How he was to make a cloak out
of a gum-tree, which he supposed was meant by big tree,
the Boccolo could not iraagine, unless it were from the
bark. He, however, yielded to his wishes, and arriving
at a line of them, he agreed to stop, and the raore
willingly, as close by the trees was one of those depres
sions in which water had lodged and drained from the
scrub ; and although it was not good, there was enough
for all.

142 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
Instead of going to sleep at night as usual, Kinchela
remained in a listening posture, and hearing a slight
rustling among the leaves, he pointed to them. Captain
Spencer then saw some small animals which he supposed
to be Flying Opossums,' for they flew from the higher to
the lower branches. But Kinchela said he did not want
thera; there were others which were bigger. It was
bright moonlight ; and sitting perfectly still, with Gip in
his arms to keep her quiet, the Englishman saw several
of a larger size on the ground, eating the grass. They
were about the size of a good-sized cat, had whiskers,
and pretty innocent faces, not unlike mice; their eyes
were very brilliant, and their ears soft and pretty ;
their legs were comparatively short, and their claws
apparently sharp, with which they were evidently able
to grasp small objects; their tails were out of propor
tion long, seeming to measure from eighteen to twenty
inches, and had no hair underneath ; their bodies were
covered all over with a thick fur of different colours,
dark grey, and shades of brown with a golden tinge, and
lighter underneath ; they twisted their taUs round
branches of the neighbouring scrub, and called and
answered each other with a sort of hoarse chuckle.
" To-morrow I catch you," said Kinchela, and quietly
settled himself to sleep.
Kinchela set to work the next morning, borrowing
his master's hatchet, and sharpening a stout stick. He
then exarained the trunks of the trees, and stopped only
at those on which he saw the prints of claws. He blew
upon these marks to see if the sand stih stuck upon
them where the feet had left it, in which case the
opossums must have ascended vety recently, and be
' Phalangista.

CATCHING OPOSSUMS. 143
within the tree ; but if it blew away, he went on to
another tree. "When convinced that an opossum was
avithin the trunk, he cut rather a deep notch, into which
he stuck the great toe of his right foot, flung his left arm
round the tree, stuck the sharp point of his stick into
the bark above him, and lifted himself up. He then cut
a notch for his left foot, dragged himself up to that, and
thus arrived at the hole, which was a considerable
distance from the ground. He routed the opossum ' out
with his stick ; and when it appeared at the mouth of the
hole, he caught hold of it in such a manner that it could
not bite him with its sharp teeth ; and when it was fairly
out of the hole, he seized it by the tail and dashed it to
the ground. He caught a great raany, but not all with
the same ease ; for some ran swiftly up the tree directly
he began to climb it, and took refuge in the boughs ; but
he went after them, and shook or knocked them down.
Others retreated into their holes so far that the stick
would not reach them ; in which case he descended the
tree, and mounted again with some lighted leaves or grass,
which he put into the hole, and the smoke soon dislodged
the opossum.
More than forty opossums were secured, and they
were just sufficient for the cloak. Kinchela performed
his office with great dexterity ; but as he removed the
skins, he stuffed so many pieces of the entrails into his
mouth, that Captain Spencer thought he would not be
able to eat anything more that day. But it made no
difference with the evening meal ; and as yet his raaster
perceived he had no adequate idea of the capacity of an
Australian's stomach.
The excellent flesh of the opossums was dried, and
' Didelphis.

144 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
the making of the cloak employed Kinchela for several
days, for he was obHged to beat the skins a great deal to
make them soft. He made thread by twisting fibres of
bark together, or by a rude imitation of spinning the fur
of the opossum. For a needle he used the shin-bone of
a kangaroo ground to a point upon a stone, with which
he pierced holes, and then put the thread through, in
order to join the skins together. The cloak reached
nearly to his knees when it was finished, and he fastened
it upon his right shoulder with a wooden skewer ; he also
made a belt of opossum skin, into which he stuck pieces
of sharp stone, a tomahawk of the same material, which
had been left with him when he was abandoned, and
whatever treasures he thought fit to accumulate.
The individual of the travelling party who fared the
worst was Tiger ; for they frequently came upon large
tracts where the grass and scrub had been burnt, and no
rain had caused the former to spring up again ; but the
good horse bore his privations patiently and good-
huraouredly, and the meal and gum which were given to
him were very nourishing substances. Still Captain
Spencer watched him with anxiety, dreading to see him
get out of condition, and was surprised to find with
how sraall a quantity of water, and that of bad quahty,
they were all in such strong health. He asked Kinchela
why these patches were burnt; and he replied, for two
reasons, one of which was that it did the grass good, and
raade it grow well after the rain had corae upon it ; and
the other, that when they set the scrub on fire, the small
animals ran out of it ; and he would show him how it
was done the next time they wanted to renew their stock
of food. No sooner was the dried raeat getting low than

KINCHELA MENDS SPEAR. 145
Kinchela reminded his master that the burning tirae was
now arrived ; and having settled Tiger in a distant spot,
they procured some large thick boughs, and going to a
distance from the station which they had chosen for the
night, they selected a piece of scrub, and stamped and
trampled a circle round it, into a still closer and more
intricate mass. They then set fire to that which was in
the raiddle, and all three — for Gipsy played her part
bravely— contrived to secure Wallabies,' Opossums,^
Mice, Rats, and Frogs, Lizards and Snakes, which
rushed out, and could not escape for the broken scrub.
Gipsy, however, who was very eager in the sport, in
variably shrank frora the snakes, and was not quite sure
that she ought to have anything to do with the lizards.
When the flaraes touched the bruised mass, the two men
vigorously beat and extinguished them with their boughs.
It was a very fatiguing mode of hunting when only two
persons were engaged in it, but very exciting.
The broken spear had never been mended; and now,
reaching some Grass-trees, which had not long ceased
flowering, they saw the tall shafts of hard smooth wood
rise from the raiddle. Kinchela soon secured one of
them ; and before he slept, he fastened the head of the
old one on to it with fresh gura. The scarcity of water
increased so much, and was such a source of appre
hension to Captain Spencer, that he proposed to the
native to return northwards to one of the. permanent
rivers, thinking that, with Kinchela's direbtions, he
might reach it more speedily than if alone, and remain
there till the season of drought was over. The raan
looked very serious and shook his head, and on being
pressed to speak, he said, " No ! no ! Boccolo Sahib.
' Halmaturus agilis. ' Hypsiprymmis. L

146 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
Those vety bad fellows ; they not think you boyl-ya, and
then they eat you up." The Boccolo at first thought
Kinchela was ttying to frighten hira ; but on being
pressed to speak seriously. Captain Spencer found that
there were really some tribes who eat human flesh occa
sionally, and that Kinchela truly apprehended some
such catastrophe. He added that he knew them, but
that he would take him to " the big water, where there
was good country, good white men, and plenty to eat
and drink." He then pointed, as he had always done, in
a southerly direction. His master, who had long aban
doned all hope of Swan River, now fancied that King
George's Sound must be the point to which his man
alluded, and cheerfuUy acquiesced when that prospect
presented itself to him, for he thought that even there
he might meet with a vessel which would take him to a
port whence he might embark for India.
One evening, as the wanderers sat by their fire.
Captain Spencer watched the southern stars, which so
plainly tell the distance of Europeans from their home,
and Kinchela, who. saw the direction in which his eyes
were bent, said, "Boccolo, you look at smoke up there?"
— "What smoke?" asked the Boccolo in his tum.
Kinchela pointed to those white specks in the heavens
known as the Magellanic clouds, and then gravely as
sured his master that a black fellow, very well known,
had made a fire, and a boyl-ya had taken the smoke up
there, where it would always stay. Kinchela "knew it
was true." Captain Spencer did not attempt to contra
dict him, but was much amused at this novel explanation
of the phenomenon. He then questioned him, both in
Malay and English, concerning the existence of a large
sea in the interior of Australia. He replied that he

THE Y KILL AN EMU. 147
knew of one big sea, and going round that a man would
die, and a boy be very old before he had finished ; but
whether this meant the large sea with which some say the
immense and unknown district of the interior is occu
pied, or whether he alluded to the ocean itself. Captain
Spencer could by no means discover.
The travellers were now fast approaching a much
higher line of hills than those which thgy had left far off
to their right, and which showed signs of basaltic forma
tion, with here and there a base of granite ; the forraer
rising two and three hundred feet, and alternating with
sandstone. Little Talperos, as Kinchela called them,
the size of a rabbit, but longer in shape, as well as Rock
AVaUabies, which were bolder, stronger, and more active
than those of the bush, resembling hares in appearance,
ran about the rocky soU, which he said lived for raonths
without water; and near whose haunts were many ves
tiges of native encampments. " Kinchela," said Captain
SpeAcer, "do you see that black fellow stalking about
alone there, at the foot of the hills, through the high
¦ bushes?" "He not black fellow," replied Kinchela,
laughing, in which he was loudly echoed by Charlie; and
then added, " Gip, [Kinchela, and Boccolo catch him."
" To him, Gip ! " said Captain Spencer, and all started
in the pursuit ; for he now saw that it was the bird he
had so long wished to come in contact with, the Emu.
Gip made directly for the game ; and her master and
Kinchela separated, in order to intercept the Emu in
every direction which it might take. StUl, with its ex
traordinary s-wiftness, it was getting ahead of them, when
calling Tiger, Captain Spencer jumped on his back, and
galloping round the bird, came before it, having directed
Tiger by words and his mane. This proceeding rather

148 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
checked the native's ardour, for he was still frightened
when his master mounted the horse ; but the poor bird
was at last run down, and lay kicking with its strong
feet upon the ground. Gipsy kept barking at a short
distance; Kinchela dashed up behind, and broke its
wings, for fear it should rise and try to make its escape.
Captain Spencer then fired, and put an end to its ex
istence. Kinchela would have dragged it to the place
where they had made their fire ; but, to his infinite satis
faction, his master threw it across Tiger's shoulders, and
trotted back to their station.
Water issued from the soil where they bivouacked,
and which had been chosen from a suspicion that it was
the bed of a forraer tonent The small supply was pure
and weU-flavoured ; and that night witnessed the baking
of the Emu. There was no moon; and Kinchela set
fire to the tops of two Grass-trees near by, which burnt
with a bright flame and delicious perfume, frora the fra
grance of the resin which they contained. A spacious
oven was artistically buUt; the bird was plucked and
skinned ; the legs, neck, and head chopped off; the
entrails taken out, folded up separately in grass, as weU
as the head and neck, and placed with the body in the
heated circle ; and while they were cooking, a fire was
made on the ground, the feet were steamed, and were as
good as calf s feet When they were taken from the fire,
a tray of bark was set upon stones amidst the ashes, and
the skin suspended over it. OU dripped plentifully into
it from the skin, which gave great satisfaction to Kin
chela, who rubbed hiraself all over with it, and wished
his master to do so likewise, who of course refused ; he
also wished to rub Gipsy, but was prevented. When
Captain Spencer asked him why he did this, he answered

TROUBLESOME FLIES 149
that it was good for the pains in his legs and arms ; but
of these pains he had never yet complained ; and he cast
a wistful look at Tiger, as if he would have operated on
him, if he had dared. Captain Spencer thought it would
be an excellent reraedy to have by him, if he could
possibly carry it ; and when he suggested this to Kin
chela, the young man made a sort of bag of the skin, and
wrapping it in grass and bark, it traveUed safely. The
Emu's feathers were not lost; and forming a fiUet of
grass, Kinchela bound it round his teraples, and stuck a
bunch of them in front of his head ; which, as he was tall
and well-made, and had on his opossum cloak, produced
a vety picturesque effect.
It was now necessaty to cross the mountains ; and
ha-ving examined the range with his glass. Captain
Spencer chose the lowest and raost accessible part, in
order to save Tiger as much as possible from fatigue.
As they ascended, which they did very slowly. Tiger was
tired ; and Gip so earnestly entreated to be canied, that
her master lifted her up on to his knapsack, very much to
the amusement of Kinchela, who looked at the horse,
and said, " If big dog wanted to be canied, Kinchela not
could cany him." The flies here were again trouble
some; and Captain Spencer again had recourse to the
handkerchiefs for himself and Tiger; and also put on
the ear-cases of the latter. Upon this Kinchela begged
to be accommodated in the same raanner, to his raaster's
infinite entertainraent ; and he fastened a red and white
handkerchief over hira, which was the more ludicrous, as,
being too hot to wear his cloak, he had no other clothing
than the head-dress and opossum belt. He also asked
for coverings for his ears, and was not quite satisfied
when he was told that they were only intended for

ISO AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
horses. In spite of this, he, however, returned to his
old habit of throwing up his chin, and half closing his
eyes. Another sort of fly, of a brown colour, was also
encountered, and which was extremely troublesome.
Captain Spencer thought it indicative of the vicinity
of Kangaroos, as he had often seen it on those animals ;
nor was he mistaken, for there were many on the other
side of the heights.
All day did the party clamber, only resting for a
short time ; and at length, still far from the" summit, they
stopped upon a ledge, at the back of which was a shallow
cave, large enough, however, to hold them all comfortably
for the night Before they settled themselves, they
routed from it a large Iguana, with a bluish tint over the
head and neck. It was singularly ugly, as, indeed,
almost all the Australian lizards are ; but Kinchela said
it was vety good to eat, killed and roasted it; and the
supper which it afforded was like the most dehcate
chicken. On the morrow they again started, and before
mid-day stood upon the summit of the range, which
seemed to stretch to the north and south, as far as the
eye, or even the glass, could cany the sight On this
occasion Captain Spencer tried to reconcile Kinchela to
the use of the telescope, which he had hitherto regarded
with superstitious horror. He with difficulty persuaded
him to look through it at some Kangaroos feeding in
the plain below ; but as soon as he brought them, as
Kinchela thought, close to his eye, the man all but
dropped the telescope, and fell flat upon the ground with
his face downwards, to avoid the enchantment ; nor
could he ever be persuaded to touch it again.
It seemed as if all the natural riches of south-westem
Austraha were concentrated in the beautiful spot before

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. 151
them. Large districts of wood closed the horizon to
the east, forraed of lofty tiraber ; the Acacia scrub had
many open patches in it ; and over its surface the most
exquisite plants had frequently spread their trailing stalks,
whUe their scarlet, yellow, crimson, or orange blossoms
glowed vividly in the sun ; clumps of trees, or single
giants, stood in various spots ; and a lake of opalic-
looking water, with a bed of clay, caused such fertility,
that even at the present time, when the herbage was in
general brown and withered, there was green grass in
its -vicinity. It was evidently of much greater extent in
the winter; but the basin was probably never dry; for
even now the soil was wet and rauddy, where water had
been. Captain Spencer had been for two or three days
suffering from a painful swelling at the back of his neck,
which seemed to grow larger hourly, the inflammation
becoming so severe that it affected his health seriously.
Seeing this, Kinchela was raade acquainted with the cir
cumstance, whereupon he cut out a hard insect which
he called a " tick." This insect eats its way through the
skin and quite buries itself, growing from a pin's head to
a rape seed in size, and causing intense pain long even
after extraction. It often kills dogs which becorae
paralyzed and die from its poison, and seriously wounds
even horses. From this time Gip was closely examined
by Kinchela nightly, and even Tiger's chest and head
carefully manipulated.
The party occupied much less time in descending
than they had done in climbing the heights. They passed
beautiful traUing plants ; a broad-leaved Capparis, bear
ing a pear-shaped fruit with prominent lines; Convolvuli;
Ipomese, with yeUow blossoms, and also with large pink

152 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
flowers, from the seeds of which came a caustic juice,
producing bhsters on the skin. It surprised Captain
Spencer that there were no natives in this beautiful
place; but Kinchela said they lived there sometimes,
for he saw several huts ; and they were probably gone
to the big water, as they did every year at this time, to
catch fish. As they proceeded to a verdant spot, near
to which Kinchela said Kangaroo-grass was gro'wing,
they passed sorae very pretty white and yellow ever
lasting flowers ; ' and soon carae upon one of those
mounds of earth which Captain Spencer had before
seen, and taken for a native grave. To his great sur
prise, however, Kinchela gave a cry of pleasure, and
immediately began to scrape away the earth from the
centre with his hands. It was five feet high, and forty-
five in circumference ; and when Kinchela had penetrated
a little way into the heap, perhaps about two feet, he
with triumph showed two fragile and delicately-coloured
pink eggs, which had rested on their smallest end, and
were of a large size. They and two others were roasted
for supper; and, although so large, iad not the least
coarseness of flavour. Close to this and several other
mounds grew some dwarf Gum-trees, only thirty feet
high, which Kinchela said made capital spears, digging
and throwing-sticks.
As they ate their roasted eggs. Captain Spencer
questioned Kinchela about the manner in which these
curious nests were formed; and he told him that the
birds scratch the soil up with their feet, and with it a
great deal of vegetable matter, which, when it gets
rotten, raakes the whole heap quite warm; but that
the birds, just before the female lays the eggs, turn out
' Gnaphalium.

THE LEIPOA. 153
the inside to dry. She then deposits the eggs at the
rate of two in onefday; and when all are placed she
covers them up, and leaves thera to be hatched with the
heat of the sun. It was always known when eggs were
inside, because then the top of the mounds was round
and smooth ; and if there were none, there was a deep
sinking in the middle. He added, that other birds in
other parts of Australia laid their eggs in the same
manner, but distributed them in different parts of the
heap, whereas these laid them in a small circle round
the centre. Captain Spencer found the shells very heavy,
weighing, as he thought, eight ounces ; and asked what
occasioned some marks which he found on some of
them. The raan answered that the White Ants pene
trated into the raounds, and forraed their galleries all
round the eggs, so that the young birds found food ready
for them imraediately on coraing out of the shell. A
sort of skin covered the latter, which was of a brown
colour. When Captain Spencer expressed a wish to see
the birds, Kinchela said they raust sit quite still and
watch, for they were soon frightened ; and the next day
the native and his master stationed theraselves araong
the mounds, concealing theraselves in the bushes.
Captain Spencer brought his gun, as well as his pistols,
to fire at them, if they should attempt to fly away. At
sunset one of the birds came to the mound, and was
shot. It was a very heavy, compact bird, as large as a
Turkey ; ' spotted bro"wn and white, with a tuft upon the
head, the bare parts of which were of a bright blue ; its
legs were short, and yet it ran vety fast. Kinchela said
it roosted on trees, and could live a long time without
water. When the young have left the mound, the female,
' Leipoa ocellata-.

154 -AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
he added, walks about with from eight to ten young
ones ; they issue two 'at a time, and directly she hears
their cry, she runs to take care of them. There is only
one pair for each nest; both together accumulate the
heap of soil, and the hen lays an egg every moming
just before sunrise. When the nest is robbed, she will
lay again in the same nest, but only twice the proper
number of eggs in one year. The young birds scratch
their way without help, and are then fully fledged, and
all have a vety strong gizzard.
" We will stay here sorae time, Kinchela," said Cap
tain Spencer, " and rest ourselves, for there is plenty to
see and to do here." " Very good, Boccolo ! " was fhe
reply ; " then Kinchela make you new cloak," pointing
to the mackintosh, the lower edge of which was hanging
in ribands ; and he started in search of more Opossums.
Nurabers of Banksias studded the plain -with their
honeyed blossoras ; and bees were as plentiful as flies,
but they did not sting. The pretty Finches also abounded
in the same shrubs, raade their nests, and warbled their
cheerful notes. Near to the raore banen parts of the
mountains, but among the trees, a curious noise was
heard in the evening, which lasted far into the night
Kinchela said it was not a Cadli, or WUd Dog, but a
big dog of another kind, which ate trees, and did not
leave one branch till all the leaves were gone, and then
it went to another. He and his master captured one,
and it proved to be what the latter had seen described
under the name of Koala, or Sloth, and had a sharp
nose and coarse fur. Kinchela thought "it would be good
eating ; but with plenty of food of other kinds about
him, his master did not fancy its appearance. He, how
ever, made use of its skin, as he had done of the

FLIES AND BEETLES. 155
Kangaroo's, and continued to collect skins while in this
place. He caught many animals, and more especially
the rock Kangaroos, which always sit with their tail
between their legs. He was raore anxious to secure
them at this period, on account of the quantity of bark,
which was yielded by numerous Acacias, for tanning
their skins.
Charlie feasted on the abundance of insects ; and
the good bird, because Captain Spencer had frequently
called to him to bring various specimens] for exaraination,
nov/ of his own accord constantly flew to him with some
of his prey in his beak. Among them was one of the
Dragon-fly species,' the lower wings of which were very
extraordinary-looking, like a long thread with two enlarge
ments at the end. Then he brought a Thynnus, looking
like a wasp; another which Kinchela called a Barde,^
and a Phoracanthus, -with very long, spinous, and re
markable antennas, which hovered about the gum-trees.
To his annoyance the Englishman himself caught a
beetle ^ -with a St Andrew's cross on its wing-cases, which,
when he touched it, sent forth a filthy odour. One or
two others had the same property; but he abstained
frora again touching any of that forra, except wdth a
twig. A fly, mth a sharp head and golden eyes,* raade
fierce attacks upon !them ; and a small caterpillar, with
sharp spines, strong enough to run into the finger, at
tracted the traveller's notice. A Smaragdina had a
gorgeous red thorax; and yellow and brown Locusts
seeraed to be particularly acceptable to Charlie.
Kinchela one morning was busy preparing some
slender twigs, from eight to ten feet long, which he bent
' Neuroptera Hattei. ^ Bardisttis.
' Mictis profanea. ' Chcsrocoris pagaiius.

1 5 6 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
into a hook at one end, and then he proceeded with them
to the gum-trees. There his raaster saw him insert these
twigs into holes in the ground, and after a little manoeu
vring, drag up what he called Laabkas, which proved to
be fine fat grubs; and as Captain Spencer had eaten
those of the Grass-trees, he did not hesitate to partake of
them, and found them of excellent flavour. Kinchela
said they were the first part of some curious moths,
which the Boccolo would see by and by.
Gipsy enjoyed the stay by the lake less than any of
the party, on account of the presence of many snakes — •
for she had never forgotten her adventure in the other
plain — and also of the number of native dogs, which
would have snapped her up in a minute. She could not
be left with the baggage on account of the latter, and
dared not run on the ground for fear of the former.
Captain Spencer, therefore, always put her on his knap
sack when he went on his excursions ; and Gip thus
accompanied him everywhere on his back. The dogs
howled horribly at night; and the Englishman asked
Kinchela, who was always timid after nightfall, if he did
not think they were boyl-yas. The raan shook his head,
and whispered that these were not boyl-yas, for they were
in the trees, where he could at that moment hear them,
alluding to the creaking of the boughs. Kinchela ran
down some of the dogs, finishing their fate by thro-wing
a stick at them. He brought the first to the bivouac to
cook, and had it all to himself, for his master refused
any share in the feast. He took out the entrails, filled
the inside with grass, fastened the aperture together with
wooden skewers, and put it into the oven. Nothing
annoyed him raore than to be obliged to cook any animal
without its skin, the hair of which was always singed off.

THE DEATH ADDER. 157
He said that when black feUows caught puppies, they
took one or two to tarae and live with them, but always
ate a great many. The dogs, however, had two stUl
more powerful causes of destruction — the snakes and
themselves ; for they ate each other in times when other
food was scanty.
The Wombat' was an inhabitant of this plain, with
its short nose and thick body ; and Kinchela drove these
animals to their holes in the sides of the mountains,
closed the mouths with stones, lighted a fire, and suffo
cated them, — causing Captain Spencer to think what a
fierce warfare man, who does not tUl the ground, carries
on with other animated parts of creation. The native
treated the elegant little Jerboas in a vety summary
manner; for he raerely broke away the under jaw, bit off
the tail, and then making a hole in the sand, w-hich he
heated, he put the animal into it; and when it was
cooked he ate it as it was — fur, skin, entrails, and bones.
Kinchela called one of the snakes Tookyte,^ and told
his master if it bit him he would lie down for three days,
and then get weU, and it was very good to eat. He also
showed hira a Death Adder, which he said made people
die in a few minutes.
Some of the Grass-trees seen by the travellers had
been seventeen feet high ; but in this spot was another
kind, even larger in stature,^ and which looked like a
palm with simple leaves. It had the rough, cylindrical
bark of the Xanthonhea, but its leaves were narrower.
A large Hakea, of a different species to that which
formed the scrub, had drooping leaves a foot and a half
long, and was twenty-five feet high. A Grevillea was
developed into a small tree, with vety long, riband-hke
' Phascolomys. ' Raja. ' Kingia,

158 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
leaves of a silvery grey ; and one of the same genus had
beautiful red blossoms, and two flat seeds, surrounded by
a narrow, transparent membrane. A large Fig-tree, sixty
feet high, with rich dark green foliage, had bunches of
fruit of small size and tolerable flavour; but it was
almost impossible to eat them, because they were so full
of flies and ants, the two great pests of the country.
The Inga moniliforrais, with its articulated pods, yielded
a rich perfume, which fragrance was somewhat of a
rarity among the flowers of Australia; and a noble
Eugenia, with large white blossoms, wide, leathety,
shining leaves, green bark, and a hard trank, stood forty
feet high. Its scarlet and ribbed fruit was on the tree at
the same tirae — a constant occurrence in such climates,
— arid was six inches in circumference. If suffered to
hang till it dropped, it was good to eat ; but if gathered,
was pungent, though always aromatic. The wind whistled
through the articulated branches of the drooping Casua-
rinas on the borders of the lake, like the tones of an
^olian harp, and their blossoras looked like crimson
fringe. One of the Hibiscus tribe afforded some string
to Kinchela; and a Proteaceous tree, with sUvety
leaves, had seeds surrounded by a broad, transparent
membrane. Black Swans, with their bright red beaks, floated upon
the lake. Some beautiful Falcons took their share of the
smaller and exquisite birds which frequented this lovely
place. One of them' had grey plumage, yellow legs,
and very briUiant eyes ; another was sooty black,^ of
exquisite shape, and rapid flight ; and a Kingfisher ^
seemed to hve on lizards, beetles, and grasshoppers.
One of the Honey-eaters, when opened for cooking, had
' Falco hypoleucus. ' F. subniger. ' Halcyon sanctus.

VARIETIES OF BIRDS. 159
its crop fuU of the remains of beeties ; and its head was
covered with a yellow pollen, proceeding frora a flower
very like a Mallow, which was a great resort of those
insects in the heat of the day, when the petals closed
over them.
The Australian told Captain Spencer a curious history
of a Buteo ' which he caught ; saying that it was so bold
it would drive an Emu from her nest when sitting, and
would take a stone between its feet, drop it on the eggs,
and then eat the contents of the broken shells. It had
great powers of vision ; and Captain Spencer having left
a dead Wallabie in a Grass-tree as he passed, intending
to take it up as he returned from a distance, found that
the bird had devoured every part except the skin, and
saw it fly away as he approached. One of the Swallow
family was kiUed, which the traveller had once seen in
England ; ^ some Gymnorrhinse fed on fruits and insects,
and sang in nuraerous choral notes. The Falcunculus
built its nest on the branches of gum-trees, which were
at least fifty feet high. It was the shape of a cup, was
made of bark, lined with grass, and contained from four
to five shining white eggs, speckled with olive. Here
also did the Bower-birds again form their play-grounds ;
and their cup-shaped nests were made of sticks, lined
with grass and feathers. The Calyptorh3Tichi were rivals
to Kinchela in their fondness for grubs ; and they went
about in smaU flocks, with a hea-vy flight, and a low,
crying note, very different from that of their noisy
brethren of the parrot tribe. Some ducks' nests were
discovered in the trees ; and there seemed to be no end
to the natural wealth of this favoured region. It was,
however, time to depart from it, and move to the south,
' Buteo melanosternon. ' Acanthylis eaudacuta.

1 60 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
before the greater drought should distress them still more
in their after progress.
On the last evening of his stay. Captain Spencer
placed himself a little way up the mountain-range, from
whence the ground gradually sloped away to the fruitful
plain. The thick woods, the stillness of which was only
interrupted by the rustling of the Opossums, as they ran
up and down the trees ; the moon shining brightly on
the lake, the waters of which reflected a soft opalescent
light ; the clear and well-defined outline of the iramense
distance in that dry climate ; the large occasional flocks
of wild-fowl which passed over his head, and splashed
into the lake, raaking tiny and glittering waves around
thera ; the foreground darkened by the shadow of the
mountains, Ughted up in one spot by two brilliant natural
torches, which had been kindled by Kinchela, who was
seated on the ground enjoying the most peaceful repose,
— formed a scene which was never forgotten by the
wanderer in any of the fair or busy scenes of his after-
existence. The travellers made active preparations for starting.
Tiger and Gipsy resumed their sober habits; Charlie
confined his flights to their immediate vicinity ; as much
water as could be carried was secured; and Kinchela
had loaded himself with pieces of crystal and agate,
which he had found on the mountains, together with all
sorts of fancied treasures. He endeavoured to stuff
them aU into the opossum belt round his waist ; but one
after another dropped out again, tiU he bit his beard with
impatience. " Why do you not make a bag for those
things?" asked his master; "there is plenty of skin;
and you had better do so to-night, then you can cany
them with all convenience." Kinchela gave rather an

FUNGUS, i6i
indignant toss of the head, and replied, " Black fellow
not carry bag with stones ; Gin carry bag ; " by which
Captain Spencer understood that his dignity was offended
by the suggestion. At length, taking off his belt, the
native folded thera up in it, and seeraed to think httie
. of the additional weight They passed on araidst beau
tiful flowers, araong which various PapUionaceae, the
Bossieua virigata, with its yellow and crirason blossoras ;
the Kennedia Maryatta, like a large coral-tree; the
Eriosteraon, with panicles of pink and white five-rayed
stars ; and the splendid Chotyzema, were the most con
spicuous ; and never did beautiful Australia look more
beautiful than when they bade farewell to the lake and
plain. Scmb — fatiguing, obstinate, tearing, pricking,
provoking scrub — succeeded; and the bivouac the next
night took place in a very different scene to that of the
preceding. On the completion of the opossum cloak. Captain
Spencer had bestowed his old mackintosh on Kinchela,
who then folded up his own, and, in imitation of his
master, canied it on his back ; when, throwing the
mackintosh outside, he caused hiraself to look infinitely
ridiculous, as he was evidently oppressed by the ad
ditional covering. Day after day passed, during which
tirae a large, raisshapen, bro'wnish raass, issuing frora some
gum-trees, had delighted the native ; for he gathered as
rauch of it as he could stuff into the bags whence food
had been taken, and at night he roasted it over the fire.
It was a fungus, and excellent to the taste, without pro
ducing any ill effects. " Plenty black , fellows corae
here," said Kinchela ; " sorae coraing now'j " and Cap
tain Spencer tumed his head to look. "Are they good
fellows ? " asked he. " No, Boccolo," was the answer ;

i62 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA.
"they come to take away; make them afraid, see as if
you sleep." The travellers pretended to be ignorant of
the approach of the two men, who were evidently a
detachment frora a larger party, sent to discover the
proceedings of the strangers. When, however, they
were close by, Captain Spencer let Gipsy out of his -
arras, and shouted to her and Tiger, "Up, boys, after
them ! " The two animals rushed upon them, which
made them retreat with the most grotesque haste, and
then Captain Spencer fired over their heads. Such
vigorous proceedings prevented any further molestation.
On coming to. a rocky district, Gip uttered a cty,
which her master well knew betokened some danger;
and rushing back to him, she leaped at once into his
arms, which were always ready to receive her ; arid Kin
chela iramediately after exclaimed, " Wakeh ! " and
pointed to a huge Python, at least twelve feet long, of a
beautiful greenish-brown, with yellowish-white spots, slug
gishly uncoiling itself, and making for a tree which stood
near. Before it could reach its hiding-place, however,
Kinchela sprang forward, seized it behind the head, and
in one moraent wrung its neck. He then flung it across
his shoulders, much to the honor of Gip, who did not
look up or leave her raaster till the Python had been
skinned, cut up like an eel, and roasted, thereby yielding
an excellent supper. A certain degree of darapness
seemed to fall upon the party that night, betokening
their vicinity to the sea, and which chilled Kinchela (who
wrapped himself in his mackintosh with the air of a
general officer at least). The next day, before the sun
was high, they stood on the edge of a lofty cliff, which
overlooked the great Antarctic Ocean.

CHAPTER VIIL
HERE was something raost exhilarating in the
prospect of the broad and dancing waves
spread out before the travellers, and the feeling
of horae which they ever bring to the minds of English
men who have wandered over their surface, even in spite
of the sorrow or suffering which may be associated with
the recollection. After gazing before him for some time.
Captain Spencer thought he should now only have to
coast along the shore till he reached Adelaide, which he
knew must lie to the east of his present position. It was
evident that both Perth and King George's Sound raust
have been raissed; and as he looked right and left of
hira, he felt convinced that he was in the Bight of Aus
tralia. That look presented him with a sight even raore
grateful than the sparkling ocean, for white brethren were
near. A large vessel rode at anchor at sorae distance
from the shore ; but as she had no ensign up, he could
not tell to what nation she belonged. He took a spear
from Kinchela, tied a handkercief on the top of it,
hoisted it as high as he could, and immediately after
fired his gun. Anxiously did he await the answer to his
signal : the fire was retumed from the ship, and in a few
moments a boat was despatched frora her to the shore.
As she came near, Captain Spencer and his party de-

1 64 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
scended the cliff by a winding path, to await her ap
proach ; he forgetting the, extraordinary appearance which
he raust make, with his grass hat, cockatoo plurae,
bronzed coraplexion, long hair and beard, and patched
garments. The boat lay-to when within speaking dis
tance, and one of the crew hailed the travellers in broken
English, an air of surprise pervading the whole party.
Captain Spencer advanced to the brink of the waves,
saying that he was an officer in the East India Company's
service, who had been wrecked on the northem coast,
with his horse and dog, and had found his way through
the country to the place where he then was, which he
concluded was the southem shore, and had picked up
the native on his way. The boat after this ran upon
the beach, and a fine young man, evidently superior in
rank to the others, jumped out of her, and, touching his
cap, said he was Alexis Royer, commander of the Marie,
the whaling ship now lying in the offing ; and although
he could not speak English well, he had understood what
the officer had said, and begged to assure him that all the
assistance which he could afford was perfectly at his
service. Captain Spencer, who spoke French fluently,
gave him a rapid outline of his adventures ; and the
Frenchman entreated of him to come on board the
whaler with hira, assuring him she was his own property,
and what she contained should be devoted to his accom
modation. He added, that they were some distance from
King George's Sound ; for he entirely avoided entering
any English ports, because, while touching at Bahia on
his way, there was so strong a rumour of war being de
clared between France and England, that he feared, if
not a capture, a vexatious detention. This, however,
need not raake him a personal eneray to Captain Spencer ;

ON BOARD A WHALER, 165
and he begged for the honour of a visit frora him in the
only residence which he could offer for his accommoda
tion. The Englishman looked at Kinchela and Tiger ;
and, reading his thoughts. Captain Royer then assured
him there was plenty of room for his horse and servant,
and from the stores of the vessel he would be able to
replenish himself in all the necessaries for the remainder'
ofhis journey. The offer was very tempting ; it must be
sincere, for compliments do not often pass on such
occasions, and in such places ; and the wanderer yielded
to the prospect of enjoyment which it afforded. He
frankly accepted the proposal, and told Kinchela they were
all going on the sea. The man seemed at first to shrink
from it; but, after a moment's hesitation, he said, " Boc
colo go, Kinchela go." Just as they were about to step
into the boat, Captain Spencer said, " I have yet another
corapanion, whom I raust not leave behind ; but as he
will not take much roora, I hope you will allow rae to
bring him also.'' " Certainly,'' said Captain Royer, won
dering if it were a pet kangaroo. The Enghshman then
caUed "Charlie! Charlie !" and uttered a peculiar whistle
to which he had accustoraed the bird ; and in a minute
he flew rapidly from the cliff, and perched on his master's
shoulder, saying, "I'm coraing; here's Charlie!" "I
should have been sorry,'' said the Frenchman, smUing,
" to have left out such an interesting portion of your
company ; " and they entered the boat — Tiger creating
much astonishment by the dexterous manner in whicii he
not only stepped on board, but contentedly resigned him
self to the hoisting up by the side of the vessel. As to
Kinchela, the sea was smooth, and he was delighted ;
much more so, however, when he was invited to partake
of a good dinner.

