New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-09
Bush Life in Australia.

But as | have already limited ii Is to the me-
chanlc and robust labOrer that Australia holds ont
the strongest inducements VIII now endeayor to
give YOU faint sketch of the Australian bushman,
into which character this latter race quickly become
Transformed on their arrival IN the colony the Spe-
cies is migratory and consists chiefly OF single men,
who always seek Job-wOrk, and seldom remain at
station more than a few weeks Sprlng-tme l. their
hMVcst-nOt of gram, bur OF gold. Every individual
of tins class a Shearer, that IS to say knows sui-
fcent of Shearing 10 enable HIM 10 relieve the sheep
OF It's fleece. for masters here are not 50 particular
As they are IN England. with regard 10 the manner
IN which tins kind of work = go, through others.
who do not shear. take pant IN the work As sheep
washers. good Shearer VIII shear ms lOD sheep
daV though the average j. about seventy they are
pald not less than lis hundred. and Shearlng time
lasts about ten weeks, 50 that in this season shearer
Will often make from $50 10 $40 and this, you VIII
observe without offset for rent, firing. washing.
food, or any other OF these items. Shcarng fairly
over, harvest commences. and proves another har-
vest for the bu>hindl though frequently ne mas al
ready managed relieve himself OF the fruits of his
Shoanng- harvest during stay OF week or two IN
town Soon after the termination of harvest. ne can
earn good wages by thrashing and thus The six busy
months Of the year may always be probably en-
plOyed consequently. during this period men are
scarce. and shepherds and hut-kecpers very difficult
10 be obtained al The present time II j. no easy mat
ter hire al the rate of t25 and t26 per annum.
But YOU must not imagine that | have told YOU o.
half the openings which are presented to the work
ing man At this season. A. the wool comes INTO
town II Is sent on board ship, and there Is con-
siderable demand for men as wooi-lanberS at Is a.
day and their food while At the same time the stores
and warehouses likewise require an increased num-
Der of hands In every department hands are wanted.
indeed II would be pTepoStefOus 70 assert that any
individual, OF any class, who IS able 10 Work, or
willing to follow flock of sheep, need be ont OF
employment at tins season of the wear. During the
other half OF the year the bushman can generally
obtain lucrative employment pOSt-and-rall fencing.
matching, digging waler-hoeS. sheep loot
rOllng, bullOCk-drlvng, or other work, and some
times If work be scarce. he Will condeScend to en-
gage himself for three months as II shepherd. TO
lamb down flock. for which he VIII earn his E26 10
t2s a-year. Having at times 70 travel conSidcra-
bic distance up the country, the buShman has 10 be
prepared TO rough H. and often Is exposed TO great
hardships indeed, the accounts which you hear OF
their adventures during these perambulatlons often
partakC not little Of the romantic. you must bear
in mind that IN the interior there are no bridges and
that. consequently he has 10 various rivers and
Waer-CouTScs. which IN Summer are almost dry, but
IN Winter are scarcely iordable the character of
the bushmans prvatlons, therefore, depends upon
the season of the year, and the state of the country
al the time of his travels. Sometimes there Is
scarcity Of water, and he has 10 walk many weary
mile, and al tunes for two or three days together
beneath scorchlng sun. without being able TO OBJ
tam drop TO Quench ms teverlsh thirst at other
times the floods prevail and he has 10 cross rivers
almost up 10 his neck IN water, and sometimes l,
compelled to swim over them, IN parts the whole
country i flooded. and | have heard accounts OF
men beng obliged To walk for hours almost up 10
their waists IN water sometimes night sets IN before
he can reach terra riG and he has 10 pass the night
IN Il swamp. The buShman always carries With HIM
ms sway consisting OF kangaroo or poSSum SKIN
rug, else blanket two. together with his clean
shirt and one two other little articles. If he can
reach an inn he has shelter for the night II he can
make hut, he Is welcome II not, provided ne
has a clear sky above him and dry ground beneath
he cares little about having to bush IT., or pass the
night IN the open ar. To sum up this rough sketch
of the thorough gong buShman-he is man who
can turn his hand 70 anything and make money IN
almost any situation his only drawback being his
unfortunate propensity TO spend with one hand what
he earns with the other when he can overcome thus
temptation he soon rises to independence and re-
Spectabiiy, the colony presenting such cases in null
utudes He scorns the idea of Shepherdlng or hut
Keeping, because he knows he can earn almost as
much IN a day "a the shepherd can IN a week. and
Knowing THIS, and that work of the kind he seeks Is
plentiful. his bearing i generally characterised by
no Sigh, degree Of independence and sefconf
dence."