This time we decided to take "the Frenchman's"[Pg 99] road, past Crécy, a trifle monotonous4, perhaps,—it was all plain till you got to Salt Creek,—but possessing advantages for so large a drove. We reached an out-station of the Hopkins Hill property, then owned by a Tasmanian proprietary6, and managed by "a fine old 'Scottish' gentleman, all of the olden time." We put the cattle into a small mustering8 paddock, and retired9 to rest with great confidence in their comfort and our own. About midnight a chorus of speculative10 lowing and bellowing11 acquainted us with the fact that they were all out. An unnoticed slip-rail had betrayed us. We arose, but could do nothing, and returned to our blankets. Our rest, however, had been effectually broken.
"How did you sleep, Fred?" was my query12 at daylight.
"Well," meditatively13, "I've had a quantity of very inferior sleep," was his rejoinder.
At Nareeb Nareeb, the station then of Messrs. Scott, Gray, and Marr, we, by permission, camped for the purpose of separating our cattle, either by drafting through the yard, or by "cutting out" on horseback. After a brief trial of the latter method, we decided for the stock-yard, there being a large and well-planned one on the ground. But the mud!—it was the merry month of May, or else June only, and rain had fallen in sufficient quantities to make millionaires now of all the squatters from Ballarat to Bourke. We put on our oldest clothes, armed ourselves with sticks, and resolutely15 faced it. What figures we were at nightfall! We smothered16 a few head, but the work was done. Our entertainers had a short time since mustered17 their whole[Pg 100] herd18, and sold them in Adelaide. We heard some of their road stories. In crossing the great marshes19 which lie to the north-west of Mount Gambier, they had to carry their collie dogs on horseback before them for miles.
We had nothing quite so bad as this, but after we parted next day, Fred for "The Gums," and in cheering proximity20 to the Mount Rouse stony21 rises, the best fattening22, and withal best sheltered, winter country in the west, I envied him his luck. I had farther to go, and when I arrived my homestead was situated23 upon an island, with leagues of water around it in every direction.
To "tail" or herd cattle daily in such weather was impossible, so both herds24 were turned out, and by dint25 of reasonable "going round" and general supervision26, they took kindly27 to their new quarters.
Fred, I remember, told me that his cattle went bodily into the "Mount Rouse stones," which by no means belonged to his run, and there abode28 all the winter. He did not trouble his head much about them till the spring, when they came in, of course, as mustering commenced. There were no fences then, and no man vexed29 himself about such a trifle as a few hundred head of a neighbour's cattle being on his run.
On our way we returned to and camped opposite Hopkins Hill station homestead. A neat cottage in those days, slightly different from the present mansion30. Thence I think to Mr. Joseph Ware's of Minjah, a cattle station which had not been very long bought from Messrs. Plummer and Dent31, who had purchased from the Messrs. Bolden[Pg 101] Brothers. Then past Smylie and Austin's to Kangatong, where dwelt Mr. James Dawson.
We remained at Kangatong for a day, so as to give Joe Burge time to come and meet us, which he did, considerably32 lightening my labours and anxieties thereby33. Thence to Dunmore, which was "as good as home." The next day saw the whole lot safe in a big brush-yard, which Joe Burge had thoughtfully prepared for their reception, thinking it would do to plant with potatoes in the spring. And a capital crop there was!
I always think that the years intervening between 1846 and the diggings—that is, the discovery of gold at the Turon, in New South Wales, in 1850, and at Ballarat in 1851—were the happiest of the pastoral period. There was a good and improving market for all kinds of stock. Labour, though not over-plentiful, was sufficient for the work necessary to be done. The pastures were to a great extent under-stocked, so that there were reserves of grass which enabled the squatter14 to contend successfully with the occasional dry seasons. There was inducement to moderate enterprise, without allurement34 to speculation35. The settlement of the country was progressing steadily36. Agricultural and pastoral occupation moved onward37 in lines parallel to one another. There was no jostling or antagonism38. Each of the divisions of rural labour had its facilities for legitimate39 development. There were none of the disturbing forces which have assumed such dangerous proportions in these latter days. No studied schemes of resistance or circumvention40 were thought of by the squatter. No spiteful agrarian[Pg 102] invasion, no blackmailing41, no sham42 improvements were possible on the part of the farmer.
From time to time portions of land specially43 suited for agricultural settlement were surveyed and subdivided44 by the Government. On these, as a matter of course, when sold by auction45 at some advance upon upset price, according to quality, was a purely46 agricultural population settled. It had not then occurred to the squatter, hard set to find money for his necessary expenditure47 upon labour and buildings, stock and implements48, to pay down ￡1 per acre or more for ordinary grazing ground. The farmer, as a rule, sold him flour and forage49, supplied some of the needful labour, and hardly more came into competition with his pastoral neighbour than if he had lived in Essex or Kent.
