Australian Tales and Adventures.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2014, 7 January 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Australian Tales and Adventures.

No, 11. CAMP YARNS.

By Bunyip.

« Mister," said my fellow traveller as we jogged along, in the morning on our way down the Lachlan, your young, and this is a big country, lots of room for a man to explore and pick runs lor himeelf. I may tell yon that I was one of the first pioneers down this river, not so very many years ago either, for I am still a youngish man. .With the exception of a lew stations the country is very much like what it was when I first came down the river, (my readers must understand that this refers to some thirty odd years since, before fencing of runs was dreamed of). 1 brought down a small herd of cattle from the Coropasture side, and with three men and a good team of bullocks with a load of rations we journeyed along and fed our cattle at our ease. I wanted to get as low down the Lachlan as I could, so as to be near the Melbourne market. The blacks were pretty numerous, but very friendly, and I can tell you mister a good deal of the mischief done by blacks is in the first instance occasioned through the whites not knowing how to treat them. Blacks, mister, “be went on,” are human beings like ourselves, and are possessed of as much sense if properly taught, and treated with kindness, at the same time keeping them in their place, as white men. I never had any trouble with the blacks, Mister; they have always worked for me, and 1 always paid them for their work in'rations and clothing, and tobacco, and when the diggings broke out, and a white man was barely to be got on a station the blacks shepherded all my sheep and looked after my cattle, and 1 prospered. “ Now look here, mister,” he said, “ I'll tall you a yarn, you’ve heard of Donald McCrea.” “ Yes," I said, “ I knew Donald well. He was, I think, the first man who took a mob of cattle all the way down the Darling to Adelaide, when there was not a station between Fort Bourke and the Murray Junction.” " Just so,” said my friend," and it is about

Donald and his overseer, that I am going to tell you. Donald, you know, wae a highlander, who oame out to Sydney when a very young man, went into the bush, took up country, bought oettle on vary easy terms, managed everything himself, and made money. Its the easiest thing in the world, mister, to make money if you only get the chance and know bow t”

“Excellent advice, my friend,” I said, “but to ‘ know how ' is the one thing needful." “ Nothing easier,” said ho. “ I oan travel five hundred miles on five shillings.”

“ So, could I,” I replied, “ if I was 'dead broke,’ but not ifbad I the means to pay for what I wanted to eat and drink.”

“ Well mister, Donald was mustering for fat cattle on his station on the Barwon. He had a head-stockman or overseer, named Mao. who be always left in full charge of his station when he was absent, for Donald always did his own droving. Mao bad three blackfellows, smart, intelligent young men they were, and Mao hod got them educated so far that they knew every station brand for a hundred miles round. It was no use any of the up-the river fellows trying to bounce Mao's blackboys oat of s calf at mustering time, not the least, and if the stranger showed fight these three would worry him like a terrier would a rat. Now, Mr. Mac, —like most Highlanders, had strong religious convictions. He would allow no work whatever to be done on Sunday, except at muster time for fat cattle, when he need to excuse himself on the plea of necessity. He tried to make his boys as religious ae himself, and succeeded admirably so far as the no work on a Sunday doctrine went, but otherwise his missionary efforts were a decided failure. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, for so he christened hie blackboys, were most consummate hypocrites. In his presence and hearing they were piety personified, but in his absence they swore, played cards, and when they got a chance which in those ont districts was very rare indeed, they drank grog. Occasionally a friend would give Mao a hint about tbe goings on ef his dimples, ae they were called, but his reply was ‘ Hoot awa’, man, ’Oken the boys better than you do or any one else’. As very often occurred when alarge muster was taking place in those districts a 'grog cart’ or * licensed hawker ’ was camped some few milee away, and the plea of lost or knocked np horses was the excuse for their delay it tonnd out by the owner of the station. Now at this muster Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in company with two up-the-river stockmen, were sent to bring the upper run cattle into tbe station. The two stockmen were very steady men, who could take their glaea and have no more, but they thought what a glorious joke it would be to make the apostles drunk, and send them home to Mao in that state. So they found the camp. Matthew, said to tbe hawker, 4 what you doing on this run, my man?’ Said Luke with a wink, ‘ got anything in the keg ?' while Mark got off his horse and eat on the ground making a pantomimic gesture of taking a swig the two stockmen, rode up with " Good day, mate; lost your horses ?” “ Yes, friends, was the hawkers reply. " Well, said the stockmen, “ its warm, and We're come a long way; have you anything to drink.”

“ Well,” said the hawker, scanning his customers to realise in what manner be was to be paid, ae stockmen at a muster seldom carried small change, “do you belong to the station?”