1 66 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
The conversation of the French captain and his chief
officer, the accommodations of the Marie, the knowledge
of time, and the civUized occupations of those about hira,
raade a happy break in the hard faring, rude life of the
soldier ; and he was surprised to find how short a period
had been consumed in coming from the scene of his mis
fortune, for it seemed to him an age since he had begun
to traverse the continent ; and he was also surprised at
having made so much more easting than could have
entered his calculations. He now found that, in about
another month, according to the ideas of one accustomed
to the regularity of Indian seasons, the rain would corae,
and then he might not be able to travel. Captain Royer,
in his uncertainty as to the relative position of their two
countries, could not take him to Adelaide, had he been
so inclined ; and therefore he determined to start again
after a week of indulgence; besides which, he felt that it
would be dangerous to linger among those decencies of
life which a well-ordered vessel of any nation presents ;
and that the longer he stayed in agreeable society, the
less should he be inclined to launch again into the wilder
ness. His kind host insisted on his accepting a new suit
of clothes from his own wardrobe; and, being tall and
slight, they fitted well enough to be perfectly comfortable.
There was no spare flesh on Captain Spencer's bones,
but muscles were hardened and developed, so that he
well filled the loose garments of the sailor. The delight
of wearing shirts was inconceivable ; the luxury of soap,
for which he had so long beeri obliged to substitute sand,
was indescribable ; and well-trimmed hair, and a portion
of the beard properly taken away, instead of being cut
with a knife, made him feel as well as look quite another
man ; the more particularly as the carefully-reserved cap

CURIOUS CLIFFS. 167
was taken frora the knapsack, and worn instead of the
grass hat
The next day Captain Spencer was taken to land to
see the garden which had been formed under the brow of
one of the cliffs, by the side of a small stream of fresh
water, which proceeded from a fissure in the rock. It
was a rich piece of sloping ground, as if the good soil
from the top of the chff had been washed on to it ; and
it was planted with a variety of European vegetables,
which were calculated not only to give enjoyment, but to
contribute to health, during the raany weeks the Marie
was likely to continue in that spot. When they heard of
all the animals which were to be killed inland, many
evinced a desire to procure fresh raeat; but Captain
Spencer could not help observing how much better the
French vessel was found in what are called preserved
meats than those of his own country, by which means the
whole crew were fed with fresh rations once in every
week. It was during this excursion to the shore that
Captain Spencer saw the remarkable appearance of net
work on the face of the cliffs, which has been reported by
raany navigators, and which he at first supposed had
arisen frora the interlacing of fossilized branches or roots
of trees, but which, on examination, he now found to
arise from some peculiar cause in the formation of the
sand and lime of which they were composed, and con
nected with the washing of rains. Beautifully-coloured
shells lay upon the shore, which he gathered for the
collection of Captain Royer.
It was proposed, to the Englishman to take away with
him a few of the Madagascar sheep from Captain Royer's
stock, which would make a certain store of provisions ;
but he refused, thinking that, with only Kinchela to take

i68 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
care of them, they might prove an incumbrance, and it
was better to depend on themselves for food. Some
pieces of beef and pork, however, were hung up to dry,
that they might have some sort of supply. As to Kin
chela, he did not give one thought to the future. He
could not understand a word which was said to him by
the Frenchraen, but the abundance of the present
moraent was a source of sufficient happiness ; and the
raen, finding him to be insatiable, araused themselves by
cramming him until he was alraost unable to attend in
the cabin, where his master requested he might be
admitted at the hours of repast, that he raight form some
notion of knives, forks, spoons, and other etceteras.
No spirits were given, by the especial order of both
captains. The whalers rose before dawn every morning, and
went out in the boats to a considerable distance in order
to look for whales, which one of the men, who had been
experienced in the northern fisheries, said were of a dif
ferent species to those known in Europe. The parties,
however, were not successful during the visit of the
travellers, for the season was but little advanced. They
returned very early one morning, and reported that a
large whale had been cast ashore, probably killed by
sorae of its ocean brethren, and that a numerous party of
natives had gathered round it, and were busy eating and
devouring every morsel through which they could get
their teeth ; that the beacon-fires which had been lighted
above they supposed were signals, for they had seen
several other parties arrive, and they must have been
at work all night. It was on the other side of a proraon
tory, which hid them from the ship; and as it was a
curious sight, they thought Captain Royer and the

NATIVES AND WHALE. 169
English captain would like to witness it, and had there
fore retumed. They could land on the near side of the
bluff, and ascending the heights, unknown to the Austra
lians, look down upon them without their being conscious
of the vicinity of white men.
The two gentlemen armed themselves, and started ;
and a small gun was put into the boat, with which their
retreat might be covered in case of a hostile attack. Gip
was reconciled to be left behind, by ordering her to lie
upon and guard some of her master's clothes ; whUe
Kinchela, tossing his head, thought himself too well off
to eat whale.
The party proceeded, and lying flat down on the
cliffs, as Captain Spencer had done on a former occasion,
they beheld a vety large body of natives assembled with
their wives and children, most of them apparently in high
spirits and good humour. Some were rubbing them
selves, their wives and children, all over with the blubber;
others were employed in dividing the huge morsels of
flesh severed from the bones into smaller pieces, and
handing these to the women to broil upon the large fires
which they had kmdled around them, and who cramraed
pieces into their mouths, and those of their children,
which they pinched off from the quantity given by the
men. The whale was already becoming putrid ; but
they seemed regardless of this, and set aside large lumps
to be carried away when they went inland. They had
made their entrance into the body, whence issued grace
ful-looking young girls reeking with oil, and reeling from
over-eating. A few were lying upon the ground quite
overcome by their excesses ; and two or three others, ill-
tempered from indigestion, struck their wives and quar
relled with their corapanions ; and many started with

170 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
loads to be carried to a distance, which left a train of bad
odour as they passed along. " It is as well to see such a
sight," said Captain Spencer, " as exemplifying the man
ners of the people ; but I have no desire to behold it
a second time. If you have seen enough, let us go."
Captain Royer gladly assented, saying, " Think what it
raust be to come near those people for the next month."
They returned, and the Englishman tried to forget his
disgust in the perusal of the newspapers brought out by
the Marie, and which led hira back to European history.
Some of the natives afterwards paid a visit to the ship on
their rafts, and their presence induced Captain Spencer
to prolong his stay for a few days that they might leave
the neighbourhood before he ventured into it They
were surprised at seeing Kinchela, and were vety curious
to know why he was there, and where he was going ; but
he very prudently gave them as little information as
possible. Two woollen shirts were given to Kinchela ; Tiger's
saddle was newly stuffed and repaired, and the blacksmith
of the Marie offered to make him new shoes ; but his
master thought it better he should go on without them,
as extra sets would be cumbersome to cany, and one
set would not probably last for the rest of the joumey.
The shattered tarpaulin was replaced by a large new
piece ; the tin cans were well examined, and as they gave
signs of wearing out, were exchanged for new ones ; and
everything that could be thought of, as afforded by the
vessel, was pressed upon the traveller. Captain Spencer
had several pieces of gold (Indian currency), and these
he offered in payment for some gaily-coloured handker
chiefs and knives, which he selected as presents for the
natives ; but Captain Royer said everything in the ship

NEW OUTFITTING. 171
was his own, and therefore Captain Spencer need not
hesitate in making use of them, or anything else. A
pair of scissors, to cut the beard and whiskers, corapleted
the generous Frenchman's thoughtful attentions. Kin
chela's ambition was further gratified by a leathern belt,
which he put outside his shirt, and in which he stuck the
knife which had been given to hira ; but a difficulty arose
as to how he was to convey the other shirt and the valu
able pieces of crystal. The sailors wanted to throw the
latter away ; but he looked in such an agony when they
took them up, that they asked his master why he set so
much store by them. Captain Spencer repeated their
question to Kinchela, on which he, in a solemn whisper,
and with a piteous look, requested him to tell thera that
they were to keep off the boyl-yas. The shout with
which they received the explanation seemed to frighten
more than create vexation. He settled his difficulties by
¦wrapping them in his spare shirt, and tying thera round
his body next his skin. Captain Royer accepted the
opossum cloak in exchange for one of his own, and his
mate received that of Kinchela. The address of Captain
Spencer's agent in India, and that of the Frenchman in
his o^vn country, were carefully noted, that intelligence
of their mutual adventures might be given to eacli other,
and the parting hour anived. Captain Royer offered to
exchange watches, because his guest's had ceased to be
of service ; but the latter declined this accommodation,
saying he had now so long been without, that a time
keeper was not necessary. The fire-arms were cleaned,
the ammunition put into new water-proof bags, and Gip,
Tiger, and Charlie received many farewell caresses from
their good friends. The Englishman shook hands with
all the men, in which he was gravely imitated by Kin-

172 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
chela. He thanked them for all their kindness, and
hoped they never would look upon him, though an
Englishraan, as an eneray. The boat was ready, and the
travelling party entered it, Captain Royer accompanying
thera. On the shore his feehngs overcame him ; and
although he knew it to be wholly un-English, he, with
tears in his eyes, put his arms round his friend's neck
and kissed each cheek, without the power to say farewell.
The land travellers ascended the cliff, and the searaen
fired a gun, which sent a booming adieu across the
waters. Rocky land caused Captain Spencer to leave the
close vicinity of the sea, and he plunged into the sea of
scrub instead, the intricacies of which seemed only to
deepen the regret he felt at quitting his generous friend.
He noted the hour and the day in a precious little
almanack given to him by the Frenchman, and in his
memory treasured the last twelve days with ineffaceable
gratitude. A sandy country succeeded the scrub, thickly
strewn with a plant which Captain Spencer at first, from
its appearance, imagined to be heath ; but it was an
Epacris, not quite so difficult to traverse as the Atriplex,
but still fatiguing to those who had been so long at rest
Plenty of Grass-trees grew araongst it, and it was arausing
to see how Kinchela now disdained thera. The only
one of the party in whose opinion the change was
pleasant was Tiger, to whom the absence of exercise had
been anything but enjoyment No wonder then that he
frolicked, even with his load on his back ; and so frisky
was he, that, when unburdened at night, he took it into
his head to run after Kinchela, which corapletely undid
the littie progress he had raade towards farailiarity on
board ship ; and the man again feared to trust himself in

NATIVE SUPERSTITIONS. 173
the vicinity of so marvellous a creature. Charlie took
the change as matter of course ; and having added
French to his accomplishments, said, as he flew away to
get his supper, " Bon voyage. Monsieur de Mallet" '
The next day the party came to a chain of pools, at
which they slaked their thirst, and disturbed several
Wallabies frora the surrounding grass. They picked
their way across the rocky bed, and then arrived at a
region of Gum-trees, Banksias, and Kingias ; and follow
ing the course of the channel with the eye, they saw afar
off some sloping banks of moist herbage, towards which
Tiger mshed in rather an outrageous manner ; but after
taking a few mouthfuls of it, he trotted back to his
master, and thrusting his nose into his neck, seemed to
ask forgiveness for his frolic. The next reraarkable
feature of the country was a salt-water river, where
oysters and cockles were so plentiful that they stopped
there to collect some. Kinchela, however, would not
eat the former ; and when asked why, he said it was
" Kobong," and he must not. He could not clearly
explain this ; but his master understood that it was some
native law. Kinchela said he never had eaten what was
Kobong but once, and that was the first Emu which had
been killed, because he was so vety hungty. None but
old men and old gins ought to eat it, and he hoped the
boyl-yas would not eat him in consequence. That was
one reason why he was so careful to keep his crystals.
His raaster could not help smiling, in spite of the raelan
choly reflection that a whole nation of human beings had
no other religion, as far as he could understand, and in
place of it such puerile or absurd superstitions.
' Alluding to a French farce, in which is a traveller of that
name, and which supplied this cant phrase to the sailors.

174 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
After passing a poor and unfertile district on the
other side of the salt river, the travellers found them
selves in a deep ravine, where there was a fair portion of
grass ; but high, rocky cliffs were on the farther side;
formed chiefly of mica slate, about which hovered raany
beautiful Pigeons, raaking a whining noise. Here they
carae to the pretty little plant called Drosera, and the
large Fishing Eagle flew over their heads, wending its
way to the sea. Some brackish water lay in this ravine ;
and a huge greyish Horse-fly abounded near them, with
an immense proboscis, and not only worried Tiger exceed
ingly, but penetrated through the clothing of the two raen.
A kind of Cranberry ' crept along the ground, the acid
berries of which, being quite ripe, were very agreeable to
eat. A beautiful Butterfly constantly flew past thera,
covered with red and yellow spots.^ The brackish water
becarae a lake farther on in the ravine, where Captain
Spencer shot a Swan and two Ducks ; he did not aim at
the Pelicans. And then they came upon a gura scrub,'
where there were so many fallen trees, that poor Tiger
became breathless in scrambling over them, for it was
impossible to leap with a load on his back. Night fell
before they could get half through it ; and cutting down
some bushes to raake a fire, they found a soft, short
herbage underneath ; and, tired as he was. Captain
Spencer cleared a space sufficient to yield a plentiful
meal for Tiger. He was turned into it, and supped
while the others partook of the garae ¦which had Jjeen
kUled. Kinchela eraulated his prowess on board the
Marie, arid was sitting in a half-sleeping state over the
embers of the fire, when by the bright moonlight he saw
' Astroloma Ettmifusum. " Aganippe.
' Eucalyptus dumosa.

KINCHELA'S EXCESS, 175
a large Kangaroo.' The animal seemed to be so perfectly
unconscious of the presence of strangers, that they easily
crept softly behind a tree at some little distance, and
waited for its approach. Gip was held, to keep her from
it ; and as all were tired, and ammunition was plentiful,
Captain Spencer said he would shoot it; and the dis
charge of one barrel brought it to the ground.
Whether it arose from a longing for his native food,
or whether it was a fit of genuine gluttony, awakened as
this propensity had been of late, it was iraposslble to
say; but Kinchela now said he was vety hungry and
tired, and raust eat a great deal. His raaster, rather
provoked by his greediness, replied that he might eat
the whole kangaroo if he pleased, and laid himself down.
The Australian took out the inside of the kangaroo, and
cut off the two hind legs. He renewed the fire, cooked
them, and devoured them. He then laid himself down
again. In about two hours his master heard him fidget
ing, and asked what was the matter. He replied that he
was hungry, and he then ate the fore-legs and the tail.
Captain Spencer slept tUl morning; and great was his
astonishment then to find that not a vestige of the kan
garoo was left except the skin and bones. Kinchela had
eaten the whole. When he was told to get up and light
a fire, he was cross ; said he was in pain, that he walked
too much, and had a burning throat ; but he neverthe
less swallowed a piece of swan. Not doubting the cause
of his illness, and telling him to lie down again and
and go to sleep. Captain Spencer quietly resigned him
self to the delay this occasioned ; for it was useless to
attempt to go ori tUl Kinchela had recovered the effects
of his excess. He rather blaraed himself for giving him
' Macropus halmaturus.

176 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
leave to eat a whole kangaroo ; and made a vow that he
would never again offer hira any such licence. He
cleared another space for Tiger, and wandered about,
wheri his attention was attracted by the beautiful red
blossora of the Clianthus formosa ; by a creeping plant
like a large, bright scarlet Vetch, with a purple centre ;
and Tiger found a blue, succulent Geranium in an old
water-course, which he ate with avidity. A stunted tree,
with a sraall fruit looking like a russet apple, hanging in
bunches at the end of the lesser ' branches, afforded,
within the rough rind, a large stone sunounded by a
pulpy substance ; and a white fluid issued from the
branches when they were broken. A flight of birds like
Landrails flew over his head, and were succeeded by
hundreds of Hawks, which sent Charlie back, calling out,
" Great rogues, Ned Spencer ! " Pretty Everlastings '
grew in the driest places, while the fragrant Jasmine hung
its festoons over the bushes.
At length Kinchela recovered, and his raaster tried to
raake hira sensible of his fault by pointing out the con
sequences ; but all he could get from him was, that he
had been very happy ; and they again started, in order to
mount the cliffs. On crossing to them they met -with a
sottish white substance which Captain Spencer had often
seen before, and which Kinchela now told him was white
paint. On examining it, he ascertained that it was pipe
clay, which seemed to abound in evety part of the
country. On the level ground at the top of the cliffs the soil
was very sterile, and the party again turned to the sea, in
the hope of finding water, which trickled from the cliffs ;
and after passing along their high ancl precipitate edges,
' Gnaphalium spicidatum.

THEY FIND A WELL. 177
they found a path used by the natives, at the end of
which was a well dug by thera in the sand with raore
than usual skill. Instead of being a mere hole, it was
quite round, two feet in diameter, dug straight down, and
from fourteen to fifteen feet deep ; it had a good supply
of water, and was fed by drippings from the sock. When
they took the stones from the mouth, however, the
EngUshman recoiled from it with disgust for a large
bro-wn snake was li-ving in it Kinchela, nevertheless,
tossed it out, kiUed it, and then drank with eagemess ;
but his master caught the rock-drippings for his own
refi-eshment. On the shore they found plenty of Peri
winkles,^ which not being Kobong, were eaten by Kin
chela, who, with his spear, vety cleverly managed to
catch several of the fishes which frequent those seas.
Captain Spencer helped with his hook and line ; and
they remained there a day or two to take advantage of
the supply. The Banacoota and a Platycephalus were
speared by Kinchela ; and his master caught a fish which
resembled a Whiting in appearance.'' A spotted Sole^
was secured by the native with his toes, as he walked in
a small, shallow bay, as well as the sluggish Jewfish ; *
but he abhoned the Ostracion, the Sting-ray,^ and a sort
of green Skate." Besides these was a very clear, delicate
fish, with transparent fins,' which was good eating. There
were two species of Shark which the Enghshman had
not before seen; and Mackerel was so plentiful, that a
store was dried and carried away. Gip lived on fish as
weU as her master; but after this rest, during which
Tiger ate meal, the cans were fiUed, and they departed
' Turbo. " Sillago punctata. ^ Platessa.
* Cheilodactylus corponenius. " Urolophus.
' Flatyrhina. "> Cristiceps. N

178 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
along shore till a bold headland forced them to go up
again. Just as they were about to turn off, they were
suddenly arrested by a sound of soft, low music. They
listened ; looked for the person who produced it ; no one
was to be seen. It seeraed to corae from a large log of
wood lying on the shore; and Captain Spencer, on
examining it, found it full of the boring worm caUed
Teredo ; and there could be no doubt that from it came
the vibration which produced the tones. They were so
pleasing, that the Englishman was unwilling to leave
them. The cliffs "had presented sand and limestone, with
indications of iron in the former, and granite in the
latter. In the first were some fossil shells, of which
Captain Spencer vainly endeavoured to ascertain the
genus. As they went on, they met wdth salt pools, and
digging near them, found brackish but drinkable water ;
and salsolaceous plants' began to appear. The pretty
pink-flowered Mesembryantheraum existed in large
patches, and as the tips of the leaves were turning red,
Kinchela said the fruit was ripe ; and gathering a quan
tity of it, they stopped a day to dty it in the sun, that it
might form a relish for future meals. Tiger deUghted in
it, leaves as well as fruit.
Fires of native encampments were seen at a distance ;
but Kinchela said he did not know " those fellows," and
they had " mock ears and wooden foreheads ; and it was
better not to go near them." Whole acres of fragrant
Clematis and bright GreviUea flung themselves across
the scrub, and in sandy places the Eryngium showed
itself When they came to a swarapy plain, a bulbous
root, which Kinchela called BalUlah, was abundant ; and
' Nitraria Australis.

FRUITS AND PLANTS. 179
so good to eat, that they took some on with thera. A
beautiful Fusanus, twelve feet high, appeared again ; and
surrounding the fruit of it with flour-and-water paste, in
the manner of a turnover. Captain Spencer made so good
an imitation of a tart, that Kinchela was delighted. A
berty, called by the native Eutopko, grew on a low,
creeping, tap-rooted plant among the salsolaceous plains,
which were, no doubt, swamps in wet weather, with
bushes of Polygonum. Its leaves were soft, like velvet ;
and the beny of it was so small, that Kinchela cut a tray
of bark from a stunted Gum-tree at a little distance, and
lifting the plant over it, shook the fruit off the stalks.
This being done, he next shook the tray, that the dirt
raight fly off ; and in this raanner collected a supply of it
for days. Other benies, of an acid flavour, were raet
with; but sorae which looked beautiful were bitter and
nauseous. Large and beautiful Correas appeared. There
was a Cassia, with pods a foot and a half long, and seeds
surrounded by a spongy tissue; but Captain Spencer
knew the nature of Cassias too well to venture to taste
the seeds. Kinchela, however, swallowed thera with
impunity? Then came a profusion of Pitcher-plants, the
pitchers of which contained a quantity of discoloured
water, and drowned ants and other insects which Charhe
ate with pleasure, tearing off the lids or opercula with his
beak. There were plenty of reptiles ; and one snake had
swaUowed a bird, which stuck out like a lurap in its
body: Kinchela said that it clirabed trees and robbed
birds' nests. Some black ants bit them severely; and
then Captain Spencer advised Kinchela to save the skin
of the next kangaroo which they kUled, to make socks
of; but he was not in the least abashed at the recoUec-

i8o ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
tion ofhis gluttony. Of one ofthe snakes the Australian
had ah intense honor ; its head was a shining black, the
back was of a rich deep brown and orange, and he said
a man must die if bitten by it. If Boccolo killed it, he
could not eat it ; but if he kUled it hiraself, it was very
good for him. He accordingly demolished it by smashing
its skull with a stone, and his master was surprised that
he appeared to be ignorant of the Indian method of
disabling the reptUe by crushing or severing the taU. He
examined the fangs, found that there were two on each
side, and that they turned inwards.
Numbers of Wallabies lived among the Mesembtyan-
themums ; Bitterns ' and Cranes were heard at night,
whUe the Mosquitoes kept them awake ; Gulls flew
round them ; and what Kinchela caUed a Bidgerigung ^
passed from the north in a straight line, was of a bright
yellow and black, and had blue spots on each cheek.
With it was the Panakeet,^ which always keeps its crest
erect, of grey, white, and sulphur-coloured plumage, and
in the centre of a yeUow patch on each cheek was a
scarlet spot.
Wombats, the size of Badgers, and tasting like young
pork, with the usual supply of animal food, were to be
had for the kiUing; and they marched on, Kinchela
being narrowly watched for fear he should again commit
any excess. The opossum skins were never destroyed
by cooking the aniraal in them, but were left gradually to
accuraulate till enough w^ere saved to replace the cloaks
left on board the Marie.
Whole districts of Melaleuca seemed to be a fevourite
resort of the said Opossums ; and it was amusing to see
' Ardetta flavicollis. ' Jf/clopsittacus undulatus.
^ Nymphicus.

SUPPLY OF ROCK COD. i8i
how eagerly Gip raounted these trees in pursuit of thera,
if they were in the least out of the perpendicular, often
preceding Kinchela; and how knowingly she looked
at him when she knew he alone could chmb the upright
trunk. The travellers still descended occasionally to the
shore, where they caught crabs, which fought vigorously
with one claw, while with the others they endeavoured to
get away, and, when the ground permitted, made a
pirouette and disappeared. Gip could not help pur
suing them, but was much afraid of her nose ; and her
frequent astonishment at their sudden disappearance was
quite laughable. Charlie's favourite language was still
French, which made Kinchela vety angry.
Here they saw Penguins and Seals, the latter of
which Kinchela wanted to kill and eat ; but his master
would not suffer him to do so. They one day came to
so plentiful a supply of Rock Cod, and water ran so
freely from the rocks, that they made a halt ; and, as
usual, Kinchela ate till he could not move. Captain
Spencer knew he would have done so with the seals, and
the quality of that food would have made him perfectly
unbearable. When he had recovered a little, his master,
while he attended to dtying the fish, despatched him and
Tiger to the land above ; the one to get animal and the
other vegetable food. Kinchela went unwillingly, how
ever; and the horse retumed first, trotting up to his
master, and neighing with fun in a very significant
manner. Captain Spencer did not quite understand this,
but went on with his occupation. In about an hour
after, Kinchela came back, looking very much out of
humour; and when he saw Tiger, he muttered something
to hiraself, and throwing a load of game upon the ground

i82 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
sank down by it in a fit of sulkiness. Captain Spencer
thought it better not to notice him, and, tuming his back,
went on with his occupation. In about half an hour the
native exclaimed, " Kinchela bring plenty to eat, Boccolo
Sahib not look." This was quite a new feature in the
man's character, and showed how he had been spoiled
by the sailors ; so, turning to hira, his raaster endeavoured
to reason with hira. But all the time he was speaking
the native cast furtive glances at Tiger ; and he saw
there was something passing in the raan's raind which he
did not express. At last, on trying to penetrate the
raystery, he found that Kinchela had tried to make Tiger
carry the load for him ; but when he was going to place
it on his back, the animal started and ran away, and,
added the raan, "he is a vety bad dog." "This is
something gained," thought Captain Spencer; "he no
longer thinks Tiger a sorcerer j" and then he endea
voured to convince Kinchela that the horse did not know
he was to obey anybody except his master. " Gip does
what Kinchela says," was the reply; " and Gip is a dog.
Tiger is a dog ; why not know as weU as Gip ? " " He
is getting on," said the Enghshman to himself; "he
begins to reason, and it is better not to attempt too
much at once ; I shall leave hira to indulge in the belief
that Tiger is a dog." And he ended the dialogue by
ordering him to cook and prepare the animals which he
had speared or knocked on the head.
It was with the greatest difficulty that Captain
Spencer prevented Kinchela frora again eating too much ;
and as it was, he fell back and slept They travelled
on the next day, ascending the cliffs, and descending to
the shore, where they were raore Ukely to meet with
native weUs. Here they found some beautiful shells,

CHANGES OF TEMPERATURE. 183
PateUse and Phasianellas, and the cliffs were often cora
posed of grey granite. The changes of temperature
were frequent, and in one hour there would be a differ
ence of several degrees. One evening they were assailed
by a hea^vy sea-fog, which caused them to shiver and feel
very uncomfortable. Captain Spencer covered them all
and himself with the cloaks and tarpauling ; and Charlie,
like all pretenders, misapplied his knowledge sadly as he
crept under the covering, and said, "J'ai chaud, Ned
Spencer." After this Kinchela seeraed to be incessantly
fatigued ; the horse and dog no lohger made excursions
of their own, but followed soberly in their raaster's
tracks ; moreover, Gip often asked to be carried. Cap
tain Spencer himself felt an indescribable languor creep
ing over hira ; and thinking that that damp night and
the continued reflection of warm air from the cliffs had
engendered a certain portion of fever, he deemed it
advisable to leave the immediate vicinity of the sea, and
go more inland for the sake of a drier atmosphere. His
compass, he flattered himself, was regular in its raove
ments, and that there would be no difficulty in keeping
the proper direction for Adelaide. He iraraediately
chose the first accessible part of the cliff, by which Tiger
mounted with his load; and, all things secured, they
started early in the morning, and were saluted on their
anival above by the odour of the Clematis, and a number
of Gura-trees in the distance.

CHAPTER IX.

OOR Tiger was henceforth obliged to content
himself with dry and withered grass ; for the
Xanthorrhoeae and Kingn were getting vety
scarce, and nothing seeraed to offer itself as a likely sub
stitute. The young shoots of trees were occasionally
boiled for him when there was water; but those of the
Gura-trees turned black on being so treated, and then
his master feared to give thera to him. Digging holes in
the sand of dried beds generally yielded some liquid ;
but never, unless it was a large pool, did Captain Spencer
enjoy the luxuty of water ablution. On one occasion,
however, he was disappointed even of this ; for, just as
he had walked in up to the knees, he saw the water full
of small brown leeches ; so that he was forced to raake
his escape as quickly as possible with bleeding legs.
Sand-rubbing, in the Arab fashion, was therefore resuraed,
and dry enough it was to scrub very hard; and there
was no moisture in his skin to soften it, as is generally
the case when drought is coming on in this countiy.
When the diggings began to fail, he felt great alarm ; and
whole tracts of Spinifex increased poor Tiger's difficulties.
Gip profited much by the smaller animals in it; and
Kinchela, who was fast recovering his former good
temper and activity, still kept up his spirits. He told

SCARCITY OF WATER. 185
his master that he could get him plenty of meal ; and he
gathered the seeds of the witiiered grass,' which was
almost too dry for the horse, separated them from the
husks and pounded them; or he took the bark of the
Gum-trees, and roasted and crushed that, which was a
little bitter, nevertheless palatable. "It will make us
strong," said Captain Spencer. " Yes," replied the man ;
" black feUow eat nothing else for long time." On the
follo'wing day there was no water to moisten the meal ;
and Kinchela found a tree with large excrescences. He
tapped each, and listened ; stuck his knife into one, and
from it issued a quantity of fluid, which answered the
.puipose. It was rather bitter ; nevertheless Tiger drank
it ; but he seemed to consider that that master who had
hitherto supphed all his wants, no longer obeyed his
request for drink. Two days had passed without liquid
of any sort ; but towards evening a flight of black Cocka
toos and other birds passed over their heads from the
north, and descended to the ground at a little distance.
"Boccolo, see those birds," said the native; "they
always go down and find water; we find some too." He
and his master started with cans and skins, and on
arriving where the Cockatoos had alighted in numbers,
they perceived a native well, carefully covered over with
stones, Gip was only too happy to help frighten away
the Cockatoos, and Charlie fought with two or three who
were more bold than the others ; so that they were all
kept at bay while Captain Spencer removed the stones.
The water was green and rauddy, but Tiger and Gip
were glad of it ; then came Kinchela's turn to be served,
and but a cupful remained for their master. Some of
the birds were kUled for eating, and the rest took flight
' Panicum Icevinode.

1 86 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
with loud screeches. The stones were replaced, and it
was hoped that water would drain in before morning. A
raere drop was obtained, in which Charlie was allowed to
dip his bill once or twice ; the rest was bestowed on the
four-footed beasts.
The route was more and more difficult, and the
travellers proceeded slowly through a monotonous but
hard sort of scrub, formed of Rhagodia, in which they
saw raany Pigeons, which had crept under the bushes,
apparently in the course of their migration from the
north, and some of which they secured. That night they
all lay down to rest without a drop of moisture for their
parched throats ; and Tiger crept close up to his master,
and laid his head upon his shoulder, as if he knew the
serious alarm which that master felt for his dear horse,
and wished to console him. In the raorning Kinchela
begged him to take his glass and mount a hill at some
little distance, and "look for much tree." Captain
Spencer obeyed, and did see a long range of Gum-trees,
the news of which was joyfully received by the native ;
and he entreated his master to let them all go there and
look for water. Tiger was stiff and languid, but he
roused hiraself at words which he had seldora disobeyed,
and slowly followed to the trees. On arriving, they
proved to be Eucalypti ; and asking for the spade, Kin
chela quickly ran from one to the other, as if to select
the best He stopped at one that was large and healthy,
to all appearance ; he dug at a few feet distance from the
trunk, and came to some ofthe lateral roots ; he laid them
bare ; and breaking one on the side next the tree, he
lifted up the root, and his raaster helped him to take
several feet of it out of the soil ; he then divided it into
pieces from six to eight inches long, shook one into the

THE EUCALYPTIC ROOi: 187
can, and water came out of it, spreading like a fan ; the
others he placed in the cans, and the liquid freely ran
from them. The moment he saw the drops issue.
Captain Spencer seized one of the pieces and held it
in Tiger's mouth, every part of which was moistened ;
and he ended by munching the root with great satisfac
tion. Gip had a piece thro'wn to her with an order to
eat it ; and she with delight lay down on the ground with
it between her paws, and sucked out the refreshing fluid.
In a quarter of an hour a quart had exuded frora the
different pieces of root, and then Tiger had a long drink ;
and as he enjoyed it, he turned his large expressive eyes
on his master with a look of affectionate gratitude.
"Boccolo take spade and stop here," said Kinchela;
" get plenty of water to go on ; " and this was not to spare
himself, for he dug at the same tirae with a sharp-pointed
stick. On going to younger trees, he took up sorae of
their roots, peeled off the bark, put them in hot ashes till
they were crisp, pounded them between two stones, and
made thera into excellent raeal, whicfi reminded the
European of the taste of malt. Then did he entirely
rejoice in the presence of Kinchela, which, when dis
gusted with his gluttony, he had occasionally regretted ;
for these resources raust have reraained hidden frora a
stranger ; and even when Kinchela again trespassed be
yond the bounds of raoderation, the recollection of the
Gura-trees procured his forgiveness. The discovety
revived his cheerful anticipations, and gaily did he start
again with full cans and skins ; for he hoped they should
be able to travel from one set of trees to another, and
never again know privation.
How fallacious the hopes of Captain Spencer were,
was proved by the increasing scarcity of the Eucalypti ;

1 88 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
the sarae sufferings recurred, and were again endured
with patience. Tiger was the chief anxiety ; and there
were times when the poor beast laid himself down as if
he scarcely seemed to care whether he ever got up again.
Now and then Charlie also seemed to suffer, and ap
peared exhausted, as if he had flown far in search of
water and had not found it; then he would say, his
master having once uttered the epithet on such an
occasion, " Here's Charlie, poor fellow ! Boccolo Sahib,
Ned Spencer, poor fellow ! poor fellow ! " He must,
however, frequently have been able to drink when they
were destitute of the life-supporting liquid.
They came to a large open scrub without a sign of a
hill or a tree, and Captain Spencer looked round him
with a heavy foreboding. A hot withering wind blew
from the interior. " This cannot have come across a
sea," said he to himself. The ground was so scorchingly
hot, that the horse, when he stood still, pawed the ground
to find a place under the surface which would be cooler
for His feet. Tiraber had been there, but it was now
fallen and was dead. The scrub was dry and brittle,
and sharp pieces of flint lay upon the soil. Know
ing that natives much frequented these places for the
sake of the Wallabies, Opossums, and small Kangaroos
in them, when he had resigned his portion of water to
the others, and covered the baggage with the tarpauling.
Captain Spencer determined that Gip should lie on the
open ground, that she might be alive to the least sound
which might foretell danger. All, however, was perfectly
quiet, and the party slept soundly till about an hour
before sunrise ; then Kinchela started up and awakened
his master, exclaiming, " Up, Boccolo, up ; get water !
^Vhen sun comes, aU gone 1 " At this welcome sound,

A DEAF ADDER. .189
Captain Spencer was on his feet in an instant; and
following the instractions of Kinchela, he, with a wisp of
dried grass, swept large drops of dew from off the bushes
and long grass into the cans, and was surprised to see
how rapidly it accumulated, and the quantity which they
collected. " Quick, Boccolo ! quick ! " said Kinchela,
"sun coming." And he was right; directly the sun
shone above the horizon, the dew disappeared as if by
magic. This discovety again seemed to take a load
from the Englishman's heart, and he cheerfully thought :
These are the secrets of the desert; and this is how
wUd men are able to travel through these arid regions,
and pass over hundreds of mUes without finding a pool
or spring. He, however, soon came to a stUl more
desert region, and entirely passed the limits of that belt
of vegetation which surrounds the banen waste in the
interior of this mysterious land, and which seemed to be
vety narrow on the southern side. As he walked on
that day, Kinchela suddenly caught him by the ann and
dragged hira on one side; for on the spot where he
would next have trod lay an Adder, more than two feet
long, and beautifully marked— this was a Deaf Adder. It
was quite quiet, and Gip had passed wide of it, and so
escaped alarm. Kinchela told him that if he had touched
it, it would have sprang upon him, and if bitten, he must
have died immediately.
The dog and horse were renovated by the collection
of dew ; and then came the consideration whether they
should or should not advance into the sandy hills, which
now lay before them, and were most unpromising,
rising like dead brick walls in the field of the telescope.
They appeared to be of vast extent ; and no dew was
left: would it be better to traverse thera at once, or

I90 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
await the chance of another dew, for these blessings
were not of nightly occurrence? They decided on
going on ; and a second dew did come, where there was
neither grass nor bushes on which it could rest ; and
then it struck Captain Spencer that he might catch it by
spreading out the tarpauling, and laying over it the
handkerchiefs and linen which had been given to him by
Captain Royer, the latter of which he had not worn
while travelling. This was put in practice every night,
and they were more than once saturated with dew, were
wrung into the cans, and afforded a mouthful or two to
those who most wanted drink.
The travellers were now encircled by a region of
sand-ridges, without a blade of grass, or a small aniraal
for Gip's dinner ; and late at night they sank down, over
come with thirst and fatigue. In the night, Captain
Spencer was restless and feverish, and almost mechanic
ally rose to examine the linen outside the tarpauling. He
drew one of the handkerchiefs to his mouth, sucked it,
and was refreshed. An ample supply was afforded in
the morning, and they all started with tolerable corafort ;
it was, however, the last time that the blessing was vouch
safed. They mounted a ridge of sand, which lay before
thera ; and to their great surprise, a broad sheet of water,
extending nearly north and south, lay before them, — not
fresh, however, for the deep indigo-blue of its colour too
plainly indicated its saline nature. The telescope told
that far to the north it inclined towards the east " Did
it reach towards the sea on the south ? " asked Captain
Spencer of the native ; " was it a large arm of the ocean,
or a lake ? " Kinchela did not know, but pointing to
the north, said, " Vety bad countty up there ; nothing to
eat, nothing to drink. Kinchela (for he generally put

./.V ARID REGION. 191
himself first), Boccolo, Gip, go back to find big tree,
make boat, and go away far, far ; but big dog not can go
in boat." By this his master supposed he meant a canoe
of the Eucalyptus bark, and knew well that Tiger, with
all his cleverness, could not cross in so fragile a convey
ance ; and he assured the native, that if it were to save
his life he would not leave Tiger behind ; but he might
go if he pleased. Kinchela shook his head, and said,
" Not can go." Fortunately the lake was frequented by
wild-fowl of various species, which afforded a supply of
food. Fresh water was the difficulty, and digging in the
neighbourhood only produced brine. It was fortunate
that none of.the party were aware at that tirae that they
had at least three hundred railes to go before they could
get rid of that lake, and a terrific desert to cross on the
way ; for although Kinchela had some idea of it, he could
not measure the extent of the evUs which awaited them.
With such a certainty in prospect. Captain Spencer would
probably have turned back to the west, and once more
endeavoured to reach one of the settleraents of that
coast He now, however, was as anxious to proceed
rapidly as he had before been inclined to take raatters
leisurely. He determined from that tirae, with Kinchela
and Gip, to subsist entirely on aniraal food, as the pros
pect of refilling their raeal-bags was so distant, and Tiger
must have all which was left.
Only when obliged to halt in consequence of the
intense heat, did the travellers rest in the middle of the
day ; and now Captain Spencer thought it right to pro
ceed on the Sunday ; for, since he had possessed the
almanack, he had kept the Sabbath as a day of rest.
Whenever they came to a fresh sand-ridge, if not obliged
to cross it, he mounted on to the top, glass in hand ; and

192 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
on one occasion, far away to the west, he saw a belt of
trees, the sort easily recognized by their peculiar green.
The travellers gladly diverged frora their route, and pro
ceeded towards it, where the water and food afforded by
the roots again saved the poor horse. It was easy to
trace their way back again by the marks of their footsteps,
so that they had no unnecessary wandering in that dread
ful region, the soil of which was so irapregnated with salt
that it lay in shining crystals under their feet The only
vegetation consisted of patches of a salsolaceous plant
like saraphire, which Tiger at first eagerly cropped ; but
the sensible animal, finding that it made him more
thirsty, soon refused to touch it, green and fresh as it
looked. Occasionally a stunted bush of Goodenise was
found among it, but it was nearly withered.
Several days passed in this manner, and again Cap
tain Spencer thought he saw a row of trees looking like
the useful Eucalypti. He rejoiced for poor Tiger's sake ;
but it was only a deceitful mirage, and their situation
could not be satisfactorily ascertained. They were pos
sibly those which they had last visited ; and when the
reflection of them appeared in the sky, all hope was gone.
Worn out and footsore, he could scarcely unload the poor
horse, who that night instantly sank upon the ground.
Alarmed at this exhaustion, his master shook off his o^wn
fatigue, and called Kinchela to help to rub the poof
beast's legs. No answer was made to the suraraons, and
the raan was not to be seen. " What can have become
of him ? " said Captain Spencer. " And Gip missing too !
what has happened ? " He called, he whistled, but only
Charlie came with his usual cheerful note, and informa
tion of his arrival ; but this induced his master to look
for the others in the direction whence he flew. Then he

OBTAIN RELIEF. 193
saw them, like small specks upon the sand, but evidently
returning. Kinchela, more accustomed than he to the
appearance of Australian scenery, had succeeded in find
ing the trees, and taking Gip with him, was returning
laden with roots, the broken ends of which he had
stopped from flowing by lumps of sand. ' A piece was
instantly put into the horse's mouth, who munched that
and others till he could swallow thera. Some of the
liquid proceeding from thera was then poured into his
mouth, and he was refreshed. Gip now so perfectly
understood all which happened, that she had already
helped herself, and was as gay as ever. Kinchela, who
rose in energy, activity, and wiUingness, in all cases of
emergency, proposed to his master to wait where he was
till he had been two or three tiraes to the trees to insure
fresh supplies; and contriving to raise the tarpauling
upon the spears, and put a heap of sand at his back, he
assented to the plan. In addition to the water and roots,
Kinchela procured sorae Acacia seeds from the scrub,
which were beaten into a raeal, which he liked very much,
and ate while his master devoured the roots.
Again the travellers started, keeping rather wide of
the lake, for close to it the sand was so heavy that the
labour of walking was increased threefold ; but they
remained as much as possible on the top of the high
ridges which ran parallel to it. Countless numbers, of
raigrating birds, all from the north and north-west, re
plenished the provision bags, being evidently on their
way to some more fertile region ; for all the Psittaceous
or Parrot tribe are known to confine their habitations to
rich and well-watered districts. Among them were the
Psittacus Novse HoUandise, or New HoUand Parrot, and
the Shell Panakeets, looking like flights of Starlings.

