INQUIRY ABOUT WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 35

rarely rest upon, only striking the surface with their feet, to which custom they owe, as Goldsmith states, their name, being called "Petrel," because, as St. Peter the apostle did, they walk on the sea. Great numbers of

them have been found in Van Diemen's Land, their breeding-place. They are sometimes called Mother Carey's chickens, as they love to be abroad when the elements are at hurly burly; as that mother of witches, in common with all her tribe we presume, loves best to be at mischief in the storm and lightning, like the weird sisters of Macbeth.

While gazing upon these wonders of the deep, far far away from land, an emigrant came up to enquire whether he would be far from Western Australia, when he got to Moreton Bay. It was there he had applied to go, as his wife's sister had sent for them, which formed the chief inducement to their embarkation. He was very much disappointed when he saw that the place he was to land at was the very antipodes of the spot he wished to go to. Some others stated also, that Sydney, Melbourne, and

36

INQUIRY ABOUT THE

even Adelaide, had been the ports for which they had applied and received embarkation orders for. It is a pity that any orders should be granted for one port, and the emigrant taken to another, which is very like a breach of faith, and operates badly on those who remain behind, when they hear from their disappointed friends. We shall have occasion to speak of this party hereafter, as we met him in the bush.

They were often, we may say all of them, very anxious to learn all they could of their new home. We had several works on

Australia on board, placed there by the kindness and forethought of emigration societies, as also some which the writer had provided himself with. 'Haygarth's" is accurate, portable, and pleasingly written, entitled "Ten Years in the Bush." 66 Mackenzie's," and Arthur Hodgson's lectures; also those of An old Etonian, and now a Squatter, on the Darling Downs," delivered in his father's parish at Rickmansworth; enable the emigrant to get a very fair idea of New South Wales.

But the subject which engaged most deeply their attention, was attention, was the rate of wages each calling received The writer had provided himself with that useful and accurate compilation of Chambers', and to which is appended a scale of wages, which satisfied their eager anxiety; very different in amount to the miserable pittance they had been accustomed to get in their overcrowded labour-market at home. But they formed some most preposterous notions concerning the value of their services, as the reader will by and bye perceive.

38

CALM AT SEA.

CHAPTER IV.

CALM-EMIGRANTS' TRUNKS-SQUALLY LATITUDES-TRADE WINDS CURRENTS AT SEA-TAKING THE ALTITUDE OF THE SUN-DOLPHIN-SINKING AN EMPTY BOTTLE-HOT NIGHTS-SLEEPING ON DECK-MRS. WILDER'S GHOSTAMSTERDAM AND ST. PAUL'S ISLANDS.

A CALM at sea is, when it continues for several days, a most wearisome and monotonous occurrence. Every sail flapping lazily against the mast, the rigging creaking and straining with the heavy roll of the ship, and to no purpose, as far as regards the attainment of our object, the completion of the voyage. It is what is called by Jack himself, a sailor's wind, because their axiom is "more days, more dollars,” especially at the high rate of wages they are now receiving on board of the ship in which this is penned. But even

EMIGRANTS' TRUNKS.

39

he gets tired of it, the pulling and hauling of the ropes for every shift of light airs, is what he calls "humbugging;" and it does not generally improve the temper of the 'skipper," i. e., commander; his perceptions are doubled, and he sees faults where, under a fine stiff slashing gale, he would have seen none. All seem alive and exhilarated, when going along under a ten-knot breeze; even the mates throw the reel over the side of the vessel with a swing of satisfaction and excitement.

After having been at sea some time, the emigrants had their luggage, which was stowed away in the hold, brought on deck. The vessel looked like Monmouth Street, lined with all sorts of finery and faded unmentionables. It was very amusing to survey the contents of some, and the non-contents of others. One widow woman, with two smart lads, made a great fuss about getting her box, a large deal trunk of most imposing dimensions; and as she was always talking about the "fine friends" she had in the colony, one might have expected a very well