“ Oh, yes,” said they, 11 and when yon come np we,ll bay a swag of clothes.” “All right,” said licensed hawker, and produced a small keg. Matthew's eyes glistened, Mark grinned, and Lake opened his mouth. Presently there was a gurgling of rum into a pannikin. The two stockmen drank each others healths, then Matthew, Mark, and Luke drank each others healths in rather Atiffer nobblers than the white men. When ready to start, ‘ Matthew said, “ we'd better have the benediction,” which they bad, stifler than before. The result was that the two stockmen gathered in the cattle, while the apostles slept it out. When the white men arrived at the station in the evening with the cattle Mao inquired where his boys were ? “ Don’t know,” said the stockmen. They left ua to go after c mob of outsiders, so we brought home all we could get. “ They’re fine lads,” said Mac; " none of your alouohing-up-the-river niggers; you can depend your life on my boye.” “ So 1 should think,” grinned one of the men.

Just at dusk, when all the hands had yarded the cattle and were sitting down to tea, up rode the apostles just drunk eifcugh to swear at, and be very abusive to Mao, and when he ashed them where the cattle were they went after, said Matthew “go to blazes ”; said Luke, “ shut tip you old fool ”; Mark grinned and put his fingers up to bis nose. The truth dawned upon Mao, whereupon he forgot himself, and swore roundly at them in the best broad Scotch. Then he keenly eyed the two stockmon, upon whom the grog had not made the least impression, and asked them where his boys had been. “ Don’t know,” said they. “ They slithered oS from ns op the river after a mob of cattle, and we saw no more of them.” 11 A oonfonnded hawker, I'll swear,” said Mack. “ I'll make it hot lor him.”

“ Next day about noon the hawkat made bis appearance at the station, but all hands except the hut-keeper were absent. He was an old hand, and although he was fond of a glass, always kept his eyes open. The two stockmen had let him into the secret, and told him if the hawker came to tell him not to say anything about seeing them the day before. In the evening when the party returned, and Mac found the hawker there, his wrath knew no bounds. He would search His cart there and then for grog.” “Not so last, friend,” said the hawker. 11 Where is your search warrant 7 ” Baffled in this, Mao ordered him off, He went about half a mile away on the road, turned his horses out to feed, made up bis camp fire, and opened out his goods, taking cate to keep his kegs out of sight. “ You see, my man, you see,” said Mao, riding np to him in the evening before the stockmen engaged at the muster had finished their tea, “ you can sell as many of your lawful goods as you like, you see, but you see 1 am mustering fat cattle, and it would be a most serious think for the men to get drunk, you see. How much liquor have you, and what do you want for the lot ? ” “ Well, Mr. Mao,” replied the hawker, “ I have only one five gallon keg of rum which, as a favour, I will let you have for five pounds, provided you buy an equivalent amount of goods.” “ Done,” said Mao. Yoke up your horses and bring the lot up to the station.” Bo the hawker came up, closely shepherded by Mao, who never left him for an instant, delivered the keg, and allowed Mao to inspect bis cart, which done, he was permitted to sell his wares. Mao gave all hands a glass of rum each, then placed the keg in his store-room. The three naughty boys, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, got none. Just at this point Donald M'Crae came to the station. The next day the muster was finished, and Donald started himself with the fat cattle lor Sydney, whije Mao’s faith in bis three black boys was considerably shaken.

Thus pleasantly passed the forenoon, and we turned out in a bend in the rivet for dinner, in a shallow water bole were some half dozen black gins and piccaninnies catching “ yappies,” that is, fresh water cray-fisb, and mussels. So we went down to them, and they gave us as many as made a good dinner for both. We boiled them in our quart pots, and thought them delicious. “Mister,"said my friend, “can there be anything more natural and happy than the lives of these simple children of nature (my

companion was a moralist). “ They knew nothing of the sins of great cities, or their temptations and expensive, senseless, and luxurious indulgences.” “ Bacca ” whined an old pin in their peculiar drawl as she slowly walked up to our fire, “ me want it smoke.”

Neither my friend or myself indulged in the weed, much to the poor creature's disappointment.

“ Bale yon got it bottle 7 ” she whined again.

Now, her simple bush habits, child of nature as she was instinctively taught her that there was but one use for a bottle, and that was to hold rum. We had neither. Poor beggars: she whined again. " Bale smoke, bale drink rum, poor fellow white fellow,” evidently considering us a most degraded pair. “ Now mister,” said my friend, “ observe the effects of civilisation. It brings with it innumerable evils. Far away as wo are from the busy haunts of men, these pomnatives are acquainted with some of its worst vioes.”