194 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
Occasional showers of sand, probably raised by a current
of wind, annoyed and almost blinded the travellers.
Several times small whirlwinds raised smoke-like colurans
of sand, and frequently made the Englishman hope that
native fires were near, and that there he should find water.
One night a cold wind surprised Captain Spencer,
also coming from the north, whence the hot and wither
ing sirocco had hitherto proceeded. It was impossible
to account for this, as well as other sudden variations ;
and, to his astonishment, a more remarkable phenomenon
raade its appearance in the shape of a frost, as an accom
paniment to the cold breeze. For some little time,
however, the mornings and evenings had been much
cooler, and even opossum cloaks had been acceptable
during the hours of slumber. These sudden changes of
temperature were, nevertheless, refreshing, and enabled
them to go through the additional fatigue occasioned by
deep fissures in the soil, whicii obliged them frequently
to go round ; for they were generally too wide and deep
to leap over. They, however, showed that the basis of
the countiy was sandstone, with a bed of clay, on which
were heaped the ridges of sand, and which to a certain
degree bound them together. Again did the heat return
as suddenly as it had left them, and clouds frequentiy
gave hopes of a thunder-storm ; but the heated air which
rose from below dispersed the clouds, and they were dis
appointed. At a distance lay lagoons, which Kinchela
was sent to inspect; but he invariably returned, saying
they were salt ; and some being dried up, left a ghttering
white residue of this mineral. The raud which he now
and then brought back from the borders of the pools,
seemed also to contain gypsum.
At length the water of the lake gradually shrank in

POOL OF FRESH WATER. ^^
its wide bed, which had now much more decidedly taken
an eastern .direction; then it lay in pools, leaving a
residue of clay and sand between them, which was much
too soft to bear their footsteps. A region of Hakea
scrubs, interspersed with Mimosa, Gum, and Melaleucas,
offered some resources, and they halted for a few
additional hours ; Captain Spencer anxiously watching
the frequently gathering clouds, all of which, however,
gave but deceitful hopes. In this spot they carae upon
a solitary pool of fresh water, when least expected,
which gladdened the eyes and throats of the suffering
wanderers, and forraed another of those strange incon
sistencies with which Australia abounds. They slept by
it, filled their vessels, and left it to wade through a thick
scrub of fatiguing and prickly Spinifex, during which Gip
again rode on the knapsack, It was interspersed with
occasional patches of sraall stones, a little convex on one
side, looking like biscuits, in which Captain Spencer
detected lime mixed with the sand ; and others, in which
lay round balls of iron and sand : some like marbles,
and others like cannon-balls with rings round them;
sorae were clustered together like grape-shot; and all
were probably forraed by the action of water. This
monotonous region was in some degree relieved by the
presence of plants, such as Polygonum, Angophora, and
patches of dried-up grass, from which Tiger vainly
endeavoured to derive nourishraent. Then appeared
stunted Gum-trees, which were really useful, though their
roots were nearly dry; then succeeded a plain, which
became more and raore intersected by dry water-courses,
seeming to tell that in the winter the whole place was
filled with torrents of water. Salsola bushes looked
tempting, but were a dangerous indulgence, and Captain

196 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
Spencer was pleased to see that Tiger resisted them. His
own life was one of continued forbearance, that he might
prolong that of others ; and he afterwards thought that,
to his extreme moderation in drinking, he owed rauch of
his power of sustaining positive drought
At the end of a long journey, continued with but
little intermission during the whole day, Captain Spencer
remarked that no birds, no trees, no living thing had
been lately seen ; for even the scrab had disappeared,
and the horizon was bounded by sorae sand-hills which
appeared to he directly in their path. " Beyond these,"
said he, " is surely the head of the lake, and there we
shall find soraething better." Arousing the party earlier
than usual, he having been too anxious to sleep, and
swallowing a mouthful from their now scanty stores, he
gave the dumb beasts — for Charlie now asked for one or
two dips of his bill — the last drop of water ere they
started; Tiger stiff and sore-footed. On they went,
silently and slowly, and with difficulty did the poor horse
ascend the hill, his master almost pushing him up the
steepest parts. Kinchela was in advance ; and when he
reached the summit he suddenly stopped, and exclairaed :
" Oh ! Boccolo, bad place ! " and truly did the prospect
appal even the stout heart of the Englishman. Before
them lay a large tract as wide as the eye could scan, the
whole surface of which was covered with large and small
stones, on which nothing grew, and near which nothing
appeared to live. These stones were chiefly composed
of quartz and sand ; and occasional undulations showed
that water might lodge there in the winter season, but all
had now evaporated. Also frequent masses of almost
pure iron made the compass unsteady. The sun scorched
this sandy plain, and so heated the stones that Tiger and

A SANDY DESERT. 197
Gipsy were almost afraid to put their feet down upon
them, and frequently Captain Spencer could not hold
thera. The often-repeated question again rose to his lips
of What was to be done? The telescope everywhere
disclosed the same features : no water ; but little food ;
no apparent termination to the sterile ocean before,
behind, and all around them. To go back, the traveller
knew, was a certainty of days without relief; to go for
wards, he feared would be the same ; and, leaning his
head upon Tiger's neck, the strong man was for a
raoment overcome. Kinchela looked wistfully and sadly
at the scene. Gip inquired most meaningly by her
countenance what was the matter ; and Tiger stood
patiently with his head bent towards the ground. But
the faith and trust which had hitherto supported the
English soldier were not wanting in this hour of ex
tremity, and a sUent and fervent prayer was lifted to
Heaven for further succour. Then followed the con
sideration of how human means could be made service
able in overcoming this fearful difficulty. Sorae strips of
dried meat were still left ; and making some of the
largest into balls, he pushed them down Tiger's throat,
gave one to Gipsy, another to Kinchela, and then took
one himself " On we must go," said he to the native,
" and not stop till we fall." He fastened the skin cpver-
ings on Tiger's hoofs; his load, from the absence of
provisions, could scarcely be lighter, and, in fact, could
not be an incumbrance to him. Kinchela drew his belt
tighter round him, and walked on with quiet resignation ;
his master kept by the horse's side, to cheer him with
kind words and caresses. Miles were passed over ; Tiger
now and then, with his thin legs, stumbling over a larger
stone than usual, and giving his owner an additional fear

198 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
that he would fall and cut his knees. Then Gip came to
a standstill, whined, and lifted up one of her fore-feet
to be looked at ; and when Captain Spencer examined
it, he found that it and all the others were blistered and
cut ; and she was of course lifted on to his shoulders, for
which she showed her gratitude by licking the back of
his neck ; and he was quite startled when he felt how
hot her tongue was, bringing to his mind hydrophobia
and other evils.
After hours of unremitting toil and suffering, nature
seeraed as if she could do no raore. The sun was sink
ing ; the horse could with difficulty drag his limbs along ;
and Kinchela had several times laid himself down, saying
he could not go any farther ; on whieh, taking one of the
spears. Captain Spencer threatened to strike him with it
if he . did not proceed. Tiger's foot-coverings were cut
to pieces, and his hoofs almost worn to the quick, so that
he limped instead of walked, and his master thought
they must all lie down and die. Charlie had altogether
disappeared, and it was hoped that his wings had enabled
him to soar high enough to descry relief 'When night
carae, however, the stones were sraaller, sand was mixed
with them, then ridges of bright red sand came, and
beyond them ridges of the same sand were seen in the
distance. Captain Spencer made almost superhuman
efforts to reach thera ; he wznt straight towards them,
spoke incessantly to Tiger with words of love and appro
bation, he almost lifted hira up the sides, hoping to see
soraething beyond which should impart hope ; but ridge
succeeded ridge, a dizziness came over the soldier's eyes,
his head became confused, and he fell with Tiger by his
side, loaded as he was, and the whole party lay prostrate
on the sand,

TIGER LEFT FOR DEAD. 199
The cool breeze at night was refresliing; and Captain
Spencer thought it his duty, as he awakened from a long
sleep, to try and eat what remained of the dried meat, if
his swollen throat would allow him to swallow. He took
the bags from Tiger, and altogether unloaded him ; the
bags were empty, for the Australian had appropriated
the last morsels. A flash of indignation at his selfishness
crimsoned the worn cheek of the soldier; but he reflected
on the pressing calls of hunger, and forbore even to
reproach. Then, indeed, his heart completely failed;
thick darkness seemed to come over him, and he lay
down, thinking he should rise no more. After a while
Tiger dragged himself closer to his master, put his nose
on his shoulder, heaved a long sigh, a convulsive shudder
ran through his frame, and he lay motionless. " Dead !
Tiger, my dear faithful friend ! " said his master, throwing
his arra round hira ; " this is alraost too rauch to bear.
Gip, darhng, are you gone too ? " but Gip uncurled her
self, walked round poor Tiger, licked hira, looked at her
master, and again lay down.
In the morning Captain Spencer, following Kinchela's
example, tightened his belt, and turning round to call
him, saw him devouring one of the water-skins. "Come,"
said he, " we must carry all we can." He slung the tins
across his own shoulders, and the skins also, for fear the
man should eat them, giving him the cloaks, spade, etc.,
taking care, however, to make his own burden the
heaviest ; and with Gip in her usual place, he prepared
to start He cast a look of agony on the beautiful and
motionless form of that faithful creature, who, in days
of happiness, had borne hira in the race, in the hunt, and
before the admiring looks of rank and beauty ; who had
travelled many hundred mUes by his side, never rebelled,

200 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
never strayed, and had more than once been instrumental
in saving his life. Tears coursed each other down his
cheeks as he turned away, feeling as if he ought not to
leave hira, although his own existence, and that of the
reraaining party, depended on his advance.
They traversed ridge after ridge, tiU the Austrahan
said, " Boccolo, Kinchela die ! " Gipsy was unable to
raise her head, and then her master, taking her in his
arms, lay down, saying, " We must follow poor Tiger."
He dozed, "with visions of waterfalls, streams, verdant
plains, crowding upon his sight and raind, and he becarae
insensible, with the sound of water trickling in his ears.
He did not know how long he lay in that unconscious
state ; but it was morning when he opened his eyes, and
recollected all that had happened. He was wet all over,
everything about him was damp, and he was sure that
either a storm or heavy dew had fallen ; still he felt as if
he could not raise his head, and he lay still for some
time, when one of the beautiful pigeons of the country
flew over his head ; at some little distance she descended
to the ground behind a sand-hill, stayed for half a minute,
and then rose and continued her course. " Bird of God,"
he exclaimed, " thou hast saved us ! " Hope gave hira
fresh energy ; he laid Gip upon the ground, and crawled
to the spot where the pigeon had alighted. He there
beheld a large pool of water with green grass, and some
stunted Box-trees growing round it. He seized a can,
supported himself with one of the spears, dipped it in,
took a long draught, and felt a new raan. He was then
strong enough to return to his companions. He poured
some water down each of their throats. Gip recovered
the first, and shaking herself, Ucked her master's hands.
Kinchela rose and proceeded to the pool. Captain

THE HORSE REJOINS THEM. 201
Spencer returned to it ; but in the midst of liis thank
fulness he dashed the tears from his eyes by passing the
back of his hand across them, and in spite of his deep
gratitude, exclaimed, " Too late for my poor Tiger ! "
The travellers sat down by the water, and a piece of
the kangaroo-skin being left, it was stewed for Kinchela
and Gipsy ; and Captain Spencer took the provision-
bags, scraped them, turned out the corners, and beat
thera, by which means he accumulated a small heap of
flour, which he made into a cake, and satisfied his hunger,
which in fact was not very great. The native then lay
down, and fell into a most refreshing slumber. His
master sat with his head leaning upon his knees, and also
slept ; but he was shortly after awakened by his hat
being suddenly lifted off his head. He started, saw Kin
chela and Gip still fast asleep, looked around, and beheld
his beloved horse standing close beside him with his hat
in his mouth, and Charlie on his back, who said, " All's
right, Ned Spencer ! " He was for a raoraent struck with
the idea that his senses were disturbed, and it was not
really Tiger who stood there ; but the next he dipped
the can in the water, held it to the horse's raouth, and
the needful cordial was quickly imbibed. He never
could account for this resuscitation ; but he believed that
while they lay insensible the night after Tiger appeared
to die, there had been a storm copious enough to revive
the poor animal, who had afterwards risen and followed
his track. The warm embrace which followed, the noisy
delight of Gipsy, and the astonishment of Kinchela, mingled
with joy and dread, all told how welcome the lost one
was to the whole party ; and as to Tiger himself, he had
a great inclination to dance upon his hind legs, but he
was not yet quite equal to such a performance. " If I

202 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
am ever so hungrj-," said Captain Spencer to himself, " I
never will destroy another pigeon." In the everiing Gip
and Kinchela started in search of food, and brought back
some Jerboas. Tiger revelled in the grass ; Charlie had
plenty of insects, among which were Ant-lions ; ' and they
all becarae " giants refreshed."
After a rest of three days, the party again went on
their way. Captain Spencer hoping that his worst trials
were over. He bent his steps to the south-east ; Jerboas
and two Crows in his bags, two feeds of grass for Tiger,
which he had with great labour cut, sorae pounded bark
for raeal, and as rauch water as they could carry, of which
Kinchela drank such a quantity before starting that he
could scarcely walk ; his master and dumb servants re
freshed more wisely and moderately. They had not
proceeded far when Captain Spencer again perceived the
blue waters of the lake at a great distance, and beyond
them a range of lofty mountains. A dark green plain
also met his eye, which told hira that the ground there
was covered with Salsolag, and in it were dry lagoons of
salt. As they proceeded, some violent blasts of wind
now and then assailed thera, which were precursors of
rain, and which covered them with sand. They, however,
stopped under a hill, turned their backs to them, and
waited fill they were over.
The country was evidently improving ; small pools of
water, either permanent or filled with surface-draining
after recent rain, were met with; the liquid was not
always good, but to thera it was acceptable. Atriplex
and Acacias appeared, and now and then a patch of
newly springing grass. They bivouacked by a small
brackish lake, omamented by Acacias, and in this they
' Myrmeleon.

RAIN AT LAST. 203
caught some silvery, perch-like fishes, about six inches
long, which were greatly relished by Kinchela. While
here the clouds again gathered, and a heavy storm ap
proached. Captain Spencer prepared to receive it,
protected his fire-arms, spread out the tarpauling, with
its edges tumed up to catch the fresh water, and Kin
chela took off his shirt. This was too good a plan to be
despised, and Captain Spencer adopted it, hiding his own
clothing under the tarpauling. Torrents of large drops
fell ; Tiger and Gip held out their tongues ; and even
Charlie hopped about and sho ok his wings, saying,
" "\Miat a row ! hurrah ! " for he was gradually forgetting
his French. This copious shower bath seeraed to infuse
new vigour into all, and gave fresli life to the whole
country, for the pools of water were more frequent as
they went on, and Kinchela said, " Plenty rain come
now^, Boccolo." He was right ; and now it became a
matter of anxiety to get into some place of shelter before
they had too rauch water — before the plains were tumed
into swamps, rivers into floods, and they into aguish,
shivering travellers.
For the present, however, these bursts of rain softened
the ground for Tiger's feet, which being again wrapped
up in skin, the hoofs grew, and he proceeded with great
alacrity in the cooler atraosphere.
Natives here began to appear ; and the first they met
was a solitary old man, who seemed to be very much
alarmed at the rencontre. He looked as if he, too, had
been travelling across the stony desert, he was so emaci
ated; and he would have run away as they advanced.
Captain Spencer, however, stopped and desired Kinchela
to speak to him ; he could not or would not understand,
but he made signs that he was vety hungty ; they offered

204 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA,
him a bird, and this kindness inspired him with confi
dence. He reraained with them for two days, during
which time a Wombat was speared by Kinchela, for
Captain Spencer would not use his fire-arms for fear of
frightening the old man away. He had his share of that
spoil, and when they parted he had some given to him
for his journey. Captain Spencer tried to make him
understand that he might go on with them; but he
pointed to another direction. He was wholly without
clothing ; had only a spear and a stick in his hand ; he
had no raeans of canying a store of provisions ; how,
then, would he travel, how obtain sustenance ? When his
master iraparted these thoughts to Kinchela, the native
laughed, and said, " Black fellow not go far, Boccolo.
He have gins not far off; he hide his gins from Boccolo,
and gins get him food. But perhaps old man a boyl-ya
(here he lowered his voice), and boyl-yas can get every
thing ; but Kinchela not like to talk about boyl-yas, for
they make black fellow ill when he talks." Captain
Spencer sraUed, for he had always found, when Kinchela
could not explain anything, he made a convenient use of
boyl-yas.

CHAPTER X.

O those who had been so long half starved, the
increasing supplies of food created a lightness
of heart and strength which enabled them to
travel at good speed. The country assuraed that park
like appearance which is so refreshing, because it is
shady, yet sufficiently open to afford a circulation of air.
Oat-grass again presented itself, and was eagerly taken
advantage of by the traveUers; also plenty of birds,
especially crows, varied their animal fare. Dried-up
places, like old watercourses, still presented themselves ;
and Captain Spencer could scarcely think that they were
all fiUed during the winter, unless, indeed, that talked-of
mysterious sea occasionally poured its waters over the
land. Pieces, and indications of different ores and metals
attracted attention ; but it was impossible to stop and
exaraine them minutely, on account of the haste supposed
to be necessary for gaining shelter from the hea-yy rains
¦^vhich they expected. StiU this heavy rain kept off, and
the storras were local, for they met with surface-pools,
when they theraselves had not experienced any fall of
water. The Yellow Bean' reappeared in quantities,
which was a welcorae change of diet both to raan and
horse ; besides which, sorae ¦ long silky grass ^ was not
' Dolichos. ' Kangaroo grass, or Anthisfiria,

2o6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
only eaten by the latter, but when he eame to it he
lool^ed so earnestly in his raaster's face that he was un
loaded, and permission given to hira to take a roll in it; the
raore necessary as his weary master had not of late been
able to give him his accustomed cleaning. Glimpses of
mountains were occasionally seen, which looked more
lofty than any yet met with ; and in their own path they
came upon hills of sandstone, cemented with iron, from
whicii so many lumps and boulders had rolled down, that
Tiger's socks were in requisition. These boulders often
disclosed gypsum and opalized wood ; and the tops of
the hills looked as if they were of totally different forma
tion to that at their base, so that, when the latter rose,
they had not disturbed the superincumbent strata. Fossil
limestone now and then cropped out, chiefly containing
shells. Again did they corae across emus ; but as Kin
chela was not old enough to eat thera, his master did not
expend time or strength in their capture. A Bauhinia,
twenty feet high, had the fruit of two seasons still hanging
from the ends of its branches, and the large flat seeds
were roasted and eaten.
Rhagodia formed the scrub of large flat plains, which
refraction soraetiraes magnified into trees. Low sand
hUls were ascended and descended ; and on the plain
below were tall Gura-trees, the roots of which were no
longer necessary to their existence.
At length, after passing through raany a " tangled
maze,'' the party halted close to a pond, the waters of
which were somewhat brackish ; the grass round it was
coarse and wiry, but they had with them a supply of a
better kind for Tiger ; and Captain Spencer tried the ex
periment of fishing. No sooner had he baited his hook
and thrown it in, than the same sort of shining white fish

COME UPON NATIVES 207
appeared which he had before caught, and a numerous
capture gave them a feast Others were split and
roasted, and Kinchela would have devoured them all at
once ; but his master insisted on his forbearance, and
he dried a nuraber for the supply of their future journey.
During the raarch of the ensuing day, the travellers
fell in with some natives, who stood and stared at them
as if paralyzed with astonishment ; and whether they did
or did not understand Kinchela, they would not speak.
Then they came upon two huts made of boughs, in which
were some children at play, who ran and hid themselves
at their approach ; and after these a man came over a
hill, who was highly painted with various colours, and
who, being equipped with spear, shield, and club, looked
as if he were going to war. He did not evince any sur
prise at the strangers ; but motioned to them to go away
from the neighbourhood of their huts. Captain Spencer
then offered hira sorae fishes, which he eagerly accepted,
and ate iraraediately. The wayfarers then passed on,
without further atterapts at conciliation, supposing some
tribe to be near, and the Englishman had no inclination
for an encounter with superior numbers. The man stood
gazing after thera for some time, evidently watching the
direction they took. They made a longer march than
usual to get beyond his reach, and during the night kept
watch altemately.
The path continued through open Avoods, and then
an impervious jungle obliged thera to alter their course.
Beautiful birds of the parrot kind were again seen, and
vety small Parrakeets of exquisite colours seemed per
manently to inhabit these forests. Among the numerous
feathered creatures were Hawks, with signs of evil in
tentions; and Charlie flew up to his protector with

2o8 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
rapidity, caUing out, "Rogues and scoundrels!'' and he
was so closely pursued by two of them, that Kinchela
knocked thera down with his stick, and Captain Spencer
dispersed the rest by firing among them. They walked
till evening, when they reached a beautiful river winding
through a ravine of cliffs, presenting an appearance of
fertility and freshness which could only be produced by
the existence of a permanent stream ; they soon per
ceived that they were standing on the border of one
stream which joined another. The tributary was so
much overflown that large trees were considerably im
mersed in it, and they were obliged to keep at sorae
distance. The water had been stopped by a large dam thrown
across it, which had probably caused the flooding below.
They crossed it, and Kinchela stepped on as guide, but
Captain Spencer began greatly to fear that he should not
reach Adelaide before the winter came on, and therefore
seriously considered the possibility of reaching eastern
Australia. They were not delayed by the necessity of
filling their skins or cans, which now travelled empty on
Tiger's sides, and they had a store of eatables. They
crossed scrubs of Fusanus, Hakea, Acacia, and other
plants, and trod upon a conglomerate soil, mingled with
metallic indications. The country was here and there
beautifully wooded, and verdant hills were near. They,
however, kept in the plains for miles, in which the Gum-
tree alone seemed to take up its abode ; but they were
able to push forward at an accelerated pace on account
of the comparative coolness of the weather. At last, one
evening, as the sun was declining, they reached what
Captain Spencer concluded to be the main river. Beauti
ful drooping trees shaded the banks ; young green reeds

GRATITUDE OF NATIVE. 209
and grass rejoiced Tiger, who, as soon as they stopped
for the night, and was unloaded, plunged at once into a
rich pasture, of which the juicy Sow-thistle and Mallows
increased the value. They took their station close to a
hollow Gum-tree, lighted their fire, and whUe they were
busy with their preparations for a stew, the painted man
came up, laid opossums, flag-roots, and pounded grass-
seeds at Captain Spencer's feet, and retired, but not with
out casting a look of surprise at the tin can on the fire.
It appeared as if he had followed them on purpose to
give this supply in return for the fishes.
The next moming the travellers proceeded along the
side of the river. The soil now consisted of a tenacious
clay; the river was sluggish, hardly filling its bed; and
the only alteration in the features of the country were
several ridges, on which Pine-trees seemed to grow. The
whole scene was extremely picturesque ; beyond the flats
were hills beautifuUy wooded, and the ground was tossed
up into strange and confused outUnes. Captain Spencer
lay down with the full expectation of much greater
beauty on the raonow ; but his rest was early disturbed
by a loud, rushing noise, and suddenly starting up, he
perceived the lazy, insignificant stream converted into a
foaming, impetuous river, not as yet, however, reaching
the level of its banks. He did not know how soon, with
this rapid increase, it might pass even beyond thera ; and
fearing they were too near, he awoke his corapanions,
coUected all he had, and moved on. As they left the
river, the countty was not equaUy rich, and they raet
with Salsola, Atriplex, and other sorts of scrub, only now
and then seeing a scmb of much beauty, which had not
before made its appearance. On a sudden, Gip, who
was before, stopped short, looked at her master as she

210 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
lifted one of her paws, and then she went round a large
nest raade of sticks, with her nose and eyes exaralning
every part She began to deraolish it, which caused its
frightened inhabitants to rush out, to whom of course she
gave chase, and her master went close up to look at the
structure. The sticks varied in length from three inches
to three feet, and in thickness from a quill to that of a
large finger. They were so systematically ananged, that
it was difficult to pull them asunder ; the whole nest was
four feet in diameter at the base, and three feet high,
looking like a great bee-hive. It had five entrances at
the bottom, nearly equidistant frora each other, ¦with
passages from them, leading to a central hole in the
ground, in which stores of food were kept There were
two beds of grass in the centre, in which were some vety
pretty and tiny young rats ; and passages from these
interior nests ran diagonally to the ground, or rather
stick flooring of the principal nest, and they corarauni
cated with each other. Gip brought in one of the
gro^wn-up o^wners,' which raeasured six inches frora the
tip of the nose to the tail; its fur was light-brown in
colour, of a fine, soft texture, and the hind feet were very
large in proportion to those in front. It quite grieved
the Englishraan to have disturbed so clever and pretty a
buUding, and, in his vexation, he suffered Kinchela and
Gip to eat the rat ; but he prevented the dog from
destroying any more of the skilful architects.
The weather had now become positively cold, and
Kinchela so far conquered his fear of Tiger as to creep
up close to him at night. The storms becarae raore
, frequent, and the ground was constantly wet to he upon,
so that Captain Spencer seriously thought, if he did not
^ Bandicoot, or Mus-conditor.

NATIVE VILLAGE. 211
speedily find some natural shelter, he would dig a cave
in one of the hills or banks of the vicinity, where he
could remain till the worst of the winter was over ; but it
was necessary to be very careful in choosing a site where
they should raeet with the principal necessaries of
existence. They came to a low range of heights covered
with grass, and near them was a belt of Gum-trees,
stretching across the country in an oblique direction, and
he thought they might contrive a dwelling there, which
should be partially formed of their boughs. He mounted
these hiUs to reconnoitre with his glass, and there he
found that the river lay beyond; and between it and
some banks, which protected them from inundation, was
a large asserablage of huts, with their native owners.
The women shrieked at the appearance of the
travellers, and the men stood for a moment as if paralyzed
with astonishment; they awoke from this, apparently to
consult ¦with each other on the reception which was to be
given to the strangers. Many raised their spears; but
Captain Spencer quickly cut a branch from a low bush
close by, and held it up as a token of peace, and this
seemed to induce them at least to pause. Then
Kinchela made his way to one of their number, who
came out of a hut He and Kinchela stood still directly
opposite to each other. This continued for a short time,
then Kinchela spoke. His master gathered frora his
gestures that he was teUing the histoty of their meeting,
for he pointed to his foot, and acted the scene of finding
him almost dead from hunger and thirst ; then he pointed
towards the stony desert, discoursed about Tiger, at
whom they looked very solemn ; nor did he forget the
dog and the bird, and then there was a general consulta
tion. As all this was going on, a person arrived from

212 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
the west, whom Captain Spencer recognized as the
painted native to whora he had given the fishes. He
also earnestly raade a speech, but all this took a long
tirae, for Kinchela's language was very imperfectly under
stood by this distant tribe, who were very cautious too.
However, the result was a sort of deputation from the
tribe, preceded by Kinchela, through whom, as inter
preter, they asked Captain Spencer to stay among them
during the bad weather. They said they would provide
for his support ; and would take care of him till the rains
and storras were over ; after which they would tell him
which was the shortest way to get back to "white
fellows." Captain Spencer consented to the proposal; they
brought him some food as an earnest of their intentions ;
telling him that as he had not taken the kangaroo some
of them had kiUed, they would now give him some.
They said they had not tiU now had rain for a very long
tirae, and they should have plenty, which was the first
intimation Captain Spencer had of the inegularity of the "
seasons in that part of Australia ; for they had not had
any rain of consequence for two years.
They gave one of their gunyahs for his occupation.
Kinchela was to sleep at the entrance, and Gip and
Charlie in their usual places. Tiger thoroughly enjoyed
his liberty over the grassy plains. Plenty of people were
there, and waiting for the river to overflow its banks, in
order to catch fishes.
The evening meal over, Kinchela told his master that
" Boccolos wanted to see him." By the word Boccolos,
Captain Spencer supposed he meant the chiefs of the
tribe. He afterwards learned that they have no chiefs,
but merely pay unusual respect to those who have shown

DESCRIPTION OF NATIVES 213
superiority in any way — even personal stature and
strength securing for the owners a sort of weight in
matters of importance, which did not amount to authority.
The two men carae, father and son, who were of sedate
appearance, the latter being the painted man whom the
travellers had raet, and who he now leamed had not
equipped himself for war, but for fetching a new wife, for
" black fellows liked to look handsome before their gins."
On this occasion they had come to say, that as the rain
would soon be here, when they could not so well dance,
they ¦would now make a Corobbety for his sake. They
begged him to send Tiger away, for they owned that they
thought the big dog was a sorcerer, and they hoped he
would not work them any harm. They had some very
great sorcerers in their tribe ; but they looked upon
Tiger as stUl greater. Captain Spencer gravely promised
that, as Tiger always minded what he said, he would take
care that they should be safe from him. He could, by
the light of the fire outside the hut near which they sat,
distinguish their countenances; and he could not but
reraark that they were like all others whom he had seen,
barring the trifling differences which exist between man
and man. Each had lost two front teeth, but the front
teeth which were left and the eye-teeth were of the same
shape. The old man, whose name was Wanup, had a
fish-bone through his nose. Their movements were
graceful ; their manners easy — alraost poUshed ; and the
son, who was caUed Ugat, proud of his English,
frequently srailed, and said, "Vety good, vety good,"
which, however, caught Charlie's ear, who repeated it
inside the hut, adding to it his heartiest " Ha ! ha ! ha ! "
This unexpected sound evidently made both the men
uncorafortable ; and Wanup asked Kinchela in a low

214 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
tone if the white fellow had another sorcerer with him, or
whether it was the big dog which had spoken. Captain
Spencer comprehended the inquity, took that opportunity
of explaining the powers of his bird, and told them they
possessed raany in their countty which might be taught
to speak in the same manner. They seemed better
satisfied after this, and added, "that they knew birds
already which would mock everything they said ; and
that one, nearer to where white man lived, always laughed
very much." ^
The heads of these men were well developed, and the
proportions of the brain apparently good. Their thick
necks betokened great strength; their feet and hands
were small and well made; and their heels were like
those of Europeans; but the calves of their legs were
very small, as in all others, except a very few instances.
Their carriage was upright and dignified, and their chests
wide, which, with their backs, were covered wdth thick
scars. Captain Spencer asked them how they procured
the paint with which they decorated themselves ; and
they replied that most of it was dug from the earth, and
used either raw or baked ; and that to produce a bright
red, they mixed a yellow clay with red ochre, both of
which had passed through the fire; that they also col
lected yellow frora flowers, and a fungus ; that the black
was finely-powdered charcoal ; the blue was extracted
frora a plant ; that the earths were not to be found every
where, but they bartered with other natives for them.
The white was always to be had, it being the pipe-clay
which Captain Spencer had so frequently seen through
out the country. They added that the ground was their
own, and had always been so since it was made, and that
' The Laughing Jackass.

TIGER AND THE NATIVES. 215
each tribe in every part had its peculiar hunting-grounds,
though disputes often arose about the boundaries, and
led to war. When white men, however, appeared, they
did not mind these boundaries, and took all, drove
Kangaroos away, and by and by they should all starve.
The conversation was ended by Kinchela falling fast
asleep ; and the raen arose, saying, " that a friendly tribe
had sent thera some long nanow nets, raade of rashes,
and had taken them away that morning ; therefore they
supposed they would come to-morrow, and they hoped
the Englishman would wdtness their anival."
The next morning Captain Spencer went with Gip to
have a bathe in the river; and on his return, he found
Tiger feeding on the delicious grass which had rapidly
sprung up since the first rains, and which looked exactly
like bearded wheat. In a short time he saw men,
woraen, and children gathered round him, looking at him
with curiosity and awe. He was afraid that he would
undo any favourable impression he might otherwise
make, if he should take it into his head to dance on his
hind legs into the midst of them ; and he therefore caUed
out to him, " Quiet, good horse." Tiger put up his
pretty head, and neighed a reply, at the sarae time
whisking his long white tail. This, however, was enough ;
they instantly took to their heels, and raany of thera with
more haste than good speed, so that they tripped each
other up, and rolled away like so many banels, which
raade Captain Spencer shout with laughter.
On the anival of the nets the males of the two tribes
saluted each other by putting their hands on each others'
shoulders, and bending their heads forward, so as to
touch each others' breasts. The females reraained be
hind, laden with bags, fire-sticks, and children. They

2i6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
were silent; but those of the river tribe came and led
them away to their huts, where there was plenty of
talking, both loud and fast, although their voices were
soft Their gossiping continued the greater part of the
night ; and, according to Kinchela's account, they told all
about one another; and probably a little scandal went
forward: These people came from the interior hiUs ; the
men carried all their warlike weapons, but they were
feeble and diminutive.
To Captain Spencer's astonishment, whUe he was
standing in his hut that same afternoon, a procession of
the feraales of the new tribe, headed by two women,
came towards hira. Tears were strearaing do^wn the
cheeks of both ; and the eldest, walking close up to him,
said, " Yes, yes, it is he ; '' for Kinchela was close within
the hut, and told him what they meant Then she threw
her arms round the Englishman's body, and rested her
head upon his breast ; she was old, ugly, and filthy ; and
the other, nearly as dirty, knelt crying at his feet The
first proceeded to kiss him on each cheek, wept again,
and called him the ghost of her son, who had been killed
by the thrust of a. spear. Even Avith the aid of Kin
chela's explanations. Captain Spencer felt quite bewil
dered, and would rather have encountered an attack of
spears and waddies. Then came a young woman, who
declared she was his sister ; and she was followed by the
whole family, who uttered exclamations of delight :
father, brothers, all encircled him with their arras, put
their right knees against his right knee, and their breasts
against his. "A goodly tribe of relations ! " thought he,
as he gravely bore this infliction. The children were
then brought to hira ; but they at first kicked and
screamed with fright at the white man; but when they

SELF-ELECTED RELATIVES. 217
saw that he received them kindly, there was a strife
between them who should reach him first ; and two or
three put their fingers in their mouths, and then rubbed
his skin with thera, to see if he were painted. After this
ceremony was ended, and the newly-claimed had pro
mised to stay a little tirae araong his self elected relatives,
he asked Kinchela for further explanation ; and the man
told him that black fellows beheved the spirits of their
dead went into the bodies of white men, and often
retumed to their own country, because they loved it so
much ; and that they knew them by the likeness which
they always retained to their former selves. "Very
flattering," thought Captain Spencer, who was by no
means unconscious of his large share of personal beauty.
" Then how is it," said he to his man, " that these re
tumed spirits do not also know their relations ? " Kin
chela said he could not tell that, but this ignorance
always caused great surprise. He added, that some
believed all blaek fellows, when they died, went up to
the clouds, where they had plenty to eat and drink ; in
which case they were often let down again by a rope ;
and his own mother had returned in that manner.
The whole of the next day the natives were busy pre
paring for the Corobbery in the evening, by making up
tufts of cockatoo and emu feathers, and painting them
selves ¦with all their colours. The women rolled, up some
cloaks of kangaroo-skins as tightly as possible, which
they thumped with their hands, till they sounded like
drams ; others beat flat sticks together ; in fact, all the
music was perforraed by thera, and would have been in
supportable had it not been for the admirable tirae which
they kept. They in a vety few instances shared the
dances of the raen ; but they had sorae among them
selves, from which the men were excluded.

2 1 8 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALLA.
The Corobbery began by imitations of the sounds
and actions of different animals, especially the kangaroo,
which they pretended to chase. They then went through
various evolutions with their spears and shields, and emu
feathers on their heads ; then they perforraed a series of
the most intricate figures by way of dancing, holding
their waddies, or clubs, and boughs of trees. On this
occasion the women danced at the comers, changed
places often by passing at the back of the large group,
and frequently uttering the raost aborainable yells, which
were raost distressing to their guest, after the long cora-
parative solitude to which he had of late been accus
tomed. The effect of this dance could never be forgotten,
heightened as it was by an iramense fire, which being
constantly fed with fresh boughs, sent forth incessant
flames. The legs of some were covered with broad white
stripes ; and they had a peculiar method of shaking them,
which made them appear as if they were constantly
turning round ; others had boughs tied upon tiieir legs ;
and, after dancing some time, suddenly stopped, stamp
ing their feet with loud grunts and rustling of the boughs ;
then they would pause suddenly, with a deep guttural
exclaraation, and again start off, or drop all at once frora
a standing to a squatting posture, and hop away with
outstretched arms and legs. The full dress of the females
was an opossum cloak, a band of white swan-do-wn round
the head, and a bunch of Cockatoo feathers in front ;
their raoveraents were not always as decorous as those of
the men ; and long before the Corobbery was ended, the
person in whose honour it was performed was heartily
weary of the whole scene ; and he heard with dismay
that, on the ensuing day, the recently-arrived tribe were
anxious to display their accomplishments to the stranger,

THE COROBBERY. 219
with Ax'hom they fancied themselves connected. It was
necessary to conceal his annoyance, howexer, if he would
not disturb the friendly feelings now existing.
The hill-tribe were adorned much in the same style
as their friends ; but, besides feathers on their heads,
they canied them in their hands, tied on to the top of short
sticks, and the women danced in a line parallel to that
of the men. After various evolutions, they advanced
with a man in the centre, who bore a rude representation
of a human figure at the top of a pole, forraed of grass
and reeds, covered with kangaroo-skins, painted all over
¦with small white circles, the head made of feathers, and
the arms represented by sticks. After dancing with this
they retired, and again advanced, with two standards,
each composed of a pole, on which nine branches were
left At the end of the branches was a plume of. hawk,
owl, or emu feathers, tied on with white swan-down, or
white painted bark, which was continued down the pole.
These retreated ; then many came forth with their spears,
danced for sorae time, came closer to their friends, who
sprang up to raeet them, stuck two or three in the
shoulders, and the ceremonies were ended. Tired and
heated, Captain Spencer retired to his hut, but not to
sleep, for he was kept awake by the songs which were
sung around him, and, in fact, in honour of him, these
people having improvisatory powers. The songs were
continued far into the night.
During the heavy rains which ensued, the principal
amusement of the traveUer was the conversation of
Warrap or Ugat They delighted in speaking of them
selves and their customs ; did not take any interest in
descriptions of civilized communities ; but when Captain
Spencer told them of his own black men in India, they

2 20 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
were much pleased. It was difficult to come to any con
clusion concerning their religious belief; but, as far as he
could understand, they were aware of the soul being
distinct from the body ; which souls, some believed, lived
in trees all day, came down at night to eat caterpillars
and animals, but not vegetable food, and reraained the
size of a boy eight years old. Their notions of creation
were equally vague : they said that a father and three
male children lived in the clouds ; the father, vety power
ful, who made the world, fixed names to everything, put
the tribes into their own districts, gave thera their lan
guages, and brought them frora some place in the east,
over the water ; and that souls go to live with these four.
These natives thought that there was a large serpent,
which lived in high, rocky mountains, and which made
all things by one stroke of its tail. They declared that
everybody believed in an evil spirit, which haunts dark
caverns, wells, and gloomy plains ; that its narae is Jinga,
and that they are afraid of hira at night
The gun of Captain Spencer was a constant source of
apprehension, and kept up the notion of his being a
sorcerer. Having been told by Kinchela that he knelt
and prayed every day to the Great Spirit (which his
raaster had said to hira), they thought he was then work
ing his speUs. His relations treated him wth great
deference, and most particularly attended to all his re
quirements; generally speaking, however, he and Kin
chela procured their own provisions. Gipsy would have
led a happy life, if the dogs of the camp had not per
secuted her, either with their enmity or their friendship ;
but at last her raaster invented a collar of kangaroo-skin,
into which he inserted sorae of the strong thorns of the
Acacia, and this, with her furious barking and sharp

FISHING PREPARATIONS. 221
bites, after a while, kept thera away, for they were great
cowards. Charlie was perfectly independent; but he
would often electrify Kinchela as he flew over the vUlage,
by saying, " I see you, Kinchela ; " and the raan begari
to believe that the bird was acquainted with all his
actions. The new sorts of food brought to Captain Spencer by
his friends were different species of fungi and emu eggs,
which, however, he could not eat, as they, and those of
the Leipoa, were stale ; the natives themselves cared but
little in what condition an egg might be, they ate it all
the same. They brought him an abundance of small
aniraals not much larger than mice,' which burrow in the
sand, and which they say will go for months without
water. They had beautiful full black eyes, their long
tail had a brush at the end, their fur was light red in
colour, and they generally hopped on their hind legs,
and carried their tail horizontally. Gip raost delighted
in raoths, and grew quite fat Little or no hunting took
place, because there was a general feeling that the river
would suddenly rise to a great height, and then evety one
must be ready. Preparations, therefore, were constantly
making for fishing and catching wild-fowl, and Captain
Spencer watched their rude manufactures with interest.
They did not, however, show rauch ingenuity; and the
various hard woods of the country were their best re
sources in the way of tools. They made a cement with
resin, gum, and ¦wax. In forming a canoe, they choose
a large gura-tree which has a protuberance in the bark,
open it with their toraahawk, strip the bark off very
easily with a stone in .large pieces, bind it into the forra
of a canoe, and stop up the ends with clay. This was their
' Hapalotus Mitchellii.

2 2 2 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
only boat, and yet, fragile as it was, in it they contrive
to place a fire, and fish for hours. Their netting-needles
were only a pointed stick like a pencU, round which the
string was wound ; and they did not use any mesh.
The strongest nets were raade of the tendons of aniraals,
of opossum fur, spun with or without fibrous plants.
Mallows, grass, and rushes supplied materials for mats
and baskets, well-rabbed skins for bags, and they had
rude wooden shovels. They cut their food with flint
fastened into sticks ; and their teeth and great toes were
serviceable to them in all operations. The drinking-
cups of sorae of the tribes were the skulls of those whora
they had best loved.

» ^ F

CHAPTER XL
|T length the important moraent anived : the
river was suddenly converted into a broad
sheet of water, evidently the consequence of
a rash from higher ground ; and the noise of its foaming
and tumbling was accompanied by the claraours of the
natives. Other tribes had joined them, and all was
bustle and turmoil. They suffered the first violence to
abate ; then they formed weirs with mats and nets across
convenient places ; and taking a quantity of water in
their mouths, before they placed the weirs, they squirted
it upon them just before setting, to insure luck. Some
then took sraall nets in their hands, and walking into
the inundated parts, dexterously placed them under the
fishes, thus securing their prey, and, biting the fish to
kUl it, threw it to their wives. Some of the latter, how
ever, were also in the water, groping and catching the
fishes ¦with their hands. Captain Spencer joined the
spearing party, for he had practised much during his
travels, and become vety expert ¦with this weapon. All
that he caught he distributed araong the children, which
made him extremely popular.
In a few days the water subsided, and then parties of
divers were formed, who, joining in a line of thirty or
forty, dipped down in succession. But the most in-

2 24 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
teresting portion of the fishety was carried on at night
A bed of wet bark and mud was placed iri the bottom of
a canoe, and sticks of resinous wood, sometiraes brought
from a great distance, taken on board. These were
piled upon the wet mud in the shape of a cone, and
lighted in the stern of the canoe, in which were two men,
the one to attend to the fire, and the other to guide the
canoe and to fish with a spear. The latter part requires
great skill, as the canoe is so unsteady. A fish rises, the
spearman strikes it, drags it to the side, leaps into the
river and secures his prize, which is thrown into the
canoe, and he follows, in order to make a fresh capture.
Nothing can be more picturesque that a fleet of these
canoes ; for the fires, which burn with a peculiarly clear
flame, light up the whole river, and disclose the beautiful
drooping trees on its banks, and the dark forms of the
natives in graceful attitudes, now throwing the spear, and
now struggling with their prey in the water. The women
also dive with great facility, and strength, and go in large
parties. Araong the fishes which were caught there was not
much variety, being mostly of the perch or carp kind.'
One, ho'wever, had very large scales, on each of which
was a pink spot ; and another was remarkable for some
singular bones, placed vertically in the fish, connecting
the spines of the back-fin to the back itself, and in
shape resembling small pieces of tobacco-pipe. Some
were of enormous size, which Captain Spencer felt
certain raust have weighed more than sixty pounds.
Every other day was a day of feasting ; for then they ate
what they had caught, and Kinchela no longer stood in
the light of a solitary instance of gluttony. They never
' Gristes.

CRAY-FISH. 2 25
seemed to think of laying by a store for future support ;
they said they always had plenty on their grounds ; and
their visitor then tried to influence the last-arrived natives
from the interior, who looked weak, eraaciated, and
melancholy ; but he did not meet with any success. He
tried to enforce his precepts by example, and atterapted
to dry fish outside his hut for his future journey ; but
they were invariably stolen. Sorae of these fishes were
merely thrown upon hot ashes and broUed ; but when
their captors desired to take pains, they ¦wrapped them in
a piece of bark, which was folded like the paper used by
ci-nlized cooks for cutlets, and fastened ¦with grass ; they
were then slowly baked in the ashes, and served in the
bark. Among those so treated were some which re
sembled whitebait both in size and flavour.
Fishes were not the only edible animals caught in or
by the side of the river, for there were loads of delicious
Frogs, and excellent Cray-fish, which, when the floods
subsided, came out of holes in the ground. The women
waded for them in the swamps, in long close rows,
walking backwards, and groping with their hands. The
moment they seized hold of one of the Cray-fish, they
tore off its large claws, and put it into a bag, which was
hung round their necks. They called thera Ukodko,'
and captured thousands. The rats were also driven out
of their holes by the floods, and captured with equal
avidity, but were not equally acceptable to the European.
At last Captain Spencer becarae tired with all this
fishing, and the cold and wet of the surrounding neigh
bourhood, and he was longing to start again. The state
ofthe countty, however, was an insurmountable obstacle;
and aU the diversity he could obtain was to ride to some
' Astacus.

