Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-21
AUSTRALIAN TRAMPS
AN IDEAL COUNTRY FOR "WEARY
 WlLLlES."

The "Sundowner" and His Mode ot Exis-
 tence-As a Rule He Is Well Informed
 and Fairly MoraI-He win Work at Times
 But Loves His Rest.
 Australia is an ideal country for tramps because of its universal hospi- tality and delightful climate. There are no hardships of weather, no dangerous wild beasts to contend with, very few clothes required, and there is seldom a night, up-eounsy at least, that man may not roll himself in his blanket and sleep in comfort.
 The sundowner, so called because be invariably claims the hospitality of a station" (ranch) at sundown-an hour when he knows he will not be turned away empty the white tramp of Australia. He has so long been recognized as a necessary evil that at most stations travellers hut is now provided for his special accom-. modation and a regular ration, usually a pannikin of flour and a pound ot meat, is served out to every applicant.
 In other places, more democratic, the sundowner takes his seat at the table in the mems quarters. He can always depend upon his supper, bed, and breakfast at any station; and he usually steals or begs from the cook sufficient to make a hearty midday meal. If the distances between sta- tiens are too far to be travelled in single day, the swagsman rolls himself in his blanket and camps by the road side. If the distance be but few miles, he revels in genuine holiday, picnics for the day, perhaps, under the shade of 8 giant gum tree and arrives at the station homestead, with all the appearance of long days walk, just as the sun is setting.
 The Australian tramp is of type wholly different from the ignorant, iow-bred scum of humanity that one meets in some countries, and from the whining, professional beggar of Europe and America.
 AS a class these tramps are well in- formed, fairly moral, and, as the world goes, honest. The sundowner stands apart from the rest of his kind, inas- much as he never begs for money.
 He will ask for a pipeful of tobacco or drink, meal or bunk, but for the coin of the realm he does not pe- tition. He is contented philosopher with all the instincts of a nobleman; born, of course, under an unlucky star yet satisfied with his lot so long as he is not obliged to work, and so long as the "squatters" feed him.
 One is constantly surprised at the speech and manners of those whom one meets on the road, and it is probable that fully one-third are men who were born of gentle parents in the "older countries" Australia being an English colony. the sundoWner is usually native of the British Isles. though there is sprlnkling of other nationaH. ties in proportion to their number in the colonies. It is due to the native born Australians to say that they sel. dom turn tramps.
 Although against his principles, il must be said, to the sundowner's credit, that he does sometimes work. There are times when even he feels the need of a change.
 At shearing time, when the sheds are full of jolly shearers and good wages may be demanded. he will often work for few weeks; or he may find some other easy way that suits his fas- tidious fancy.
 With the proceeds he buys himself few clothes, perhaps, and Knocks down" (spends) the remainder in the first bush public. Some there are who wander aimlessIy from cne colony to another, ever seeking new paths; others, more methodicaI, have a regu~ lar route laid ou5 which takes from two to three years to cover. In this way they do not visit the same station often enough to ba recognized.
 Sundowning is the outgrowth of the boundless and uaaqualled hospitality of the Australian bush. The occasional sundown petitioner of the old days. however, has now become an army. To-day the squatte. fears this wander ing tramp. and feeG8 him under protest knowing well that by refusing him he runs the risk of having a Woolshed burned down or some of his fat sheep killed.