Little cared we for wind or weather,
When Youth and I lived "there" together.
So away. Vogue5 la galère. The dray, with Joe Burge and his wife, and Chase, the deerhound, went on ahead, while I, with Mr. Cunningham, a new companion, who had dwelt in those parts before my arrival, was to follow a day or two later with the herd6.
I had made a small exploring expedition a short time before in company with an old stockman; he, for a consideration, had guided me to a tract7 of unoccupied country. And to this new territory our migration8 was now tending. This experienced stock-rider—"an old hand from the Sydney side,"[Pg 34] as such men were then called in Victoria—was a great character, and a most original personage. He accompanied the dray, so that all might be in readiness for our arrival. Not that much could be done. But my all-accomplished chief servitor, the most inventive and energetic pioneer possible, would be sure to make some "improvements" even in the short interval9 before we arrived.
Our first day's journey was most difficult. The cattle were loath10 to leave the spot to which they had become accustomed, and were troublesome to drive. However, with two good stock-whips, and the aid of Dora the cattle-dog, we got along, and reached Rosebrook, on the Moyne, close to Belfast. Mr. Roderick Urquhart, as manager for Mr. James Atkinson, was then in charge. He received us most hospitably11. The cattle were put into the stock-yard for the night. My companion rode on to town, intending to rejoin me early in the morning.
One may judge of the difficulty in "locating" tenants12 upon agricultural land in those early days from the fact that Mr. Urquhart was then supplying the first farmers on the Belfast survey with rations13. For the first year or two this plan was pursued; after that they were able, doubtless, to keep themselves and pay the moderate rent under which they sat. Not that the Port Fairy "survey" was so fertile as that of Farnham Park—much of it was wet and undrained, much stony14, and but fit for pasture; but it comprehended the greater part of the town of Belfast, and ￡5000 would not be considered dear now for 5000 acres, chiefly of first-class pasture land, comprising, besides a seaport15 town, an [Pg 35]exhaustless quarry16 of limestone17, a partially18 navigable river, and a harbour.
I slept ill that night, oppressed by my responsibilities. At midnight I heard the continuous lowing, or "roaring" in stock-riders' vernacular19, which denoted the escape of my cattle from the yard. Dressing21 hastily, I stumbled in pitch darkness through the knee-deep mud. It was even as I feared—the rails were down, trampled22 in the mud; the cattle were out and away. My anxiety was great. The paddock was insecure. If they got out of it there was endless re-mustering, delay, and perhaps loss.
I could do nothing on foot. I heard the uneasy brutes23 trampling24 and bellowing25 in all directions. I went to bed sad at heart, and, like St. Paul's crew at Malta, "wished for the dawn."
With the earliest streak26 of light I caught my horse, and galloped27 round the paddock without a sight of the missing animals. In despair I turned towards the shore of the large salt-water lagoon28 which made one side of the enclosure. In the grey light I fancied I saw a dark mass at the end of a cape20, which stretched far into it. I rode for it at full speed, and discovered my lost "stock-in-trade" all lying down in the long marshy30 grass. They had struck out straight for their last known place of abode31, but had been blocked by the deep water and the unknown sea—as doubtless the lagoon appeared to them in the darkness.
Shortly after breakfast we resumed our journey, and made St. Kitts, a cattle station some ten or twelve miles on the western side of Belfast. The[Pg 36] Messrs. Aplin were there, having taken it up a year before. The stock-yard was more substantial, as became a cattle station. Our hosts were cultured and refined people, not long from England; like myself, enthusiastic about pastoral pleasures and profits. All our work lay ahead. How bright was the outlook! how dim and distant the shoals and quicksands of life's sea! We sat long into the night, talking a good deal of shop, not wholly unmingled with higher topics. I remember we decided32 that cattle stations were to improve in value, and ultimately lead to a competence33. How little could we foresee that the elder brother was to die as resident magistrate34 at Somerset—an unborn town in an unknown colony—and the younger, after nearly thirty years' unsuccessful gold-mining, from Suttor's Mill to Hokitiki, was to make a fortune in tin at Stanthorpe! That the writer—bah! "Fate's dark web unfolded, lying," did not keep him from the soundest sleep that night; and we again made a successful morning start.
The start was good, but the day was discouraging. The cattle were safe enough in the new yard, though rather bedraggled after twelve hours of mud up to their knees. However, there was water enough where they were going to wash them up to the horns, and the grass was magnificent. The rain came down in a way that was oppressive to our spirits. The sky was murky35; the air chilling. Our whips soon became sodden36 and ineffective. My companion had a bad cold, which deprived him of all of his voice and most of his temper. The dog Dora would hardly bark. Worse than all, the track[Pg 37] was difficult to find. We drove hard for hours, doubting much whether we had not lost our way. My comrade was sure of it. And
It was about the filthy37 close
Of a most disgusting day,
as a somewhat irreverent poetaster hath it, when we disputed in the gathering38 gloom as to whether or not we were miles distant from Dunmore—our port of refuge—or had really hit off the right track. My friend, in hoarse39 boding40 tones, commenced to speculate as to how we should pass the night under a steady rainfall, and how many miles off, in different directions, the cattle would be by morning. My answer was simple but effective—"There's the horse-paddock!" It was even so. Straining my eyes, I had caught sight through the timber of a two-railed sapling fence. It was enough. Paddocks were not then five miles square, and as likely to be twenty miles from the homestead as one. Dear labour and limited credit militated against reckless outlay41 in posts and rails. A 100-acre enclosure for horses and working bullocks was all that was then deemed necessary. To see the paddock was to see the house.