2 26 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
distance from the river, and, to his surprise and pleasure,
he always found Kinchela ready to go with him ; for he
did not, even in the midst of temptation, commit his
former enormities. During these excursions they saw
vety few birds which they had not seen before, and these
were chiefly wild-fowl, which carae to feast upon the fish.
On aniving near sorae trees, Kinchela made a sign to his
master to be very cautious ; so he dismounted, and
telling Tiger and Gip to be quiet, the two men, by great
manoeuvring, came near enough to see an imraense
number of those beautiful Cockatoos which have rose-
coloured tippets, and scarlet and yellow crests.^ They
were evidently holding a councU of sorae sort, and had
placed sentinels all round thera on the boughs, which con
stantly stood on tiptoes, as if to watch against danger.
Besides these was a browTi-headed Swallow,^ which had
built nests of clay in rows, one above another, in the
shape of bottles. A Pied Warbler" was very common,
which sang the greater part of the night, and its tones
reminded the Englishman of those of the Nightingale.
A small speckled Dove of great beauty, with hlac plu
mage, white delicate spots, and a red skin round its eyes,
often excited his admiration ; ^ and another species sur
prised him by the power which it had of sending its voice
to a distance, as if it were a large bird, singing far away.°
Sorae very pretty little creatures asserabled in nurabers,
and stood in a circle with their heads inwards.
On returning from one of his rides. Captain Spencer
heard a melancholy sort of chant kept up by a number
of persons ; and on asking Kinchela what it meant, he
' Cacatua Leadbeaterii. ' Chelidon linel.
I ' Acrocephalus Australis. ' Geopelia curvata.
° Geopelia tranquilla.

HATCHET MISSING. 227
was told that the people were singing for the wind to
jump up, that the water might be rough, and better
enable them to catch the Wild Ducks, Widgeons, etc.,
which were now so numerous. When the wind did
"jump up," the natives proceeded to the river, each
having a noose fastened to a long rod. With this in
their hands, they entered the water — a bunch of grass or
reeds on their heads, — -and slowly advancing with a
peculiar whistle they approached the birds, and, slipping
the noose round their necks, pulled them down without
alarming the others.
Captain Spencer's hatchet was missing, and he was
convinced it had been stolen, for he recollected to have
brought it horae in safety on the previous day. The
people appeared to be in a state of stupefaction frora
the excesses of the previous night ; but he determined
to make an instant inquiry, and proceeded to Ugat,
whom he found quite as lively as usual, for he was not
one of the great eaters, and said he never engaged in
such feasts. He cheerfully arose, went to his equally
temperate father, and by various kickings, questionings,
and shakings, the two succeeded in finding out what boys
had been seen about the hut while Tiger was feeding
away from it, for they were sure none would enter while
he was there. They then nodded their heads, and went
straight to one of the huts where parents and all were
asleep. They had some difficulty in rousing them ; but
when they were awake, Ugat laid his hands on a youth
of about fifteen, and desired hira to give up the white
raan's hatchet The boy at first denied the theft; but
on being told that it was known he had slipped in un
perceived and taken it, and that it was useless to deny it,
the rogue cried, and Warrup walked into the hut and

2 28 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA.
discovered it, although conceale'd in a heap of rabbish
at one corner. It was of course restored ; and when
their guest asked the natives how they ascertained which
was the culprit, they said that when they knew who had
been seen near his dweUing, they singled him out,
because he had large eyes, which look everywhere, and
are never stUl, and it is not good to trust a black fellow
hke that The father requested Captain Spencer to name
the punishment; and he ordered that the offender
should not be allowed to eat any fish or fowl for three
days. When Captain Spencer found that Wanup and Ugat
did not eat as the rest did, he invited them to talk to
him ; and he and Kinchela then started for a walk, and
with the restored hatchet cut a quantity of honey frora a
tree, together with a waxy substance, which tasted like
ginger-bread, some of both of which he gave to several
children on his retum, purposely leaving out the thief,
who wae also present " What is the reason," said he to
Kinchela, as they sat under a tree together, " that your
people carry fire-sticks about at night, when they do not
want to make a fire ? " " Because they try to keep away
bad spirits," replied the native. "They always sitting
up in the trees, unless when they go about in canoe on
the river. They have crooked legs ; but they teach the
people to smg." " Tell me soraething about boyl-yas,"
continued his master. " Ugh ! " returned Kinchela ; "it
makes rae so ill. They can do all things ; one come to
morrow to cure poor boy. Boccolo see him ; poor boy
got bad legs." "Well," continued Captain Spencer,
¦" that need not prevent you from teUing me about him
now." "Let me come close then," resumed Kinchela.
" Boyl-ya got bone in his leg, which dead man put there,

THE BOYL-YAS, 229
and he can kill with that. Ugh ! " " He dare not kill
you when I and Tiger are so near ; besides which, you
know you have stones to keep him away." " Oh, Boc
colo ! boyl-ya sit down close, hear Kinchela ; be very
angry. I shall not tell you any more ; he come along in
sky when you sleep. Ugh ! it makes ray head ache ; he
kill us both; eat us up like fire." " Does boyl-ya then
eat men ? " " Yes, Boccolo. All boyl-yas eat man once;
but he not bites, not eat bones. He sits on man's grave ;
but if black fellow be sick, he charm, charm, charm !
He walk away there ! Ugh ! I shaU not tell you any
more.'' AVanup and Ugat that evening confirraed all that
Kinchela had said, and told Captain Spencer that besides
the coraraon boyl-yas, there was one which inhabits water
only, and raakes people die gradually, especially women ;
also one which gives the nightmare, which the English
man thought a very natural disorder for them to have ;
and that the only way to get rid of him, was to jump up,
twirl a lighted stick round the head while they cursed
him, and then throw it at him, for he wants a light, and
when he gets it ¦will go away. They added, that shining
stones were good things to keep away spirits, but women
must not see thera. And, when they took their leave,
they begged of Captain Spencer to witness the power of
the sorcerers the next day. The patient had erysipelas
in the leg, supposed to have been given hira by the water
spirit ; and he was carried to a distance, put upon the
ground, and his friends sat in two rows looking on, but
not near to him. Three sorcerers appeared, coraing in
the figure of a triangle, with bunches of fresh reeds in
their hands, which they frequently shook as they gallop -
aded up to the boy, with the right foot foremost, singing

230 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
a low dirge, which was answered by the natives, who
thumped upon the ground. When they reached the
patient, the foremost fell on his knees and took hold of
the bad leg, whUe his two companions continued to sing
and dance ; he then retired, and each of the others took
his place, and touched the leg; then they all three
danced together, preserving the triangular figure, the boy
in the middle. After this they blew from their mouths,
spat, made all sorts of horrid noises, pressed the sore leg
for the spirit to give signs of going away, and after cany
ing on this farce for some time, they pretended to extract
a sharp stone from the diseased part, which was driven
into the ground too deep for any one to see. The friends
of the boy then took him away, and the sorcerers danced
in a triangle round the spot, and gallopaded all the way
to the river, to drive the evil spirit into the water.
In further conversations with his friends, Captain
Spencer learned the restrictions concerning food ; and
found many of them to be confined to certain ages,
beginning at nine or ten years, and taken off when
advanced in hfe. They told him that a father has
absolute power over his wives' children; and that families
always know where the a,bsent merabers may be, although
dispersed; and that messages are sent, or signal-fires
made, to call thera back in cases of danger ; — that
matters of dispute are discussed in a general assembly of
the tribe, when those who speak may go on till they are
exhausted ; — that all are left to die when they are help
less — even parents ; that chUdren are often kiUed to get
rid of the trouble of rearing them ; that the first tiiree or
four are almost always destroyed ; and that the children
of white fathers are invariably murdered; — that every
family adopts a kobong or tiend^, in the shape of some

NATIVE LAWS AND CUSTOMS. 231
peculiar animal ; and they dare not kill and eat it, unless,
in the first instance, they give it a chance of escape ; —
that naraes are bestowed on account of peculiarities, such
as the Father of Seeing, for a man who always looks
about hira ; that children are named after their mother ;
and that no wonian can marry a nearer relation than her
cousin, and even that vety seldom ; — that a man may
have as many wives as he pleases, and treat them as he
likes, and that there is no marriage ceremony ; — that the
bodies of old women are often tossed into trees, because
they are not worth the trouble of burial ; and sand is put
into the tajtoo wounds, when first made, to render them
hard, and the scars projecting.
The tattooing, they said, varied according to the
country and the tribe. At twelve or fourteen, boys are
partially tattooed; and at about twenty, the shoulders,
arms, and chest are cut with sharp shells, which causes
great suffering, and is often resisted, although it is sup
posed to be a great addition to beauty. Warrup had a
mark like a horse-shoe upon his shoulder. The modes
of burial differ even in the same family. There were
other ways of curing disease than sorcery, they said, for
they bled ¦with a piece of crystal or bone ; which bone, if
bumt, will cause the death of enemies. They use ban
dages for wounds, and bark splinters for fractures. They
suck the bites of snakes, if plenty of water be near with
which they can wash the mouth. There are many natives
deformed and blind — the first caused by eating charmed
food ; but such persons are always respected.
In their intercourse with each other, as far as he
could see, the natives of the interior of Australia ap
peared to be honest and trustful, generous in dividing
spoil, giving the largest share to old persons ; but their

232 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
good qualities were rauch diminished where women were
concerned. This portion of every community was in a
painfully degraded state. They were in all cases more
diminutive than men, seldom attaining even five feet;
their heads were not so well formed, but their hands and
feet were small and delicately shaped. They are raade
to work hard from earliest childhood, whUe the other sex
bask in indolence. They are perfect slaves to their
husbands, and nevertheless possess a certain degree of
influence over them. If any privation is to be undergone,
it is they who are to bear it, even before the children,
who are much indulged. They collect and prepare the
food, dig, raake huts, bring wood for fire, and carry all
the burdens. The women's bag contains all their useful
implements. While their husbands sit by the fire, they
are allowed to shiver in the wet and cold ; and in extreme
heat they are to be .seen toiling with their loads, and
their sole relief a bunch of wet grass on the head. They
paint themselves with green and red, ornament them
selves with feathers, necklaces of kangaroo teeth, and
stems of plants, and are fond of decoration. They are
often promised in marriage during early infancy. When
they become orphans or widows, they belong to the
nearest male relations ; and if a girl be unusually hand
some, she will be covered with scars of spear wounds,
raade by those who have wished to have her for a wife, or
the raarks of injuries done to her by her jealous cora
panions. Both sexes, if you are without protection, are
wUling to afford help, and will go miles out of their Way
to show you your proper direction.
It is very rarely that any great meeting of tribes takes
place without a quarrel. They are generally attacked by
indigestion, in consequence of excess; and indigestion

QUARREL AND COMBAT 233
but too often engenders ill-humour. They are at all
times boastful; and several disputes arose during their
assemblage by the river side, which Warmp allayed by
his influence ; but on one occasion two men of different
tribes were so deterrained to come to blows, that matters
were obliged to take their course. They agreed to attack
each other first ¦with spears, and then with waddies or
clubs ; and a regular ring was to be made for the com
batants the next afternoon. One of them, however, lost
his courage in the moming, and was inclined to let the
affair drop ; but the women were mixed up with it, and
his mother tried to persuade him, for the honour of the
tribe, to raeet his antagonist She made hira a long
speech, which she ended by saying that the eyes of all
the young woraen were upon him. Inconsistent as it
was with the subdued condition of the feraales, this was
conclusive, and the fight took place. The men were
shoAvily painted and decorated, and the graceful attitude
into which they threw themselves when they avoided
each other's thrust, was a fine exhibition of the human
fonn. At length, amid their wild cries, they suddenly
came to a stop, and each offered his leg to the other and
received a spear wound in the thigh. This ended the
spearing part, and then came the club corabat Each
stooped to the other altemately, and received his blow ;
and Captain Spencer found it difficult to divest hiraself of
the belief that there was sorae trick in it ; the blows were
so treraendous that it seeraed impossible for any skull to
bear them, but several were sustained, and then one fell
insensible to the ground, as the other staggered and also
fell. Both raen were carried away, but were walking
about the next moming as if nothing had happened.
Whenever Captain Spencer talked of going, there was

234 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA.
some reason urged on the part of Warrap and Ugat for
detaining him still longer. He had not seen all their
garaes, he had not seen a large kangaroo hunt ; but he
soon becarae so seriously determined, that they at last
hurried their sights on in quick succession. They
promised to let hira witness the throwing of the boo
merang or kiley ; and before they began, they had a
game played with a bunch of emu's feathers tied to a
short stick, which was shaken in defiance, and the sport
consisted of efforts to take it from its possessor. It was
interesting from the display of swiftness, wrestling, jump
ing, and manoeuvring which it evinced. The boomerang
is a thin, curved piece of wood, from two to three feet
long, and two inches broad, one side of which is slightly
rounded, and the other flat. Those intended for war are
the largest, and are less curved, because they are only
intended to fly in a straight direction ; but they are
dangerous weapons from the unerring precision ¦with
which they are thrown. Ugat, who was the most skilful
in the tribe, stood up to show his powers to the English
man ; and he sent his round so as to make a circum
ference of two hundred and fifty yards frora left to right,
when it fell at his feet. For about fifty yards it flew as
rapidly as an arrow, and continued with diminishing
speed till it came to the ground. With a stroke even
raore vigorous, it hovered like a bird in the air, with a
hurtling sound, and taking a downward course, the tip
touched the earth three times with a twang like that of a
harp-string; it then continued its circular course till it
returned to the thrower. Captain Spencer was very much
struck with this singular weapon, the principle of which
he could not at all explain. He was told that nothing
but practice from childhood would enable any one to use

KANGAROO HUNT. 235
it well ; that directly they poised it, the skilful could tell
whether it would fly or not, and that the slightest shaving
from it would prevent its flight The next man who
threw it cast it too forcibly, and when its progress was
consequently arrested, his companions shouted with
laughter. The downward throw was also a failure, for it
passed the spot where it ought to have rebounded,
towered up fifty feet, and then came down quickly. At
night some old boomerangs were lighted at one end,
thrown all at the sarae tirae in different directions,
and the effect was beautiful, like that of birds flying
about with fiery tails. They are rauch used in killing
Cockatoos. A quieter game was that of cat's cradle, in
which these rade natives could have set all the European
players at defiance.
The Kangaroo hunt was then organized, and Captain
Spencer, mounted on Tiger, was ready first; so, having
to wait for them, he rode to the river, and was surprised
to see how its peculiar plants had flourished since he had
last been there. The Geraniums were in full blossom,
and the splendid and reraarkable Dotyanthes excelsa,
with its long, broad, aloe-like leaves, was in all its splen
dour. The hunting party took their way to the spot
where they were sure of raeeting with Kangaroos. It
was no longer the stealthy, artful attack of the native,
whose wives and children he flat on the ground, scarcely
daring to breathe whUe he gets near to his game. It
was not the following of a single man upon its track for
three successive days, till the aniraal, worried and tired,
lies down, careless whether it live or die; but it was a
regular battue. A plain in which the Kangaroos were
feeding was encircled by wood, and the older raen as
signed stations to the younger, so as to sunound the

236 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
animals before they were conscious that enemies were
approaching. They gradually narrowed the circle tUl
one becarae alarmed, and bounded away; but before it
had proceeded far, it was stopped by the most terrific
and hideous shouts. It retumed to its companions, and
they were paralyzed with fear ; the natives then dashed
on them with their spears, and effected a great slaughter.
The prey belongs to him whose spear has first touched it,
however slight the wound may be ; and if, according to
their laws, he is too young to eat it, it is given to his
nearest male relation who is of the proper age. The cries
used in this hunt are peculiar for every stage of it, and
the first is a harsh utterance of the syllable kau. Many
were the feasts held that night, and large was the quantity
eaten; but the Englishman was not forgotten in the
distribution of the best parts, beautifully cooked.
A few nights after the hunt. Captain Spencer was
awoke by a great commotion in the camp ; talking,
quarrelling, and raovement in every direction. He sent
Kinchela to know the reason, and he returned, saying
that the visiting tribe had departed suddenly in the night,
and stolen a young woraan, and now it was found out.
That the river tribe had often been at enmity with it, and
made up their quarrels, but were now deterrained on
foUowing them as soon as they could get ready, and
punish them for all their misdemeanours, without waiting
till they could make a demand for the young woman to
be returned. " Now," thought the Englishraan, " I shall
be able to get away ; " but he was mistaken. His friends
asked him to go to war with them, for white men knew
how to fight. Although a fighting man by profession.
Captain Spencer was not so enamoured of it as to wish
to fight except for his own country, or in self-defence ;

SIGNS OF WAR. 237
and besides this, the crafty sort of warfare of savages
little suited his ideas of fair play. He tried to make
them understand this ; but they said, although he had
not used his gun whUe araong them for fear of frightening
them, they knew he could kill everybody with it; and
they begged him to go to war with them, and shoot every
one of their enemies. He disraissed the deputation by
saying that he would think over the raatter, and let them
know his determination in a day or two.
Nothing now was to be heard but the chipping of
spear-heads, or seen but fires where provision for the
march was preparing, and lumps of paint or bunches of
feathers passing from hut to hut All these employments
were mixed with songs of threats and hatred ; and Cap
tain Spencer plainly heard, in one of the dwellings nearest
to his o^wn, a man singing to himself —
"I'll spear his liver,
I'll spear his lungs,
I'll spear his heart,
I'll spear his thigh, ho ! "
Then his wives took up the burden, and enumerated
other parts of the body to be speared ; and as they are
very rauch influenced by their songs, it was easy to see
that something serious was likely to occur. Captain
Spencer then thought it best to consult Warrup and
Ugat ; and sending for them, he made them, in some
measure comprehend what he felt. They, however,
entreated hira to go with thera, and pointed out a way
by which he raight save rather than spill blood. It was
at length ananged bet^ween them, that the tribe should
start first, he follow, and remain at a distance ; and when
they had thrown their spears, he should fire over the
enemy, but not into them, unless such a proceeding
should be necessary.

238 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
The warriors, fully equipped, departed at early dawn ;
and their feathers, their shining spears, their painted
bodies, and their chants, dying away in the distance, pro
duced a most imposing effect The Englishraan slowly
followed on Tiger, with Kinchela, Gip, and Charlie. He
would willingly have dispensed with the presence of the
two latter, but where he was, they thought they must be
also. He came up with the parties as they stood fronting
each other, in a raost hostile attitude ; he gave the signal
of his arrival in one of the native calls which he had
learned, and remained behind. The spears were thrown,
and some wounded ; but before a second attack was
made. Captain Spencer fired his first rifle-ball over the
heads of the guilty tribe. The flash of the gun, the
sraoke, the whizzing of the ball over their heads, electri
fied the enemy, and made most of the friends trerable ;
and before the former could recover frora their panic, a
second ball sent them all flying, except the Englishman's
own friends, who stood in awful silence. Then galloping
after the fugitives, he fired both barrels of one pistol, and
the rout was complete. They all disappeared, exclaim
ing, " Irru ; Irru ! " On returning from the pursuit, and
laughing at the effect which he had produced, he saw the
body of a female lying on the ground ; she had been
speared, and was insensible from loss of blood, though
not dead. He rode up to Ugat and told him, and she
proved to be the missing woman, who, by the by, had
been a wUling fugitive, and was now struck either by
those who had taken her away, or by some of her own
friends. Captain Spencer proposed to staunch her
wounds ; but her relations refused, and carried her with
them as she was. Warrup and Ugat seemed gloomy and
unhappy, but thanked him very warmly for his inter-

LEA VE-TAKING. 2 3 9
ference, which they said had saved many lives ; and
when they, late at night, had seen him to his hut, they
yet lingered, as if they had something distressing to tell
him. He pressed them to say what was the raatter ; but
they shook their heads, and answered that he had wished
to go away, and they had wished to keep hira a long
time, but now they thought he had better go directly;
they would bring him plenty of provisions, and Kinchela
would tell him their reason when he was gone far. He
was only too glad to profit by this change, and imme
diately made all his preparations ; they were soon com
pleted, and he snatched a short interval for sleep. Just
before dawn his friends appeared with the supplies,
which were lodged in the skins as usual. The good
creatures presented him with two ample opossum cloaks,
made by their wives, and a large bunch of feathers.
Captain Spencer, in return, gave to each of thera sorae
gaUy-coloured handkerchiefs for theraselves and their
wives, and two clasp-knives, with which they seemed
quite delighted. They walked with him for a few railes,
gave directions to Kinchela conceming the way, and
placing their hands on the Englishman's shoulders, and
touching his breast with their head, they took their leave
¦with tears streaming down their cheeks.
At night, after he had chosen a convenient station.
Captain Spencer asked Kinchela to tell him why Warrup
and Ugat had wished him to go away. He replied that
they had given him leave to tell, now he was far off, —
that the people were going to eat that young woman, and
his friends did not like him to be there while they did so.
" Then it is true," said Captain Spencer, " that people in
this countty eat men ! " " Soraetiraes, Boccolo,'' replied
Kinchela. The Enghshraan shuddered, but perfectly

240 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
appreciated the good feeling of Warrup and Ugat which
raade thera desire to spare him so revolting a spectacle.
Kinchela being in possession of the route, they did
not keep close to the river, but avoided its tortuous
course, and merely carae now and then upon its banks.
Ponds, pools of water, sraall lakes and strearas presented
themselves, and signs of natives were frequent This
rendered it necessary to resurae all their forraer vigilance;
and they took it in turns to sleep during the night. After
a long day's march, they bivouacked under a clurap of
trees on the top of a hill, Captain Spencer being always
anxious to avoid low situations, or those which were much
enclosed, for fear of surprise. Kinchela went to collect
firewood, and gather a plant which he said was good for
supper, and which very much resembled cress, while his
master unloaded Tiger. The man returned very speedily,
saying that on the side of the hill, in a plain, there were
sorae natives about to buty one of their people ; and he
could show Captain Spencer a place frora whence he
could watch their proceedings without being seen himself
The travellers accordingly stationed themselves ; then
Gip and Tiger were told to keep quiet, and the former
to watch the things. The grave was already dug, and
the body was wrapped in skins, and bound round with
cords. The women and relatives uttered loud lamenta
tions, scratched their noses and cheeks, tore their thighs,
their breasts, and their backs wdth shells and pieces of
flint, from which the blood flowed freely. The men at
first stood outside with their weapons in their hands, then
they closed round the grave; and the lamentations of
the women were more vociferous than ever. A man
went to the head of the corpse, and another to the feet ;
they cut the cords ; the arms, which were crossed, ¦were

A NATIVE FUNERAL. 241
laid down by the sides ; a gash was made by a sorcerer,
the intestines pulled out, a piece cut off; the women
screamed louder and louder ; a handful of green boughs
was waved over the fire, and thrust into the body ; the
severed part of the entrails ^vrapped in fresh leaves, and
put into a bag ; the rest put back to their place with
more leaves, and the body was again tied up. One
relation violently jumped up, and screamed, seeraing as
if he were going to spear sorae one ; but he was pre
vented, and the severed piece of intestine shown to hira,
as a proof that the deceased had died a natural death.
A skin was spread at the bottom of the grave, and
covered with boughs ; the body placed east and west
upon these ; raore boughs were thro^wn upon it ; the
earth was pushed in with the feet, then raised into a
mound, and the whole covered with bark and netting.
The shrieks were redoubled, and the party dispersed.
Kinchela said that the women would come back alone in
a little time, and cut themselves and cty afresh. The
men had shorn their hair and beards, painted their heads
and breasts with pipe-clay, and even put hot ashes on
their heads to produce a singeing effect His master
asked him who the women were with caps on their heads
made of pipe-clay ; and he said they were the widows of
the deceased.

CHAPTER XIL

pNCHELA," said Captain Spencer, as they
started before sunrise, " we must go back to
the river, for our roots and meal are getting
low ; so let us turn about" They proceeded through a
rich scrub of the pendant Acacia,^ the broad, green leaves
of which drooped, and the blossoms of the richest yellow
prevaUed over all that part of the country. The trees
had every day become more beautiful. It was not the
season for their fruits; but their flowers were profuse.
A Bauhinia, twenty feet high, was covered with white
bunches; and a smaU bush, looking and tasting like
Marjoram, gave the Englishraan home recollections.
Salsolse and Solani were plentiful in patches ; and a
shrub, looking like the Ha^wthorn, shed a delicious per
fume. Kinchela took the shovel, Captain Spencer un
loaded Tiger, and was walking up with the bags, when
the man exclaimed, " Ho ! ho ! " " Ho ! ho ! " said
Charhe, " what's the matter ? " and flew with the utmost
curiosity, and perched himself on the boughs of one of
the drooping trees close by, hoping to find food in the
newly turned-up earth, which was disturbed by the shovel.
" Kinchela have him," said he, holding up an animal
which he had dug out of its hole, and which his master
instantiy, from its extraordinary appearance, recognized
' Acacia pendula.

A CURIOUS BEAST, 243
as the fir-faraed and much-disputed Ornithorynchus para
doxus, which he had so much wished to see, and which
Ugat had told him was so difficult to catch, from its
quickness in burrowing the moment danger approached.
It expired in a few minutes ; and near it were two young
ones, which had been deriving nourishment frora the
mother. " Does this beast lay eggs ? " said Captain
Spencer to his man. " Ho ! ho ! ho ! " cried Kinchela,
and went into a fit of laughter, which was echoed by
Charlie, who added, " Hurra ! huna ! " but to the astonish
ment of all the party, from the trees near by came
another laugh, noisy and half-chattering, which was taken
up by others ; and for sorae minutes there was such an
intense noise, that the Englishman thought they were
about to be attacked by a numerous body of natives ; but
Kinchela laughed again, and said, " Not man, Boccolo,
bird ; ' look at him in tree. He laugh in morning, laugh
when sun goes ; he eats snakes, lizards, plenty things.''
" I heard the same noise in North-western Australia,"
said Captain Spencer ; " but not as loud or ridiculous as
this." " That bird bigger," returned Kinchela ; " sraall
ones go everywhere.'' The skins of all the Ornithorynchi
were carefully preserved, and they were the only incum
brances which the Englishman allowed himself to take.
He did not know that specimens of this curious, duck
billed animal, with its mole-like propensities, were then
common in his native country ; at all events, they were
rare in India, and were preserved for the doctor. Kin
chela and Gip ate the bodies, but they were not tempting
to their master.
The supply of roots made, the party tumed away
from the immediate vicinity of the river, and journeyed
through a countty which presented every beautiful variety
' Dacelo corvina, or Laughing Jackass,

244 ADVENTURES IN AUSJTRALIA.
of scene except lofty mountains ; these were replaced by
rocky hills, sometimes rising in abrapt precipices, some
times looking like a raass of enormous fragments, piled
one upon another; and then lower hills of sandstone
formed a series of undulating plains, or were covered with
the loftiest trees. Upon the latter were many Pines,'
with tiieir tall, straight trunks, and crowns of leaves, each
one looking as if it were fit for the mast of a ship. The
Melaleuca and Leptosperraum were also abundant, and
Gum-trees of numerous kinds, often of enormous height,
rose in various directions ; while small streams and rich
grass made Tiger perfectly happy. So rich a countty was
of course more thickly inhabited ; and. frequently small
parties were met with, whose vicinity demanded the most
careful vigilance, on account of their pUfering propensities.
Captain Spencer had seen the Thugisrh of India, and
therefore was well able to take precautions against
marauders. Gipsy was invaluable, and seemed to under
stand that she must always be on the alert, and yet not
fly into a fit of anger. It was curious to see how her
raanner of proceeding was altered since she carae into
Australia ; and she was now as wary and quiet as she
was before noisy and impetuous. The night they last
tumed from the river, she gave a short, stifled bark,
which, however, was sufficient to rouse her master, who,
without raoving, whispered to her, "Good dog," and both
watched without appearing to do so. Captain Spencer
thought he saw something raoving in the tree above hira,
and, as he pretended to be asleep, that soraething was
soon discovered to be a boy ; for he dropped down, and
for a rainute or two stood close to the body of the tree,
he then threw himself flat upon the ground, and was
slipping himself along towards the baggage, when Captain
' Callilris.

MORE NATIVES, 245
Spencer whispered, " To hira, Gip ! " The dog seized
his leg, and her master his arm, while he fired his pistol
over his head, and gave hira a good shaking. The noise
awakened the heavy-sleeping Kinchela, whose practised
eye soon detected a considerable body of natives running
away ; and as the Englishman only wished to alarm, he
suffered the boy to run after them.
There was no accounting for the fact, but equally
without reason, some of the natives were ferocious, and
required the utmost courage and activity to keep them
off, while others were anxious to conciliate and be
friendly. Some begged for everything which they saw,
and even tried to take the baggage frora before the
owner's eyes, while others seemed not to expect or wish
for anything whatever. Among these last, were a set of
men who, from their kooliraans, or vessels of bark for
carrying water and provisions, gave thera some kangaroo
meat and roots, and asked thera to come and see a
dispute settled. They followed the natives to a hollow,
where a large party was encamped ; and one man seated
in the midst, with his head hanging on his breast, was
continually uttering a mournful cty. A pause ensued,
and the cry was answered by some women. He rose
and advanced, repeating his lamentations ; and his com
panions also rose, and forraed a circle round hira. The
men who had caused the death of the mourner's friend
stood still with their spears in their hands ; the son of
the dead man was behind, and was thS accuser ; and the
widows of the dead were with him waUing and ctying.
The avenger in the raiddle asked for a spear, but no one
gave it to hira ; he then took one from the hands of his
friends, and paced furiously up and down before the
eneraies, threatening, Ctying, and brandishing his weapon.
After he had sufficiently excited himself, he lifted his

246 ADVENTURES -IN AUSTRALIA.
spear, and each of the accused, to the number of five,
held out his left arra without shrinking. He thrust them
all with his spear, after which he hurig his head, and
renewed his wailings and gesticulations for a time, and
finished the affair by ordering all present to go to their
different encampments. Captain Spencer gave a hand
kerchief to the man who had invited him to witness the
ceremony ; and, refusing all solicitations to make a loriger
stay among them, he, too, pursued his route.
As the travellers advanced, they came upon several
tributaries, which fell into the main river ; but helpless as
he was in regard to guidance, — he was uneasy, whUe
foUowing the main stream, to find that he was making
much way to the north. However, he knew that he
should still be in the track of settlers, and ha-ving no
apprehensions for food or water, he freely gave himself
up to the enjoyment of the beautiful country through
which he passed — so much less monotonous than that of
the west, and so much more fertUe than that of the south.
There were many familiar forms of soil, vegetation, and
aniraal life. Where the first was poorer than usual, the
Casuarina were so nuraerous as to form a scrub ; and the
soft breezes sometimes swept their stringy and leafless
branches, the sounds of which an imaginative person
could easily have corapared to the tones of an ^olian
harp ; a few beautiful parasites hung gracefully aver
them, and adomed this dark, gloomy tree with red blos
soras tipped with green. A pale Mantis, with green and
pink wings, often seemed to fly before him, as if a guide ;
and when he took it in his hand, it would turn its head
round and look at him. The spur-winged Plovers again
uttered their pretty, but plaintive cries ; and beautiful
varieties of Pigeons, especially the bronze -winged,
abounded. There was a large white Ibis, that was

BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, 247
very picturesque; and the Parrots and Cockatoos were
raore beautiful and varied than ever. The Crinura often
whitened the whole plain. There was also a shrub
which looked like a white Lilac ; the Calosteraraa raised
its bunches of purple bells, and the Amaryllidae were of a
beautiful straw colour. Heath-like shrubs now and then
entangled Tiger's feet, and marked the presence of a
loose sandy soil ; while the Acacia pendula always pre
vaUed in the fissures, on which snails were often found.
Having pulled up under the shade of a lofty tree,
some birds on the lower branches appeared to be as
much astoriished at the presence of our travellers as
other two-legged creatures had been. These birds had a
peculiar chirp, which Captain Spencer imitated, upon
which they flew round him with great farailiarity, and
some even perched on Tiger's back; he then whistled,
and they replied, vatying their answer with a nuraber of
the sweetest notes, very different to their chirp, which
had been harsh and grating. The raales and feraales
seemed to differ much in plumage, especially about the
head. They had not been seen before, and were not
again ; and on this solitary occasion they were disturbed
by Charlie, who, When he saw them clustering round
Tiger, dashed in among them, screaming, " Rogues !
scoundrels! ho! ho!" — the unbrotherly terras with which
he always saluted other birds — and they dispersed. The
Gum-trees at times forraed the most charraing, open
forests, in which beautiful shrubs perfumed the ain Kan
garoos were numerous. The most delicious yeUow Sonel
sprang up under their feet, which afforded an exceUent
salad ; and the river, when it occasionally swelled into a
lake, was covered wilh Wood Ducks, whose long legs,
formed for perchirig on trees, made them an easy prey to
Kinchela, who dived under the water, and caught hold of

248 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
them. There were also other kinds, frequenting the
profuse quantities of Cyperus, which pushed forth their
globular heads of flowers ; and on these a spider, covered
with spines, spun its geometrical webs.
Gipsy one day came upon a ball of spines, which she
rolled about with her paw ; nevertheless she was a little
afraid of it ; and when her master took it up, he found it
was a living creature, and putting it gently down, and
quietly watching it, it unrolled itself, and then he knew
that it must be the Spiny Ant-eater, with spines not only
all over its body, but in the roof of its mouth, and also
where the teeth of any other aniraal would have been.
The Santalum often varied the landscape, with some of
its branches drooping, while others stood erect, and with
its elliptical leaves a foot and a half long. A small sort
of Melon,' with not much flavour, but very cool and re
freshing, was often found in the plains ; and they saw
some old women gathering them, who canied mummied
bodies on their backs, under their opossum cloaks. There
were traces of natives in every direction, such as broken
mussel-shells, heaps of grass, ashes, etc. ; and Kinchela
found a rude irapleraent, forraed of a piece of iron stuck
on to a stick with ceraent of gum. There was a purple
Ereraophila, a curious Jasmine, growing like a shrub, and
an exquisite AbutUon ; while Honeysuckles, large Bind
weeds, and a magnificent Coral-tree, the seeds of which
had a sweet, kernel-like flavour, were all spread before
them to gladden their senses. Tiger revelled in new
grasses ; and new birds as well as new plants seemed to
present themselves at alraost every step. A Solanum,
with tempting-looking benies, would have been avoided
by the Englishman, frora the fear of its being poisonous ;
but Kinchela unhesitatingly stepped forward, and ate
' Cucumis pttbescens.

A HERD OF WILD HORSES. 249
some of the fruit. They supped upon that of a trailing
plant, which was shaped like an egg, and, when roasted,
was excellent The rains had comraenced earlier in this
part of the country, and this accounted for the greater
development of fruit
A tramping of many hoofs startled Captain Spencer
from his watch, and Tiger also, who had been quietly
sleeping on the sod. He rose suddenly, and stood with
dilated nostrils, fore-legs stretched out, and his tail half
raised, when a troop of horses came up, as if to claim
hira for their companion. Their eyes flashed, they
neighed, retreated, returned, and played all sorts of
antics, being only kept off with the handle of a spear.
For a moraent poor Tiger was tempted to follow his
brethren, and made a rush towards them ; but the voice
of his raaster recalled hira, and he trotted back, and
rubbed his nose against hira, as if to say that he was
sorry for having yielded, even for a moment. Kinchela
was excessively alarmed at the appearance of so many
big dogs, and gladly, but tremblingly, assisted his master
in raaking several large fires around themselves, to keep
away what he looked upon as monsters. They hovered
about the party for several days, and caused considerable
annoyance, for they carae near enough to kick, and one
even tried to bite Tiger. "Are these indigenous to
Australia ? " thought Captain Spencer. " No ; they raust
have escaped from the herds of settlers, and become
irrecoverable." The marks of cloven hoofs were often
visible on the soft banks of the river ; but there were no
signs of a spur to any of them, and the conclusion was
that these were caused by unrecovered cattle.
Glimpses of very distant blue mountains now began
to appear from tirae to tirae, when the traveUers hap
pened to mount a hUl, and which Captain Spencer

250 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
thought promised vicinity to civilized habitations, for he
knew that a chain existed in' Eastern Australia. On
descending from one of these hills, they came upon a
wide reach of the river, and determined to pass the night
on its fertile banks. Beyond it, on the other sidcj was a
thick wood ; and before they could take up their position,
from its covert issued merry and loud sounds, soriie of
which Captain Spencer fancied were coraposed of English
words ; and his heart beat quickly at the hope of meetirig
his countryraen. Shortly after, thousands of cattle
eraerged from the trees, and rashed down the sloping
bank which bordered the river. From another part
carae eighty or a hundred horses; and in advance of
them was a man on horseback, wearing a round hat
covered with oil-skin, mackintosh leggings, short jacket,
and a short-handled whip with an immensely long lash.
Behind the cattle were three others, also mounted, and
several natives with spears. The first had e-vidently come
to reconnoitre, and to find the best spot for crossing the
river ; and there was something about him which seemed
to say that he was the master of the lively and numerous
procession; It so happened that Captain Spencer, in following a
native track, had stopped opposite the ford ; but how
fearing that he and his companions would be over
whelmed by the multitude as they came across, he re
moved to sorae distance. He tucked Gipsy on to his
knapsack, and she peered over his shoulder ; Tiger stood
quietly by his side, with Charlie on his back ; Kinchela,
spears in hand, eagerly contemplated the unusual scene ;
and Captain Spencer himself stood still, resting on his
gun. The grouping was beautiful, and the master of the
herds was evidently struck by it, for he paused, and
seemed to scan it with a curious gaze. At last he called

MEETS WITH EUROPEANS. 251
out, " Are you an Englishman ? and do you know any
thing about the ford ? " "I am an Englishman," replied
Captain Spencer; "but as it is the first time I and my
servant have been heire, we are both ignorant of its
depth ; its situation is most probably where you now
stand." The owner of the cattle plunged into the water,
and ascertained the nature of the locality; he then re
turned, gave the signal for crossing, and himself assisted
in driving and urging the beasts into the proper direction.
It was a most aniraated scene. At first, horses and cattle
refused to enter the water; then came the shouts and
exclamations of the drovers, the slashing of their long
whips, the screams and cries of the natives, mingled with
the snortings and bellowings of the beasts, and the bark
ings of large dogs. The refractory, instead of crossing,
rushed along the side of the river, and, by their bad
example, dispersed the others; then their masters gal
loped after thera, the blows rained thickly on their hides,
and they strove to regain the bush, or forest The
mounted horses turned sharply on their haunches, got
a-head of them, and their riders drove them back, forra
ing a display of horsemanship which would have done
credit to an Arab ; and Captain Spencer longed to un
load Tiger, and go to their assistance. At last, a few
beasts, more docUe or raore frightened than the rest,
were slashed and pushed into the water, and in a few
minutes a large extent of the river was covered with
heads and horns, the dogs swimming round and round
to keep thera frora being too widely scattered.
At length all were safe over, and were driven to the
plain beyond the hill, where there was excellent grass ;
and when collected into two parties, a watch was formed,
and fires made at close intervals all around, both to
prevent the herds from straying, and the incursion of

252 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
natives. With Gipsy stUl on his back, and his two other
corapanions following him. Captain Spencer then ad
vanced, his heart thriUing with pleasure as he heard the
principal stranger say to his chief man, " We have done
it well this tirae, and the horses and cattle are well
broken in ; we never passed a ford with so little trouble ;
but who can this be coraing to us ? " " He has been
doing the same as ourselves," replied the driver, "and is
now returning." " No, no," said the first speaker, " he
has never driven a herd of cattle, I am sure : a pack
upon his horse — ^which, by the by, is one of great value,
— an unknown bird on the top of the pack, a dog upon
his knapsack, his clothes patched, and a native servant, —
who can he be ? " Captain Spencer was much amused at
the audible observations of the cattle-owner, who seeraed
to be quite careless, or unconscious that he was heard.
The traveUer was himself scanning the new arrival, who
was a remarkably fine young man about five-and-twenty
years of age ; and whose appearance, even in his travel
ling garb, was strikingly that of the gentleraan, while the
bronzed cheek told that he had been long exposed to
the sun. The thick, clustering curls on his neck, the
short, full, and glossy beard which encircled the lower
part of his face, the clear sparkling eye, the broad chest
and shoulders, the firm yet good-natured raouth, and the
frank and animated expression of the whole countenance,
would have made him a reraarkable person anywhere ;
but to a wanderer, who had been so long from his own
countrymen, and who had just been living entirely with
savages, he looked like a being sent from another world.
He dismounted, and stood to receive the soldier's salute,
who, even in raising his raisshapen grass hat from his
head, created a favourable impression ; and the courtesy
was returned with a grace and polish of which cattle-

THE OVERLANDER' S SURPRISE. 253
dri\-ing in the wilderness could not deprive a man of
birth and education. " Have you come from Adelaide?"
asked he. " No," replied the Captain, " and I can
scarcely tell you in a few words where I do corae from.
It is now sorae raonths since I have seen the face of
a white raan, and very raany since I heard my native
tongue. I am Edward Spencer, captain in the — regi
raent of Borabay Native Infantry. Wounds and fatigue
sent me in search of health, my vessel was wrecked on
the northern coast, and I have found my way from thence
to where I now am ; part of the time with only my dumb
corapanions, but since then, the native whom you see
has been added to ray followers, and to which addition
I probably, under God's blessing, owe my existence. I
could not have traversed the desert without his assistance.
It is now my turn to inquire who — " "PhUip St John,
an Overlander," said the young man hastily, holding out
his hand with frank cordiality; "all travellers are or
ought to be friends ; you must share my damper to-day.''
" I do not doubt that damper may be very good, better
food perhaps than I can give to you ; but I ara the oldest
inhabitant of this part of the country, and therefore I
must be allowed to provide your supper. Kinchela and
I have a tolerable stock just now, but our mode of eating
is very rough ; therefore if you have a canteen with you,
you had better furnish yourself with fork and spoon."
Mr. St. John sraUed, and said, " I accept your offer with
as much friendliness as you make it ; and while you pre
pare this noble repast, I will settle my men and my
beasts for the night ; and when we have eaten, you will
tell me sorae of your adventures, wUl you not ? I never
had such an insatiable curiosity to know all about a
person, as I have had ever since I caught sight of that
plurae of cockatoo feathers in your hat" "Agreed,"

254 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
said Captain Spencer; "people like to talk of thera
selves." When Mr. St. John returned, the supper was set out
in pieces of bark, in a profusion which surprised hira.
There were stewed Kangaroo meat, baked Duck, boiled
Trefoil, which reserabled spinach ; Sonel salad. Cray
fish, cakes of Grass-seed by way of bread, and sorae
powdered dust which resembled mustard,' and salt was
supplied by small pieces of the salsolaceous plants. The
native Melons, and the fruit of a Solanum, which tasted
like an apricot, formed the dessert ;• and the Overlander's
surprise was frequently expressed in warm terms. " You
will excuse the absence of wine," said his entertainer;
"my friend Kinchela, with all his cleverness, has not
been able to find that." " I have brandy," said Mr. St
John, drawing the flask frora his pocket. " No, keep it
all for yourself. Such things and I have long been in
separate quarters ; the only substance with which I have
been able to flavour water here has been honey." " I
raust say, if this is your usual fare in the desert, I can
not pity you." " It is not always so abundant; this is a
fertUe spot, and we know how to take advantage of it ;
but there have been times when our hunger-belts have
been drawn very tightly round us. Even here our bill of
fare might be raore meagre, if there had not been rain
lately.'' "Yes,'' said Mr. St John, "the great bane of
Australia is the occasional droughts, which I am told are
of rarer occurrence on the western coast. To the east
we have been lately without rain for three years. But
what have you made your bread of? It is ten times
better than my daraper, which is only flour, water, and
salt." Captain Spencer told the Overlander, and then
' From the wood of a Gyrostemon, \Yhicli is ,-i tree with bluish
leaves.

