There was nothing which some people would consider to be romantic or picturesque10 in the scenery on which I gazed. But the "light which never was on sea or shore" was there, to shed a celestial11 glory over the untilled, unfenced, half-unknown waste. Westward13 stretched the great marshes14, through which the Eumeralla flowed, if, indeed, that partially15 subterranean16 stream could be said to run or flow anywhere. Northward17 lay the lava18-bestrewn country known as the Mount Eeles rocks, a mass of cooled and cracked lava now matted with a high thick sward of kangaroo grass, but so rough and sharp were the piles and plateaux of scoria that it was dangerous to ride a horse over it. For years after we preferred to work it on foot with the aid of dogs.
On the south lay open slopes and low hills, with flats between. On these last grew the beautiful umbrageous19 blackwood, or native hickory, one of the handsomest trees in Australia. At the back were again large marshes, with heathy flats and more thickly-timbered forests. Over all was a wonderful sward of grass, luxuriant and green at the time I speak of, and quite sufficient, as I thought, for the sustenance20 of two or three thousand head of mixed cattle.
There were no great elevations21 to be seen. It was one of the "low countries" in a literal sense. The only hill in view was that of Mount Eeles, which we could see rising amid the lava levels a few miles to the north-west. The marshes were for the most[Pg 43] part free from timber. But a curious formation of "islands," as the stock-rider called them, prevailed, which tended much to the variety and beauty of the landscape.
These were isolated22 areas, of from ten to one hundred acres, raised slightly above the ordinary winter level of the marshes. The soil on these "islands" was exceptionally good, and, from the fact of their being timbered like the ordinary mainland, they afforded an effective contrast to the miles of water or waving reeds of which the marshes consisted. They served admirably also for cattle camps. To them the cattle always retired23 at noonday in summer, and at night in winter and spring-time. One "island," not very far from our settlement, was known as "Kennedy's island," the gallant24 ill-fated explorer who had surveyed a road to the town of Portland some years before my arrival having made his camp there. How far he was to wander from the pleasant green west country, only to die by the spear of a crouching25 savage26, within sight of the ship that had been sent to bring him safely home after his weary desert trail!
We didn't know anything of the nature of dry country in those days. All the land I looked upon was deep-swarded, thickly-verdured as an English meadow. Wild duck swam about in the pools and meres27 of the wide misty28 fen12, with its brakes of tall reeds and "marish-marigolds"—"the sword-grass and the oat-grass and the bulrush by the pool." Overhead long strings29 of wild swan clanged and swayed. There were wild beasts (kangaroo and dingoes), Indians (blacks, whose fires in "The Rocks" we[Pg 44] could see), a pathless waste, and absolute freedom and independence. These last were the most precious possessions of all. No engagements, no office work, no fixed30 hours, no sums or lessons of any kind or sort. I felt as if this splendid Robinson Crusoe kind of life was too good to be true. Who was I that I should have had this grand inheritance of happiness immeasurable made over to me? What a splendid world it was, to be sure! Why did people ever repine or complain? I should have made short work of Mr. Mallock, and have settled the argument "Is life worth living?" had it then arisen between us, with more haste than logic32. Action, however, must in colonisation never fail to accompany contemplation. To which end I returned to our camp, just in time to partake of the simple, but appetising, meal which Mrs. Burge had prepared for us.
Cold corned beef, hot tea, and a famous fresh damper, the crust of which I still hold to be better than any other species of bread whatever, when accompanied, as in the case referred to, with good, sweet, fresh butter. How splendid one's appetite was after hours spent in the fresh morning air. How complete the satisfaction when it all came to an end.
Then commenced a council of war, in which Joe Burge was a leading spokesman. "Old Tom can look after the cattle. Mr. Cunningham and I will go and fell a tree. I know one handy that'll run out nigh on a hundred slabs33, and if you'll bring up the bullocks and dray to the stump35, sir, to-night, we'll have a load of slabs ready to take home."
What was the next thing that was necessary to be done?
[Pg 45]
To build a house.
At present we were living under a dray. Now, a dray is not so bad a covering at night, when extremely sleepy and tired, but in daylight it is valueless. And if it rains—and in the west it often did, and I am informed does still, though not so hard as it did then—the want of a permanent shelter makes itself felt.
