The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-06-19
Life I'M tho Bush In Austrsiia.


The Bush \ j. synonymous with the "Bsekwoo q
America. But there are no snch extensive and thick
forests 10 Australia as are found in the Uniisd States
trees found here and there but whether there be
tlees or not the nietorthe unsettled part 81 Austria
lie which settlers lead there is Wild and in many re-
spects simple and primitive Perhaps the nearest hut or
station 10 your own u twenty or thirty miles on The
country all around about is III state Of nature There
roads, only tracks. such as you find running
the Scotch moofs, and not so much beaten as
these Weeks and days pass and the bushman squat
Ter does not human face. tlfIfE GN 81 aNr
The tendency OF The bushman is. hence, to wild,
and he very rapidly gets back into state of nature He
lets his beard growfor azos are scarce in the bush
and personal appearance dsregaded for there few
women 10 dress for, The bushman's garb is ius-
tan and cabbageuee hat and his principal compan-
ions dog bulioeks, Sheep and horses Once twice
year he goes 10 The nearest town 10 lay in stock OF
sugar. tea tobacco provisions, and clothing for the
soni and occasionally, one more than usually dissipa-
ted, and IN positive desperation Tor company, will steal
away 10 the nearest roadside public house. perhaps thir-
~ miles Oft, and indulge in few days terocious diss
patton with The bushmen and squalies from other settle
ments round about Sydney has described the bush as
land IN which there roads, no vager, no church
es, little law, and less Gospel
The stock owners Fqnattcrs are the aristocracy OF
the Bush. Their aocks and herds extensive
tracts OF country and many OF them own IRON 10000 TO
80 ooeo ssssp or from 5000 to ooo od
EN- times. The stock owner usually resides IN Inc most
central part OF his "sation, and certain parts OF ms
run district allotted TO particular portions o. ms
stock two or three hocks being gazed on each These
subsiaons usually some hive miles apart from each
other and only erection upon them is the solitary hui
in which the ard hukceper live. The central
station which the proprietor lives may be regarded as
the CAPITOL occupying considerable space Of ground
with its huts, paddocks, stock yards wool sheds, and
other improvements The buildings are rudely Knocked
togelhegenerslly they OF slab sometimes plas,ered
with clay pe and covered with single; yet they
presenta rather formidable appearance when viewed
from distance.
The life OF the shepherds the stations in the sol
aIy bush very dismal one. Two men are stationed
at each, lar removed from neighbors and friends; an
when there they must make the best of IT, They are
well paida The rate OF about forty sounds yeaf, with
raons and their Iatons abundant But the lie is
sad one nevertheless and men only take 1t M Austria
liza when every other employment fails There is an i'm
preston among them that sheep heIding is the lowest
sort OF labo-as indeed il is II has pastoral delights
for them, spite of VIVA, the poets have sung. Feeding
sheep and seeing nothing but sheep they become sheep
ish, if they do not become One OF the two men
watches the sheep the other keeps the hut cooks the
food shifts the ols and watches the sheep at in
company with the coohe dogs
The hut life Of the shepherds is very miserable and
very comoress They too often become dirty and SLOW
emily in their habits and, secluded from the society of
bu. "genle shepherds This class constantly chang
ing about--no wonder They cannot regard their hut
TO "be,er themselves by shifting 10 knew situations, or
o returning 10 their old ones -.a .a...s y
The life of the stockman--he who has charge of The
cattle upon siaonis of superior kind. 1t requires
energy, skill and labor and there is excitement
and hustle about which very attractive to spirited aud
energetic fellows The sockman Is real Australian
he represents the genuine character OF the country He
must be educated specially Tor his craft and he must be
cup to his work.. The cattle which he has 10 manage
Of far formidable kind than the passive sheep
under the of The shepherd and huffman s.e
The horned cattle OF Australia powerful animals,
and their wild habits render them very difficult govern
They Craze quite uncoDfned throughout the year, and
thus acquire agility IN ieapng and running, which
renders sometimes matter OF difficulty for the feeest
horse to oveake and turn them, and the horses OF
Australia are of fine breed and mee Horses have,
deed become principal article OF export TO India, where
they much priced. Every station has a good stock
nj L,ar.r heidi frnu tanf fha
Australians become hrstTaie noTsemen Everything IS
done on horseback in Australia every man you meet is
on horseback. Nobody thinks OF walking in the Bush
excep, be TO catch horse. Thus, as many as dozen
saddle horses kept al some stations merely Tor the
binary work of the place; and every sockman who looks
after the cattle expects two three horses 10 be appro
prated entirely 10 his use.
The sockman's duty is TO drive out the cattle TO see
that they do not stray and they do stray then to hunt
them up and bring Them back 10 headquarters Bullock
driving the Bush work requiring much more skill
than in this country where the cattle are comparatively
tame In the Bush bullock riding is regarded science
OF value, and they have saying THAT any man can
knock buocks about, but very lew can drive ihem.''
But the grea, art consists in hunting them up when they
have srayed. This IL considered capital sport thong b
sometimes IL Is rather dangerous. fox hunt is moth
ing il for break neck speed, up hill, down bill hurry
skurry sharp turning zig gag, over creeks rocks logs,
and bushes foil gallop The prime quality Of the stock
horse is the wheeling Instantly when at full speed on
any ground orihe wild cattle, when pressed close
apt 10 instantly upon their pursuer and charge him.
Then he wheel and ran, till he manages TO turn the
brute, when away goes alter again. never leaving IL
I'LL he has headed home 10 The nerd Hence the highest
ndation OF Australian horse is, that he
turn upona cabbage leaf.
The best exemplifcation OF this faculty OF sudden
wheeling in the process OF driving is IN the art OF "cu
ting OUT snge bullock from a herd. At fret sr,ing
the bullock wholly 10 his speed but finding after
trial OF two or three hundred yards, that his
the herd is sill interrupted he doubles short round in the
rear OF his pursuer, who, he TO continue his
ward career. would thereby lose great deal OF ground
but such is the agility of the stock horse that he stimuli
taneously wheels round, and still keeps the inside
without losing inch. This sort OF thing is repeated
again and again, till the bafed animal, by this time
hausied with rage, and well scored with the Whip is
fan single and take any course that bis tormenor
may direct t .#" .#a II.
The muster is also very exciting scene This usually
takes place year. for the purpose OF ascerianing
that all the cattle there and OF branding those which
require branding with the owners mark. Notice sent
round all the neighbors, who help each other such
occasions and perhaps The nearest neighbor lives twenty
miles off These asserblc the station the night before
with their horses and dogs. Sbak e-downs provided
with pipes and an mable quantity OF tea and damper -
res about wild cattle, stock riders, and bushrangers
Early in The morning all astr, the horses fresh
and The riders armed with formidable stock whips set
ont for the several cattle runs They are dressed only
in boots. spurs uowsers, shirt and cap. Each party
the entire oil the squatter I'LL every horned
beast is brought toward the general rendezvousKene
rally in PLAIN and the accumulated herd thus collected
driven by the united riders iowards the stock yard The
cattle resist being driven into the yard to The utmost.
They remember their former rough treatment there.
The horselDen ride al them with Their whips; and they
WELD them with such dexteriy and force that they
cuts piece clean out OF the skin and flesh OF bullock