CONVERSATION. 255
produced meal from roots, which he said he should taste
on the morrow. " Have you found a substitute for te"a ?
for there are some trees here which are said to taste like
that plant.'' " I believe I know what you mean ; I tried
some once, but did not like the flavour, and I have done
very well without." "But a cigar will perhaps be a
treat?" "I smoked a great deal in India; but being
now totally weaned from the habit, I wUl not resume it
I have had a great many lessons to learn; but I ara
thankful for thera, and hope to be wiser in future." A
fine dog, who had found out his raaster, now bounded
towards them, and received a portion of food, after which
he raade advances towards Gip, who received the civili
ties by showing her teeth and growling. Mr. St John
ordered the dog to be taken away ; and whUe Kinchela
put everything in order, and his master gave him instruc
tions for the raorrow, the Overlander raade his final
inspection of his stock and raen, and then returned to
Captain Spencer, to enjoy his narrative. Kinchela
¦vvrapped hiraself in his kangaroo skins, Tiger lay down
by his raaster's side, and Gipsy seated herself on his
knees. Charlie, however, was not to be seen. "My
cautious bird," said his raaster, " is, I believe, frightened
at nurabers. I must whistle hira back." The accus
tomed signal was given and answered, and the bird flew
to the spot, exclaiming, " Charlie's coming, aU's right !
Boccolo, Sahib, Ned Spencer ! " " What an extraordinaiy
creature ! " said the Overlander ; " how can he know
what to say?" "He has been a great amusement to
me," replied the traveller, " and I have taught him certain
sentences for certain occasions, so that when these occa
sions recur, he always repeats thera ; I cannot tell you
what a comfort this bird was to rae, when I had no other
thing to speak to; and he really is a droll, sensible

256 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
creature, full of sly gravity and impudence." "I hope
you are not sleepy," said Mr. St John, " fpr I must have
your histoty directly." The talking continued far into
the night, Mr. St. John occasionally interrupting the
narrator by his observations and questions, and then
both slept from exhaustion. In the morning, when they
had bathed and resumed their dress, Mr. St John, tuck
ing his arm within that of his new friend, said, " Corae
with me and inspect the men and the stock. My drovers
are good, honest fellows, and come frora Scotland ; and
the natives make vety good servants in this way, for here
they are not terapted to drink. Do you know that I
cannot go away to-day ? I mean to be still your guest,
as you have already taken upon yourself the office of
host. I must talk a great deal more with you, and
hear about the capabilities of Western Australia for
cattle-farms." The friends breakfasted, and then the Overlander
said, " Spencer, you must tum back, and come ¦with me
to Adelaide. I expect to make a good round sum of
my cattle there, and you shall share it, and start with rae
on another expedition. You know the country, you
know raany of the natives, and I suspect we must shortly
find a new field, into which we raust conduct our enter
prises. Already the Munay, the twin river of the
Darling, and rauch the finer' of the two, has its banks
lined with cattle-stations ; and the whole country will
soon be covered with them. We are the pioneers, and
perhaps we might, for our lifetime, find spots enough
between this and Adelaide. But the mining property
there increases, and the pastoral must in a measure suffer.
Where we now stand, there wUl probably, in a few years,
be the homestead of sorae settler ; the plain will be
divided into pastures, and the hills into sheep-folds. But

DIVING FOR FISH. 257
you will come with me, Spencer?" " You forget," replied
his friend, " that I am a soldier on leave of absence, and
that I ara not my own master. I confess, that were it
not a point of honour and duty, I should be somewhat
tempted ; for if my wanderings have brought suffering,
they have not been without their charms ; and with such
a companion as you are, I would willingly go all over the
ground again, except the stony desert." "But what is
your black fellow about in the river?" interrupted the
Overlander. " Diving for fish, for our dinner." "Really,
you know all the resources of the country ; you are ex
actly the man. I should blunder through with that heavy
daraper, brandy, and rautton, which we cook in a great
pot ; while you, with your more acute perceptions, tum
everything to account with absolute refinement" " And
yet," said the soldier, " it has only been for the gratifica
tion of my appetite." " Depend on it, it would be the
same in everything." " You are complimentaty ; I must
teach you some of our secrets. Corae and see our oven,
now going to work upon the stock for our future joumey.
I have had the supply doubled for you, which raay last a
few days."
Mr. St. John was so pleased with the oven, that he
called his men to inspect it, and watched the process of
Kinchela's and Captain Spencer's arrangements. The
stearaing with wet grass was first performed; then the oven
was cleaned again, heated, and made fit for baking ; and
just as it was closed for that purpose, Charlie flew back,
saying, " Boccolo, Ned Spencer ; such a row ! " and
stationed himself near Tiger. " There are natives near,-
and in numbers too," said his master. " I have taught
him to give me this warning, and I would advise you to be
on the look-out for thera. They are always more or less
afraid of cattle and horses ; but some of the tribes about
s

258 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
here are vety mischievous, and where you least expect
them the plains will teem with their numbers."
The guns were loaded, and watch set, when Kin
chela, mounting a tree, told his master that there were
"plenty black fellows," to the west of them; and Captain
Spencer advised that a volley, of powder only, should be
fired in that direction, which would probably disperse
them. The orders were given and obeyed, and the
hostUe party decamped ; but the travellers now joined
the Overlanders, and took their tums in watching.
Kinchela was most successful in his captures and
cooking, and so pleased at the praises which he received,
that, of his own accord, he again repaired to the river,
and when the Overlanders departed, had a quantity of
fish ready for them. "That native lad," said Mr. St
John, " is already half-civihzed." " I have done my best,"
observed Captain Spencer, "and I am surprised at my
own success; I believe he now prays wdth a tolerable
notion why he does so ; the trial will be at Sydney,
where I may not be able to attend to hira as closely as I
could wish. But why do you not tty to educate your
natives ? " " Because I never thought of it, in the first
place ; and in the second, I should have rauch to undo ;
they have all either been bom among white men, or lived
with them from their earliest age, seen the worst of our
people, and their slight degree of taming has taken from
their energy, without planting anything in retum. It
has often corae across me, how unjustly we, generally
speaking, behave to these aborigines." " Araong them,"
observed Captain Spencer, "are some of superior intel
lect, such as Warrup and Ugat ; but I do not know if
they are capable of receiving instruction. Has it been
tried?" "Yes," answered Mr. St John. "I do not
know much about Sydney, but there are schools there ;

EDUCATION. 259
and at Adelaide they have learned to read, write, and
cipher with facility. I do hope that the araount of their
degradation wUl be dirainished at every new settiement,
and that we shall never again hear of their being fired
upon like so many wild beasts, or being executed accord
ing to our laws, which they do not understand, and in
utter ignorance that they had committed any crime.
Their greatest vice about Sydney is their intoxication,
which, you know, prevents all progress. What you told
me last night, about their inherited hunting grounds,
prevented me from sleeping soundly; and long before
you were awake, my mind was labouring under a feeling
of usurpation, which made me very uncomfortable ; and
yet, how are they to be civiUzed, and receive the
blessings of Christianity, unless we corae among them ?
The aboriginal question is a difficult one to settle, and
only of two things can we be certain, — that we have no
right to treat them ill ; and that we cannot blame them,
when, after we have usurped their lands, and driven
Kangaroo away, as they say, — which, in other words, is
to deprive them of their sustenance, — they strive to turn
us out by the only means in their power, physical force,
administered in the only style of warfare wdth which they
are acquainted."
"Did you not see the Munay at all?" continued
Mr. St John, after a pause. " I cannot answer any geo
graphical questions," replied Captain Spencer. " With
out a chart, and with an erring compass, I can but guess
at what I saw, further than that I was in the Bight of
Australia, to the east of King George's Sound, and that I
believe I skirted Lake Torrens. You tell rae we are now
on the Darling." "It is well for me," retumed his
friend, " that you are here, because I have raet you ; but
you would have been delighted with the Murray, which

2DO ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA,
is never, like this river, reduced to a chain of ponds, but
flows continuously, and overflows its low lands every
year, at the rate of an inch per day, and has a course of
from thirteen to fifteen hundred miles. In many places
it is bordered by yellow perpendicular cliffs, in which are .
to be found not only shells, but various bones and shark's
teeth. The land to the south of it is grassy, and full of
beautiful flowers, chiefly Orchidae of every colour ; and
beyond this are low sand hUls, leading to flats like dty
sea-marshes, covered with salsolaceous plants, which are
vety wholesome for the occasional feeding of cattle.
There is a sort of liquorice, too, which grows on these
plains ; and the beautiful Nitraria Australis is abundant
on the southern bank, which the natives eat raw, stem
and all. I presume that what are called the Darling
Downs ' will be converted into cattle-stations, and I do
not see why they should not be as fine a pasture district
as that of Port Philip and its neighbourhood, called
Australia Felix; though the distance from a seaport
would raake the transport of wool, hides, and tallow
rather difficult."
" You were speaking of the mines of Adelaide," said
Captain Spencer ; " what do they find in them ? The
natives with whom I lived told rae they knew Adelaide
well, and said there were many men there who went to
the mountains, dug very deep holes, and got hea-vy stones
out of them. I am sure I have alraost ever3rwhere seen
plenty of iron in large pure masses, as well as mixed
with sand and other things ; also copper after I left Lake
Torrens, and I suspect gold." " Just the very things,"
• The Darling Downs, Queensland, i-iow are, and have for years
been amongst the very finest station properties of the Australias.
The distance to Brisbane, the seaport, is now accomplished with
ease and comfort over good road and railway.

MINES OF ADELAIDE, 261
replied Mr. St. John ; " both Mount Barker and Mount
Lofty, which by the by, are fossUiferous, are crossed by
igneous rocks, containing rich metallic veins, and
Adelaide stands upon the same sort of soil. In Mount
Lofty, on which grow large stringy bark trees, is what is
called the Burra-Burra stone, which yields an enormous
supply of copper, and in Mount Barker lead is found ;
but it is difficult to say where metals do not exist in that
district. The small quantity of gold which has been
met with is of the purest kind, and there are indications
of quicksilver. The copper was discovered in 1848 by
a Mr. Dutten; and considerable difficulty arose in
making the mines profitable, from being obliged to send
the ore to England to be smelted, which was very ex
pensive ; now, however, sorae one has corae from England,
who has established smelting-works, and the raines go on
like wild fire. The Burra-Burra galleries are cut through
solid blocks of ore, and every precious stone has been
found there except the diamond, especially opal of the
most precious kinds. The mines are worked by associa
tions or corapanies, and raore than a thousand raen are
employed in them. The Burra-Burra last year yielded a
profit of ;^ 5 2,000, which was distributed among indi
viduals." " How far are these mines from the town of
Adelaide ? " asked Captain Spencer. " Ninety mUes,''
was the reply. " The district in which they are situated
is very banen, and separated from the rest of the colony
by a range of high hills, which is rather an obstacle to
the conveyance of the ore to the port. At present it is
all carried by bullock-drays ; and much difficulty would,
I think, be found in making a tram-road across. The
expenses of working will, I suppose, be diminished by
the discovety of coal near Sydney ; but a mine of that
mineral near Adelaide would be invaluable." " Could I

262 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
not see these metallic mountains frora Lake Torrens ? "
inquired Captain Spencer. "I should think not," said
Mr. St John, " for they are not of great elevation ; they
run frora north to south, and are about fifteen or
twenty miles broad. No one knows what may happen
there ; for two shocks of earthquake have been felt in
Adelaide, and these cannot occur often without causing'
alterations. Among other odd things, I was once at
Adelaide, when some remarkable visitations of birds '^
occurred in the town and neighbourhood; you could
almost have walked upon them, and they reminded me
of locusts, only that they were not destructive. They
were never before seen there, and have never retumed."
"With these mining riches I should suppose, then,
that Adelaide will never be conspicuous as an agricul
tural colony." " It has many capabilities for such ; and
there is a sort of cotton-tree there, very like the real
Gossypium, called Sturtia, after that brave Captain Sturt,
who has been farther into the interior than any one else ;
unless, indeed, you exceeded him." " I dare say I did
not ; for he probably carried water and food with him."
" Well ! you have done wonders. I cannot think how
you contrived to find out what was good to eat when left
by yourself." " I certainly was puzzled, because the
general knowledge which I possessed turned out to be
of little or no use. I knew that it was dangerous to
meddle with UmbelliferK; but I only met with two
specimens in the West, one of which was tire Wild
Carrot; but when a raan depends entirely on himself,
his wits are sharpened, and thoughts are put into his
head. I made one or two raistakes, as that of the Zamia
Nuts; and of course, without Kinchela, I should never
have thought of eating the roots of the Gura-trees, and
' Tribony.x.

CHARACTER OF NATIVES, 263
some other things. Tiger's sagacity often directed me,
and Gip brought me many a meal. But a word or two
concerning the natives. If I have spoken favourably
enough of them to interest you in their behalf, it is not
because I ara insensible to their defects; for while I
make allowance on the score of their being savages, I
must not conceal from you that, in some points, their
morality is even more lax than any I ever heard of; and
I should think the females the most degraded and ill-
treated of the human race ; yet they are capable of
gratitude and attachment. All these people know they
must be conquered eventually by the white race; but
this does not subdue their energetic spirit. ^Vhile I try
to enlist you in their behalf, I must caution you against
the extreme cunning, which they consider to be a virtue.
Recollect they are never without their weapons; and
while they appear to be unarmed, their spears and clubs
are concealed close by. Even while they have advanced
with bought in their hands, as tokens of peace, they have
been dragging their spears through the grass between
their toes, not for any premeditated attack on me, but for
fear that I should be treacherous. Nomadic as they are,
you may ra'eet with ray friends ; and I am sure my name,
Boccolo Tence, as they call me, will awaken kind recol
lection ; but on this they may build extortionate demands,
I owe thera sorae reparation for the life wliich self-pre
servation obliged me to sacrifice ; and I should like to
extort a promise from you, that you would never fire
upon to hurt them, tUl you have given time for their first
impulse to subside ; nevertheless, trust them not entirely,
at any time," "But you trust Kinchela?" "I do,
because I consider him as peculiarly situated, and utterly
separated from the influence of tribe and relations ; and
moreover my destruction would probably involve his own.
But you start to-morrow, you say ? "

264 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
" Yes ; and I feel that some account of myself is due
to you. Brought up at Eton, and a younger son, I was
intended for the army ; but in peaceful times your Indian
service is the only one of activity, and I felt myself full
of enterprise and strength. I therefore asked my father to
give me my younger son's portion, and let me raake ray own
way. My lady mother — kind, good soul — was shocked
at the idea of my coming to a convict land, which was
all she knew of it ; but I talked her over, and here I ara.
This is my third overland journey, and I have been
successful. It was my intention to retum as soon as I
had acquired a certain sum ; but at present there is a
charm in this wild life which attaches me to the place,
and I feel as if I could not as yet go back to the old-
world forms. Moreover, from your conversation, new
thoughts have come over me, and I appear to have a
higher purpose. If I do ever acquire influence, I pro
mise to do all the good I can. But how shall I hear
frora you ? for you must nurture the good feelings which
have sprung from you. I must make you a chart for
your guidance, and while I do so, give me your instruc
tions." Thus speaking, Mr. St John took sorae paper
from his pocket-book, and sketched the route which his
friend ought to follow. He then wrote an introduction
for him to a Mr. Onslow, the proprietor of an estate on
the Hunter river.
Putting the papers into Captain Spencer's hand, the
Overlander continued to speak, saying, " I have noted
down a few landmarks. You must make northing, and
then come south again, and you will have to cross yon
blue mountains. My friends the Onslows wiU receive
you with affection for ray sake, and will put you in the
way of getting to Sydney. Hospitality is everywhere
shown in this country; but do not be tempted to stay

PARTING WITH MR. ST, JOHN. 265
anywhere except with the Onslows. I think you will be
at first taken for a bush-ranger ; in fact, that was ray first
opinion of you, and I believe it was your elegant hat that
put it into my head." " Not a word against my hat," in-
terruiDted Captain Spencer, with mock gravity ; " it is a
sample of my genius, and the most comfortable head-
covering I ever had." " Well," resuraed his friend, " ask
your coramander-in-chief to adopt it in the regiment ; but
I must put you on your guard against these escaped
felons, for you are coming into their neighbourhood.
Their impudence and daring are sometimes even laugh
able, and their cool courage worthy of a better cause ;
but they are, nevertheless, troublesorae corapanions, and
murder is not unfrequent araong thera. Now for your
address." " I had better give you that of my agent in
Bombay ; always put your narae outside your letters, as I
shall leave especial orders about thera. I can scarcely
believe that we met as strangers the day before yesterday,
and now that it is such pain to part." " My dear fellow,"
said the Overlander, " believe that this feeling is mutual,
I am sure we shall meet again." " If not here," said Cap
tain Spencer, lifting the despised grass hat frora his head,
" we shall when both are called up for our final judgment;
and may we be admitted together into that Heaven which
is, or ought to be, the object of our existence ! My lonely
travels, my marveUous preservation, the raajesty of the
wilderness, have raade rae a deeper thinker than I have
yet been ; and I have no doubt the best lessons for both
of us have been leamed in Australia."
A pause ensued for a few moments, which was broken
by the quick, ardent Overlander. " Do not suppose,''
said he, " that I am unobservant of the highest of all
duties ; your books were all drowned, therefore you shall
have my pocket Bible." So saying, he put the sacred

266 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
volume into the hands of the traveller. A flush of plea
sure crimsoned the sun-burnt cheek of the soldier. "It
is indeed a treasure," he said ; " but what can I bestow
in return ? unless, indeed, you will have my hat ? " " Not
your hat, but bestow the plume upon me, which I will
keep for your sake for ever ; but we can exchange pistols,
though not shots," added he, smiling, " and that will be
another remembrance between us : the superior value of
yours shall be your present : you will soon manage mine.
Teach Charlie to say Philip."
Fish and roots were supplied as plentifully as time
would allow by Kinchela, who had been active in pro
curing and preparing thera ; the cattle were in raotion ;
the friends shook hands in sUence, but a liquid lustre
glistened in the eyes of each. Captain Spencer watched
the Overlanders tUl they were about to enter a wood ;
handkerchiefs were waved for the last tirae ; and then he
thoughtfully and sadly tumed towards the river. " Come,
Kinchela," said he, " let us cross directly ; and since we
have a sheep for our dinner, we need not stop to get
more provisions." " Boccolo too much sorty," said the
native; "but we soon see plenty more white fellows.
Kinchela get roots." The little party forded the river
in safety, and, taking the direction pointed out by
Mr. St. John, they bent their way to the long-desired
settlement

CHAPTER XIII.

j|HE spirit of romance came strongly upon Captain
Spencer, and a lingering regret that he had not
tumed back with Mr. St. John seemed to fetter
his endeavours to raove fast onwards. Early in the even
ing, he seated himself where, from the rising ground,
through the open forest, he could at some distance be
hold the spot where he had parted with his friend, and
calling Charhe to him, he endeavoured to teach him that
friend's narae. The bird, however, stararaered so much
at the surname, and pronounced it so badly, even after
repeated efforts, that his raaster was obliged to confine
hiraself to the word PhUip; and Charlie raost trium
phantly for a few days screaraed out " Friend Philip," as
he always did evety new acquirement, and then laid it by
in his memory to come out with it again when least ex
pected. As his master sat with his eyes still gazing in
the direction taken by his late most congenial com
panion, his reverie was suddenly interrupted by the
Laughing Jackass, and its merty peals seemed to raock
his sadness. " VUe bird ! " he exclairaed ; again carae
the cheerful sound, repeated in various directions, tiU
at last Charlie himself caught the note, burst into a
loud " Ha, ha ! " and seemed to go into fits of laughter.
It was irresistible; Kinchela caught the infection, both

268 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
Tiger and Gip pricked up their ears, and Captain Spencer
hiraself joined in the chorus.
There were still raany weary miles to go, and the
travellers started early on the following day. The scenery
became more than ever beautiful, and birds, insects, and
flowers multiplied upon them, — the forraer to a rauch
greater degree than Charlie liked, for Cockatoos, Panots,
Panakeets, common as Spanows in England, drove him
to Tiger's back, where he sat rauttering to hiraself,
" Rogues ! scoundrels ! " Then there were Pigeons,
Quails ; the native Turkey,' ¦with its sraall portion of
brains, having a nest constructed like that of the Leipoa ;
the noble Crane ;^ the Wood-Swallows,^ which huddle
together hke a swarm of bees ; immense Nightjars, which
lie under the trees and bushes all day ; and many old
acquaintances from the south and west, all affording food,
or subjects for admiration. On watching by the fire in
the night, however, Captain Spencer heard the notes of
several new birds, and the little flying Opossum dropped
from bough to bough. Both raen never slept at the sarae
time, for the country was thickly inhabited ; and as they
passed during the day they frequently saw natives peep
ing at them from behind the trees. On one occasion,
Gip, whose recent education had taught her not to bark
suddenly raised her head, and gave a low whine. " It is
a native," thought the Englishman ; "I wonder if he be
going to spear me. He made the peculiar cry which he
had learnt of the tribes on the other part of the Darling ;
but no answer was returned. He uttered another and
another, but there was no response. " We are mistaken,
Gip," said he, and he rested his head upon his knees. In
about half an hour Gip was again uneasy, and sat up-
' Talegalla. '- Antigone Grus Australasianus.
^ Artamus sordidus.

AN INTRUDER. 269
right. The noise was repeated, and it was scarcely
louder than if a fly had touched a leaf; but it was a little
nearer. Captain Spencer's gun was close to him on the
ground ; the rustling ¦was repeated, and Gip had an in
ward convulsion, as if to stifle her bark, and then there
was a slight moveraent of the gun. " Aha ! " thought the
traveller, " do you not know that it is fastened round ray
wrist with a leathern thong." A hand was laid upon the
gun, and Captain Spencer grasped it. " To him, Gip I "
said he, and in a moment the dog had a leg between her
teeth. Kinchela was roused. " Kinchela, get up," said
Charlie, half asleep ; and although he made violent efforts
to escape, the intruder was caught "You speak Inglis?"
said Kinchela ; the man was silent " Boccolo vety good
man," continued Kinchela, " only black fellow say if
plenty raore wid him." No notice was taken of this
speech, and then Captain Spencer tried to make him
speak by addressing hira in a gentle tone of voice. The
man fell on his knees before him, and in broken English
entreated that he raight be allowed to go away. " Where
do you come from ? " asked Captain Spencer. " Why did
you try to take my gun ? " " Oh, massa," said the man,
" they hunt poor black feUow, they kUl him. He want
gun to save hira, he no touch raassa. Let him go, poor
fellow, let hira go." "Are you hungry?" asked Captain
Spencer. " Bery hungry," was the answer. " Kinchela,
blow up the fire, so as to let rae see the raan, and then
give him something to eat." Provision was now put into
his hand, and Captain Spencer said, " Here is something
to eat. Never take anything from a white man which he
does not give you. Let go, Gip," and then relaxing his
own hold, the man was free. He paused for a moraent,
as if wishing to say something; but the words died
within- his lips, and he darted away with almost incredible

2 70 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
speed. " That black fellow," said Kinchela, " do some
thing vety bad," " Why do you think so ? " " Because
he not got spear, not got waddie, not gin. He ran away
when Boccolo good to him."
The next morning the travellers were up early, and a
short time after they found a bag on the ground, such as
the women carry. " That black fellow had his gin," said
Kinchela ; " here is her bag." " Look into it, and see
what is inside," said Captain Spencer. Three snakes,
some small mucilaginous fishes, and a woman's skull,
were aU the contents. "What is this for?" asked the
Englishman. "For black fellow to drink out of," an
swered Kinchela; "perhaps it was the gin's mother."
Captain Spencer shrugged his shoulders, and said, " Put
some cakes of meal into the bag, and leave it where you
found it. I dare say the woraan will retum, and is not
very far off even now."
Leaving the river, the party crossed some exquisite
and fairy-looking plains, bounded by sand-hUls ; and as
they came near to the latter, they saw a large bull leaping
and gUding down the vety steep sides as if it were mad.
As soon as it gained the level ground, it started off as
rapidly as possible, with its taU erect, and made for the
forest which Captain Spencer had just left. Immediately
after hira came two horsemen and their dogs down the
same apparently impracticable descent. One of the
large dogs lost his footing, and rolled do^vn ; but, after
stopping a rainute to recover his breath, he got up, shook
hiraself, and bounded after the others in pursuit of the
noble buU. The horses slid down upon their haunches,
the riders keeping a sharp pull upon their mouths ; and
when arrived at the bottom, away they went as hard as
they could, without seeing Kinchela or his master,
"That is the boldest riding I ever saw," said Captain

INSECTS ¦ 271
Spencer, '• They must be hunting stray cattle ; but this
makes it evident that we are now approaching the pre
cincts of white men ; and, strange to say, my caution and
vigilance must be redoubled." He looked well to his
rifle and pistols, and told Kinchela to keep his spears
ready, but to be sure not to throw them without orders.
On went the quartett, tiirough forest and glade,
traversing the most luxuriant country. An infinite
variety of insects was to be seen. Curious-looking,
spotted CaterpUlars ¦with turned-up tails ; brown Butter
flies ; a variety of large brown or yellow I>ocusts wdth
black marks ; Moths, with fringed antenna, of peculiar
shape ; Pangolin Flies,! which stung Tiger ; Phasm
Beetles of singular form ; Spiders with thick hairy legs ;
Epeirs, which spun yellow webs as they do in Borneo ;
and numbers of curious insect-nests, hanging so plenti
fuUy upon the trees as to look like fruit They were
formed of a very thick web, and strengthened outside
with pieces of small twigs, neatly rounded at the ends,
and made to adhere to the web. Captain Spencer de
stroyed one, and found it lined with a soft, white, sUken
web, •within which was a large white caterpUlar ; a dis
covety which he did not impart to Kinchela, fearing he
would stop and destroy all the nests for the sake of eat
ing the inhabitants. There were many ants of different
kinds, one of which amused Captain Spencer, as he sat
at breakfast one moming, by making a perpendicular
hole in the ground, round the entrance of which it built
a waU, sloping outwards in the shape of a funnel. While
watching this clever littie workraan, he heard a noise like
the growling of a dog ; and thinking, it might be a Dingo
come to attack Gip, hastily tumed to drive it away ; but
he saw nothing save a black Beetie as big as a bird, and
canying another insect, something like a Grasshopper,

2 72 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRAIIA.
and he was convinced that the sound proceeded from
this creature.
On the borders of a lovely Uttie lake, surrounded on
three sides by verdant hiUs, which were speckled with
half-wild cattie, the travellers on the fourth side met with
a wood, through which they had to pass, and where, as
he rested in the shade. Captain Spencer was surprised at
the salutation of, " Halloo there ! Pull up, I say ! Harry
Blunt wants to see what's in your pack, and perhaps he
wants to swop horses with you." " And who is Hany
Blunt ? " said Captain Spencer, drawing one of his pistols
from his belt, and putting it on full cock. A man on
horseback rode imraediately in front of the traveller, clad
in boots, leathern leggings, fustian jacket, and a white
hat stuck on one side of his head, omaraented with
different-coloured ribbons, altogether presenting a reck
less appearance. For a raoraent he seemed to quail
before the steady, unshrinking gaze of the stranger ; but
he disraounted frora a horse which had e-vidently been
ridden long and hard, and with an irapudent swagger
went up to Tiger. " Touch him at your peril," said
Captain Spencer, pointing his pistol at him ; " you are a
dead raan, if you lay but a finger on him." Harry had
both pistol and rifle, but he did not offer to use them ;
he, however, drew a long knife, and was about to rush
on the stranger, who, with great presence of mind,
dashed his arra to the ground, and fired through the top
of Harry's hat. The man staggered, but recovering
hiraself, he was about to make another sudden attack,
when Kinchela came up frora behind, and thrust a spear
into his arra, and Gip plunged her teeth into his leg-
coverings. At this raoraent appeared a still more lawless
ruffian, leading a horse in still worse condition than
Harry's, and walked up to Tiger. The well-known order

BUSH-RANGERS 273
to dance was given. Tiger's paws camo into action, and
the man lay senseless on the ground. "Hold," said
Captain Spencer to his antagonist, "I have traversed
this -wild country north, west, and south, and have
escaped injuiy frora its savage inhabitants ; shall one of
my own countrymen behave worse to me than they have
done ? I guess what you are, Harty ; your companion is
disabled, you are pinned through the arm by my servant,
and you may consider yourself in my power, I do not
belong to any of the settlements in this countty, and
have therefore no authority to make you my prisoner, con
sequentiy you shall pass on without further molestation,
Kinchela, withdraw your spear,'' The native obeyed,
and the blood gushed from the wound ; the man looked
at his arm, then at the party before him, and remained
motionless. " Come," said Captain Spencer, " I am an
old soldier, and will bind up your wound ; it is not raade
with a war-spear, and will soon heal." Harty stood
almost passive as his jacket was reraoved, the shirt-sleeve
tucked up, the edges of the wound drawn close together,
and then bound up tightly with one of Captain Spencer's
handkerchiefs. " Are you hungry ? " asked the latter,
" Yes," said the man ; " we have ridden far to-day, and I
have no powder, or you would not have conquered me.''
" WeU," said the traveller, " you shall have something to
eat. Kinchela, put some meat and cake out. Now eat,"
he continued, " and we will do something for your jaded
horses. Leave go, Gip. Your companion is stunned,
not kUled; but he will scarcely be able to ride to-day.
My horse and I are inseparable ; if you take him, you
take me, and I ara an awkward person to deal with."
Hany hung his head ; half sulky and half asharaed, he
devoured the food which was put before him, whUe he
appeared to be much astonished at the treatment which
T

2 74 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
he experienced, and he looked around as if he suspected
there was some stratagem. He seeraed to be also sur
prised when Kinchela and Captain Spencer washed the
horses of hiraself and companion, and rubbed their legs.
The poor animals were of great beauty and value, e^vi-
dentiy accustomed to care, and turned their large eyes
gratefully upon those who were now doing their utraost
to administer to their corafort They looked as if they
had not been long from the stables of one of the settlers,
Harty's fierce hunger appeased, and his heart softened
by the unusual manner of his new acquaintance, his face
now assuraed quite a different expression. " Hany," said
Captain Spencer, as he ate with him, " there is something
in your look which tells me you would be a better man if
you had the opportunity of becoming so." Harry
coloured and said, " I have gone too far." " It is never
too late," said his entertainer. " I would give anything
to be what I once was," continued Harry, with much
emotion. " I was tempted, fell into bad hands and bad
courses, and was transported. I was set to work, and
beaten by the overseer for a fault of which I was not
guUty. This maddened me, and I struck him a hea^vy
blow, under which he fell. I did not intend it should be
fatal, but it was supposed to be so. I was, of course,
closely imprisoned, and I found rayself along ¦with that
man. He told me that I was sure to be hung. He had
prepared evetything for his escape, and I consented to
accorapany hira. He contrived to file away our irons.
We were strong and active, and could swim well ; we
threw ourselves out of a window, crossed the water to
escape the blood-hounds, and have led a bush hfe ever
since. He, poor fellow, breathes, but I think it will be
long before he recovers himself; and I dare not stay with
him, for I know the officers are upon our track. He has

BUSH-RANGER'S STORY. 275
made rae worse than I was before, and put rae foremost
on all occasions because I was the best-looking. I ara
glad, however, to say that I did not kUl the overseer, for
I have seen hira since, alive and weU. Whoever you
raay be, sir, you have spoken kindly to rae, when it was
in your power to kill me, and when you would have been
justified in doing 'so in self-defence. This is the first act
of kindness which I have received since my sister took
leave of rae in an English prison. If you would add to
your goodness, sir, by not betraying rae, I should be
grateful." " But as no murder can be brought against you,
Harry, why not sunender, submit to your punishment, and
try by good conduct to regain sorae degree of respect
ability ? " " You know not what it is to be an escaped
con-vict, sir, or what a man has to undergo if retaken."
" You are sure to be that, sooner or later, unless you are
killed in sorae encounter with the police. However, I
shall not give any inforraatlon concerning you. My way
lies in that direction, and I expect you to take an oppo
site course; and as I do not wish to expose you to
destraction, I caution you against those hills to the north
west, for gentleraen are among them, hunting stray cattle.
Here is your knife ; I shall not give you any powder, for
I dare not trust you with it, but here are sorae fishing-
hooks ; the river will afford you plenty of food ; besides
which, raake yourself a spear, and use it for other sorts
of pro^vision, as we have done. I shall place meat by
your companion, in case he should recover, and I think
he wiU." " God wUl reward you, sir, if such a one as I
raay say that." "Ask Hira to forgive "and help you,
Harry. Here is some meal for present wants; do not
press your poor horses too much." Harry coloured,
hesitated, and was about to speak, then stopped himself;

2 76 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA.
and Captain Spencer asked him if he wished to say any
thing more. " I should like to know your name, sir,''
was the reply. Captain Spencer told him ; and Harry
then took off his hat, and stood gazing at the travellers as
they departed, with his eyes full of tears ; and when they
last looked back at him, he was still standing, as if
to catch a final glirapse of thera. The horses would
have gladly associated themselves with Tiger, but Captain
Spencer knew not where to take them ; he therefore was
forced to resign one to Hany ; and he tethered the other
so as to be able to procure grass, untU his rider should
recover. The forest through which Captain Spencer now passed,
was of Gum-trees ; but they did not grow close to each
other, and occasional openings made the path exceed
ingly beautiful. Wherever the sun could penetrate, the
most exquisite shrubs and flowers adorned the glade.
"Surely," thought he again, "the eastern side must be
the most beautiful; and yet several of these gorgeous
forms are farailiar to my eyes. I must have passed
several without particular notice, in ray eamest wish to
press forward, and my anxiety about sustenance; but
although I saw several Casuarinae, I never saw these two
plants hanging over them as they do now." One had
nothing to recommend it, apparently, but its exquisite
scarlet blossoms, with their fragrant odour, like that of
a Honeysuckle;' but as he stopped to examine the
other,^ Kinchela gathered one of its parasitical roots, and
asked his master to follow his exaraple and eat it. He
did so, and found it to be full of starch, and to sraell like
attar of roses. " Certainly," continued Captain Spencer,
" I did not see those weeping-willow Acacias, nor that
white flowering shrub, whose flowers are red in the centre,''
• Loranthus liiicarifolius. ' Cymbidium.
f Damasonium ovalifoli^im.

NEW SHRUBS AND FLOWERS, 277
nor that peppery plant, with its strong scent, and long,
narrow, drooping leaves.' Then, again, that plant with
dark shining leaves, which are white underneath, and
hang round the stem like a staff-officer's plume, is new ;
and this charming Ranunculus, like the buttercup of my
chUdhood, never gladdened my eyes before. But what
have we here ? This must be the Wooden Pear, which
cannot be eaten." ^ Captain Spencer tried to put his
teeth in it, but in vain. It was like a feather in weight,
and the leaves of the tree were very sraall. " Tiresome
thing," said he, throwing it away ; " I suppose you would
not be here, if you were not good for something ; but you
are very tantalizing. These, however, are delicious little
lemons; and that is the rose-coloured Eugenia. Kin
chela, we must have some of that fruit." Kinchela
dropped his spears, climbed the tall tree, and brought
down some of its refreshing but astringent apples.
" Boccolo know better than black fellow," said the native ;
" Kinchela not see it before.'' " But you know this,
Kinchela ? " said his raaster, holding up a fruit, turning
black from green and amber-colour. " Yes, Boccolo,
vety good ! " retumed he, devouring a handful.
The Flying Foxes in these parts appeared to live
upon a small, but oval, acid fruit, with a stone in it,
having a bitter kernel; and more than once, what the
EngUshman knew must be the native Cherry ' was to be
seen. It looked hke an Arbor Vitas ; and now, thought
he, " I shaU see the outside stone. Why, the berry is
like that of the yew, and just as insipid in taste. Cer
tainly, if it be the land of flowers, Australia is not the
land for fine fruits. Yonder, however, is a raagnificent
speciraen of beauty" * It was a plant six feet high, as
• ' Geijira pa-rviflora. ^ Xylomelum pyriforme,
^ Exocarpus cuptessiformis. ¦* Telopia speciosissima.

278 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
straight as a walking cane, having large green leaves, like
those of an English Oak in shape and colour, all the way
up, and the whole crowned with a wide-spreading tuft of
scarlet and crirason petals, surrounding a cone or pyra
mid of trurapet-shaped flowerets in the middle, five inches
high ; and it sometimes put forth branches like a candela
brum. " There is a blue starry flower, like a vety open
Harebell, and a deep rose-coloured Convolvulus, among
the grass; but can this be a Fuchsia? the benies are like
currants. I have seen this before ; it is a sort of Cran-
berty, I think. And there is a splendid Bignonia ' with
glossy green leaves, and flowers like cream-coloured
Foxgloves." "Are you going to eat those pretty, brilliant, green
frogs, Kinchela?" said his master; "we have plenty of
food without taking thera." "They vety good," said
Kinchela, putting thera into the fire which he had lighted
for cooking their supper. " Look there, Boccolo," con
tinued he. Captain Spencer tumed his head, and saw a
round piece of the soil lifted up like a trap-door, which
fell back as if it had a hinge. "Gip, come here, and
don't disturb that creature," said Captain Spencer, rauch
interested, and the dog's curiosity had been equally
excited, A hairy, grey spider carae out, peeped all
round, and then went back and sat just inside, so that
it could not be seen above. No prey arrived, and the
spider walked out, which gave the huraan watcher an
opportunity of exaralning its dwelling. It was some
inches deep, had a curve at the end, and in order to
prevent the earth from falling in, it was lined with a fine
web; the lid, covered in the same way, being forraed
within of earth, and the hinge also of web. Two hzards
were not far off; one a bloated, broad thing, lying with
' Bignonia Australis.