The walls of a sod hut were indeed already up. Clean-cut black cubes, rather larger than bricks, when new and moist, make a neat, solid wall. In little more than a day we had a thatched roof completed, so that we were able to have our evening meal in comfort, and even luxury. A couple of fixed bedsteads were placed at opposite corners, in which Mr. Cunningham and I arranged our bedding. Joe Burge and his wife still slept under the "body" of the dray, while Old Tom had a separate section allotted36 to him under the pole.
But the "hut," of split slabs, with wall-plate top and bottom, and all the refinements37 of bush carpentry, was to be the real mansion38. And at this we soon made a commencement. I say we, because I drove the bullocks and carted the slabs to the site we had pitched on, besides doing a bit of squaring and adzing now and then.
Joe Burge and Mr. Cunningham (who was an experienced bushman, and half a dozen other things to boot) soon "ran out" slabs enough, and fitted the round stuff, most of which I carted in, preferring that section of industry to the all-day, every-day work of splitting. Old Tom looked after the cattle. They needed all his attention for a while, displaying, as[Pg 46] they did, a strong desire to march incontinently back to the banks of the Merai.
In two or three weeks the hut was up. How I admired it! The door, the table, the bedsteads, the chairs (three-legged stools), the washstand, were all manufactured by Joe Burge out of the all-sufficing "slab34" of the period. A wooden chimney with an inner coating of stone-work worked well without smoking. The roof was neatly39 thatched with the tall, strong tussock-grass, then so abundant.
Our dwelling40 transcended41 that of the lowland Scot, who described his as "a lairge hoose wi' twa rooms intil't," inasmuch as it boasted of three. One was the atrium—being also used as a refectory—and chief general apartment. The rest of the building was bisected by a wooden partition, affording thus two bedrooms. One of these was devoted42 to Joe Burge and family, the other I appropriated. Mr. Cunningham and Old Tom slept in the large room, where—firewood being plentiful43—they kept up a roaring fire, and had rather the best of it in the cold nights which then commenced to visit us.
Excepting a stock-yard, there now remained next to nothing to do, and being rather overmanned for so small a station, Mr. Cunningham, with my free consent, elected to take service with the Dunmore firm, with whom he remained for some years after. I had now attained44 the acme45 of worldly felicity. I had always longed to have a station of my own. Now I had one. I had daily work of the kind that exactly suited me. I went over to Dunmore and spent a pleasant evening every now and then, rubbing up my classics and having a little "good talk." I[Pg 47] had a few books which I had brought up with me in the dray—Byron, Scott, Shakespeare (there was no Macaulay in those days), with half a score of other authors, in whom there was pabulum mentis for a year or two. I had, besides, the run of the Dunmore library—no mean collection.
So I had work, recreation, companionship, and intellectual occupation provided for me in abundant and wholesome46 proportion. What else could cast a shadow over my prosperous present and promising47 future? Well, there was one factor in the sum which I had not reckoned with. "The Amalekite was then in the land," and with the untamed, untutored pre-Adamite it appeared that I was fated to have trouble.
The aboriginal48 blacks on and near the western coast of Victoria—near Belfast, Warrnambool, and Portland—had always been noted49 as a breed of savages50 by no means to be despised. They had been for untold51 generations accustomed to a dietary scale of exceptional liberality. The climate was temperate52; the forests abounded53 in game; wild-fowl at certain seasons were plentiful; while the sea supplied them with fish of all sorts and sizes, from a whale (stranded) to a whitebait. No wonder that they were a fine race, physically54 and otherwise—the men tall and muscular, the women well-shaped and fairly good-looking. To some even higher commendation might with truth be applied55.
One is often tempted56 to smile at hearing some under-sized Anglo-Saxon, with no brain power to spare, assert gravely the blacks of Australia were the lowest race of savages known to exist, the [Pg 48]connecting link between man and the brute57 creation, etc. On the contrary, many of the leading members of tribes known to the pioneer squatters were grandly-formed specimens58 of humanity, dignified59 in manner, and possessing an intelligence by no means to be despised, comprehending a quick sense of humour, as well as a keenness of perception, not always found in the superior race.
