occupied by the overseer, he removed to it Mrs. Smithers
and his family. His brother shortly afterwards followed him into this
unknown wilderness, and not being possessed of any stock himself,
assisted him in the general management of the station.

The younger brother, Mr. Robert Smithers, more generally known among his
friends as Bob Smithers, and of whom we shall have to make frequent
mention in the course of our narrative, was a gentleman of rather
prepossessing appearance; the junior of his brother by some ten years;
but, unlike him, was of an unsettled and reckless disposition, rather
fond of the society of wild and dissolute companions, and at times, when
absent from home, exhibited symptoms of the old colonial leaven, and
indulged in courses of dissipation and debauchery. On the station,
however, he was energetic and industrious; and, at its early settlement,
was of considerable service to his brother, not only in the general
routine of the establishment, but from his implacable enmity to the
blacks, whom he inspired with a wholesome dread of his prowess; so
that, while their neighbours were continually suffering from the
depredations of the sable marauders, their flocks and property were left
intact.

Shortly after Bob's juncture with his brother, and perceiving the number
of settlers that continually migrated to this new district, he
provisioned himself and a few domesticated blacks (that occasionally
worked on the station, and on whom he could depend) with rations for two
or three months; and being well armed for his own protection, in case of
a collision with any of his colleagues' countrymen, or of their
treachery, he took his departure on a prospecting tour. Following the
course of the river, and exploring the creeks and tributaries augmenting
it, he drew a rough sketch or plan of the surface of the country, noting
the different hills, creeks, and landmarks, to which he gave names; and
marking the trees at various spots, to indicate to any future searcher
that the country had been selected. He then divided his plan into
divisions, which he roughly estimated to contain each about twenty or
thirty thousand acres; and dignifying them with names, he sent into
government, tenders for their lease. At the time of which we speak, in
the survey department of the legislature, very little was known of the
country designated "the unsettled districts," but which were fast
filling up; and as little enquiries were made