AT A SHEPHERD'S HUT. 279
its moutii open, and showing a blue tongue. It did not
get out of Gip's way; and when she turned round and
worried it, it started up fiercely, and had she not been
very nimble, would have inflicted a serious bite. The
other was much larger, and more active, and was climb
ing a tree ; its tail was twenty inches long, it had a sharp,
knowing head, was speckled black and white, was covered
with close, hard scales, and its teeth were moveable, like
those of a snake.
Some days after the adventure with the bush-ranger,
the travellers came upon a beautiful valley, surrounded
by at least a hundred sraall hUls of limestone, which
occasionally peeped out from the grass with which they
were otherwise covered; some slender streams wound
between them, and were shaded by trees and shrabs.
" What a charraing place for a station ! " thought Captain
Spencer ; and others were of the sarae opinion, for sheep
were grazing upon the hills, and a solitary wooden hut
stood at one end of the valley. Captain Spencer went to
it, and found that it was occupied by two men, one only
of whom was at home, and who was much surprised at
the traveller's appearance. He seemed to eye him suspi
ciously, said he was glad to see any gentieman, but that
he had littie or nothing to offer, except daraper. Captain
Spencer assured hira that " he did not require any assist
ance ; that he should take his food outside the hut, and
stay aU night ; for his friend, Mr. St. John, had told him
he would find honest men there." " Oh, indeed, sir ! "
said the man, " you are a friend of his, are you ? " his
countenance lighting up as he spoke. " He is a very
good gentieman ; he did not take sheep with him last
joumey, but he did the time before, and picked out aU
the finest of our flocks. He is as good a judge of sheep
as if he had been brought up to it, though his father is a

2 So ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
lord. Perhaps, sir, you are come to choose some ? You
can see them to-morrow before they leave the folds.''
"No, friend," replied Captain Spencer, "I am only a
traveller in this country, and am now on my way to the
Hunter River, from whence I mean to go to Sydney."
At these words the man's countenance lengthened again,
and he said, " If, sir, you would like to go a few miles
farther, the moon will be up, and you wUl there come to
the head station, and plenty of room and company too,
for that matter;'' and he involuntarUy glanced at the
sword, gun, and pistols. " No, I thank you," answered
the soldier ; " but I see you are not quite satisfied about
me. I give you my word I ara neither a bush-ranger nor
one of the police, but ara here against my ¦will." He
then related as much of his adventures as would explain
his appearance there ; and after that the man becarae
communicative, and cast off all suspicion. " Do you
always live here ? " asked Captain Spencer, after he had
supped and turned Tiger loose; but before the man
could reply, Charlie flew up, and seeing a white man,
said, " Friend Philip ! " His master thought friend Philip
would not have deemed himself complimented, and
replied, " No, Charlie, friend Philip's not here." " Not
here, not here," repeated the bird ; " all's right ! "
arid perched himself on the top of the hut. The hut-
keeper stared, and said, " You did not get that bird
here, sir; we have plenty of magpies, and all sorts of
talking birds, but we never teach them to speak. There
is the Shrike which coraes to us in winter, with a fine
clear note ; but he is dreadfully mischievous. Our most
amusing bird is the Laughing Jackass, which makes us
merry sometimes : the whole place often rings wdth the
laughs of these birds ; one beginning, then two, three,
and four foUowing, till at last the whole flight sets off."

THE HUT-KEEPER. 281
" I must have heard them, then," said Captain Spencer.
" I have no doubt of it, sir," resumed the man ; " they
are very numerous just here ; and we like them, not
entirely because they are so cheerful in these soUtary
places, but because they eat so many snakes and lizards.
Then we have a bird which we call the Knife-grinder ;
for his note is just the same as the grating of the blade
upon the stone as it turns. We like to know something
about all the animals near us, living as we do in such a
lonely spot There is one bird which we take pleasure
in calling a Robin, because it has a red breast ; ' but its
back and wings are black, with white bars across, and
a white spot is on the crown of its head. It is so gay,
with its bright black eyes, so frolicsome and sociable,
that it is a great favourite. But here comes my chum."
" Do you two keep this station? " " Yes, sir ; I am the
hut-keeper, and always stay within, do the washing, the
cooking, and keep watch all night ; for we are always
obliged to be on our guard against the Dingoes and the
natives." " Does no one corae to see you ? " " Master
comes sometimes, or the head raan, or one of the young
gentiemen." " How far off is the head farra ? " " About
thirty raUes, or thereabouts ; but the keeper's is only ten
miles, and he often has company." " And do you like
this sort of life?" ""Why, it is very easy and quiet, sir."
" How much do you get ? " " Twenty-five pounds a year,
and aUowances of sheep, flour, and tea ; and we can't
spend anything, except for clothes." "How do you
pass your time? " " My comrade has enough to do with
his sheei3, and I have a bit of a garden. Sometimes
the natives, who are friends with us, come and make
a Corobbety; and master gives us flour, tomahawks,
and other things as presents, to keep them in good
' Petroica ebertacea.

282 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
humour, and we never lose anything. They are, how
ever, but poor savages, and sorae of the hut-keepers have
been attacked and raurdered by thera. One of master's
men had a grand fight with sorae of thera, and five of the
natives were killed. This raade the others retreat a little,
and their dead companions were buried before the door,
when it was known that their friends were looking on.
They never have come near the place again, and never
will, for they will not cross the spot"
The sheep had by this time anived, and with the as
sistance of the dogs, were folded for the night ; and the
shepherd, touching his hat to Captain Spencer, seemed to
hesitate about speaking. " This gentleraan is a friend of
Mr. St John's, Bill," said the hut-keeper; at which the
newly-arrived man seemed to be quite relieved, and then
joined in the conversation. He said this station was
one of the best in the whole country for sheep, because
when it was wet in the valley, they could go on to the
hUls ; and that young Mr. Gordon had had a hard push
to get it, for a place of that sort was always the right of
those who reached it first After it was discovered, and
when he and several others started to corae to it, he pre
tended he would not go any farther, and the rest thought
he had turned back; but he dashed over everything,
having marked the highest hill with his eye, and he never
stopped or turned tUl he gained the point ; so, when the
others came in, they found him seated, quietly lighting '
his cigar, and they could not say anything, because they
would all have done just the same. " Do you ever see
the bush-rangers?" asked Captain Spencer. Both the men
coloured, and one replied, "Yes, sir, we do ; and to tell
the truth, at a distance you looked like one, only you
carae in leisurely and peaceably, and they are always in a
hurry, because they are hunted do\vn. There is nothing

THE JEW-FISH. 283
here for them to take, except a little damper or pork :
besides which, master trasts us ; and we should have a
hard fight with anybody who touched what belonged to
him ; but we never betray them, because many of us have
been in trouble ourselves." " I dare say not," observed
Captain Spencer, " especially if they do no harm to you ;
it is much easier to get into trouble than to get out"
Seeing that Captain Spencer and Kinchela were spread
ing their skins in order to lie down, they asked the
former to sleep inside ; but he told thera it was so long
since he had slept under cover, that he would rather
remain where he was, but he should like to see the inside
of the hut. He accordingly entered, and found that the
cook had prepared slices of bacon and Kangaroo, to be
fried for supper ; that the men took it in turns to sleep,
on what they called a stretcher, which was a piece of
canvas supported upon a frame, naUed to four upright
posts ; that they had plenty of blankets, for they said
they often had frosts in July ; and though there was not
much cold weather, they sometimes felt chilly. The hut
was built of slabs, and thatched "with bark.
Very early next moming, before sunrise, Kinchela
was out to renew his stock of bulrash roots, and the new
friends took a lesson frora hira in preparing them. He
brought a curious fish to his master, which the shepherds
said was what they called the Jew-fish.' He also said
that it had been constantly swiraraing round a ring of
sand, the inside of which was filled with stones. The
hut-keeper informed the travellers that it was only at
certain times of the year that they watched it, and they
believed that it was the nest of the fish ; though how the
stones came there, they could not tell, for such were not
to be found in the neighbourhood. Captain Spencer was
' Ptotosus tandanus.

284 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
not incredulous, because he knew that there were fishes
in the Chinese seas which raade nests and guarded thera
in the same raanner. Just after the retum of Kinchela,
the air was like a furnace, and the most tremendous
lightning opened the thick clouds; it became almost
dark, so that a Ught was required within the hut; a
rushing noise was heard ; the raen sought their blankets,
and throwing thera over their shoulders, put out their
light, which was only a piece of rag lying in mutton fat,
and said, " Stand clear of the hut" All moved out of its
reach, and duriflg the few stUl moments which ensued,
the sheep-keeper said, "We don't often have these things,
but they do sometimes come from the south-west ; and I
am glad it happened when I and the sheep were in the
hollow ; for we should have been blown about like straws
On the top of the hUl." " What do you expect ? " asked
Captain Spencer. "A southerly burster, sir, and most
likely heavy rain." Captain Spencer then said to all his
followers, "Come close; smother the fire-stick, Kinchela."
This was imraediately wrapped in a piece of thick skin ;
and going to a still deeper hollow, and taking off all his
clothes, he put them under his coverings, and sat do^wn
with the rest, in as compact a body as possible, Charlie,
with his usual sagacity, creeping under the skins. " I am
Sony we have not a better shelter to offer you, sir," said
the shepherd ; " but our hut is sometimes blown down ;
for these hurricanes make playthings of all that come in
their way, and often blow down even the biggest trees ;
when there is hail, if the trees are not knocked down,
every leaf is stripped from them." The storm came, and
was as tremendous as any Captain Spencer had expe
rienced, and he thought sadly of his poor Malays ; it was,
however, no sooner over than he was dry and comfort
able, and the shepherds were lost in admiration of his

PARTING WITH THE SHEPHERDS. 285
plan. " I ara used to such storms, here and elsewhere,"
said the traveUer ; " now, you see, I have dry things to
put on after ray shower-bath," "Very bad sorcerer raade
that storra," said Kinchela; "more bad than we see
anywhere, Boccolo." "I ara sure we could learn many
things of you, sir," said the man to Captain Spencer
When he inquired if the haU ever kiUed the sheep, the
outwatcher said, that on one occasion they had lost forty,
and that the valley became one broad sheet of water ; for
as the rain always ran rapidly off the soil after a long
drought, the hollow places were fiUed in an instant,
besides the wind and rain sometimes continued for many
hours. Captain Spencer, taking a friendly leave of the shep
herds, and receiving particular instructions frora them, at
once proceeded towards the head stock-keeper's house,
where he thought he should find a guide to the Hunter
River, for he fancied he often wandered very much from
the proper track. The storm had cleared the atmo
sphere; and the man who went' out with the sheep, ac
companied the travellers for a mile or two. The birds,
which had taken refuge in the trees from the storm, had
not left their coverts as they passed ; and nuraerous were
the Choughs, Crows, and Pigeons. Among the latter was
the Harlequin Bronze-wing,' which the shepherd told him
laid its eggs in low bushes, in the middle of plains ; the
Common Bronze-wing wheeled round and round in
immense numbers as they approached, and took their
flight to the grassy flats, where the seed was ripe. On
parting with the shepherd, the wayfarers went through a
portion "of an extensive pine forest, interspersed "with a
few other trees. The former were seventy feet high, full
of cones ; and Kinchela knocking one which lay upon the
' Phaps histronica.

286 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
ground, it fell to pieces, and both men ate the aromatic
seeds which lay between the scales. On the other side
of the forest was a sraall open space, covered with Cassias,
Sensitive and Ice Plants, and in which grew a large tree,
about thirty feet high, standing by itself It attracted
Captain Spencer's attention, and, on going up to it to
ascertain what it was, he found it to be a fearful Nettle,
and pointing it out to Kinchela, he wamed him never to
touch it ; to which the man replied, " Yes, but Boccolo
always tell Kinchela," — a proof how completely he had
made up his mind to remain with his raaster, and how
entirely he trusted him. On the outskirts of the pine
forest were webs of dark yellow silk, yards in length, and
reaching* from tree to" tree, which were made by some
bright green spiders. They rested under a clurap of
trees, when they chased away some scorpions; but a
raost interesting process was taking place at the foot of
the tree under which they sat Sorae insects, looking like
heavy, lurapy, brown beetles, an inch and a half long,
with scaly coats, and their claws like those of lobsters,
crept from under the turf, and were about to emerge into
another state. Their backs burst, and out of the slit
came a head, body, and legs, looking as if they had boots
on ; then a pale creature issued, and stood upright Two
odd-looking tufts of membrane, crumpled into a thousand
folds, spread into opaline wings ; presently, after one or
two feeble efforts, they flew heavUy into the neighbouring
trees, whence they sent forth a monotonous, metallic,
continuous whirring sound ; these were locusts. Kinchela
said he had often seen thera, and if they came out
when the sun was hot upon thera, these wings becarae so
stiff that the insect could not fly. In walking along
that sarae afternoon, they saw a nuraber of small, yellow
circles, formed of the bits of a Cistus blossom, which

AT THE STOCK-KEEPER'S. 287
some ants had divided, and were carrying to tlieir deposit,
while others dragged them into the holes of their nests.
They tried to ascertain what these littie creatures were
like ; but they all rushed into the earth when they ap
proached, and hid themselves.
A low thatched house, surrounded by a neat and
pretty garden, in which the owner was at work, proved to
be tiie residence of the person to whom Captain Spencer
had been recoraraended by the Overlander ; and opening
the gate, and walking up to hira "with only Gip by his
side, the traveUer at once accosted hira by saying, " I am
come, by the advice of my friend Mr. St. John, to request
you will let me take a few hours' rest at your house, and
then that you wUl put me in the way of finding Mr.
Onslow's farm on the Hunter River." The person thus
addressed was a tall, respectable-looking man, whose
broad shoulders and weU-shaped limbs, curling brown
hair, and clear blue eye, showed that he was of that
Anglo-Saxon race now "spreading itself over the whole
world, and sho^wing itself superior to all others in energy
and perseverance. " I am vety glad to see you, sir," was
his reply, " not only for Mr. St John's sake, but for your
own, for you look as if you had been travelling some
time. Wife," he said, going into his house, " see what
you can do for this gentleman, whUe I get something for
his supper, and have his horse and servant put up." A
rather shy, but pretty young woman made her appear
ance, whUe two children stood peeping from the inner
room. It was so long since Captain Spencer had seen a
bright Enghsh complexion that he could scarcely per
suade himself she was not the most beautiful female he .
had ever beheld. As to Kinchela, when he first cast his
eyes upon her, his astonishment was so great as to be-
wUder him ; and he afterwards told his master he thought

288 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
she was a good spirit, such as he had told him of as
living in heaven. Tiger was unloaded, and turned into
a pasture close outside the garden, Kinchela went there
with him, Charlie also adhered faithfully to Tiger, and
Gip reraained with her raaster.
Mr. Richardson — for this was the name of the stock-
keeper — brought in some mutton for the supper of the
strangers, which his wife immediately prepared, and with
some potatoes put into the oven, "Pray, sir," said Mr,
Richardson, " did you see a tall black fellow anywhere
about here ? I suppose you are come from an overland,
which is a great wear and tear for the clothes, and the
body too." " I am not an Overlander, my friend," said
Captain Spencer ; " nevertheless, I come from a great
distance. I did see a tall, black man, who tried to take
my gun from me; but I caught him, and when he
resisted, ray dog just pinned him by the leg ; and as he
was very hungry, I gave him soraething to eat. He said
he was hunted, and wanted my gun in order to defend
himself; I should like to know what he has done?"
" Why, sir, he has committed murder ; and the police
are hunting hira in every direction.'' "Where did he
commit it?" asked Captain Spencer. "Thank God, it
did not happen here, sir, but at one of Mr. WUde's
stock-keepers'. If it had been here, I think my little
wife would ha^\^e gone out of her mind. A black fellow
hiing about the stock-keeper's house for some days, and
seeraed as if he wanted to be taken as a help ; but the
men there could not quite understand what he said.
They fed him, and at last began to trust him ; so one
wet night they asked him to sleep inside the house on
the floor of the keeping-room. They do sometiraes make
vety good servants, and this one seemed, poor fellow, to
be quite handy. That same night that he carae into the

A MURDER. 289
house, another black fellow — the very rascal whom you
saw, I suppose — knocked at the door, and begged so hard
to be let in, that, considering it was such a rough night,
they gave consent, and he laid himself down in one
corner. Everybody went to sleep, and in the night it is
supposed that he stabbed the other to the heart with a
large knife, which was found sticking in him. The rascal
lay down again, and slept till morning. When the stock-
keeper got up, he was of course dreadfully frightened ;
but he secured the man, and sent for the nearest police.
When they came, the rascal denied that he had touched
his countryman ; but they handcuffed him, and marched
hira off to be tried. On the way he leaped, handcuffed
as he was, from a precipice into the river, and disap
peared. Great search was made for hira ; and although
they did not find the body, the police thought he was
drowned. All pursuit would have been given up had
they not afterwards heard that he had dived and swam
under water, till he had completely baffled them. Now
they are again after him ; but so determined a fellow
as that is not easily overtaken." " I suppose he thought
me to be one of the police, then," said Captain Spencer ;
" and that was why he did not answer when I made the
native call." There was httie doubt that he had tracked
his enemy to the house of the stock-keeper, and taken
revenge for soraething he had done, which, however
dreadful to us, was only according to his notions of
justice. The supper was ready, Gip was fed, Kinchela had a
portion canied to him, and all things were in repose,
when the stock-keeper, who was evidentiy (although he
tried to conceal it) vety curious to know who his guest
might be, said, as he smoked his pipe, " Perhaps, sir,
you have also seen Harry Blunt, the famous bush-ranger ?
u

290 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
You may, in fact, be corae after him." "No, indeed,'*
answered Captain Spencer ; " I seem to have met with
the most famous characters of Eastern Austraha, but I
have not sought them. I have seen Harry Blunt, and in
fact only parted with him a few days ago. Was it from
here that he and his companion took those two valuable
horses? " " Sure enough it was," said the stock-keeper,
" We had long heard that rangers were about ; but as the
story came frora the natives only, who take great delight
in raising all sorts of false reports, we did not alarm
ourselves, or make preparations to receive them by send
ing for the police. At last, however, some of our own
people saw thera ; and then we tried to be ready when
ever they might come. We constantly kept watch, night
and day, sat with our guns loaded, piled lots of things
against the windows for a month, till at last we were
tired out, and thought they raust have taken anotiier
direction. But about a week after we had relaxed a
little, two horsemen rode in at the gate while we were
at dinner, and one of theni wore a white hat -with red
ribbons hanging from it Before we could rise, he was
in the house, saying he must have something hot for
dinner ; while the other put the muzzle of his rifle in at
the window, so that he could have shot any of us had we
stirred to get our arras, which were hanging up, so we
dared not refuse; and as to Sally," continued the nar
rator, " I never saw her so over civil in all my life. She
got up and waited upon hira a great deal quicker than
she ever waits upon me ; " and he looked archly at his
wife, who exclaimed, " Oh, Jaraes ! " and blushed deeply.
" WeU, sir, you see we were fairly caught ourselves ; sa
we set all that we had to eat before Harry, and he
ordered us about as if we had been his subjects, taking
care to let us see that he had a large knife, and a brace.

HARRY BLUNT'S PROCEEDINGS. 291
of pistols in his belt When he had eaten enough, he
took one of the pistols, cocked it, and kept guard with it
in his hand ; whUe his corapanion, a rauch worse rascal
than he, sat down in his turn, and raade a good dinner.
They then called for tobacco and brandy, and Harry
said he would leave his card for the police ; and there
upon carved his narae upon the table, as you raay now
see. He spoke well enough, but he took what small
articles he fancied, such as a powder-horn ; changed his
old hat for my new one ; and secured a few trifles, as he
called them. He then winked at his corapanion, who
slipped out, and soon returned with two of our best
horses saddled and bridled, leavmg in their place two
jaded creatures. Harry filled ray gun and pistols with
water, to prevent rae frora firing after hira ; and thanking
us for our ci-vUity, they both raounted our horses and
rode off, sa3dng we should hear frora thera again. There
was no one at horae but Sally, myself, and a boy, who
was so frightened that he hid himself We fed and got
the horses round which they had left, and soon found
their owners. Ours, I dare say, will come back in just
the same condition.
" They treated one gentleman in these parts in a very
different raanner. He was not at all prepared for their
coraing, and his men were all at work. The first notice
which he had of their arrival was a rustling noise as he
sat at a table reading. He turned his head, and saw his
fire-arms in their possession ; but he tried to spring upon
Harry, and get his pistols back again. However, as he
was no match for the feUow, he was bound and obliged
to reraain quiet, whUe they took whatever they hked, and
ransacked his drawers. Then Harty told hira he knew
hira to be a tyrant over his men, so he raust punish
him. They tied him to a tree, and began to flog him ;

292 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
but after his companion had whispered soraething in
Harry's ear, they rode off as hard as they could, leaving
the poor gentleraan fastened to the tree. A party in
search of the rangers, carae up in a few minutes ; and as
they stopped to release the victim, the scamps got out of
reach.'' " Your dogs are of the same sort as those of Mr. St
John," said Captain Spencer ; " what do you call them ? "
" They are half-bred Greyhounds, sir; and we call them
Kangaroo-dogs, because they are so useful in hunting
those aniraals, which require two of thera, and a fast
horse, to be a match for thera. They are also capital for
catching the Dingoes.'' Captain Spencer smiled when he
recollected how Gip and he had caught many of the
former, but he asked if the native dogs in the neighbour
hood were numerous. "Yes," replied his host, "they
are the greatest plagues we have. Their step is so light
and stealthy, that we never know when they are coming,
and they lie in wait for their prey in the long grass, or
rocky places. They sometimes come alone, and at others
five or six together, and sometiraes ran well for a little
while, but soon get frightened when they are pursued.
They, however, die hard, and often pretend to be dead,
so that they may be left ; they then suffer themselves to
be beaten, kicked, and dragged about -without flinching ;
hanging their heads, and making you believe they are
done for ; then they get up, and run between your legs,
or spring over your shoulders, in order to escape. Our
dogs will kill thera, but nauseate thera afterwards, and
always plunge into water after hunting them. There is,
however, a good breed between them and tarae dogs.
They are the greatest sheep and calf woniers in the
world, and do not kill their prey first, but eat it bit by bit
whUe it is alive. They have been known to eat off the

SLEEPING IN THE OPEN AIR. 293
tails of the cattie as they lay asleep." It was now time for
the stock-keeper to perform his duties for the night.
His men, flocks, and herds were come in, and it was
necessary to go to them. While he was absent. Captain
Spencer visited Tiger, and talked to the children, who at
first had been frightened at hira, but now hung about
him as if he had been an old friend ; he went outside the
door, and whistiing for Chariie, treated them to some of
his conversation. He asked their names. "Jim and
Tom Richardson," was the reply; and Chariie, who
happened to be in a good humour, repeated the words,
to their great surprise and enjoyraent. Then came the
time for rest; and taking his cloaks from the naU on
which they had been hung, the traveUer prepared to join
Tiger and Kinchela, who had already laid themselves
down. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson knew that those who
have been long accustoraed to the open air prefer it, and
with true hospitality suffered hira to do that which he
liked best
Breakfast was ready at an early hour ; the sheep were
already gone to their pastures, and the exquisite climate
and scenery seemed to make this spot the beau ideal of
a pastoral life. The whole of the neighbouring country
was in the possession of squatters, and its wUd products
were consequently less abundant ; stiU, so accustomed
had the traveller been to find ample sustenance in the
desert, that he was about to start on the second raorning
without taking thought for future provision. Mr.
Richardson, however, said, " I shall make up a parcel of
eatables for you and your servant, sir; your horse and
bird will find plenty to eat, but human food wiU be
scarce." Captain Spencer started, for the idea of diffi
culty had not occuned ; but recollecting himself, he ex
pressed his thanks, and asked if he should not find any

2 94 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
inns on the way. " More than one bush hut, sir ; but I
would not advise you to trust to thera, for they are often
so full of riot, drunkenness, and quanelling, that you will
scarcely be willing to put up at such places." Captain
Spencer srailed, and looked at his dress. His host
understood him, and added, "I know a gentleman, sir,
whatever clothes he raay wear, and travelling'quite spoils
the dress.'' " True, friend," said the soldier, " I ara a
traveller against my wUl, and have come a great way;
and now I recollect myself, I have none but Indian
money, and a letter of credit, which will not be of much
use at a wayside inn.'' " I have but little to lend you,
sir," said the honest stock-keeper, "but I can let you
have a few shillings ; you can send them back to me
somehow or other, when you get your own money."
"My good friend," said the soldier, offering his hand,
"this is trae hospitality. Stranger as I am, you trast
me, and I shall never forget your kindness. After
having found my way, partly without human assistance,
across a large portion of this extraordinary country, I can
do with very little. Gip will, I suppose, find Rats and
Opossums, Charlie insects. Tiger grass; and if all these
things set aside on the dresser are for me, Kinchela and
I shall have enough for raany days; but if not, Gum-
trees would supply our wants." " Gum-trees ! " exclaimed
Mrs. Richardson, with an astonished look. "Yes, I
have raore than once lived on the bark and roots for
raany days." "Oh ! sir," continued she, with an uncon
trollable impulse, " if you would but stay with us a day
longer, and tell us all that has happened to you, it would
not take my husband from his work, because this is slack
time with us. When I have raade the place tidy, if you
would be so kind, it would give us such pleasure, and we
should talk all our lives about your adventures. We

JOURNEY RESUMED. 295
have read our books so often, that we are tired of them ;
but we should never weary in talking of you." Captain
Spencer smiled at the earnestness of Mrs. Richardson,
and ¦willingly consented to reward his host and hostess
for their kindness by an ample account of all he had
seen, suffered, and enjoyed; nor did he ever feel raore
pleasure in nanating his histOty than in iraparting it to
those simple persons, who seldom intenupted hira, and
when they did, it was wdth some artless expression of
wonder and sympathy, or by .some apt question which
only gave him fresh zest to continue. When he actually
did depart the next day, he gave each of the children a
gold coin to keep in remembrance of him ; and Richard
son and his wife took leave of him with tears in their
eyes. "You have taught us a lesson of trust, sir," said
the stock-keeper, "which I hope we shall never forget
Few leave their own countty for ever of their own accord,
without having suffered much, and I have had ray share ;
but it now seeras to rae as if I had not trasted enough to
God. Besides which, you have put His goodness in a
new light, by teaching us the uses of raany things, whicii
have till now been wasted on us ; and what is more, you
and Kinchela have given me new feelings about the
blacks, which I should never have had without you, for I
have judged of them only by those whom I have seen
about the stations. Ah, sir ! you will be grieved when
you see the poor drunken creatures lying about like
beasts; but I must not talk any more, and so prevent
you from starting. We shall pray for, and never forget
you ; and I hope you will always remember farmer
Richardson, the superintendent of Oakley Farm."
Assurances to this effect were warmly given ; and Ed
ward Spencer and his companions again set out upon
their travels, the heart of the soldier refreshed by

296 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA,
this short intercourse wdth such specimens from his own
country. Deeply did the English traveller, as he passed along,
regret the beautiful wilderness which he had left behind
hira, for the country which now raet his eye was only
half what is caUed " redeemed from the waste." Some
of the ground was enclosed for the purposes of agriculture,
in other places the trunks of trees lay scattered on the
soil in disorder. The labour of raan had not replaced
Nature's prolific treasures. Untidy hovels, few and far
between, composed of slabs stuck up like palings, and
thatched with bark, sheltered the cultivators of the soil ;
and even these were frequently dilapidated, the thatch in
shreds, the one window broken, the door unhinged ; and
fragraents of bottles, cinders, and rubbish lying around.
And he now saw the force of what the stock-keeper had
said respecting the difficulty of finding food for hiraself
and Kinchela. He had received ample instructions as
to the way in which he was to proceed, and found him
self, in obedience to those indications, going south, and
raountains rising up before him. The party bent their
steps towards them, and hourly received fresh proofs of
the capriciousness of the rains in Australia. They were
now in a district which had evidently been long with
out thera. The dry rivulets, rusty leaves, dusty roads,
deserted stations, seeraed to show that no moisture had
gladdened the earth.*
The path by which Captain Spencer ascended the
mountains was narrow and steep, but slabs of wood — the
Araerican corderoy — occasionally raade them a little
more passable. They met five heavily-laden drays, just
* The worst drought ever known in New South "Wales since its
settlement was about this time. It is remembered yet as a time of

rum.

FICKLENESS OF THE CLIMATE. 297-
like those of English brewers, two raen to each, which
had conveyed produce, such as hides, tallow, and wines,
to Sydney, for exportation ; and were returning with the
goods, chiefly slop clothes, sugar, tea, and spirits, for the
stations, which they had received in exchange. Captain
Spencer drew up on a crag above the path, and watched
them as they passed, each covered with a tarpauling, and
drawn by eight or ten oxen, having no other harness than.
bows, ropes, and yokes, and all going on so quietly and
patiently, that they needed no other. The drivers seemed
to be very much astonished at the party above, and one
asked if they had met with any water lately. Captain
Spencer informed the man of a muddy pool, and he in
return gave him a knowing wink ; and tuming round to
his companion, said, " A queer chap that, I can't think
what he is ; he's too near to be a ranger, and not a bit
like a police." " He's a travelling raerchant, Dick," said
the other raan, " with that pack on the horse's back ; and
yet," continued the man, looking once again, " the horse
is a beauty."
On getting higher up the mountains, the climate be
came raw and cold ; and as poor Kinchela wrapped his
kangaroo cloak round him, his master began to think that
he was placed in an awkward dilemraa. He was going to
a ci-vUized dwelling, and had no clothes for his servant ;.
the whole of his own wardrobe was on his back, and that
in such a wretched condition that he every day dreaded
it would yawn too widely ever to corae together again.
"When he looked back upon all the difficulties which had
beset hira, he could not help smUing to find that dress
should be so perplexing, and even cause him annoyance.
They began to descend, and a sharp turn in the path
opened to them a lovely landscape, whose sudden fer
tUity and verdure, owing to the perraanent nature of

298 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
some of the streams, formed a striking and cheerful con
trast to the dreary, parched region which they had just
passed, where frequent and tall colurans of dust, at least
one hundred feet high, had passed them, ghding rapidly
and mysteriously along at an imraense rate. On the
mountains theraselves, they had been much tormented
by swarms of iramense Ants; some black, called bull dog,
some red, called soldier Ants ; they emitted a nauseous
odour, and bit severely, raising painful swellings.
The route still continued along the side of the moun
tain, now and then cheered by a patch of shrubs, or a
traUing plant, such as one of the Kennedias ; and again
did the travellers meet with Grass-trees. At length they
saw the river, which had been described to them ; and
descending as soon as possible into the valley, they
wound along, its banks, delighting their eyes by looking
at old friends in the shape of tall trees, reeds, and frogs ;
and new ones in the form of flowers, one of which was
like a fringed Violet. There were, however, new tor
ments ; for stinging flies worried Tiger, who, after trying
to get rid .of them by sundry antics, rushed up to his
master, as much as to say. Rid me of my persecutors.
The river became gradually wider ; sraall and beauti
ful islands studded its clear waters, which were adomed
with exquisite shrubs, the habitations of splendid birds
and insects. Trees descended to the water's edge, or
retreating to a distance, left a green, grassy slope, on one
of which they rested for the night The next raorning
they retreated from the river, and following -what appeared
to be a road, they raet a party of farm-servants -with a
horse, and themselves nearly covered with a quantity of
boughs, belonging to a very beautiful shrub. Its leaves
were like those of the Horse-chestnut in shape, but the
upper side was dark-green, and the under quite pale.

MR. ONSIOW'S SERVANTS. 299
The starry flowers were placed like sprays at the end of
the twdgs ; all the flower-buds were of a greenish-white ;
but as they advanced towards maturity, they passed from
pure white into rose-colour, and at last became quite
crimson. They smelt like new hay ; and the men were
laughing under their burdens, by which they were so
blinded that they had not seen Captain Spencer. He
asked them in which direction he should find Mr. On
slow's farm ; and then they all raoved the leaves frora
before their eyes, to stare at the strangers. " Up the
hill, yonder," said one of the raen, peeping frora his leafy
covering; "we are his servants ; and as this is Christmas
Eve we have been to fetch flowers for dressing up the
house." Dressing the house for Christmas Day ! What
a happy sound did that convey to a poor wanderer, who
had been so long deprived of Christian worship, except
in his own heart ! Rerainiscences and a host of feelings
-crowded so thickly upon him, that he could not speak.
^' If you will follow us, sir," continued the raan, " we will
show you the shortest way to the house." The laughing
had ceased ; and the whole party, looking at Captain
Spencer, whispered conjectures to each other, as to who
and what he might be. " Do you know Mr. St. John ? "
said the traveller. "Oh yes, sir," was the reply; "he
was here a few months ago ; bought stock of my master,
and was going with it, by the Darling, to Adelaide."
" It was by the side of that river I met him, and he gave
me a letter for Mr. Onslow, which I will thank you to
take to him." " Certainly, sir. Do you know how stock
has been selling at Adelaide ? " asked the raan, eyeing
Captain Spencer frora head to foot, and evidently taking
hira for an Overlander. " I have not been there," he
replied; "nor did I _ meet with any one coming from
thence."

CHAPTER XIV.

HE whole party had reached the top of the
bank, which they had ascended by way of
making a short cut, and Captain Spencer
paused at the charming scene before him. On a rising
ground stood a long, low, white house, plastered in imita
tion of stone, thatched with bark, so skilfully put on that
it looked like a smooth, symmetrical covering ; a green
verandah shaded the front and sides of the house, and it
was raised a few steps frora the ground; a small lake
on one side communicated with the river ; an extensive
kitchen and flower-garden encircled the house, beyond
which was a paddock for saddle-horses, another for milch
cows and working bullocks, and close by was a vineyard.
A hne of low buildings, stables, sheds, cattle-yards, etc.,
occupied the other side; and the trees in the garden,
and the hills at the back, rendered it a perfect picture
of a settler's home. An air of neatness, and even of
elegance, reigned over the whole, and showed that the
establishment was conducted with the most consummate
care and skill. "This is reckoned one of the finest
farms in the country," said Captain Spencer's conductor.
" My master and the young gentlemen do and see so
much to everything themselves, and my mistress is so
fond of her garden, that it is full of tiie plants and fruits
of aU countries." It was not compact enough to be

A SETTIER'S HOME. 301
English ; but the repose, the cleanliness, the comfort,
and convenience, showed that English habits were there
practised; and so occupied was the soldier by it, that
only when they reached the inner gate of the domain,
did he recollect the leaf on which Mr. St. John had
¦written his introduction. He stopped and pulled it from
his pocket ; the raan deposited his load on the shoulders
of another, and took the message to his employers.
While he was gone, Kinchela came up to his master, and
said, " 'Spose, Boccolo, very big man live in that house.''
" Why ? " said his master. " Because it very big house,"
was the reply. "We shall soon see," returned his master,
" for here come two of the gentlemen." Mr. Onslow
had read the paper, and his sons had looked at it over
his shoulder. Scarcely giving theraselves time to get to
the end, they both bounded to the gate, and Mr. Onslow
went into the house to tell his wife and daughter. Each
of the young riien seized a hand of the stranger, the
eldest saying, " Any and every friend of St. John's is
most welcome here. Walk in. Captain Spencer ; my
father himself is coming to meet you." Captain Spencer
hesitated, and looked at Tiger, Gip, and Kinchela,
" There is room for all of you," said Mr. Onslow, wdio
now came up and read the traveller's thoughts ; " we are
right glad to see one coming from St. John. Your ser
vant can put your horse into a good paddock, while you
and your dog come with us." Captain Spencer raised
his hat from his head, and bowed his thanks ; and he
then said, " I have yet another companion ; " and he
gave the signal for Charlie. In half a minute the bird
flew on to his master's shoulder, exclaiming, " All's right,
Charlie's coming ! " and looking round hira at the group,
added, " What a row ! " The astonished owners of
Onslow's farra burst into a laugh. " Now go to Tiger,

302 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
good bird," said his master ; and Charlie perched hiraself
on the horse's back. The love of these two for Kinchela
was now only secondary to that which they felt for their
possessor, so that they went contentedly with hira ; and
Gip, who had already been welcomed by various members
of the canine race, leaped into her raaster's arras, where
she was buttoned up inside his jacket, so as not to in
commode him in returning the kind salutations which
met him on all sides, and not the least from the ladies.
Tea was about to be served, and he was therefore at once
shown into the room he was to occupy, where the luxury
of soap and towels made him revel in the resumption of
long-lost comforts. A servant entered to ask if he should
fetch his things ; at which Captain Spencer smiled, and
replied, " That he must appear as he was, for he had no
other clothes." His chief annoyance at that moment
was, that it should be discovered he had no linen ; and
he buttoned up his jacket, and combed his handsome
beard carefully over his bronzed throat, flattering hiraself
it was not deteriorated by the sand-scrabbing which it
had so constantly received. He gave his whole suit a
good beating ; and when he had raade his last effort, he
recollected that there was a looking-glass in which he
might conteraplate the effect he had produced. He not
only started, when he looked at hiraself, but he remained
so astonished at the alteration, from the yellow, sickly
face which he had last beheld, that he was still standing
before the mirror when Mr. George Onslow came to tell
him tea was ready.
The irapression raade by Captain Spencer's voice and
raanner had been too favourable to suffer his shabby
habUiments to lessen the respect felt for hira ; and wdien
he found hiraself so suddenly transported from the wUd
woods into the society of ladies and gentiemen, he felt as.

KINDNESS OF MR. ONSLOW. 303
if in a dream. He looked around him instead of eating,
and saw the refinements of polished life — books, work,
musical instruraents — and heard the low, sweet voices
about him, as if they were not real, till they noticed his
abstraction. " Forgive me," he said ; " I do not feel as
if I were myself My first astonisraent and doubt was
occasioned, however, by seeing rayself in a looking-glass,
and now — I think you raust turn rae out again, that I
may be sure of my own identity." The night was far
advanced when the parties separated; the traveUer's
adventures were related and heard with so breathless an
interest, that there was no comraentary, except an ex
clamation ; and no inquiry, for fear of interruption.
" You raust stay with us as long as you can," said Mr.
Onslow, " and when you must go, I will accompany you
to Sydney." " I should only be too happy to remain for
a time,'' answered the guest ; "but I am too poorly clad
to delay reaching a place where I can get freshly
accoutred." " We can help you," said both the young
men ; " and to-raorrow raorning we will have a consulta
tion ; my father's things will be much too wide for you."
The paddock was visited, and the three traveUers there
were found fast asleep. Kinchela was awoke, with a
strict injunction not to appear without his kangaroo cloak;
and Gip retumed with her master, to sleep by his side on
the bedroom floor.
All masters of farms keep stores of clothing, of which
they dispose to their workmen ; and from these Kinchela
was equipped with new shirts, for his own had been en
tirely worn out since he left the Marie; and Captain
Spencer was suppUed by the young men, who, at an early
hour, entered with all they could find which they thought
might be useful. " My father is always saying we are
extravagant," said George Onslow; "but I am sure he

304 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
will now be vety glad that we have enougli for a friend."
Between the two tall youths, the handsorae soldier was
well equipped ; the beard was reduced to a short fringe,
and Edward Spencer was himself again. The house
was decorated for the festival ; and, after breakfast, Mr.
Onslow assembled all his men, and read prayers, among
which he offered up a thanksgiving for the safety and
preservation of his newly-arrived guest, whose heart
:swelled with gratitude, and who hailed the retum of this
;glorious anniversary with a depth of devotion which few
•can conceive who have not been the object of such signal
mercies as he had experienced.
Time passed swiftly; and Captain Spencer became
¦so interested in the settler's occupations, that his friends,
who quickly attached themselves to him, entreated of
him to abandon the soldier's life, and corae araong thera
to live, saying, that with his influence, his knowledge of
native customs, his acquaintance with their languages, he
might not only benefit hiraself, but save the aborigines
from some of the degrading consequences which the
vicinity of white men seeraed to entail upon them. " At
Sydney," said Mr. Onslow, " and, indeed, we need not
go so far for such sad examples, you will see the state to
which they are reduced, as it were, upon their own soil.
But I hope the time will come when it wdll be thought
crirainal to fire upon them, as if they were a flight of
crows invading our fields of grain, whereas it is we who
are the invading crows. The settlement of Moorundi,
near Adelaide, has already produced a humanizing effect;
and your Kinchela is a proof how rauch may be done, at
least -with some dispositions. We employ several about
the farm, and find them useful, docile, and intelligent ;
how far they would be faithful in any attack from their
own tribe we have no opportunity of judging, nor do we

THE ABORIGINES. 305
wish to have ; but we take great care to keep what they
call fire-water from them, for that destroys both body
and soul." " But has no effort been made to christianize
them ? " asked Captain Spencer. " Yes, many,'' was the
reply ; " we have raissionaries and schools in the town
ships, as well as the head colony, and success has alto
gether equalled expectation." "It surprises rae," resumed
Captain Spencer, " that these people should always have
been reported lower in the scale of intellect than any
other savages. Perhaps it is the treatment of their
women which has given rise to the stigma." "Oh, in
that respect I have nothing to say in their favour," re
plied Mr. Onslow.
" What are you going to do with Kinchela ? " said
Mr. Onslow one day to his new friend. " I have pro
mised to take him with me," replied Captain Spencer,
"wherever I go; though I confess I shall find some
difficulties wdth hira in India, among the jealous Hin
doos ; but there I think I can keep the gin-bottle from
him." " I was going to ask you to leave him with us as
liouse,servant." " It would be rauch to his advantage to
do so, especially as you would not spoil him. At present
I must confess your men have made so much of hira that
he is in a coraplete state of pupp5dsm ; however, we wUl
ask him." Kinchela was suraraoned, and Mr. Onslow's
proposal stated ; at which the poor fellow at first looked
astonished, then angry, and at last putting up his hands,
and tears rolling down his cheeks, he implored his master
not to forget his promise of taking him wherever he went
"Boccolo stay," said he, "Kinchela stay; Boccolo keep
here, Kinchela glad; Boccolo go away, Kinchela go
away, and glad too." He was assured that he should do
as he pleased ; and he then repeated that it was " best
for Kinchela to be with Boccolo, Gip, Tiger, and

3o6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
Charlie." " It would be wrong to press him any further,"
said Mr. Onslow ; " But if you ever wish to part with
him, while he is as he is, send him to us ; unless, indeed,
you yourself bring him." " I have thought much about
settling here," was the reply; "but I do not deem it
would be honourable to quit the service in which I ara
engaged, while I can be useful in it; but perhaps I raay
pay you a visit. Now I linger in this charming circle as
a sort of repayment for all ray sufferings ; but I feel that
the duty of a soldier, in spUe of an extended furlough, is
with his regiraent." " You must not talk of going yet,"
said Frederick Onslow, who now came up ; " we have a
hundred things for you to see and do. We are going into
the bush to try and bring back some stray cattle, and of
course you wUl go with us. Fortunately we have just
shorn our sheep, and to-monow we begin folding and
packing, so that our time will be more our o^wn."
The next morning the traveUer found his way through
the cattie and sheep folds to a long, low shed, devoted
to the wool, where Mr. Onslow had already stationed
hiraself, to superintend the process whicii was going for
ward on a large table. "Which is the best breed?"
asked Captain Spencer. " The Merino," answered Mr.
Onslow; "and we forra our flocks into five, of 800
heads, which are watched as you have seen ; but occa
sionally, if they lie far out, the shepherds sleep in a mere
box, and this is necessary on account of the Warragles,
or Dingoes. We are obliged to be very strict with our
shepherds, or they would grow indolent and careless, and
we deduct the value of the missing sheep from their
wages. They never are fit for anything else, after leading
so monotonous a life. Next to the Dingoes, our greatest
nuisance with the sheep is a burr, the seeds of which are
set with hooks, which turn backwards,' mix wdth the
' Calotes uncifolia.