We gave the poor gins a little tea and sugar and flour in return for their bappies and shellfish, and resnmad our journey. My companion was most entertaining, and tad an immense store of anecdotes, all perfectly original, and gained from personal experience. His sole ambition was to become rich, and he has certainly achieved it to bis heart’s content. As we rode on towards his station, which wa were to make that evening, and where he entertained me lor three days in a most hospitable manner, he started a conversation, which for originality of conception I never remember to have heard equalled. This knowledge of Old Testament history, especially in the time ol the patriarchs,was most surprising. I suppose its fascination consisted in describing the pastoral life of the fathers of the Jewish race.

“ Mister,” he oommenoed, the Bible tells ns of the vast flocks and herds owned by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Lot, and others of the old dayf, but it does not give as the slightest information of what markets they had tor their stock, how they sold them, what means they possessed for shearing their sheep, bow they got np their wool tor market; how they sold it, or any particulars that would be most interesting to ns to know. •* The country too,” he said, "most have been very much understocked in those days, as we read of the patriarchs shifting about from one place to another with their immense flocks and herds. Yet we do not hear of their having to pay rents to any government. I can assure you, mister, the consideration of these matters sets me studying for days together when I am travelling alone, which I usually do. “Well, my friend," I replied, “I have often studied the matter in the same light myself, but as the Bible is a condensed history of the Jewish race, were it to go into minute details such as we are speaking of, instead of being contained in one volume, it would fill the shelves of the largest library in Europe.” “ I agree with you there, “ mister,” he said; “ still a few particulars would be very interesting.” Talking in this strain we jogged along, and towards evening reached bis station, one of many. He never lived at any one in particular, but lor a time at one, then at another. Having accepted his kind invitation to spell myself and horse for a few days, I hobbled the latter out, as there was no paddock, and very soon made myself at home. A chinaman had a most comfortable tea spread on the table tor us, at which we were joined by his overseer, whom I knew. Having done ample justice to the many good things prepared lor us, we drew our stools to the fire and batnied.

“ Mister,” said my host, “ there are many very inexplicable thmge in the old testament, one of which is the punishment awarded to King Nebucbadnezzer; how tor seven years be lived like a beast of the field, and ate grass and herbage: now according to my ideas his whole internal organisation' must have been changed, sa for a man to;«nbsist;entirely npon raw herbage in its natural state appears to me quite impossible. It is one of those old testament traditions that appear to be real and accepted without due explanation.” “ I agree with you,” I replied, “ that there are many passages in the old testament equally inexplicable; but as the Creator of universe employs bis own means towards certain ends, all that is expected of ns is implicit belief. The Scriptures are read and believed in by millions of our fellow beings, but because many passages in them are beyond our understanding that is no reason why they should not be accepted.” “ I quite agree with yon, mister,” replied my host, who was'a pious believer in the scriptures, “that there |are—in fact the bible abounds in passages that pass our limited comprehension, and that at all times would be reformers [had undertaken to divest religion of what they are pleased to term its superstitions, but their sorry attempts have all resulted in miserable failures. The one great proof of the authenticity of the Bible is its having withstood the assaults of these theological qaaoks lor so many centuries.” Pleasantly pased our first evening at the station in these discussions, so pleasantly indeed that midnight found us still debating. Were ball the residents in these Aurtralian wilds to jot down their thoughts as they ride their solitary days journey what an interesting volume could be compiled. Wishing each other good night, we retired to bed, and were soon sound asleep. There is no welcome can exceed a bush one; it is thoroughly honest and sincere, no put on, “ Make yourself at home," and " I wish you were at the devil in an almost audible thought.” Tour bush hosts are always glad of your company. Next morning we were up at sunrise, my host wishing to inspect his sheep. " Will you accompany ns,” said he to me.” “ I'll give yon a good mount?” “ Most willingly,” I replied. We ' breakfasted, our Chinese cook providing a capital spread, hot rolls included, after which we started for an out sheep station.

“ Mister,” commenced my friend, who was still lull of the old testament, “ what a wonderful time Jonah must have had of it whale's body. No living man before or since has had such an opportunity of witnessing the several processes food passes through in digestion, and yet with ample time to take notes of hie observations. He has left no record.” Now this remark for originality I never heard surpassed, and I must confess 1 was fairly non-plusssd lot a reply, which I had to allow to remain in abeyance. It came some time afterwards when camping out. My host produced some remarkably hard ship s biscuits which he had broughtinetead of damper. I suggested that if Jonah had witnessed the digestive process of that material, the Boyal College of Physicians would have awarded him a diploma and a gold medal lor a paper on it. At this remark my friend, whose features—long and grave—seldom relaxed, emiled, and he said: .... “ This is jesting; on a serious subject Mister." . , ... , “ I am not jesting,” I replied," but merely submitting a subject for analyeis.” On arrival at the cat station the shepherd bad just let hie sheep out of the yard. “ Good morning, Bill, said hie master,” how are you getting on ?” “ Pretty well," responded Bill, barring them ships biscuits you sent me instead of flour. They were that lull of weevils I had to make fat cake out of them.” ’* “Well, Bill, you see,” said my friend, “I thought yon would like a change.” “ So I would,” replied Bill, “ it it was for the better, but not tor that sort. I agreed for ten pounds of flour as a weekly rations, not

