The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-10-23
steambonlIns on the Murray.

Especial Correspondence of the Gazettsl
After visiting the aboriginal blacks in the forests
on the Murray, took passage little steamer
for voyage down the river. After making secure
birth over the boiler, came out to view my fellow
passengers. motley group they were. Cattle
from the plains, sheep-men from the Australian inte-
rior, wnemen from the vineyards hunters, trappers,
travellers commercial commission agents, and host
of wild looking fellows with unkept hair their legs
encased in buckskin leggings leather vests, broad
brimmed hats and kangaroo skin caps, with trusty
revolver buckled around their waists, and bowie
knives Tapping upon their thighs, badges of their
calling in the forest wids, indicating they were men
Of, few words and would bear trang.
hilarious group formed a collection around the
end of the saloon table. drifred toward them. The
familiar name of Doctor and Captain and Oregon,
heard through the tobacco smoke that hung like
blue cloud about their ears. "a Yankee by jugo"
and was slapped on the back by stalwart person
age of friendly men, who insisted on making pump
handle out of my hand for a solid ten minutes. An
Introduction all around followed. ~ have not seen
a fellow-countrymen iu olong a time could almost
jump of my boots" and he takes another shake.
was glad myself to see an American in these back
WOOusJ espeCldliJ Ole VI suCl SlRdnlC
formidable proportions. Oregon new friends
name. lie claimed intimacy with Joaquin Miller.
lie stood six feet three inches in his stocking feet.
He gentleman from Oregon, out on his travels,
seeing the world, and he was known among his as
socates by the name of Oregon what his
he did not state, what his baptismal cognomen
was L never discovered. The Doctor was from the
Highlands of Scotland. The Captain was from
sunny France. They out frock.
solitary lady, from stock ranch up the cOun-
try sat the far end of the table, looking like the
last rose of summer. Our little craft blowod her
whistle, began to flap her paddles, pulled and then
backed out into the channel, turned her head down
the stream, let out steam and we sailing down
the Murray, with the Australian shores and forests
recedng on either side. The woods lay spread out
in black masses in the distance their green sweeping
tops rolling like billowy rollers the sylvan val
ley. We came out on deck to enjoy the prospect of
farm houses, brousng cattle, vineyards, fields, cot
tages, wine watts hidden among the vines and valleys
on either bank The country houses faced the river
and the fields extended back to the belt Of forest
beyond. Flocks of sheep moving about in
busy waves. Herds OF cattle, with tnkling bells,
made glad the valley shores. The milk-msds, swing
ing on the gates, calling home the cows. Chill
dren asradde of the bars shouting the smoking
steamer padding by. The with their feathery
partners are going home to roost. The plowmen are
coming in from the distant fields, singing their rural
songs and driving home their sturdy oxen. From
every house top a column of smoke is curling into
the heavens. The is going down Ger the
western hills, and leaving its rich glow Ger the
farms and woodlands, through which the bending
stream is winding its watery way. Twilight drew
Ger the earth its misty veil, and the stars one by
one sparkled in the sky, and their svery mistress
up Of the tree tops, looked DER the valley,
and transformed the river into pathway of her own.
Cur little steamer drew up at riverside town, we
abandoned our floating residence, and took up
quarters at a vine-coVered hotel. Vineyards robe
the valley for miles around. We are in famous
grape region. ths hills hung with purple clusters,
the air is redoeut with their flavor. Wine in barrels
is piled along the banks like cotton bales the Tom
bigbee. The Captain said it reminded him of the
land of Burgundy in his own loved France. Oregon
said he was serene. The Doctor happy he or
dered supper in a tone of command, to be aceompan-
led by claret for in authority After tea all
went out on the veranda to enjoy the moonlight.
Fair luna is merging Ger the eastern woods and
bathed the in showers of light The river winds
its shining pathway below like white ribbon and
loses itself in the foggy haze.
We have got Oregon of to bed. He had grown
boisterous he was saturated with weakness for
songs, be sang all sorts of melodies he was lavish
in love dtties that he tickle the Of
maids in the mountain des of the cascades, and the
wales of the Willamette. The Captain having laid
away two bottles of Murray wine under his vest de-
csred that he never felt better in his life. The Doc
tor, who had improved bis opportunities. said he
content Conversation turned toward the fair sex,
it usually does in their absence. The Doctor be-
gan ~ have drank of the rarsst vintagss in festive