A considerable "revulsion of feeling" took place with both of us as we slogged the tired cattle round the fence and came in view of the old Dunmore homestead, then considered one of the best improved in the district. To be sure, it would not make much show now beside Burrabogie or Groongal, let alone Ercildoune or Trawalla, and a few others in the west. But then some of the shepherd kings thought[Pg 38] it no dishonour42 to sleep in a watch-box for a month at a time, and a slab43 gunyah with a fold of hurdles44 was held to be sufficient improvement for a medium sheep station. At Dunmore there were three substantial slab huts with huge stone chimneys, a pisé-work dairy, a loose-box for Traveller, the son of Camerton, as well as a large milking-yard and cowshed. A great dam across the River Shaw provided an ornamental45 sheet of water.
The season was, as I have stated, verging46 on midwinter. The day was wet. The drove of milkers passing and repassing had converted the ground outside of the huts, which were protected by the paddock fence, into a sea of mud, depth from one foot to two feet. Through this we approached the yard. If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget the sight which now met my astonished eyes. A gentleman emerged from the principal building in conspicuously47 clean raiment, having apparently48 just arrayed himself for the evening meal. He proceeded calmly to wade49 through the mud-ocean until he reached the yard, where he took down the clay-beplastered rails, leaving the gate open for our cattle. I declare I nearly fainted with grateful emotion at this combination of self-sacrifice with the loftiest ideal of hospitality. We had never met before either; but long years of after-friendship with James Irvine only enabled me to perceive that it was the natural outcome of a generous nature and a heart loyal to every impulse of gentle blood.
Another night's mud for the poor cattle. But I reflected that the next day would see them enfranchised50, and on their own "run." So, dismissing the[Pg 39] subject from my mind, I followed my chivalrous51 host to the guests' hut—a snug52, separate building, where we made our simple toilettes with great comfort and satisfaction. After some cautious walking on a raised pathway we gained the "house," where I was introduced to Messrs. Campbell and Macknight—for the firm was a triumvirate.
Dwelling53 in a drought-afflicted district across the border, where for months the milk question had been in abeyance54, or feebly propped55 up by the imported Swiss product, and where butter is not, how it refreshes one to recall the great jug56 of cream which graced that comfortable board, the pats of fresh butter, the alluring57 short-cake, the baronial sirloin. How we feasted first. How we talked round the glowing log-piled fire afterwards. How we slept under piles of blankets till sunrise.
Mrs. Teviot, the housekeeper58, peerless old Scottish dame59 that she was (has not Henry Kingsley immortalised her?); for how many a year did she provide for the comforts of host and guest unapproachably, unimpeachably60. How indelibly is that evening imprinted61 on my memory. Marked with a white stone in life's not all-cheerful record. On that evening was commenced a friendship that only closed with life, and which knew for the whole of its duration neither cloud nor misgiving62. If a man's future is ever determined63 by the character of his associates and surroundings at a critical period of life, my vicinity to Dunmore must have powerfully influenced mine. In close, almost daily, association with men of high principle, great energy, early culture, and refined habits, I could not fail to gain[Pg 40] signal benefit, to imbibe64 elevated ideas, to share broad and ennobling ideas of colonisation.
As soon as we could see next morning the cattle were let out and "tailed" on the thick, rich pasturage, which surrounded every homestead in those good old days. After breakfast I set out to find my station; that is, the exact spot where it had pleased my retainers to camp. I found them about seven miles westward65 of Dunmore, on a cape of lightly-timbered land which ran into the great Eumeralla marsh29; a corresponding point of the lava66 country, popularly known as The Rocks, jutted67 out to meet it. On this was a circular pond-like depression, where old Tom, my venerable guide and explorer, had in a time of drought once seen a dingo drinking. He had christened it the Native Dog Hole—a name which it bears to this day. And at the Doghole-point had my man Joe Burge commenced to fell timber for a brush-yard, put up the walls of a sod hut, unpacked68 such articles as would not suffer from weather, and generally commenced the first act of homestead occupation. I was greeted with enthusiasm. And as Old Tom the stock-rider was at once despatched to Dunmore to bring over the cattle, with Mr. Cunningham, my friend and travelling companion, I hobbled out my charger and proceeded to inspect my newly-acquired territory.
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1
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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Vogue
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| n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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7
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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8
migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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10
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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14
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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15
seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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16
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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17
limestone
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| n.石灰石 | |
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18
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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19
vernacular
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| adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名 | |
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20
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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21
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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22
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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23
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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24
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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25
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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26
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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27
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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28
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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29
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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30
marshy
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| adj.沼泽的 | |
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31
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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32
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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33
competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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34
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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35
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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36
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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38
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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39
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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40
boding
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| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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41
outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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42
dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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43
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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44
hurdles
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| n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛 | |
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45
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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46
verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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47
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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48
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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49
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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50
enfranchised
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| v.给予选举权( enfranchise的过去式和过去分词 )；（从奴隶制中）解放 | |
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51
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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52
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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53
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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54
abeyance
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| n.搁置，缓办，中止，产权未定 | |
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55
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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57
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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58
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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59
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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60
unimpeachably
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| adv.无可怀疑地，可靠地；无可指责地 | |
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61
imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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62
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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63
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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64
imbibe
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| v.喝，饮；吸入，吸收 | |
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65
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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66
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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67
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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68
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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