The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-21
Adventures in Australia.

w Loddon, in the province Of Vic
toria, Australia: as the grazing pastures,
which we had leased from the crown,
had not been blessed with an abundance
of rain as we had hoped and had ri ght
to expect for the previous season had
been dry, and all the old settlers had
said that the present winters rains
would be abundant, and that the little
Loddon would become mighty stream,
overflow its banks, and fill the ground
so full of water that 1t would become like
wet sponge for months after the win
ter had passed away. But all their pre-
dlctions had come to naught; and here
we were, with half the cold months
passed away, and not enough rain had
fallen to lay the dust or cause the dead
grass to change its color, or to supply
the hungry sheep and cattle with food
to prevent them from growing thin and
wearing that peculiar dull expression
which distinguishes animals when suf-
fering for suitable sustenance. The river
was dry, and only by digging holes in
its bed could we obtain enough to water
our fiocks, and prevent them straying
from our range in search of better quar-
tiers, which they were certain to do
unless all their wants were supplied;
and our stockmen were always on the
alert to prevent their leaving our range,
and wandering into the wild districts,
or else mixing with our neighbors'
stock, where they would be likely to
remain until the asserting took place
some time in the spring.
When cattle are once possessed with
an idea they would be better off in some
other section, eternal vigilance and a
pretty free use of the stockmen's whips
are necessary to make them abandon
the idea, and settle down to the fact that
sharp protest will be made every time
they have laid out their plans for an
escape. We had four herders in our
employ; and they were on horseback
day and night for two months, with but
scant opportunities for sleep, before we
could consider our property secure, or
tame the rowing disposition of some
three-year-old bulls, which were ugly
and fretful because they were on short
rations. The sheep did not give us
so much trouble; for several dogs which
we owned took very good care of them,
and kept them in bounds when disposed
to stray.
But this was not the only trouble
which we had to contend with. Within
two weeks we had lost several head OF
cattle; and they had apparently been
slaughtered in the most willful manner.
only the choicest parts of the carcasses
being taken, and the rest was left for
the wild dogs and the fowls of the air.
We knew, by the manner in which the
brutes were cut up, that no white men,
or bushrangers, were concerned in the
slaughter; for there was not a gang OF
the latter on the Loddon at the time
having been driven back into the wilder
districts by the mounted police and the
settlers: SO we were at last forced to the
conclusion that colony of black men
had camped in the mountains near us
and were growing fat and greasy at oui
expense. We tried all manner of meth.
ods of snaring the scamps; bnt native
black Australian is like a ghost, and
can vanish about as quickly, and reap
pear when you least expect him. In
fact, when you think you are watching
him, he is on the lookout for you, and
knows your movements much better
than you know his, and you wait with
patience in the hope of catching him
while he is probably not three rods off
in tuft of grass or clump of bushes
perfectly content to stay there until you
fall asleep, or return to your hut, satisfi
ed in your own mind that there are nc
blacks on your place, and that youl
Your patience will not compare to 6
natives, and after few months expe
nence you understand that most per
fectly.
To be sure, the black fellows coulC
easily knock you over with boone
rang, or pin you to the earth with on,
of their long spears, which they throw
with wonderful precision; but th'
natives do not like to kill settler, al
they know that such an act would walk
up the whole mounted police, and al
the stockmen within radius of fift,
miles, and that war of exterminatiol
would be entered without delay, an'
never cease until the murder was ampl.
avenged