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THE

CHAPTER X.

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START A GERMAN DOCTOR
HOMO MORTUUS
SEMPER FORTUNATUS THE BATTLE AT LIMESTONE-
PARKY APPEARANCE OF AUSTRALIA-KENT STATION-THE
PENALTY OF RIDING-HOSPITALITY OF A SQUATTER-HIS
MODE OF LIFE-TURN POSTMAN AND DOCTOR-THE FLOCK
OF SHEEP-LAMBING SEASON-THE GRAVE.

WE left Cologne for the bush, respectively
mounted on Admiral, Abelard, and Polka,
with a young "tiger" carrying our saddle
bags and "swag," i. e. luggage, which con-
sisted of a change; since in the bush, travellers
must learn to do with somewhat less than a
portmanteau, and the endless wrappers, plaids,
and comforters of an "exquisite," starting
from Euston Square, for grousing, or to join
the "heavies" at Brummagem. We did not
fail to take with us, the ever present tin pot
of the colonist, to make tea in, and quench

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A GERMAN DOCTOR.

131

his thirst at the creek; but should he fail to have this, the bark of a tree or a large leaf can be readily converted into a drinking cup. Our host, of course, did not forget his pipe, and tobacco to provide his own with and that of some stray shepherd-for tobacco is almost as current a medium of exchange and standard of value in New South Wales as Mungo Park describes it to have been in Africa. Our little groom, a sharp lad, the son of an old convict and brought up in Whitechapel, though not so well appointed as may be seen behind a coronet-crested cab, in Rotten Row, or riding behind a d'Orsay, was, perhaps, more useful and handy for our purpose, than if he had been sprucely got up as a London page.

At Limestone, we encountered a German surgeon, who had acted as a medical superintendant on board an emigrant vessel from Germany. We had already met with him. in Brisbane, really an agreeable gentlemanly man, young, yet he had travelled much in many countries, and also in Australia. He appeared in despondency, perhaps he was in

132

A GERMAN DOCTOR.

love, as we saw subseqnently his happiness by marriage announced in the newspapers; he wanted us to talk Latin, when our friend and ourselves mustered three languages between us. We were compelled to decline, although he might, for ought we know to the contrary, have spoken as classically as, perhaps, Dr. Townsend and the pope did, when the former was on his Quixotish errand at Rome to unite the Eastern and Western Churches. At all events, we understood his mournful quotation, "Homo mortuus semper fortunatus," although we could not, as we told him, subscribe to his melancholy mood. Now, probably, he would exclaim,

66

terque quaterque beate," &c. ; but "the course of true love," Shakspeare says, "never did run smooth," in novel or romance, no more than in real life.

We here had an account from one of our immigrants, the same who had desired to have been landed at Swan River, of a fight which he had witnessed between several tribes, which we have already alluded to. Between three and four hundred met. His

BATTLE AT LIMESTONE.

133

earnest and enthusiastic description of the engagement was very amusing, but we regretted to learn that two of the blacks had fallen, a very unusual occurrence in their

wars.

They fought with their usual weapons, the spear, boomerang, and waddy, guarding themselves, as best they could, with a small shield bedaubed with paint and charcoal, and feathers stuck over their bodies, and in the hair. The "gins," i. e., wives and women, like the inhabitants of Ipswich, stood apart looking on. But my friend, finding a boomerang fall inconveniently near him, retired from the fray. "Was it," we asked, 66 a real fight, as you would have seen in ould Ireland, in the true Tipperary style?" "Sure, your honour," he replied, "it was, only the 'gins' (wives), cut themselves when the men were slain." One was transfixed with a spear through the heart, the other died of his wounds in a short time after being struck, and he added, they were eaten by their enemies; this, however, we suspect, was an exaggeration, although the Macintyre blacks

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PARKY APPEARANCE

have the reputation of being cannibals. This battle occurred within three miles of where we were located, and which, had we known of, we might perchance have witnessed.

It is much to be lamented that the authorities do not interfere to put a stop to these meetings between savage tribes; a very slight force would suffice to suppress them, as they have a great dread of fire-arms. Leaving the field of Mars, and my friend from the Emerald Isle, who was resting here on his way to the interior, and having wished our erudite son of Esculapius "valè," we continued our journey into the bush. The general appearance of the country in Australia, is, as generally represented in books, of a very park-like nature, and exceedingly inviting in aspect, only more thickly timbered than we should like in England.

We pushed along at a pretty good pace, and then after sun-down had a sharp ride, in a dark evening, before we reached Mr. K.'s station. As we were not well provided for a bivouac, having only the one requisite an Australian always carries with him,

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