this time been more than a month on the journey, at the
hottest season, without a tree to shelter us and with only the bare
ground for a bed. One blanket and one change of clothes had I. Campbell,
I think, had not so much. For a part of the time mutton and water
seasoned with dust was our food, and the open sky our covering day and
night; however, we were none the worse for it, and to a certain extent I
enjoyed the life, for had I not then rude health and a splendid
constitution, which subsequently carried me safely through rougher, if
not more enjoyable, experiences than driving sheep.

The rest of the journey was comparatively easy, and fifteen days saw us
in Christchurch with the sheep in excellent condition. Here I found
letters from home awaiting me, those from my father and mother almost
insisting on my return and to resume my studies. This was due to the
accounts given them by C----, for I took special care to write in
glowing terms of everything. The letter had, however, no effect towards
altering my determination to stay in New Zealand.

Through Judge Gresson's influence I obtained temporary employment under
the Land Office, but to join permanently would require the payment of a
fee for which I had not sufficient funds in hand. It was suggested that
I should write home and ask for assistance, but this I objected to do. I
merely mentioned the circumstances, leaving the rest to chance, and in
the meantime I was engaged to accompany a survey party down the coast,
which would start in a few days.

CHAPTER VII.

I JOIN A SURVEY PARTY--TRAVEL TO THE ASHBURTON.

The survey party consisted of a Government Surveyor Mr. D----, his
assistant H----, and myself, with a few labourers, and our destination
was Lake Ellesmere, some 15 to 20 miles down the coast, where a dispute
between the squatters and the Provincial Government boundaries was to be
decided.

We started in a rough kind of two-wheeled cart, into which Mr. D----,
H----, and I, with our provisions for ten days and the survey
instruments, were all packed together with our respective swags of
blankets and the cooking utensils. This vehicle was pulled by one horse,
and as we had no tents we would have to camp out most of the time.

We reached our destination the same evening, when, tethering the horse,
we proceeded to make ourselves comfortable for the night round a camp
fire, whereon we boiled our tea and fried chops, and after placing the
usual