SHEEP-FARMING. 307
wool, as you see here, and it is next to impossible to get
them out I have farms entirely for sheep, and others
for cattle ; for unless under your own eye, it is best to
have them separate." " How raany have you at these
farras?" "At one I have 20,000; less than 5000 wUl
not answer. As to ray cattle, it would be difficult to
count thera to a nicety, for they are always straying to a
distance ; but all are branded. The branding is a most
exciting affair ; for the men stand with their hot irons
ready, whUe others drive the animals to them ; and you
will suppose the difficulty there is in getting thera to the
proper spot" "What is that long line of sheds for?"
asked Captain Spencer. " For my working men, who
are very comfortable in them, I assure you." " And now,
as I ara in an inquisitive vein, do tell rae why you have
that gallows in your yard ; do you take the law into your
own hands?" "You shall soon see," said Mr. Onslow,
" for there is a movement near the cattle-yard, and the
slaughter took place last night." As he spoke, some men
brought a bullock to the gallows, and by a pulley hoisted
it to the top, where it was to be cut up. " That is the
extent of ray penal avocations," said Mr. Onslow.
" Captain Spencer," said a cheerful voice, " for a raan
who professes to adraire flowers, I do not think you have
paid sufficient respect to ray garden." " Indeed, Mrs.
Onslow, I have. My walks in it take place every
morning before you are up, although you are a very
early person ; but I now challenge you to a tete-i-iete
walk in it this evening.'' " You had better not," inter
fered Miss Onslow; "for if you do, you will stand a
chance of not going to bed. Mamma never knows when
to finish if she gets on horticultural topics ; and I warn
you that she means to coax you out of some seeds from
India." "I wUl promise them beforehand; and I shall

3o8 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA.
trust to you to corae to my rescue, when you think I have
received as much instruction in gardening as wUl be good
for my shallow intellects."
As soon as tea was over, Mrs. Onslow rose, saying,
" You are not to mind that impertinent child. Captain
Spencer ; but come, now, and see all I have done. The
fact is," continued she, as they walked along, " Mary has
had only the sweets, and I the labour ; for to form a
garden in this country which shall be all you ¦wish,
requires much patience and trouble. Sometimes the
insects corae and eat up evetything ; then an overwhelm
ing flight of birds one year destroyed all my grapes,' for
I include the vineyards in my occupations. I was the
first in this part of the country to make wine, and now it
forms an important article of exportation. Then come
these terrible droughts, which, if they do not kill, make
everything languish. I try, by watering as much as
possible, to counteract them ; but this takes many hands,
and they cannot always be spared ; nor can I ask for it,
when I see our poor cattle dying, and we are obliged to
have water brought from great distances for household
purposes. My little lake, which Mr. Onslow had made
for me, in consequence of being so successful with the
vines, is a great resource for thera. I fill my garden-
engine from it ; but even that became dry in a drought
which lasted three years. That is why you see such
large plantations of maize for the horses, pigs, and poul
tiy, as wheat will not grow in dty seasons. Now, stop
and look at ray two Norfolk Island Pines. Did you ever
see raore beautiful specimens of the cone tribe ? What
strength, majesty, and symmetry combined, as they lessen
by degrees towards the top, where that tiny cross adorns
the suramit ! I assure you I am very proud of them."
' Zosterops dorsalis.

MRS. ONSLOW'S GARDEN. 309
" I have often stopped to admire thera," said Captain
Spencer, "and wondered where they carae frora, for I
had not seen any in the country through which I have
passed." "No, they are all brought frora Norfolk Island;
but, as you see, this place suits them very -well. I have
endeavoured here to get round me whatever is good in
all countries, and even those which grow in the bush ; for
who knows but that cultivation may make raany plants
valuable acquisitions ? For instance, here is a fruit called
the Loquat You see it is a handsome tree, with large,
long leaves, and bears clusters of white fragrant blossoms,
which turn into golden gooseberries. Mr. Onslow wUl
not let rae have any of the beautiful Acacias of AustraUa,
because he says there are too many in the bush, and
they are the torments of the settlers' lives ; but I have
the Botany Bay Lily, and the splendid Iris, just the
colour of ultramarine. Then, you see, I have Figs,
Bananas, Guavas, and Oranges ; but ray Leraons are
rather a tailure, for they look like raisshapen Seville
Oranges. The Pomegranates I have cultivated for the
sake of their bright blossoms ; but, of all things, I cherish
the English fruits and trees, which give me a feeling of
home whenever I look at them. I tried to environ
myself with the forest-trees of the dear old land, for
evetything here grows at such an enormous rate, thaf
even ray life might be long enough to enjoy their shade ;
but they only succeed on the hills, and Gooseberries and
Currants are only to be reared on the heights. If I
could, I would have a garden at one of our out-stations,
and ride over to it once a week ; but Mr. Onslow only
laughs at me. Apples and Pears will not grow in these
lower districts ; but in the south, and in Van Dieraan's
Land, they are excellent They may well call the former
Australia Felix, for everything flourishes there. At supper

310 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
you shall taste ray Quandong jam, which is made from
the Fusanus ' fruit, which you have seen in the bush. I
cultivated this Coral-tree,^ because its leaf is just like a
human hand, and its two bright scarlet peas are so beau
tiful in their pods. I srauggled in sorae of the Jasmines
for the sake of their fragrance, as well as those bushes
which remind me of Mint,' and Thyme,'' and the broom
like plant ° from the bush. Look at my large white
Datura. I am obliged to have it far from the house, its
odour is so strong. I have a fine Orchis, with a bright
blue flower, and gold and black inside, which I have had
great difficulty in rearing ; but it is not in blossom now.
You can see my beautiful Nelumbium, with its large leaf,
and its stalk eight feet out of the water. Its tuber looks
as if it were good to eat" " That and its seed are both
edible," said Captain Spencer. " I tried it in the west ;
and you may make use of almost all tubers, by boiling
them in two waters, which washes out all the acrid
properties." " To tell you the truth," continued Mrs. Onslow, " I
have a little secret in that corner. I am trying what can
be raade of that which they here call the Cotton-tree ; ^
and if it should answer, I have a project for spinning the
cotton on our own estate.'' " You raust get St John to
bring you the seeds of the Sturtia from the neighbour
hood of Adelaide," said Captain Spencer ; " they say it
affords very good raw material." " Thank you for telling
me," resumed Mrs. Onslow ; " I will certainly try it I
have vast plans in my head," she continued, her bright
eyes kindling with enthusiasm; "and we have surmounted
so many obstacles, and done so much already, and in
' Fusanus acuminatus. ^ Erythrina vespertilio.
' Stenochilus, * Prostanthera odoratissima.
° Jacksonia. " Cochlospermum gossypium.

MRS. ONSLOW'S PROJECTS. 311
this country the spirits are so elastic, the energies so
strengthened, and nature so vigorously responds to our
endeavours, that I seem to live two lives in one. I have
visions of a native school, in whicii not only book-instrac-
tion shall be given, but other things taught, such as card
ing and spinning; and who knows but weaving and
bleaching may be accomplished? But, first of all, we
must have a church." Captain Spencer smiled, and said,
"From what I have seen of the natives, I think no seden
tary eraployraent will suit thera ; and it will take two or
three generations of taming to fit thera for such purposes.
To me their wildness seems to be unconquerable, and I
even look forward to Kinchela's straying occasionally.
My best security in India wUl be the wild beasts, of whicii
he will be horribly afraid."
" Look, Captain Spencer," again continued Mrs.
Onslow, " I have your Bamboo from India. Mr. Onslow
has condescended to approve of this importation, and
has even made a plantation of it for himself, because it is
so good for fences. Here is a native plant ^ which will
please you ; it has pods just like Chili peppers." " And
much more aromatic," said Captain Spencer, tasting
them. "Here comes Mary to call us in," cried the
raararaa. " I hope I have not teased you too much."
" On the contrary," answered Captain Spencer, " I have
been much interested ; and I shall use my best endea
vours, when I return to India, to procure as many plants
and seeds as I can for you." " Oh, thank you. Captain
Spencer ; that is the only thing which can reconcile me
to your going, and for which promise I now give you an
English rose, one of the dear roses which I brought from
Wimbledon. I look at thera every day, and think of my
friends there, and the most beautiful garden in the world;
' Hcemodorum.

312 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
and ouly ray especial favourites are allowed to have any
ofthe blossoms."
" I am come to the rescue," exclaimed Miss Onslow,
as she approached. " My mamma will teach you horti
culture, papa agriculture, and George and Frederick will
complete your education by talking to you for ever about
wUd cattle." " And you, "Miss Onslow," whispered the
officer, "will perhaps favour me with the last polish, by
reraarks on Overlanders." Miss Mary's deep blush, and
hasty exclaraation of " Here corae the boys ! " succeeded
by a hasty flight, showed not only the keenness but the
truth of the soldier's penetration.
" Well, Spencer," said George Onslow, " we start in
the middle of the night, and I have ordered a good feed
of com to be given to Tiger. Kinchela wants to go ; but
as he cannot ride, neither he nor Gip can go with us."
" Certainly not I leave them both in charge of Mrs.
Onslow.'' " You must not take one of your awkward tin
cans," continued the young man. " We shall equip you
like one of ourselves, with a tin pot, some damper and
corned beef, flint and steel in your pocket, your rifle at
your back, and your pistols in your belt We will allow
you to wear your grass hat, for that cap and gold band
are really too dashing ; but take your opossum cloak.
We sup early, that we may go to bed and have a good
sleep before starting. We shall breakfast at the inn close
by the creek through which we go."
Tiger was in high spirits, full of corn and animation
after his long rest ; poor Gip had been carried to Mrs.
Onslow's bed-room, and Charlie was left perched upon a
rack in the stable. Kinchela looked veiy disconsolate ;
but Captain Spencer raised his importance by telling him
he must take care of all his things while he was away,
and this was some consolation. After riding a few hours.

START IN SEARCH OF CATTLE. 31J
the party carae to the inn. It was a pretty little building,
with a garden, flowers, and good accoraodations ; but
within was disorder ; for black and white men were lying
on the floor, sleeping off the effects of the night's excess.
"What a dreadful picture!" said Captain Spencer;
"surely no colonies can prosper where this occurs."
" It is the curse of many new colonies," observed George
Onslow. " The income of a wayside inn is chiefly de
rived from cattle-keepers, half-reclaimed convicts, idle
emigrants, and people of a loose description, who lead
the raaster of the establishraent into temptation ; some
times he leads his wife, and you know how soon such
habits are formed. My men, however, know how to
manage, and I see they are lighting a fire to cook bacon
and eggs for us, the staple commodities of such places".
There is a milch cow in the yard ; can you mUk it ? "
" No," answered the soldier; " I never tried." "I can,"
said Frederick ;' " if we could but get a clean jug or
basin into which we could put the niUk." " I ¦will take
charge of the horses, for both your stock-keepers are
"busy." So saying. Captain Spencer led them to a shed,
where he gave thera hay and water. Frederick raet him
on his retum with a wash-hand basin full of railk, " This
is the only thing which I could find," said he, "which
did not sraell of beer or gin ; and in getting it I awoke
a servant-girl, quite insensible to some of those pests
which are falsely distinguished as belonging peculiarly to
London." The breakfast being finished, and a provision of hard
eggs and bacon secured for the next meal, they pro
ceeded up the creek. " Do you call this a creek ? " said
the stranger. "To be sure," was the reply; "have you
been so long in this countiy, and not know that a creek
means either a dty watercourse, such as has not held

3.14 ADVENTURES LN AUSTRALIA.
-water during the meraory of raan, or an open space in
the forest, with or without water? We have many in-
congraous terras, such as going down the countty, for
going to the..capital." " Then the interior of this countty
is full of creeks of the former description," said Captain
Spencer ; " but I suspect some mighty torrents of water
have at some period or other mshed through them."
^' And perhaps raay again," observed George Onslow."
"The first rains of Australia after drought ran off at
•once, as if they never sank into the soil; and I have
seen creeks suddenly flooded in the most terrific raanner."
Early in the evening, the party arrived at the dwelling
•of Mr. Onslow's principal stock-keeper, from whom they
had received the request to come and help in the re
gaining of the stray cattle. "Do they often go away,
Mr. Graham ? " said Captain Spencer to the intelligent-
looking man before him. "Yes, sir, often," was the
reply. " These have been tempted by beasts which are
half wild, of which there are vast herds in the interior ; if
not, they would have returned, for they are always in
clined to come back to their pastures, as we know when
we want to move them ; and even when they have been
-driven by a circuitous route, they will reach the old places
by a straight direction. For some reason which we do
not know they often separate into distinct herds, and
always remain divided after that." "But do not the
natives attack them ? " " No, sir, they are too frightened
at them ; and I have seen a whole tribe clamber into the
trees at their approach."
Supper was eaten, and soon after raidnight the cattie-
seekers started, with the addition of Mr. Graham and
one of his men. The former observed that Captain
Spencer ought to be warned of the danger incurred in
hunting bulls. " They are very dangerous, sir," he said ;

FIND THE CATTLE. 315
" and you raust be able to turn your horse round as sharp
as if he were on a cabbage leaf" They proceeded
through an open forest at the termination of which the
brightness of the moon enabled thera to see the tracks
of the cattle. " The black fellows told me I should find
them by this path," said Graham ; " but let us see which
way the wind is, because we raust go against that, or
they -ndll sraell us cut, they are so acute in this par
ticular. They are somewhere up in these ridges, I am
pretty sure. I ¦will go and reconnoitre." Dismounting,
and giving his horse to his man to hold, the stock-keeper
•crept StealthUy up the hills, and when he arrived near the
summit, he went upon hands and knees, and peeped
over. Then returning, said, " There they are, on the
other side, as friendly as possible with the wild ones ;
and there are two big bulls among thera which seera to
be the leaders — the one black, and the other red." " I,
Captain Spencer, and you, will take the red bull," said
George Onslow, " and Fred and the men shall have the
other ; we will divide into two parties, single out these
two, and sacrifice them." " That is right, sir ; but you
had better take a mouthful before you begin, and let the
horses also take, a slight bait and rest, for we shall want
all their strength and courage." This being done, the
two divisions took their way without speaking. The fiery
steeds of the young men were with difficulty restrained,
for they knew what was coming, and panted to be off;
even Tiger began to fret ; but his raaster's hand and
voice, saying, "We raust go very gently, good horse,"
quieted him iramediately, and his pretty slender legs
seemed almost to skim the turf, and make neither sound
nor impression. "I could let that horse walk right
over me," said Graham, looking at the Arab with great
admiration.

3i6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
They jeached the top of the ridge, and had crept
partiy down the other side, when one of the buUs snuffed
the air, gave a mighty bellow, and rushed across the
level ground at full speed. The other bull answered
him, and the two herds galloped on, the sportsmen after
them at their utmost speed ; and, dashing in among the
cattle, they fired at the leaders. Captain Spencer, who
knew the sensitiveness of sportsmen, especially when
young, had not fired, but kept his eye steadily fixed on
the object he had to pursue. The black bull tumed
upon his pursuers; but they were so scattered that he
was uncertain which to choose ; and being inexperienced,
he became bewUdered, and knew not at which to take
his aira ; he therefore attacked them all in their tums,
and caused them to perforra raarvellous feats of horse
manship. They fired repeatedly ; but not being mortally
wounded, he kept them long in suspense; and at last
fell upon the ground, faint from loss of blood, where he
was soon despatched. Not so the red bull. Mr. George
Onslow and Graham both fired, but raissed the mortal
part, which is just behind the shoulder. Graham and
his horse were overthrown, and would have been gored to
death, had not Mr. Onslow presented himself as a new
object for the bull's futy ; but the well-tried horse tumed
away as he rushed at him, and his homs went through
erapty air. Then he caught sight of Captain Spencer,
who remained perfectly still to receive the attack. "Stand,
good horse," he said, "and trust your master." The
noble steed reraained motionless ; but his flashing eyes,
erect ears, and raised tail showed a consciousness of his
danger. The buU came on ; but when two yards distant,
a pistol-ball went into his forehead just between his eyes ;
he staggered and fell dead.
"That's the finest thing I ever saw," said George

LETTER FROM STOCK-KEEPER. 317
Onslow, in the enthusiasm of the moment shaking his
friend warraly by the hand. " You forget," said that
friend, laughing, " tiiat I ara a soldier and a hunter of
wUd beasts. Now let us go to poor Grahara." But
Graham and his horse had risen, the latter a little strained,
and he somewhat bruised; but they all assisted in col
lecting the herd, and drove them back in triumph to the
stock-keeper's yard, where they were secured ; the wild,
no longer having a leader, going with the rest. " You
must find the owners for these," said Mr. George Onslow
to the keeper. "As soon as possible, sir, for they will
be very troublesome among ray poor beasts." " I think,
sir," continued Graham, tuming to Captain Spencer,
" now I hear your name, I have a message for you from
Richardson, the overseer, which has come through several
stations, and reached me the day before yesterday. We
shall find it at my house."
On arriving at the station. Captain Spencer received
the following : —
"HoNonRED Sir, — My wife and I hope you have got safe to
Mr. Onslow's. This is to let you know that we have had another
visit from Harry Blunt, who was very civil, but having, as usual,
surprised us, was going to lay his hands on whatever he could carry
away, and opening the drawer of my wife's table, he was about to
pocket the gold coins you were so good as to give to the children.
My wife then burst out a-crying, and pleaded so hard he would
leave them, that he asked her why she was so fond of them. She
told him it was because a very good gentleman, a captain, who had
been all over Australia, had given them as keepsakes to the boys.
On hearing this, he tumed vei-y red, and left the house without
taking anything, saying, as he went away, ' For the sake of the
only man who has shown me kindness for many a long year, I will
never touch anything which belongs to his friends.' In a few days
our two horses came back, each with a piece of leather tied round
its neck, on which was written, ' Returned for Captain Spencer's
sake,' and really they are not in bad condition. Since then I hear
that Harry has been caught ; and if you should see anything of

3i8 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA.
him, perhaps you might do him some service, for I do think there
is some good in him at bottom. Sally and the boys send their duty
to you sir, and desire me to say they never forget you.
" I am your dutiful and obliged servant to command,
"James Richardson."
" Poor Harry ! " said Captain Spencer ; " I should be
very glad if I could be of any service to you."
The party returned joyfully to Onslow Farm; the
young raen loud in the praises of their new friend and
his horse. " I do not know which to admire most," said
George Onslow, "the firm courage of the rider, or the
entire obedience of his steed." " Make allowances for
railitary education and Arab origin," said Captain Spencer.
" And now, my friends, I must reluctantly think of my
departure ; I ought not to stay longer.'' Tbe necessity
was most unwillingly admitted, and Mr. Onslow said he
should be ready in a few days ; that the drays should be
packed and started, and then he would set off on horse
back ; Kinchela raight go ¦with the drays. " Agreed,"
said Captain Spencer ; " my tin cans shall be made over
to your garden, Mrs. Onslow ; I can roll my grass hat in
my opossum cloaks, and fasten them upon ray saddle."
" Ay, preserve that as a trophy," was the general cty.
" I will take your tin cans under my especial care," said
Mrs. Onslow. " Charlie can fly with us, and Gip will
ride inside my coat," continued the soldier ; so all is well
arranged." Kinchela, however, when he heard that he
was to be separated from his raaster, was in such an
agony of distress, that Captain Spencer was extremely
puzzled what to do with him. One of the raen about
the farm, hearing of this, respectfuUy accosted the officer
as he stood thoughtfully near the stable, and said, " I
beg your pardon, sir, but Kinchela has been learning to
ride while you have been away, and if raaster would lend

/.'<'

fi"*!,' '- l' ' *-'''-&^
«¦
^
CONVICTS. 319
him a horse, he niight go along with you ; he was so
Sony when you went to hunt the cattle alone, that he
begged to be taught ; and we all like him so rauch, that
we took pains with him, and he can sit his horse very
well." " Then "all difficulties are smoothed," said Mr.
Onslow, " for he can have one of ray horses. Come,
Spencer, and take a quiet walk with me round the new
plantation for the last tirae."
"There are sorae great drawbacks to living in this;
country," said Mr. Onslow. " The young are apt to-
think that everything must prosper, and get too confi
dent ; and as yet we have so few places of worship ; the
latter wiU, I hope, be remedied now we have bishops ;
the former, I dare not hope, will be checked by adversity.
We have just passed through a season of suffering which
has nearly overwhelmed us, and I hope we shall profit by
the lesson, and go steadily on ; but even that steadiness is
at such an enormous rate of progress, that it would seem
almost frightful in the Old World. I suppose the western
part wUl be peopled from Swan River."
" Have you any convicts employed about you ? "
asked Captain Spencer. " Certainly; more than half my
men were transported from England : some are perfectly
reforraed, and not only raake excellent servants, but
excellent characters ; whUe others require to be watched.
I do not know what we should have done without con
victs, as so many of the emigrants come out with the
notion that they are to be their own masters, or that they
are to be well paid for doing less than in Great Britain ;
whereas every one in a new colony must work hard. It
is a curious fact, that the Scotch are the worst of all con
victs ; I suppose, arising from the circumstance that they
are never transported except for some very serious
crirae."

:320 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALLA.
" I presurae," continued Mr. Onslow, " that you pos
sess a knowledge of all the natural resources of the
country?" "Not its mineral riches," replied Captain
;Spencer; "except the prominent features." "We have
almost all," returned Mr. Onslow. " Our coal is excel
lent, and one of the most valuable of our possessions.
:St John told you of all that has lately been found in the
neighbourhood of Adelaide ; and the enlightened Count
Strzelecki has given a learned account of what is to be
found in New South Wales." " I am vety much puzzled,"
interrupted Captain Spencer, " by the naraes givgn to the
trees, which appear to me rather fanciful." " We delight
in giving English names frora real or fancied resera-
blances. That for the Casuarina is the She Oak ; the
Stringy Bark, which grows chiefly on the tops of hUly
ranges ; the Blue Gum, which is of immense size, has
large, white, gnarled branches, and whose bark breaks off
in angular pieces ; the Iron Bark, the Balm Tree, which
abounds most in sandy creeks, the Thyme, the Red Gum,
the Dwarf Gum, the Box-tree, the Mahogany-tree, which
springs up to a height of forty or fifty feet, or even more,
without a bend or a branch, are all Eucalypti ; and then
the Rose-wood, the Raspbeny-jam, which smells like
that preserve, the Violet-wood, whicii yields just such a
¦perfume as that flower does, the Myall, of which the
¦cattle are so fond, the Malga, with its hard wood, are all
Acacias, of which there are at least two hundred sorts,
.all useful for their wood, their gura, and their bark, which
is excellent for tanning; and the two latter substances
forra articles of export Besides these, we have, as you
know, the Callitris Pine, with its yellow, corapact wood ;
the BidwelUana Pine, with its invaluable straight trunk ;
and the Cypress, which smells like a cedar, ¦with a red
and white wood." "It strikes me," observed Captain

A USTRALIA N HORSES. 3 2 1
Spencer, " that sorae of the grasses would be highly use
ful." "I am quite of your opinion, and I think their
excellence often makes our cattle stray ; but we all of us
try to iraitate the mother country, and have a sort of
prejudice towards new productions." " If I raistake not,''
further observed Captain Spencer, "there is also avery
good native Tobacco, with white blossoras and smooth
leaves ; and it appears to rae that your vegetable resources
are either not sufficiently known, or that you do not
sufficiently turn them to your advantage." " I perfectly
agree with you,'' said Mr. Onslow; "but newly established
farmers cannot tty experiments; and when > they know
that, if a fair quantity of rain comes, they produce twenty-
five bushels of wheat from an acre, and sometiraes more
than forty, and even heavier crops of barley, in a light,
sandy soil, you cannot wonder at the preference in their
favour. It is a curious circumstance that certain English
plants spring up spontaneously wherever we turn our
English cattle to graze ; for instance, the Horehound and
the Couch, or Dog's-tooth grass. But what is the cause
of that commotion in the Horse-yard ? let us go and see,
" What is the matter. Brown ? "- asked Mr, Onslow of the
nearest man, " One of the mares has kUled her foal, sir ;
she always was vicious." "These unaccountable things
happen every now and then ; sometimes to such an
extent," said Mr, Onslow, "that all the foals of a herd
wUl be destroyed. You say you raet with herds of wild
horses, and they are those we have lost : they treated
Tiger civilly ; but very often they will not let a strange
horse come near them. Our saddle-horses are trained so
as to graze within two or three mUes of the farm ; but in
several instances the wUd herds have forced them away,"
As Mr, Onslow and Captain Spencer entered the
inner gate, Frederick Onslow ran to meet them with a
Y

322 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
pair of tongs, between which a small dark object had
been nipped, and was partly hanging out " We have
found a whole nest of Triantelopes, father," said he,
laughing, " behind my grandfather's picture ; and I came
to present the venerable patriarch of the family to Cap
tain Spencer. He wiU probably find it an interesting
acquaintance." " What a mercy you have found them ! "
said Mr. Onslow. "I saw soraething dark,'' continued
Frederick, " suddenly emerge from behind the frame, and
on inspection found the colony. George and I derao
llshed them all ; my mother and Maty ran away."
" Perhaps you have seen them already," said Mr. Onslow,
turning to Captain Spencer; "for they constantly live
between the bark and wood of old trees." " No," was
the reply, " I never have ; but your colonial name is very
extraordinary." " Yes ; but if you were to talk to the
farm-servants of a Tarantula, they would not understand
you." "Are their bites fatal?" "No, though very
severe ; and their web is so strong that you can scarcely
break it "Your dogs," continued Captain Spencer,
" brought in an animal this morning, grey in colour, with
white spots, and having a thin, wiry tail, and long narrow
head, which I have seen, but Gip has never caught it."
" Oh ! you mean the native Cat,' which coraes and eats
our fowls, and even turkeys. It is often nearly as large
as a mediura-sized doraestic cat, and is grey, yellow, or
black in colour, always with white spots. It is a pretty
creature, but very vicious ; and it often raasters the
dogs." " One more question on natural histoty, and I
have done. What is the reason I have never met with
the Lyre Birds ? " " Because^ they belong more properly
to the south-eastern portion of this continent, and high
coast ranges, where the Spiny Ant-eater'' also most
» Dasyurus. Echidna.

ALARMED BY BUSH-RANGERS! 323
abounds, though occasionaUy found near the Darling.
We have had both ; but the latter disappeared, and is
perhaps in the lake at this moment ; and the former
died." The night after the above conversation was to be the
last which the traveller was to spend among his kind
friends ; and, as he lay awake, thinking with regret of
the approaching separation, he heard a most tremendous
noise. He started up and listened, and it occurred
again, sounding as if it were an attempt to break open a
door. He hastily threw on his clothes ; and George
Onslow burst into the room, saying, " I see you have
heard them, Spencer ; it is either a company of bush
rangers, or a body of natives trying to break in ; they
must have corae over the hills at the back. I cannot
understand why the dogs have not given tongue.'' "Gipsy
has," said her raaster. "Take your pistols, and come
with me," continued George ; " it is in the new part of
the house." The friends issued from the door, and at the
head of the stairs met Mr. Onslow, half dressed, wdth a
sword and a Ught. "Put out the light," said Captain
Spencer, " and let rae come first" " Certainly not,"
cried Mr. Onslow, and pushed past him ; in doing which
Captain Spencer blew out the candle, thereby obscuring
some white forms, whicii had anxiously but partly issued
from their doors. Frederick Onslow now joined them ;
and as he did so, they heard a parley. " Go back, Mary.
Mother, you have no business' here ! " " Can't we help
you load the pistols? " " No ; we are quite sufficient to
keep them at bay, till we can, by our firing, alarra the
men about the premises." Another thump, louder than
ever, threatened to burst the door open, which was near
the foot of the stairs. " Let us stand here," said George
Onslow, "and we shall catch them as they enter," At

324 ADVENTURES LN AUSTRALIA.
last the door was burst open, and a flood of moonUght
streamed in, Mr, Onslow made a furious lunge, and
fell. For an instant only there was silence ; but then a
wild scream of laughter burst from the young men.
Captain Spencer looked around him for the explanation,
when something rolled against his legs, and made Gip
hop away, " Oh, my mother's pumpkins ! " at last said
the young men. The laughter was renewed. But Mary,
who had followed, cried " Pick up my father; perhaps he
is hurt" " Hurt ! " said Mr. Onslow, " I can't move for
laughter. Oh, Ellen ! Ellen ! your horticultural propen
sities wUl be the deatii of me.'' A rustling noise, and the
shutting of a door, told that the innocent cause of the
alarm had made her escape from the taunts which she
knew were coming. She had raade a stack of purapkins
in one of the new and unoccupied rooras ; something had
disturbed their equilibrium, and they had given way.
Such was the explanation of the raystery ; but there was
no more sleep that night. The young men sat up to
talk ; but a loud laugh burst forth whenever the adven
ture was thought of — especially the appearance of Mr.
Onslow, his fierce lunge, and his roll among the enemy.
He went back to his bed ; but his wife had taken refuge
in that of Maty, where she buried her head in the pillow,
to avoid hearing the reiterated bursts of her sons. It was
with difficulty that Captain Spencer assuraed a serious
countenance when she carae to the early breakfast the
next morning. " I could not let you go," said the lady,
"without taking farewell, or else I would not have ap
peared this moming. I ara more sony than I can ex
press to lose you ; but I never before saw Mr. Onslow go
away, and felt so much pleasure at his departure. I do
not mind Mary and the boys, but he really is too un
bearable." "I do assure you," said Captain Spencer^

DEPARTURE OF THE TRAVELLERS. 325
'" that if I were not so sad at parting with you, I should
be as vociferous in ray merriment as they are ; so it is
well that I am going."
The travellers departed with sadness and sorrow at
their hearts, for affection had been cemented between all
parties by circumstances, -\-\-hich had played the part of
tirae, and they were old friends in heart, though not in
days. The soldier's duty never seeraed so hard as at
that moment, and he was almost tempted to make a
promise to return-; but he found sufficient firmness to
forbear. It was some tirae, however, before he could be
amused, as Mr. Onslow was, with the pride of Kinchela,
who, equipped in trousers and shoes, given him by his
friends at the farm, had issued from the gate in the midst
of a loud "Hurrah!" which Charlie echoed, laughing
with all his might; bawling out the names of all the
family — " George, Mary," etc. The servants loudly ap
plauded him ; nor could those who were sad refrain,
when he flew round and round in token of farewell, and,
as his last salute, screaming, " Pumpkins ! pumpkins ! "
which Frederick Onslow had been at some pains to teach
him that very morning.
"I should have thought," said Captain Spencer,
¦" after the first pangs were over, that, with your establish
ment, and the extent of settleraent and cultivation around
you, you were not m danger from an attack of natives."
"Nor do I think we are," said Mr. Onslow; "but this
I do think, that, on the very outskirts, our colonists
are not sufficiently careful. It is difficult, however, to
divest ourselves of old habits and feelings. I did not
doubt last night that the noise was occasioned by natives;
it was my boys who imagined bush-rangers, because they
are often hearing of their exploits. I raust now tell you
an instance of Mrs. Onslow's courage, as a reward to her

32 6 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
for so much teasing about her garden. I was at Sydney
at the time, and it was during our first establishment on
our land, so that we had no neighbours to help us, no
resources but in ourselves, and scarcely any defence. It
seeraed that some of the natives had been ill-treated, or
fancied they had been ill-treated, by some soldiers and
constables the day before; and their tribe, to the nuraber
of 400, assembled, and came to revenge themselves upon
us. They were all fully armed after their own fashion,
and we had only four guns and a pistol, which, however,
were prepared for action. As soon as they came to the
house, my brave little wife went to thera, by herself, in
quired into their grievances, soothed them with kind
words, and gave them tobacco and corn. She, however,
told them that there were people inside the house, who
would shoot them if they committed any violence. Sur
prising to say, this kind but dauntless conduct on her
part produced the most favourable results ; for they went
away, only taking -with thera ¦wdiat she had given, and
sorae articles of clothing, which they had found in the
men's huts when they ransacked them. Our overseer
went among thera after her first address and reception,
as, in fact, did the whole faraUy ; and as our people
gradually assembled round Mrs. Onslow, they all endea
voured to make friends with the enemy, and behaved
very well, so that we did not suffer much. But I attribute
our preservation (of course under Providence) entirely to
Mrs. Onslow's conduct, for frightful murder and outrage
were committed by them within thirty miles of us, lower
down the river."
Captain Spencer sailed from Newcastle, the shipping
port of the Hunter district, for Sydney, over sixty railes
of the Pacific ocean, in a course due south.
The magnificent harbour of Port Jackson, its bold,

RECEPTION AT SYDNEY. 327
picturesque entrance, and the beautiful appearance of
Sydney, one of the fairest cities of the earth, struck
Captain Spencer as perhaps the finest scene which he
had ever beheld. The two dark, lofty rocks, which seera
to form the gates of the harbour, were passed ; a noble
estuaty presented itself, decked -with the loveliest bays,
inlets, islands, vUlas, cottages, and gardens; and the
silvery sand of the beach formed a glittering border. On
landing. Captain Spencer at once proceeded to the prin
cipal hotel, where, sending for a tailor, the adornment of
the outer man was speedily accomplished. Then came
presentation to the Governor, introductions, calls, and
fetes ; and all the cereraonies and usages of polite life,
with the hospitality of the colonies, were put in practice
for one who was naturally the hero of the day. But this
hero soon became tired of the gaiety which he was
obliged to share ; and although grateful for kindness and
attention, he was weaty of long, dusty George Street, of
luxurious dinners which he could not eat, and of hot
rooms where he thought he could not breathe ; and every
hour increased his impatience to depart Tiger was well
housed, and Kinchela was constantly with hira, for his
counttyraen claimed him, and he did not covet their
society; the white servants laughed at and jeered him,
and Tiger was his best companion in the absence of his
master. Gip was of course often left behind, and her
consolation was to lie upon her master's cloak. As to
Charlie, he, evety morning, vety cleverly flew off, and
retumed at night to Tiger ; and, one day when Captain
Spencer was riding through the Hyde Park of Sydney
with some gentlemen, one of the latter exclaimed, "Is
that you. Captain Spencer, whose name is so vociferously
called by a strange voice? it is probably one of your
friends frora the bush." The traveller listened, and looked

328 AD VENTURES IN A USTRALLA.
round, and presentiy "Ned Spencer, Ned Spencer ! here's
Charlie, Ned Spencer ! " met his ear. He whistled in
the usual manner, and Charlie flew on his shoulder with
every raark of delight " I could not think where the
poor fellow went to evejy day," said he; "but I was
easy about hira, as he came back evety evening." " All's
right, hurrah ! " said the bird, and flew away. " I would
give loo guineas for that bird," said one of the gentlemen.
" I would not take 500 for hira," observed his master :
"his voice, day after day, was the only sound which
cheered rae in the wilderness, and I can never part with
hira.'' In consequence ¦ of this, Charlie was a marked
bird araong all the inhabitants of Sydney, and was conse
quently safe frora harra as he flew backwards and for
wards to and frora the hotel.
On one occasion, when some ladies called in their
caniage to take Captain Spencer to the race-course
between Sydney ahd Botany Bay, as he was about to get
in, soraething touched his shoulder, and there stood Tiger,
preparing to go with hira, with Charlie on his back, and
Gip was unceremoniously running up the steps of the
caniage. They had all made their escape, and, of course,
thought they could not do wrong by accompanying their
master. The ladies were so pleased, that they en
treated the horse and bird raight be suffered to accom
pany them, and Gip was received into the carriage.
Kinchela was raounted in the rumble, to his infinite
enjoyment ; and from that moment the whole party were
included in aU the invitations where they could be
adraitted, — no pic-nic taking place without Charlie.
Captain Spencer passed several gangs of con^victs at
work, and he scarcely dared to looked at thera, for fear
he should see Harry Blunt among their nuraber. But it
was not there he found hira. On returning to his hotel

HARR Y BL UNT A GAIN. 3 2 9
one day, he saw a crowd at a distance, and on going
through it, heard that the famous bush-ranger, Harry
Blunt, who had so long eluded pursuit, was at last
taken, and brought in by the police. Hany was com
mitted to prison, where his friend visited him, and heard
that an engageraent had taken place between him, his
companion, and the parties sent out after them, in which
he, seeing no chance of escape, had surrendered without
further resistance. The more Captain Spencer saw of this
erring man, the more did he hope for his reformation.
He expressed himself as if he were sincerely penitent,
and Captain Spencer made use of all the influence which
he possessed for the mitigation of his sentence. He
related to the proper authorities all that he knew of him,
employed counsel for him, and Richardson's letter being
read in court, produced a favourable irapression.
The working in chains was thus corarauted for im
prisonment, which his friend thought would be almost as
irksome to bear, and he obtained a raitigation of its
length. To his surprise, however, Harry expressed a
firm determination to bear his punishment patiently,
saying, "it was the least he could do after such kind
exertions had been raade for hira."
Captain Spencer entreated that the strenuous efforts
ofthe chaplain ofthe gaol raight be used on his behalf;
and this gentleraan was so pleased with the conduct and
improvement of the convict, that when, on going out of
prison, Mr. Onslow offered to take hira into his service,
he gave him his best commendations, so that it was
an inexpressible source of happiness to the Australian
traveller to think, when his friend wrote him that Harry
Blunt was a faithful and attached servant, that he had
been allowed to act as an instrument in saving a fellow-
creature frora perdition.

339 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
Presents were sent to Mr. St. John, Richardson,
the Scotts, the Onslows, and even the stock-keepers at
the out-stations, so that none could imagine themselves
to be forgotten ; and Captain Spencer embarked on
board the Asia with mingled feelings of regret and plea
sure, each of which were surmounted by gratitude. Kin
chela, Gip, and Tiger were very happy on board ship,
and Charlie had the sagacity not to attempt to roam
during the voyage.
" Have you heard the news ? Spencer has corae
back, better than ever he was, with his horse, dog, and
such a bird ! " were the exclamations of all who had
known hira in Bombay, directly after he had reported his
anival. Hearty greetings saluted him on all sides, and
he seemed to live in a whirl of pleasure and excitement
Great was the astonishment felt at his adventures and
sufferings, and honourable were the distinctions with
which he was received in society. He, however, joined
his regiment as speedily as possible, where, among old
and dear friends, he could calmly consider and talk over
the past ; and as often as he did so, he became more and
more irapressed with gratitude and submission towards
his Heavenly Protector.