Unfortunately, before I arrived and took up my abode60 on the border of the great Eumeralla mere, there had been divers61 quarrels between the old race and the new. Whether the stockmen and shepherds were to blame—as is always said—or whether it was simply the ordinary savage desire for the tempting62 goods and chattels63 of the white man, cannot be accurately64 stated. Anyhow, cattle and sheep had been lifted and speared; blacks had been shot, as a matter of course; then, equally so, hut-keepers, shepherds, and stockmen had been done to death.
Just about that time there was a scare as to the disappearance65 of a New South Wales semi-civilised aboriginal named Bradbury. He was a daring fellow, a bold rider, and a good shot. As he occasionally stayed at the native camp, and had now not been seen for a month, it began to be rumoured66 that he had agreed to accept the leadership of the outlawed67 tribes against the whites. In such a case the prospects68 of the winter, with thinly-manned homesteads eight or ten miles apart, looked decidedly bad.
However, the discovery of poor Bradbury's bones a short time afterwards set that matter at rest. He always took his gun with him, distrusting—and with[Pg 49] good reason—his trans-Murray kin31. On this occasion they "laid for him," it seems, and by means of a sable69 Delilah, who playfully ran off with his double-barrel, took him at a disadvantage. He fought desperately70, we were told, even with a spear through his body, but was finally overpowered. Just before they had killed and chopped up a hut-keeper, and at Mount Rouse they had surprised and killed one of Mr. Cox's men, the overseer—Mr. Brock—only saving himself by superior speed of foot, for which he was noted.
I was recommended by my good friends of Dunmore and others of experience to keep the blacks at a distance, and not to give them permission to come about the station.
Being young and foolish—or, let me say, unsuspicious—I chose to disregard this warning and to take my own way. I thought the poor fellows had been hardly treated. It was their country, after all. A policy of conciliation71 would doubtless show them that some of the white men had their good at heart.
To the westward of our camp lay the great tract72 of lava country before mentioned. This had been doubtless an outflow in old central-fire days from the crater73 of Mount Eeles. Now, cooled, hardened, cracked, and decomposed74, it annually75 produced a rich crop of grass. It was full of ravines, boulders76, masses of scoria, and had, besides, a lakelet in the centre. It was many miles across, and extended from Mount Eeles nearly to the sea.
It was not particularly easy to walk in. And, as for riding, one day generally saw the end of the most high-couraged, sure-footed horse. As a natural covert77 for savages it could not be surpassed.
[Pg 50]
In this peculiar78 region our "Modocs lay hid." We could see the smoke of their camp fires in tolerable number, but had no means of seeing or having speech of them. One day, however, having probably sent out a scout79 previously80 who had made careful examination of us while we were totally unconscious of any such supervision81, they debouched from the rocks and came up to camp. They sent a herald82 in advance, who held up a green bough83. Then, "walking delicately," they came up, in number nearly fifty. I was at home, as it happened, as also was the old stockman. How well I remember the day and the scene!
We all carried guns in those days, as might the border settlers in "Injun" territory.
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1
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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3
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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tenure
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| n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期 | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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abrogated
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| 废除（法律等）( abrogate的过去式和过去分词 )； 取消； 去掉； 抛开 | |
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9
licenses
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| n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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12
fen
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| n.沼泽，沼池 | |
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13
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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15
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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16
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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18
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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19
umbrageous
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| adj.多荫的 | |
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20
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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21
elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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22
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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23
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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24
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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25
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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27
meres
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| abbr.matrix of environmental residuals for energy systems 能源系统环境残留矩阵 | |
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28
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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29
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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30
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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32
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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33
slabs
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| n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片 | |
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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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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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38
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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40
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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41
transcended
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| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的过去式和过去分词 )； 优于或胜过… | |
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42
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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43
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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44
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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45
acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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46
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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47
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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48
aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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49
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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50
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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51
untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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52
temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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53
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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55
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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56
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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57
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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58
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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59
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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60
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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61
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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62
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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63
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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64
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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65
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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66
rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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67
outlawed
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| 宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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69
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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70
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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71
conciliation
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| n.调解，调停 | |
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72
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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73
crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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74
decomposed
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| 已分解的，已腐烂的 | |
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75
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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76
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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77
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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79
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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80
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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81
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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82
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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83
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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