The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-21
BUSH LIFE.
Types of Humanity Found on the
Great Dry Fields.

1t is in pioneering the distant back
blocks that the peculiarities of Au-
stralian life are to be found. Away
in the "never-never'' country one
meets many curious types of charac-
ter. h bush tramp, or SHUTDOWN
err" as he is known, seems to lose his
identity after a few years of humping
the bluey'' on the plains of Australia.
No creature on earth could be more
homeless or for1orn. He may have
come from a good family and have
had prospects of inheritance until that
fatal day when he was driven to the
bush to hide his face forever from
his people.
In the lonely wayside inns. which
grow scarcer n scarcer as he threads
his way "out back" he finds the only
semblance of a home on earth The
monOtony of the Australian bush is
appalling. One may traverse a hum
GreG miles without the slightest varia-
ton in the landscape-the same gum,
the same eucalyptus, the same brown,
sunbaked earth. And overhead the
perpetual screech of the cockatoo and
the hooking laughter of the jackal.
No wonde the tone Of Australian lit
erature is pessimistic since the key
note of the bush is pessimism.
1t can readily be imagined under
what depressing conditions the hardy
respect treads his way. If by no
OLlEI marks, u9 can DC Q~lSLllRulSn6Q
from the tramp by his air of self-pos-
session and decisive grit. From n to
end of the continent he may be met
a sturdy, CHEEKY son of nature, his eyes
by long habit bent on the ground and
hope always in his heart. In his .sWag,"
or blanket, he carries a plain tin dish,
the only tool of the alluvial prospector,
and sufficient FOO to last him a few
days. This generally consists Of dam
per"7a kind of crude bread he bakeS
with the flour bestowed on him at the
last homestead-and tea, which he
in a billy, the tnseparable COM
panion Of all denizens of the bush.
Whatever else he may discard from his
meagre equipment, h billy cannot
be dispensed with.
A dozen times during the day he
"boils the billy and partakes of a long
draught of black tea-milk and sugar
being luxuries unthought of. For many
days, and even weeks, he can exist on
no other God but the eternal tea n
"damper," as If in keeping with the
monotony of his Blessed
is the wayfarer who invites hirA to
share a plug of tobacco. His festivals
are held on the days when he arrives
at some homestead, n such Is the
hospitality of the Australian bush that
he never need beg. At h squatter's
home there are accommodation I'M
food for every passerby. M may rest
himself and stable his horse as he
would at an inn, and 1t Wou be an
u-npardonable breach Of bush etiquette
to OFFER payment for the accommoda-
ton.
The Australian bushman is a oman
ticist of the first order. Solitude seems
to have strengthened his Imagination
and long absence from society to have
heightened his powers OF expression.
He will tell the most impossible stories
with absolute sincerity, his language
being i~nterlarded with adjectives of an
imposing description, n Of which he
will at every opportunity sandwich IN
the middle Of a word with remarkable
effect. This system Of syllable swear
ing Is considered the acme Of conyersa-