CONCLUSION.
jS frequent a correspondence as opportunities
would allow was carried on between Captain
Spencer and his highly valued friends, the
Onslows; and during a period of two years, no event
of importance occurred, except the marriage of Mr. St

MR. ONSLOW'S LETTER. 331
John with Miss Onslow, and their subsequent settiement
on a farm within a day's ride of her parents. Then came
a letter from Mr. George Onslow, couched in the foUow
ing terras : —
"My dear Spencer, — All our endeavours to tempt you to
come and settle among us have signally failed, and I grant you that
your reasons are cogent ; therefore, do not suppose that the present
epistle is intended as a renewal of our efforts.
" I merely lay the circumstances before you, and when you have
weighed them all, your own right feeling and good sense will enable
you to determine the course you ought to pursue.
" It is some time since I last wrote, owing to the great difficulty I
have found in procuring a conveyance for my despatches ; and jjer-
haps it is well it should have been so, for by the delay I can now put
you in full possession of an important discovery, which, although
taking place in the farthest retreat of civilization, bids fair to in
fluence the whole world. It is neither more nor less than that of
finding prodigious quantities of gold in our soil, which far exceed
the amount yielded by Califoi-nia, tidings of which have of course
reached you through the newspapers.
" To begin at the beginning. It seems that the great geologist,.
Sir Roderick Murchison, when he examined the siDecimens of rocks^
and heard the accounts of the eminent traveller, Count .Strzelecki,
was struck with the resemblance of the former to those of the Ural
Mountains, which you know supply Russia with gold ; and he then
foretold that we should, sooner or later, meet with the precious metal
in ou/ territoi-y. The Rev. H. B. Clarke, of Sydney, the celebrated
geologist, announced a similar opinion from personal examination at
about the same time. Mr. Clarke pointed to the very districts where
it is now found. It is an undecided question who first gave the an
nouncement to the world, but Mr. Clarke certainly had the better
opportunities of these perhaps equally scientific gentlemen. Still uo
search was made. Now it is known that an old shepherd actually
brought several pieces of gold for sale at Sydney, and on being
questioned as to where he had procured them, refused to give any
information. Strange to say, that although it was known he came
from the district of Bathurst, no one followed to see from what spot-
he dug the treasure ; in fact, no pains were taken to profit by his
discovery. " At last a Mr. Hargreaves returned from California, with much
experience in gold-finding as the result of his visit to those regions.

332 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
He applied his knowledge to New South Wales, and after riding
over some hundreds of miles, he gave tidings of a rich harvest of
gold in the Crown lands. He made arrangements with the Govern
ment, went to Bathurst, assembled the principal inhabitants of that
place at an inn, showed them four ounces of gold which he had
procured after three days' labour, and succeeded in awakening them
to search for more. From that time the gold mania has been raging,
and weekly increasing in strength. The emigi-ation from the British
empire, which had languished, is now beginning to flow again, and
thousands have arrived and still come. Our towns have been in a
measure deserted, and two thousand persons were in one week
known to go to Bathurst, consisting of all classes and ages. I can
scarcely describe to you the condition to which the towns have been
reduced. Respectable clerks have thrown up valuable situations ;
even men of substance have not disdained the enterprise ; apprentices
have broken their indentures ; tillage has been neglected, not even
seed sown for future crops ; buildings suspended ; sbeep have
wandered about without shepherds ; and in Adelaide the famous
copper mines have stopped working for want of miners.
' ' You will readily suppose that such a sudden change in every
thing, — such a sudden rupture of the bonds which link society
together, — ^have produced strange results, and laid the foundation
for much after-inconvenience, if not suflfering. The regular supplies
derived from our crops must fail ; the prices of most things will be
raised ; our exports stopped ; our flocks and herds -will be irre
coverably strayed ; it will be difficult to reduce the enormous wages
given to those who have remained faithful to their duties ; and the
fair, the refined, and the delicate have been, and may be again,
forced to perform those offices for which they are unfitted by health
or education. These seem to me quite enough to think of without
troubling myself with the-financial changes which such an influx of
gold may occasion in other parts of the world. Various are the
surmises and speculations on this head ; but who can tell ?
"As these mountain ridges which contain gold generally assume
il meridional direction, fresh explorations took place to the south,
and now still mere prolific deposits are found in the province of
Victoria. A native shepherd in the service of Dr. Kerr, at Louisa
Creek, fifty miles from Bathurst, stumbled upon a spot which
yielded .£4240 sterling to his master. A party of diggers, six in
number, procured .1^900 worth in one day. One man, seeing his
neighbour about to wash a tin-dishful of slate-coloured clay, at a
venture offered £i,o for it ; the possessor asked £1'^. This was

THE GOLD DIGGINGS. 333
refused ; and the owner had reason to rejoice, for it yielded ;^loo.
The value of ;^3So was dug up in a few hours, from earth which
had lodged round the root of a tree. A blacksmith, in one hole,
found the worth of ;^440 ; and a poor man met with 81bs. of gold
in one spot, after the labour of only a few minutes, which he com
pared to digging potatoes. All these occurred in the Sydney
deposits. At Mount Alexander, in Victoria province, a party of
four men from Adelaide, after working for a few days, returned
home with £\l,(>oo. A party of four sailed in the Great Britain,.
went up to the Melboume diggings, made ;^4000 or more by one
large nugget or block of golden stone, and retumed to England by
the same ship and trip.
" I will not weary you with further statements of success, nor
will I trouble you with the losses, which appear but trifling in com
parison ; such losses are, however, not rare. Government has
assumed the conduct of these diggings, and each person must take
out a licence, which cost ^l los. per month, and which entitles the
holder to appropriate the produce of a certain portion of land,.
called a 'claim.' These claims not unfrequently turn out to be
wholly destitute of gold, and the parties do not even repay their
expenses. These uncertainties are easily explained by the sujDposi-
tion that quartz is the matrix of the gold ; this has been broken or
disturbed by some great convulsion, and the shattered fragments
are rolled from their original bed ; sometimes arrested by an insigni
ficant obstacle, and accumulating, and at others passing over, and
leaving the course bare. This theory also accounts for the presence
of the metal in other formations, such as blue clay and clay slate ;
and the fissures of slaty rocks have presented most lumps or nuggets
(as they are called), they having, as it were, caught the quartz as
it has rolled along. It is asserted that, in Argyle, granite is the
matrbj, and thus stones containing gold have been applied to the
building of bridges, and used for pavements. Does not this remind
you of the stories told in former times of the streets of Timbuctoo
being paved with silver ? — stories which we can now beat, without
exaggeration, by the assertion that Bathurst is paved with gold,
" After long exemption, at length Fred and I were seized with
the umversal fever ; but when we owned its influence to my father,
he shook his head, and as our men stole off to the diggings, we
felt it would be very hard upon him to deprive him of our help. At
length St, John came, fully determined on tempting us to join him
him in an excursion to the diggings. Marv came -viith him, to re
main with our father and mother during our absence. It was net

334 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
a busy time just then, and at length the project received approbation.
We persuaded our neighbour, young Montague, to complete the
number of four, which is said to form the most convenient party ;
and promising high wages to two of the men who had remained
with us, we first started for Sydney. At one time we wished to
have Harry Blunt with us, but he wisely preferred staying to take
care of the farm ; saying that a love of gain had once led him into
evil, and he would never put himself into the way of temptation
any more.
' ' At Sydney we bought the rough dresses which were to stand
the water and hard labour which we knew -n'e had to encounter ; we
provided ourselves with a tilted cart, which held us all, and to which
we harnessed two horses from the farm. We had pickaxes, spades,
buckets, tubs, files, wedges, scales and weights, tin dishes and
cradles. We did not forget our mattresses, plenty' of thick blankets,
a tent, cooking apparatus, and a stock of provisions, carefully se
lected by my mother and Mary. We arrived in safety, left the care
of our property and the cooking to the men, and helped each other
to dig, to wash, to rock the cradles, etc. It was even rougher work
than any we had hitherto encountered, for there must be no relax
ation, and no shrinking from wet garments.
" I must not forget to tell you that we took Lion, the mastiff,
with us ; and the dear old dog was one of our most useful auxiliaries.
When a suspicious character approached the tent, he gave the
alarm ; and as we were well armed and slept lightly, it was scarcely
possible to take us by surprise.
"It was a curious siglit to see so many hundred tents together,
looking more like a vast fair than a military encampment ; and from
the number of those who had preceded us it was difficult to choose
¦our claims, or establish our temporai-y dwelling. We exerted all
¦our thought and skill ; and being a party of brothers, as it were,
our experiment turned out well, for in six weeks we, between us,
realized ;^IS,000 besides some extra gains (which we give to our
men for their faithful conduct to us), and the selling of our claims
when we left the ground. We every week sent our gold by the
armed escort provided by the Government to Sydney ; so tliat we
never had any great accumulation by us, and thus we did not know
how much we had realized till we returned to the capital.
" It was not a life that tempted us to remain long, and we were
glad to return to our homes. St. John and Montague, being lately
settled, find their portions advantageous to their farms and stock.
.Fred's has enabled him to become independent, and mine is thrown
into the common purse between me and my father.

GOLD-DIGGERS' CAMP AT NIGHT. 335
" You will probably think that I have given you too favourable
an idea of the scenes which we witnessed, and of the hardships which
we encountered. With regard to the latter, it must be recollected,
that they came lighter to us as settlers, than to those who pass their
lives at the desk, or in professional employments. The health of
many gave way under the toil and exposure ; and probably many
will, all the rest of their days, feel the effects of their exertions and
exposure. With respect to the former, the day was quite enough,
for most of those present were devoted to their all-absorbing occu
pation ; but at night, the return of so many lawless characters to
the camp, of necessity produced some frightful scenes. Such a din
of firing guns, shoutings, frightful oaths, dranken quarrels, and
barking of dogs ! Robberies are frequent, and murders are some ¦
times committed ; and it requires incessant watching to retain your
horses and other property. Still all these are nothing to the horrors
which we hear of in California ; and as poUce and military forces
are being established, still greater order will prevail. One thing
strack us forcibly, which was the observance of the Sabbath ; and
perhaps this, as well as some forbearance from evil, may be ascribed
to the sprinkling of gentlemen, who come to share the chances of
the rest. It is true that such enterprises are great levellers of caste ;
nevertheless, superiority of mind, morals, and acquirement, must
exercise an influence wherever it may abide.
" There is an abundant attendance of those who seek to gain a
more certain profit, by the exercise of different callings, necessary to
the wants of such a multitude ; and they do not fail to take advantage
of the necessity which arises for their labours. The charges for
washing are enormous ; a trifling derangement of your tools, or
damage to your cart, cannot be remedied without incurring heavy
expense; and you are forced to submit to the most extortionate
demands. Provisions are decidedly cheap. I have not yet described
the cradle, which is so named on account of its resemblance to that
accompaniment of childhood, in its outward form. A square box
is fitted into its head, at the bottom of which is a sheet of iron,
pierced with holes the diameter of my little finger, like a sieve.
Across the bottom of the cradle are three thick iron bars, one of
which is placed at the lower end, and the other two divide the cradle
into three equal parts. An upright bar of wood fixed on one side
forms the handle, and by means of this, one person violently rocks
the machine with his left hand, while the right, with a stick, stirs or
beats the soil put into the iron sieve. A second person dashes water
upon it. The cradle is put into a slanting position, in which the

336 ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
sieve is the highest ; the particles of gold fall to the bottom, where
they are arrested by the bars, and the muddy water runs off at the
foot. This gold is afterwards put into the tin dish which I have
already mentioned, and carefully separated from the pieces of iron
stone, and other hea-vy substances, by further washing.
" If you will join us, dear Spencer, we will make a second ex
pedition, and tum ovir steps towards the Victoria diggings. It is
true that the disorganization of Melboume is beyond my powers to
describe, if all be true that we hear. Robberies are committed in
the streets by daylight, arid nothing but superior force is an efficient
protection. You, however, are not one to shrink from hardship or
danger. Come then, and make your fortune.
" My father and Fred write you all family news, and therefore
I have now only to subscribe myself your faithful friend,
" George Onslow."
Captain Spencer wisely thought it very possible that
he might mar instead of make his fortune by going to
the diggings, and declined the above invitation, remaining
perfectly satisfied with the majority which he had just
attained. The great extension of steam-boat na'vigation
soon, however, enabled him to have more frequent inter
course with his friends, and to be a personal witness of
their prosperity.

PRINTED AT THE C.-^LXTON PRESS, BECCLES.

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¦'rfj-^°=^i, l"^^-^^T"^'^^^i^^^'^^*'l ] '
"''"CM to Ke-n W

PUBLISHED BT
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SOM. 9,79,

Cancelling all previous Editions of this Catalogue.

OOISTTEI^rTS.

Hew Books and Hew Editions, 1879—80 ...
Hew Eotion 
Standard Works 
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Poetry 
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Manuals on Confirmation, &c. 
Hew Books and Hew Editions for Children ..
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The Day of Wonders : A Medley of Sense and Nonsense. By
M. Sullivan. 30 Illustrations by W. G. Browne.
Harty the Wanderer ; or. Conduct is Fate. A Tale by Faibleigh
Owen. 28 Illustrations by John Proctor.
A Wayside Posy. Gathered for Girls. By F. Lablache.
15 Illustrations by A. H. Collins.

14

NEW AND POPULAE WOEKS

Price Five Shillings each, cloth elegant, Illustrated.
Extraordinaiy Nursery Rhymes ; New, yet Old. Translated from
the Original Jingle into Comic Verse by One who was once a
Child. 60 Illustrations. Small 4to.
Favourite Picture Book (The) and Nursery Companion. Com
piled anew by Uncle Charlie. With 450 Illustrations by
Absolon, Anelay, Bennett, Browne (Phiz), Sir .Iohn Gil-
beet, T. Landseer, Leech, Prout, Harbison Weir, and others.
Medium 4to., cloth elegant.
*:«* This may also be had in Four Parts, iu fancy wrapper,
price Is. each.
Little Gipsy (The). By Elie Sauvage. Translated by Anna
Blackwell. Profusely illustrated by Ernest Frolich. Small
4to, ; (or, extra cloth, gilt edges, 6s.)
Norstone; or, Rifts in thb Clouds. By M. E. Batteesley.
Merry Songs for Little Voices. Words by Mrs. Broderip. Music
by Thomas Murbt. With 40 Illustrations. Fcap. 4to.
Stories from the Old and New Testaments. Bv the Rev. B. B.
Draper. With 48 Engravings.
Trimmer's History of the Robins. Written for the Instruction of
Children on their treatment ot Animals. With 24 Illus
trations by Earrison Weir. Small ito, gilt edges.
Workman and Soldier. A Talb op Paris Life durinq the
Siege and the Rule of the Commune. By Jasies F. Cobb.

Four Shillings and Sixpence each, cloth elegant, ivith
Illustrations ; or with gilt edges, 5s.
Alda Graham ; and her Brother Philip. By E. Marryat Nobeis.
Book of Cate (The) : a Chit-chat Chronicle of Feline Facts and
Fancies. By Charles H. Ross.
"Buttons." The Trials and Travels of a Young Gentleman-
By Ascott R. Hope.
Casimir, the little ExUe. By Caroline Peachby.
Cornertown Chronicles. New Legends of Old Lobe -sveitten
FOR the Young. By Kathleen Knox.
Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse. With 24 beautiful Ulus-
trations from Drawings by Harrison Weir. SmaU 4to.
Fiery Cross (The), oe the vow of Montrose. By Barbara Button.

PUBLISHED BT GEIFFITH AND FAEEAN. 15

Four Shillings and Sixpence each — continued.
Mandarin's Daughter (The): A Story op the Great Taepino
Rebellion. By Samuel Mobsman.
Modem British Plutarch (The), or Lives of Men Distinguished
in the recent Bistoey of our Country for their Talents,
Virtues, and Achievements. By W. C. Ta-tlor, LL.D.
Oak Staircase, (The) or The Stories of Lord and Lady Desmond
a Narrative of the Times of James II. By M. and 0. Lee.
Silver Linings : or. Light and Shade. By Mrs. Reginald M.
Bray.
Tales and Legends of Saxony and Lusatia. By W. Westall.
Theodora: a Tale for Girls. By Emuja Marryat Norris.
Zipporah, the Jevrish Maiden. By M. E. Bewsher.

Three Shillings and Sixpence plain ; or coloured plates and
gilt edges, Four Shillings and Sixpence, Super Royal
IGmo, cloth elegant, iviih Illustrations.
Aunt Jenny's American Pets. By Catherine C. Hoplby.
Broderip (Mrs.) Crosspatch, the Cricket, and the Counterpane.
„ My Grandmother's Budget of Stories and Verses.
„ Tales of the Toys. Told by Themselves.
„ Tiny Tadpole, and other Tales.
Cousin Trix, and her Welcome Tales. By Georgiana Craik.
Cosmorama: the Manners and Customs of all Nations op the
World describbd. By J. Aspin.
Distant Homes, or The Graham Family in New Zealand. By
Mrs. I. E. A-TLMER.
Early Days of English Princes. By Mrs. Russell Gray.
Echoes of an Old Bell. By the Bon. Augusta Bethell.
Facts to Correct Fancies, or Short Narratives op Remarkable
Women.
Fairy Land, or Recreation for the Rising Generation, in Prose'
and Verse. By Thomas and Jane Bood. Illustrated by T.
Hood, Jun.
Feathers and Fairies, or Stories from the Realms of Fancy.
By the Hon. Augusta Bbthell.
Garden (The), or Frederick's Monthly Instruction for the
Management and Formation of a Flower Garden, With
lUus^ations by Sowerby. 6s. coloured.

16 NEW AND POPULAE WOEKS
Three Shillings and Sixpence each — contin-ued.
Hacco the Dwarf, or The Tower on the Mountain, and other
Tales. By Lady Lushington.
Happy Home (The), or The Ohildben at the Red Bouse. By
Lady Lushington.
Helen in Switzerland. By the Hon. Augusta Bethell.
Holidays among the Mountains, or Scenes and Stories of Wales..
By M. Betham Edwards.
Lightsome and the Little Golden Lady. Written and Illustrated
by C. B. Bennett Twenty-four Engravings.
Nursery Times, or Stories about the Little Ones. By an Old
Nurse.
Play Room Stories, or How to make Peace. By Georgiana M.
Craik,
Peep at the Pixies (A), or Legends of the West. By Mrg. Bray.
Scenes and Stories of the Rhine. By M. Betham Edwabds.
Seven Birthdays (The), or The Children op Foetune. By
Kathleen Knox.
Starlight Stories,- told to Bright Eyes and Listening Ears.
' By Fanny Lablache.
Stories of Edward, and his Little Friends.
Tales of Magic and Meaning. Written and Illustrated by Alfred
Orowquill.
Visits to Beechwood Farm. By Catharine Cowper.

Three Shillings and Sixpence plain, cloth elegant, ivith
Illustrations by eminent Artists, or with gilt edges, price 4s.
Almeria' s Castle, or My Early Life in India and England. By
Lady Lushington.
Cast Adrift, the Story of a Waif. By Mi-s. Herbert Martin.
Castles and their Heroes. By Barbara Button.
Clement's Trial and Victory, or Sowing and Reamno. By
M. E. B. (Mrs. Gellib). Third Thousand.
Faggots for the Fireside, or Tales op Fact and Fancy. By
Peter Parley.

PUBLISHED BT GEIFFITH AND FAEEAN. 17
Three Shillings and Sixpence each — continued.
Great aud Small; Scenes in the Life or Children. Translated,
with pei-mission, from the French of Mdlle. Laroque, by Miss
HAREiBr Poole. With 61 Illustrations by Bertall.
Grey Towers; or Aunt Betty's Will. By M. M. Pollard.
Isabel's Difficulties, or Light on thb Daily Path. By M. R. Carey.
Joachim's Spectacles : A Legend of Florbnthal. By M. & C. Lee.
Kingston's (W.H.G.) Fred Markham ia Russia, or, The Bot
Travellers in the Land op the Czae.
,, Manco the Peruvian Chief.
,, Mark Seaworth; a, Tale of the Indian Ocean.
,, Peter the Whaler; his Early Life and Adventures
in the Arctic Regions.
,, Salt Water, or Neh, D'Arcy's Sea Life and Ad-ventdres.
Lee (Mrs.) Anecdotes of the Habits and Instincts of Animals.
„ Anecdotes of the Habits and Instincts of Birds, Reptiles,
and Fishes.
,, Adventures in Australia, or The Wanderings of Captain
Spencer in the Bush and the Wilds.
,, The A&ican Wanderers, or Carlos and Antonio.
Little May's Friends, or Country Pets and Pastimes. By
Annie Whittem.
Louisa Broadhurst; or First Experiences. By A. M.
My School Days in Paris. By Margaret S. Jeune.
Meadow Lea, or The Gipsy Children.
Millicent and Her Cousins. By the Hon. Augusta Bethell.
New Girl (The), or The Rivals; a Tale of School Life. By
M. E. B. (Mrs. Gellib).
North Pole (The) ; and Bow Charlie Wilson Discoveebd It. By
the Author of "Realms of the Ice King," &c.
Our Old Uncle's Home; and what the Boys did there. By
Mother Carey.
Queen Dora: The Life and Lessons of a Little Girl. By
Kathleen Knox.
Rosamond Fane, or the Prisoners op St. James. By M. and 0.
Lbe.
Talent in Tatters, or some Vicissitudes in the Life of an
English Boy. By Hope Wraythe.

18 ' NEW ANU POPCLAE WOEKS

Three Shillings and Sixpence each — continued.
The Triumphs of Steam, or Stobies prom the Lives of Watt,
Arkwright, and Stephenson.
The Whispers of a Shell, or Stobies op the Sea. By FranceB
Freeling Beodeeip.
Wild Roses, or Simple Stories op Country Life. By the same.

Three Shillings and Sixpence each, cloth elegant, Illustrated.
Among the Zulus. By Lieut-Col. Drayson. Cloth, gilt edges.
Attractive Picture Book (The). A New Gift Book from the Old
Corner, containing numerous Ulustrations by eminent Artists.
Bound inElegant Paper Boards, Royal ito, price 3s. Gd. each
plain; 7s. Gd. coloured; 10s. Gd. mounted on cloth and coloured.
Berries and Blossoms : a Verse Book for Young People. By T.
Westwood.
Bible Ulustrations, or A Description op Manners and Customs
PEOULiAB TO the East. By the Rev. B. H. Draper. Revised
by Dr. KiTlo.
British History Briefly Told (The), and a description op the
Ancient Customs, Spoets, and Pastimes of the English.
Clara Kope, or The Blade and the Eae. By Miss Milnbr.
Frontispiece by Bieket Fosteb.
Four Seasons (The) ; A Short Account of the Structure of Plants
being Four Lectures written for the Working Men's Institute,
Pans. With Illustrations. Imperial 16mo.
Family Bible Newly Opened (The) ; -with Uncle Goodwin's
Account op it. By Jeffreys Tayloe. Fcap. Svo.
Glimpses of Nature, and Objects of Inteeest described DURiNa
A Visit to the Isle of Wight. By Mrs. Loudon. Forty-
one Illustrations.
History of the Robins (The). By Mrs. Trimmer. In Words of
One Syllable. Edited by the Rev. Charles Swete, M.A.
Historical Acting Charades, or Amusements for Winter Evenings.
By the Author of " Cat and Dog,'" etc. Fcap. Svo.
How to be Happy, or Fairy Gifts.
Infant Amusements, or How to make a Nursery Happy. With
Practical Hints on the Moral and Physical Training of Children.
By W. B. G. Kingston.

PUBLISHED BT GEIFFITH AND FAEEAN. 19
Three Shillings and Sixpence each — continued.
Man's Boot (The), and other Stories in Words op One Syllable.
Dlustrations by Baeeison Weir. 4to., gilt edges.
The Mine, or Subterranean Wonders. An Account of the Opera
tions of the Miner and the Products of his Labours.
Modem Sphinx (The). A Collection of Bnigmas, Charades, Re
buses, Double and Triple Acrostics, Anagrams, Logogeiphs,
Metageams, Verbal Puzzles, Conundrums, etc. Fcap. Svo,
price 3s. Gd.\ gilt ecfges, 4s.
Boot and Flower. By John Palmee.
Sunbeam : a Fairy Tale. By Mrs. Pietzkee.
Sylvia's New Home, a Story for the Young. By Mrs. J. F. B.
Fibth.
Taking Tales for Cottage Homes. In Plain Language and Large
Type. Two vols.
May also be had in 4 vols. Is. Gd. each; and 12 p.arts, id. each.

Three iShillitigs and Sixpence plain ; Five Shillings coloured.
Bear King (The) : a Narrative confided to the Marines by James
Greenwood. With Illustrations by Ernest Griset. Small 4to.
Familiar Natural History. With 42 Illustrations by Harrison
Weie.
*,,* Also, in Two Vols., entitled "British Animals and Birds,"
" Foreign Animals and Birds." 2s. each, plain ; 2s. Gd. coloured.
Old Nurse's Book of Rhymes, Jingles, and Ditties. Illustrated
by C. H. Bennett. Ninety Engravings.

Three SliUUngs, or gilt edges, Tliree and Sixpence.
Our Soldiers, or Anecdotes of the Campaigns and Gallant
Deeds op the BRrriSH Army during the Reign of Hee
Majesty Queen Victoria. By W. H. G. Kingston. With
Frontispiece. New and Revised Edition. Eighth Thousand.
Our Sailors, or Anecdotes of the Engagements and Gallant
Deeds of the British Navy. With Frontispiece. New
and Revised Edition. Eighth Thousand.
Lucy's Campaign: a Story of Adventure. By M. and C. Lee.
Gilt edges.
Pruits of Enterprise, EXHiBirED in the Tea-vels of Belzoni in
Egypt and Nubia. With Six Engravings by Birkbt Foster.

20 NEW AND POPULAE WOEKS

Two Shillings and Sixpence plain. Super Eoyal IGmo,
cloth elegant, with Illustrations by Harrison Weir
and others.
Adventures and Experiences of Biddy Dorking and of the Fat
Prog. Edited by Mrs. S. C. Ball.
Alice and Beatrice. By Grandmamma.
Amy's Wish, and What Came of It. By Mrs. Tylee.
Animals and their Social Powers. By Mary Turner- Andrewes.
Cat and Dog, or Memoirs of Puss and the Captain.
Crib and Fly: a Tale of Two Terriers.
Discontented Children (The), and how they were Cored. By M.
and E. Kieby.
Doll and Her Friends (The), or Memoirs op the Lady Seraphina.
By the Author of " Cat and Dog."
Early Da-wn (The), or Stories to Think about.
Every Inch a King, or, The Stoey of Rex and his Friends. By
Mrs. J. WoETHnrQTON Bliss.
Fairy Gifts, or A Wallet op Wonders. By Kathleen Kjfox_
Faithful Hound (The) : (Gelert) a Story in Verse, founded on
Fact. By Lady 'Thomas.
Funny Fables for Little Folks.
Pun and Eamest, or Rhymes with Reason. By D'Arcy W.
Thompson. Illustrated by C. B. Bennett. Imperial I6mo.
Gerty and May. Eighth Thousand.
By the same Autlior.
Granny's Story Box. New Edition. With 20 Engravings.
Children of the Parsonage. I Sunny Days, or A Month at
Our White Violet. | thb Great Stowe.
The New Baby.

Jack Frost and Betty Snow ; with other Tales for Wintry Nights
and Rainy Days.
Julia Maitland, or, Pride goes before a Fall. By M. & E. Kirby.
lost in the Jungle; A Tale op the Indian Mutiny. By
Augusta Marryat.
Madelon. By Esther Caer.
Neptune: or The Autobiography op a Newfoundland Doo.

PUBLISHED BT GEIFFITH AND FAEEAN. 21
Two Shillings and Sixpence each — continued.
Norris (Emilia Marryat.) A Week by Themselves.
By the same Author.

Adrift on the Sea.
Children's Pic-Nic (The).
GeofEry's Great Fault.
Harry at School.
Paul Howard's Captivity.

Seaside Home.
Snowed Up.
Stolen Cherries.
What became of Tommy,

Odd Stories ahout Animals : told in Short and Easy Words.
Our Home in the Marsh Land, or Days of Auld Lang Syne.
By E. L. F.
Scripture Histories for Little Children. With Sixteen Illustrations
by John Gilbert.
Contents : — The History of Joseph — Bistory of Moses — Bistory
of our Saviour — The Miracles of Christ.
Sold separately Gd, each, plain ; Is. coloured.
Secret of Wrexford (The), or Stella Desmond's Secret. By
Esther Carr.
Story of Jack and the Giants. 35 Illustrations by Richard Doyle.
Stories of Julian and His Playfellows. Written by his Mamma.
Tales &om Gatland, Dedicated to the Young Kittens of England.
By an Old Tabby. Seventh Thousand.
Talking Bird (The), or The Little Girl who knew what was
going to happen. By M. and E. Kirby.
Ten of Tbem, or The Children of Danehurst. By Mrs. B. M.
Beat.
"Those Unlucky T-wins!" By A. Lystee.
Tiny Stories for Tiny Readers in Tiny Words,
Tittle Tattle; and other Stories for Children. By the Author of
"Little Tales for Tiny Tots," etc.
Trottie'a Story Book: True Tales in Short Words and Large
Type.
Tnppy, or The Autobiogeaphy of a Donkey.
Wandering Blindfold, or A Boy's Troubles. By Mary Albert. ,

Two Shillings and Sixpence, with Illustrations, cloth
elegant, or with gilt edges, Three Shillings.
A Child's Influence, or Kathleen and her Great Uncle. By
Lisa Lock-ter.
Adventures of Kwei, the Chinese Girl. By M.E.B. (Mrs. Gellib).

22 NEW AND POPULAE WOEKS
Two Shillings and Sixpence each — continued.
Bertrand Dn Guesclin, the Hero of Brittany. By Emile de
BoNNECHOSE. Translated by Maegaret S. Jeune.
Comer Cottage, aud Its Inmates, or Trust in God. By Frances
OSBOENE.
Davenport's (Mrs.) Constance and NeUie, or The Lost Will.
„ Our Birthdays, and How to Improve them.
„ The Holidays Abroad, or Right at Last.
Father Time's Story Book for the Little Ones. By Kathleen
Knox.
From Peasant to Prince, or The Life of Alexander Pkince
Menschikoff. From the Russian by Madame Pietzker.
William Allair, or Running away to Sea. By Mrs. B. Wood.

T-wo Shillings and Sixpence each, Illustrated.
Among the Zulus ; the Adventures of Bans Sterk, South African
Bunter and Pioneer. By Lieut. -Colonel A. W. Deayson, R.A .
Boy's O-wn Toy Maker (The) : a Practical Illustrated Guide to the
useful employment of Leisure Bours. By E. Landells. 200
Illustrations.
Children of the Olden Time. By the Author of " A Trap to Catch
a Sunbeam." 27 Illustrations. Imperial 16mo.
Fairy Tales. Published by command of her Bright Dazzlingness
Gloriana, Queen of Fairyland. By a Soldier of the Queen.
Girl's Own Toy Maker (The), and Book of Recreation. By E.
and A. Landells. With 200 Illustrations.
Little Child's Fable Book. Arranged Progressively in One, Two
and Three SyUables. 16 Page Ulus. (4s. Gd. coloured, gilt edges.)
Silly Peter: A Queer Story of a Daft Boy, a Prince, and a
Miller's Daughter. By W. Norris.
Spring Time; or. Words in Season. A Book for Girls. By
Sidney Cox. Third Edition.

A NEW UNIFORM SERIES OF BALF-CROWN BOOKS.
Cloth elegant, fully Illustrated.
African Pets : or. Chats about our Animal Friends in Natal,
With a Sketch of Kaffir Life. By P. Clinton Parry.
Bunchy : or. The Children of Scarsbrook Farm. By Miss E. C.
Phillips, Author of " The Orphans," &c.
Ways and Tricks of Animals, wmi Stories about Aunt Mary's
Pets. , By Miss Mary Booper.

PUBLISHED BT GBITFITH AND FAEEAN. 23

COMICAL PICTURE BOOKS.
Two Shillings and Sixpence each, Coloured Plates,
~ fancy boards,
English Struwwelpeter (The); or Pretty Stories and Funny
Pictures foe Li-ttle Children. After the 110th Edition of
tho celebrated German Work, Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann,
T-sveuty-sixth Edition. Twenty-four pages of Illustrations.
Loves of Tom Tucker and Little Bo-Peep. Written and Illus
trated by Thomas Hood.
Spectropia, or Surprising Spectral Illusions, showing Ghosts
everywhere, aud of any Colour. By J. B. BsowN.
Upside Down : a Series of Amusing Pictures from Sketches by the
late W. McCoNNELL, with Verses by Thomas Bood.

Two SliilUngs, cloth elegant, wilh Illustratioiis, or with
coloured plates, gilt edges, Three Shillings.
Fanny and Her Mamma, or Easy Lessons for Childeen.
Good in Everything, or The Early History of Gilbert
Harland. By Mrs. Bar-well.
In&mtine Knowledge : a Spelling and Reading Book on a Popular
Plan.
Little Lessons for Little Learners, in Words of One Syllable, By
Mrs. Barwell.
Mamma's Bible Stories, for her Little Boys and Girls.
Mamma's Bible Stories (A Sequel to).
Mamma's Lessons, foe her Little Boys and Giels.
Silver Swan (The) : a Fairy Tale. By Madame de Chatblain.
Tales of School life. By Agnes Loudon.
Wonders of Home, in Eleven Stories (The). By Grandfather
Grey.

Tivo Shillings each.
Confessions of a Lost Dog (The). Reported by her Mistress,
Frances Power Cobbe. With a Photograph of the Dog from
Life, by Frank Baes.
Home Amusements: a Choice Collection of Riddles, Charades,
Conundrums, Parlour Games, and Forfeits.
How to Make Dolls' Furniture and to Fuenish a Doll's House.
With 70 IUustrations. SmaU 4to.

24 NEW AND POPULAE WOEKS
Two Shillings each — continued.
Illustrated Paper Model Maker. By E. Landells.
Rhymes and Pictures about Bread, Tea, Suoae, Cotton, Coals,
AND Gold. By William Newman. Seventy-two IUustrations.
Price 2s. plain ; 3s. Gd. coloured,
*,* Each Subject may be had separately. Gd. plain; \s. coloured.
Scenes of Animal Ufe and Character, from Nature and
Recollection. In Twenty Plates. By J. B. 4to, fancy boards.
Sunday Evenings -with Sophia, or Little Talks on Great
Subjects. By L. G. Bell.
Surprising Adventures of the Clumsy Boy Crusoe (The). By
Charles H. Ross. With Twenty-three Coloured IUustrations.

A NEW UNIFORM SERIES.

Price One Shilling and Siicpence each, cloth elegant,
fully Illustrated.
Angelo; or. The Pine Forest in the Alps. By Geealdine
E. Jewsbury. oth Thousand.
Aunt Annette's Stories to Ada. By Annette A. Salaman.
Brave NeUy; or. Weak Bands and a Willing Beaet. By
M.E.B (Mrs. Gellib). Fifth Thousand.
Featherland; or, Bow the Birds Lived at Greenla-wn. By
G. M. Fenn. 4th Thousand.
Humble Life : a Tale of Humble Homes. By the Author of
" Gerty and May," &c.
Kingston's (W. H. G.) Child of the Wreck : or, Thb Loss op
THE Royal George.
Lee's (Mrs. R.) Playing at Settlers; or, The Faggot House.
 ;  Twelve Stories of the Sayings and Doings
of Animals.
Little Lisette, the Orphan of Alsace. By M.E.B. (Mrs. Gbllie).
Live Toys ; or. Anecdotes of our Four-legged and other Pets.
By Emma Davenport.
Long Evenings ; or. Stories for my Little Friends. By Emilia
Marryatt.
Three Wishes (The). By M.E.B. (Mrs. Gbllie).

PUBLISHED BT GEIFFITH AND FAREAN. 25

Price One Shilling and Sixpence each, cloth elegant.
Illustrated.
Always Happy, or, Anecdotes of Felix and ms Sister Serena.
By a Mother. Twentieth Thousand.
Every-Day Things, or Useful Knowledge respecting the prin-
aiPAL Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Substances in
common use.
Grandmamma's Belies, and heb Stories about them. By E. E.
BOWEN.
Happy Holidays : or. Brothers and Sisters at Home. By Emma
' Davenport. New and cheaper Edition.
Holiday Tales. By Florence Wilfoed. Author of "Nigel
Bartram's Ideal," etc.
Kingston (W. H. G.) The Heroic Wife; or. The Adventures of
A Family on the Banks or the Amazon.
Little Roebuck (The), from the German. Illustrated by LossoN.
Fancy boards (2s. coloured).
Taking Tales for Cottage Homes. In Plain Language and Large
Type. Four vols.
May also be had in Two vols., 3s. Gd. each ; or in the following
12 parts, price 4d. each.
N.B. — Each Tale is complete in itself.

1. The Uiller of Hillbrook : a Eurai,
Tale.
2. Tom Trueman, a Saiiob i>' a
Mebchanthan.
3, Uichael Hale and his Family in
Canada,
4. John Armstrong, the Soldieb.
S. Joseph Sudge, the Atistkalian
Shepherd.
6. Life Underground; oe Dick, the
Colliery Bot.

7, Life on the Coast; or the Little
Fisher Girl.
8. Adventures of Two Orphans in
London.
9. Early Days on Board m Man-of-
War.
10. Walter, the Foundling ; a Tale of
Olden Times.
11. The Tenants of Snnnyside Farm.
12. Holmwood: or, the New Zea-
L.1.ND Settler,

Trimmer's (Mrs.) New Testament Lessons. With 40 Engravings.

A NEW UNIFORM SERIES OP SHILLING VOLUMES.
Cloth elegant. Illustrated.
Among the Brilgands, and other Tales of Adventure. New and
cheaper Edition. Fourth Thousand.
Christian EUiott: or, Mrs. Danvee's Prize. By L. N. Comyn.
New and cheaper Edition. Fourth Thousand.
Wracked. Not Lost; or Thb Pilot and his Companion. By the
H^ Mr° . D^AS. New and cheaper Edition. Fifth Thousand.

26 NEW AND POPULAE WOEKS

THE FAVOUEITE LIBEAEY.
New Editions of the Volumes in this Series are heing issued, and
other Volumes by Popular Authors will be added.
Cloth elegant, with coloured frontispiece and title-page.
One Shilling each.
1. The Eskdale Herd Boy. By Lady Stoddart.
2. Mrs. Leicester's SchooL By Charles and Mary Lamb.
3. The History of The Robins. By Mrs. Tbimmbb.
4. Memoir of Bob, The Spotted Terrier.
5. Keeper's Travels in Search of His Master.
6. The Scottish Orphans. By Lady Stoddart.
7. Never Wrong; or, the Young Disputant; & It was only in Fun.
8. The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse.
9. The Son of a Genius. By Mrs. Bofl-Uid.
10. The Daughter of a Genius. By Mrs. Hofland.
11. EUen, the Teacher. By Mrs. Hofland.,
12. Theodore; or, The Crusaders. By Mrs. Hofland.
13. Bight and Wrong. By the Author of "Always Bappy."
14. Harry's Holiday. By Jeffbrys Tayloe.
15. Short Poems and Hymns for Children.

Price One Shilling each, in various styles of binding.
The Picturesque Primer.
Fragments of Knowledge for Little Folk.
Easy Beading for Little Beaders.
The Nursery Companion.
These Four Volumes contain about 450 pictures. Each one being
complete in itself, and bound in an attractive paper cover. >
The Four Volumes bound together form the " Favourite Picture Book"
bound in cloth, price 5s.
Australian Babes in the Wood (The) : a True Story told in Rhyme
for the Young. Price Is. boards. Is. Gd. cloth, gilt edges.
CowsUp (The). Fully IUustrated cloth, Is. plain; Is. Gd. coloured.
Daisy (The), Fully Illustrated cloth. Is plain; Is, Gd. coloured.
Dame Partlett's Farm, An Account of the Riches she obtained
BY Industry, &c. Coloured Dlustrations, sewed.

PUBLISHED BT GEIFFITH AND FAREAN. 27

One Shilling each — continued.
Female Christian Names, and their Teachings. A Gift Book for
Girls. By Mary E. Bromfield. Cloth, gilt edges.
Golden Words for Children, from the Book op Life. In EngUsh,
French, and German. A set of Uluminated Cards in Packet.
Or bound in cloth interleaved, price 2s. Gd, gilt edges.
Goody Two Shoes: or The History of Little Maegbey Mean-
-WELL IN Rhyme. Fully Illustrated, cloth.
Hand Shadows, to be thrown upon the WaU. Novel and amusing
figures formed by the hand. By Heney Bubsill, New and
cheaper Edition. Twelfth Thousand. Two Series in one.
Headlong Career (The) and Woeful Ending of Precocious Piggy.
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/A

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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