I can answer in my own person for the friendly feeling which then existed between the two great primitive50 divisions of land-occupation. The Port Fairy farmers were located upon two large blocks, the Farnham and Belfast surveys, about ten miles from the nearest and not more than fifty from the more distant squattages. "The Grange," afterwards known by its present name of "Hamilton," was then part of a station, and was not surveyed and subdivided till some years after.
The majority of the squatters found it cheaper to buy flour and potatoes from the farmers than to grow them. Most of us grew our own hay and oats; but in after years our requirements were largely supplemented from Port Fairy, even in these easily produced crops. In return the farmers purchased milch cows, as well as steers51 for breaking[Pg 103] to plough and team; and if these, with the increase of the female cattle, strayed on to the runs, they were always recoverable at muster7 time, and no threat of impounding was ever made. The agricultural area was enlarged when needed. To this no squatter objected, nor, to my knowledge, was such land purchased by other than bona-fide farmers. I cannot call to mind any feud52 or litigation between squatter and farmer having its inception53 in the land question.
Both classes met alike at race meetings and agricultural Shows; and, as far as could be noticed, there was none of the smouldering feeling of jealousy54 regarding the prevalence of latifundia, or other casus belli, which has of late years blazed up and raged so furiously.
Wages were not high in those days, and yet the men were contented55. They certainly saved more money than they do now. They managed to acquire stock, and after taking up a bit of unoccupied country, became squatters, and wealthy ones too. Joe Burge and his wife received ￡30 a year. Old Tom had 10s. a week; lodging56 and rations57, in which matters, at that time, we shared much alike, were included.
I recall, moreover, instances of genuine attachment58 as exhibited by old family servants to the children of their masters, though it is generally asserted that this particular kind of faithful retainership is confined to those who are happy enough to be born in Europe.
Mr. John Cox, of Werrongourt, supplied one instance, at least, which illustrates59 the feeling so honourable60 to both master and servant. A shepherd[Pg 104] named Buckley had saved sufficient money in his service wherewith to purchase a small flock of sheep. He found a run for them on a corner of the Mount Rouse country, where they increased to the respectable number of 14,000. He told me and others that, as Mr. Cox had in the first instance given him facilities for investing his savings61 profitably, and in every way taken an interest in his welfare, he was resolved to leave his whole property to "Master Johnny," the second son, then a fine ingenuous62 lad of twelve or thirteen. Buckley was a bachelor, I may state, and had presumably no other claims upon his fortune.
But, about a year before his death, he received intelligence that a sister, of whom he had not heard since his arrival in Tasmania, had emigrated to America, and was still living. He consulted a mutual63 friend, and was told that Mr. Cox was the last man who would wish, or indeed allow him to neglect his own kin5. "I must leave Master Johnny something," he said; and when the old man passed away, and his property was chiefly devised to his sister, a sum of ￡1000 was duly bequeathed to Mr. John Cox, jun.
Mr. Cox was unfortunately in failing health at that time. The station, Werrongourt, was sold to Mr. Mooney, the great cattle-dealer, for the magnificent (?) price of ￡5 per head! It was the first rise in cattle after the gold of 1851, and anything over ￡3 per head was thought a high figure. Mr. Cox, however, was anxious to visit the old country, chiefly on account of his health. The change was unavailing. He died on the voyage, to the great grief of the[Pg 105] district, where all revered64 him as a high-minded, honourable country gentleman. He was, indeed, a worthy65 son of the good south land, a staunch friend, a true patriot66, and as a magistrate67 famed for the unswerving justice which equally regarded rich and poor. Among his humbler countrymen, "Mr. Cox said it" was sufficient to close any argument, whatever might be the interest involved.
"Master Johnny," some years after, elected to enter the German army. He and a younger brother fought in the Franco-Prussian war; they were both wounded at Sedan, where their mother, an Australian by birth (née Miss Frances Cox, of Hobartville), attended them till their recovery, continuing her unselfish labours by acting68 as hospital nurse until the end of the war.
The brothers were, no doubt, promoted. They were in the cavalry69, as became Australians, and most probably now, as Baron70 and Count von Coxe, are adding fresh branches to a wide-spreading and generally flourishing family tree.
When "Master Johnny," one fresh spring morning, rode down to Squattlesea Mere71 from Werrongourt, bringing two couples of draft foxhounds from his father's pack, to be sent to an intending M.F.H. in another colony, we little dreamed of the ranks in which he was to ride, the sport in which he was to share, ere the second decade should have passed over our heads.
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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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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proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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8
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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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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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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squatter
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| n.擅自占地者 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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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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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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fattening
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| adj.（食物）要使人发胖的v.喂肥( fatten的现在分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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allurement
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| n.诱惑物 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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circumvention
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| n.陷害，欺骗 | |
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41
blackmailing
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| 胁迫，尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的现在分词 ) | |
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42
sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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44
subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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46
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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47
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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49
forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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50
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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51
steers
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| n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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52
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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53
inception
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| n.开端，开始，取得学位 | |
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54
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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55
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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56
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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57
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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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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59
illustrates
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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60
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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62
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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64
revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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68
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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69
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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