, for the novelty of the thing, I suspect. The
parrots and parroquets, and other gay-coloured birds, with which they
now made an intimate acquaintance, were a source of great interest. The
girls were rather horrified when several were brought in shot by Charley
White and the boys. Rawdon at once plucked them, and put them before
the fire to roast. Pretty Polly pie soon became a favourite dish in our
establishment, as it was at that time in the houses of most settlers.
He also showed us how to make damper, a wheaten cake baked under the
ashes. At first it seemed very doubtful how it would turn out, as we
saw the lump of dough placed in a hole, and then covered up with bits of
burning wood.

Our chief prize was a kangaroo. The boys caught sight of the creature
as we were moving on, and gave chase. Away he went, hopping along on
his hind legs, with his little front ones tucked up, just as some women
in cold weather hold their arms with their shawls drawn over their
shoulders. Charley White, however, brought him down, and he soon shared
the fate of the parrots. We pronounced the flesh not very inferior to
mutton, and more suited to our taste in a hot climate. A good sportsman
need not starve in the fertile parts of Australia, but there is one
great necessary of life, of which he may find himself fearfully
deficient--that is, water. We were obliged to make very irregular
stages, that we might camp near a stream or water hole; and explorers
dare not move from one source of supply till they have discovered a
fresh one, at which they and their animals may drink.

At length we reached the spot we had fixed on for a location, and of
which I had procured a grant. I had to make certain arrangements before
I could get the assigned servants, or, in other words, the convicts who
would be required to carry on farming operations on a large scale. I
was glad not to have them in the first instance, and we were so
strong-handed that we could do very well without them.

My wife and girls were delighted with the position of their new home.
We camped on a spot close to a situation which seemed the best suited
for our proposed house, on a gentle slope, with a hill covered with
trees behind it, and a stream some distance below us. The spot was
pretty clear of wood, that is to say, just out of the bush, and there
was excellent pasture on either side for our sheep and for our cattle,
whenever we should obtain them. They were not