Recollections of Bush Life in Australia; During a Residence of Eight Years in the Interior

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ... Chap, vm.J ECONOMY OF A STATION. 86 CHAPTER VIII. Economy of a Station--An *- Up, Country" Store--Mode of Transacting Business--Agriculture in the Bush--Diet--Receipt for " a Damper "-- Killing a Bullock--Boundary Questions--A Court of Enquiry--Sunday in the Far Districts. Every proprietor of a large establishment in the interior of the country endeavours so to regulate the arrival of his " supplies " from Sydney, that he may never be wholly at a loss for any necessary article. This is a great point in the internal economy of a station; for when, by the detention of his teams upon the road, or any unexpected consumption of food, the supplies will not last out during the time that has been calculated, the proprietor pays the disagreeable penalty of being obliged to procure the needful article at some public store in the neighbourhood, to which he goes a most unwilling customer, expecting nothing else than to pay double the ordinary prices, and, in truth, but seldom returning disappointed in this expectaiion. The exterior of a bush or " up-country " store in Australia is usually similar to that of an ordinary slab building, except that it is somewhat longer, and of stronger construction. A glance at the inside shows a rude counter, behind which are several shelves, running round the whole length of the building, on which, as well as in all corners from the roof to the ground, is collected a mixture of everything that the pursuits of the country, or tastes of its motley population, render saleable. Slop clothing for the men, Manilla and cabbage-tree hats, gown print and perfumery for women, coarse silk handkerchiefs, for which there is a great demand, as they are much used for stock whiplashes, saddlery of every description, ...