CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE VOYAGE OUT.

Reasons for leaving England-Leave Berwick-London-Go on board

ship at Plymouth-Our fellow-passengers and officers-Scene on board

an emigrant ship-Desertion-Mode of obtaining sailors-Observ-

ations on emigrant vessels-Weigh anchor-Sunday-Modes of kill-

ing time-Journals-Auspicious commencement of our voyage-A

fresh breeze-Slow progress-Internal arrangements-The evils of the

sea-Our exporter-Scarlet fever on board-Irish emigrants-Storm

-Scotch songs-Fine weather at sea- -A meteor-Danger of fire on

board ship-Foul wind-Discomforts-Time at sea-Disturbance-

Colours of the ocean-Severe storm-Ejected from my bed-Divine

service at sea-Madeira in sight-A man overboard-Gallant attempt

to rescue him-Accident from the fall of the boom-Vineyards of

Madeira Smoking - Flying-fish-Our occupations - Provisions—

Sands of Africa-Heaving the log-Cape de Verd Islands-An in-

truder - Phosphoric light-Winds - Dress-Noise a-board ship-

Porpoise-Crossing the Line-Booby bird-Motion of the vessel-A

whale-Island of Trinidad-Accuracy of our chronometers

CHAPTER II.

THE VOYAGE OUT.

Dinner arrangements-Table talk-Change of climate-Rapid run-

The albatross-Violent storm-Dutch ship-Signals-American ves-

sel-Yankee reckonings-Our meals during a storm-Extreme cold—

PAGE

Privations of the sailors-Gale of wind-Mountainous waves-Dis-

turbance among the emigrants-Awful tempest-Moral danger of a

long voyage-Sunday on board ship-Lewis de Bernstingle-Cape

Horn-Island of St. Paul's-Albatross caught-Violent storm-Fear-

ful damage to the ship-Providential preservation-Repairs-Narrow

escape from fire-Drunken steward-Loss of our carpenter-Long list

of damages-First sight of Australia-Van Diemen's Land-The

Pacific-Cuttle-fish-Line of the Australian coast-Bass's and Tor-

res' Straits-Narrow escape· Shameful neglect- A brickfielder-

Heads of Sydney-Botany Bay-Reports relative to the state of

the colony-New Zealand boatmen-Severe storm-A bumper at

parting-Night of peril-Fortunate change of weather-Land in the

bush-Walk to Sydney-A breakfast on shore

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43

CHAPTER III.

AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY.

Sketch of the history of New Holland-Its first discovery by the Dutch

-Captain Cook-Australia selected as a penal settlement-Rapid rise

of the colony-Ignorance respecting it in England-High estimation

in which it is now held-Early discoveries in the country-Port

Jackson-The first settlers-Botany Bay-Port Philip-Port Ade-

laide Swan River-Moreton Bay-Sydney-First impressions of the

town-Its beautiful situation-State of commercial affairs-Embarrass-

ments of Government--Claims of our surgeon-Appearance of Sydney

-Its streets and shops-Numerous public houses-High rents-

Want of drainage-Order and decency preserved-The people-Their.

features and figures-Prudence of the ladies-Absence of beauty-

Universal use of carriages-A primitive four-in-hand-Rapid locomo-

tion-Sir George Gipps-Old government-house-The new mansion

-The churches-Dr. Lang-Public buildings-Market-Court-house

-Royal Hotel-Hints to young settlers-Materials of the houses-

Suburban villas-Absence of porters and cabs-Amusements-The-

atres-The convicts-Internal communication-The Roads-Nature

of the soil-Beautiful prospect-A review-The weather-Lightning

CONTENTS.

-Precocity of the females in Australia-Damp clothes-The botanical

gardens-The bench and the bar--Visit to a suburban villa-Hospi-

tality-The chief of G-y.

ix

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76

CHAPTER IV.

AUSTRALIA-THE BUSH.

My eldest son and his partner Mr.
-Connobolas-His brother

leaves me to join him-Their meeting-My eldest son joins me at

Sydney-Costume of the bushmen-Coolness-State of the colony-

My own view of things-Hot wind-Purchases-Start for the bush-

Paramatta-Frogs and locusts-Bad roads-Bungarrabee-Paramatta

factory-The inns-Penrith-Droughts-Change in the character of

the country-Bushrangers-Insecurity of property-Guyon-Frede-

rick's Valley-Class of settlers suited to Australia-Succession of

crops-Seed times and harvests-Native birds-Length of the days

in Australia-Graveyard-The boundary of the colony-Connobolas

—The Gunyah—Impressions on first seeing my future abode in the bush 111

CHAPTER V.

AUSTRALIA-LIFE IN THE BUSH.

Connobolas-The woods-Advantages and disadvantages of the Station

-Our mansion-The upper station-Our next door neighbours-Fare

in the bush-Damper-Elegances of life-James Simpson-Loss of

our horses-Frequent loss of stock-The birds and plants of Conno-

bolas-Visit to Boree Nyrang-Sheep-shearing in Australia-Austra-

lian agriculture-Absence of any winter-" The settlers "-Trying

times-The corrobory-Native customs-The King of Boree-The

natives-Dress-Marriage-Origin of the race-Their customs and

food-Cannibalism-Religion-Their diminished numbers-Laws re-

garding murder-The Australian ibis-Pine range-Large gum-tree

-Bullock drays-Their drivers-Their oaths and drunken habits—

The convicts-Opinion of their own position-Travelling in Australia

-Sunday in the bush-Removal to the Upper Station-Houses in

the bush-Our domestic arrangements The bushrangers - Their un-

b

pleasant proximity-Keeping open house-The native dogs-Oph-

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141

CHAPTER VI.

AUSTRALIA-LIFE IN THE BUSH.

Mode of spending our time-Rivers-The swamp-oak-Stalactite caves

--Difficulty of forming a decided opinion as to the merits of the

colony-Advice to settlers-Appearance of the country-A bird's-eye

view-Brittleness of the trees-The various species of trees common

in Australia-The whole country one vast forest-The principal

plains-Loss of a flock of ewes-Mode of "planting" cattle-Habits

of the bushrangers-" Bailing up"-Recovery of the lost flock-

Thunder storm-Expected attack-Unfavourable views of the country

-How viewed by the settlers-Visit of King Sandy-Dexterity of

the natives in cutting bark-Their language and phrases-My horses

lost again-Plagues of the bush-Extremes of heat and cold-Coals

-Native superstition regarding fire-Effects of retirement-Out-of-

doors improvements-Sporting in Australia-Bullock-hunting-Whip

-Natural wonders-Sunday-My black boy, Jacky-" Tommy Come-

last" Our sheep-washing begins - A runaway convict - The

mounted police

. 169

CHAPTER VII.

AUSTRALIA-LIFE IN THE BUSH.

Narrow escape of my son and James— Valiant old lady—Losses of sheep

-Recovery of my horses - Colonial tactics—Moreton Bay-Improve-

ments at our cottage-Utility of the sheep in Australia-Great heat

-Failure of the water-Herons-Start for N.—Mulong Inn-

The Bell River-Twenty-mile Hollow-Plain of Nurya-Welling-

ton Valley-Mr. Muir-N-Its present appearance-Public

scourger at Wellington-Success of the Missionaries in Australia-

Rides in the forest-Breeds of cattle-Australian wines-Violent

thunder-storm-A hurricane brickfielder-Native grave-Black cock-

atoo-Leave N--Christmas Day-Uncertainty attending the