fire pounds ot ship’s biscuits end toe balance in maggots. And I tell you what 't is I stand on my agreement, so you’d belter send out the flour quick, and I'll boil the biscuits up for my dog." “ Freedom of speech among old shepherds is tolerated quite as much as it is among members of Parliament. The overseer smiled, end saying: •• All right, Bill, I'll send you the flour, os you don't appreciate luxuries." “ Luxuries beblowed, rejoined Bill. If you want to send me luxuries send me a bottle of sauce."

“ Christmas is earning," said my friend tbs overseer, *• and we’ll warm op your old blood then, Bill, so just do your best with the sheep." 11 All right, master," rejoined the shepherd, “ it's many a year I’ve shepherded for you, and you're not a bad sort at Christmas, or when a man wants a spell."

“We left for another ont-statinn. On the way my friend treated me to a tirade of abuse against the Melbourne merchants who sent him up waevily ship biscuits in place of the best Captain's, which he said he ordered, and which be thought bis men would li!;« for a change, especially as at that time they cost him about half per ton less delivered on the station than flour, the reason of which was that a large shipment had arrived in a damaged condition, which my friend’s agents bought as a job lot at auction ; hence the anticipated luxurious! lying (or the shepherds. On arriving at sheep station No. 2, the sheep were drawing off the camp. The morning was frosty and the sheep lazy. Said my friend to the shepherd: “ Good-morning, Mick." ' Now, Mick was not in the best of humors, (oanse, ship biscuit). He merely laid, or rather growled: II Morning, sir,” then to the overseer. “ whst the devil sort of tnoker is that yon sent me in place of my ration of floor ? " My friend, the overseer, eame forward promptly, and answered: 11 1 thought to give yob all a treat, Mick, in a change of living, bat some mistake has occurred.”

“ That be hanged for a yarn,” replied Mick. You don’t give yonr men treats unless they cost yon less than the usual ration. I was just going to take my flock into the head station and give them np, and get my wages. Rotten ship's biscuit ain’t flour, which is my ration.”

“ Well, Mick,” said bis master, “ I am sorry they sent the wrong biscuits. I ordered the very best Captain's, at double the price of flour, just aa a change and a preventive of scurvy,”

Mick did not reply just then, but when we were well ahead he called the overseer back, and said:

“ The master can tell that yarn!to the marines. Send me out the flout this evening, or I’ll bring in my sheep in the morning.” A promise was given, and we returned to the head station. The ration carrier had a busy time for a day or two delivering flour at out stations and bringing back ship's biscuits. My friend said the blacks would at least appreciate the biscuits, so in the evening we strolled down to the camp, my host and bis overseer each carrying a small bag of biscuits. Here again was disappointment to the benevolent owner of the station. The blacks would noteat them. One wide-awake, grey-headed patting a biscuit to bis nose, asked mymend, “ What tor bale shepherd eat 'em T bale blackfellow want ’em, bale shepherd eat 'em, too mnohee stink.” Here was a dilemma, half a ton of ship’s biscuits in a rotten condition in the store, and a very limited supply of flour. What became of them ultimately I never heard, probably the pigs got them. That evening my host was not communicative as usual, he was moody and silent, the consequence was we all went early to bed. The next morning, after a very good breakfast, in which my host's Chinese cook excelled, I saddled my horse, bade me kind entertainers good bye, and resumed my journey. I had not ridden far when a clergyman, mounted on a fine horse, overtook me, having come from a station beyond my friend's, and who was on his half-yearly tour of christenings and marriages. My readers will now imagine we are going in tor serious theological discussion. I must confess that I was ready enough for it, and regretted my reverend friend had not made one of our party overnight. I was disappointed. My friend was horsey, and the conversation wu more to my mind at that period of my life than law, physic, or divinity. Ho was an Australian native, a born horseman, (could ride anything, a first-rate fellow, and kept bis solemnity tor the pulpit, and his conversation was most amusing and entertaining. I knew his family and himself well, when he was quite a young man at Port Macquarie. The horse he rode was lent him by the owner of the station where he had left his own to spell till his return. A bit of a devil he was, too, (I mean the horse), but lor all that my friend rode him as easy and unconcerned as possible. “ There's nothing like a friend's horse and your own spurs ” he remarked, jokingly, with which I most certainly coincided. Poor fellow, he died only a few years since, an ecclesiastical dignatory in a town in Victoria, esteemed by all who knew him for bis eminently practical Christianity, divested of all theological bigotry, in every sense of the word a good man.