1827. 3 Terra Incognita. 581 



or rather purple tint and, in the other, is red : their barks are very simi- 

 lar, and not unlike that of the ash ; but, like (I think I may say) all the 

 indigenous trees of New South Wales, their leaves are not deciduous 

 but every autumn the gums shed a cuticular covering, that rattles and 

 crackles in falling, and covers the ground like the leaves in a European 

 park at the same season : that rind possesses the tanning principle in a 

 considerable degree. 



But to return to my story. It was, if I remember rightly, about the 

 vernal equinox when I went first to Cabramalta (the head of the creek) ; 

 and it was there I first slept under a roof of stringy bark, and on a bed- 

 stead of the same material. The rising ground on the left bank of the 

 creek, for about a furlong square, had been cleared of timber, or rather the 

 timber had been felled, and was partly burnt off. Sheep and cattle-yards 

 had been made on the side of the hill, with close logs for the former, the 

 better to guard against native dogs and with a three-railed fence for the 

 latter; and just above was a hut, with matted and mud-plastered sides, 

 and bark roof, comprising two rooms, which were surrounded with births, 

 like the cabin of a ship, made by driving forked stakes into the earthen 

 floor, on which were placed bearers, covered with sheets of stringy bark, 

 forming a strong, sound, and wholesome bedstead. The outer room had a 

 fire-place with a chimney, all made of wood, and it served for kitchen and 

 sleeping-room for the shepherds, &c. ; and the inner room, generally occu- 

 pied by the overseer, was vacated for our use and for that of the expected 

 visitors. Our arrival was the signal for the death of a lamb a quarter of 

 which, with fresh earth-baked cakes, soon smoked on the board. Then 

 down we lay two boys, whose united ages did not make twenty-seven in 

 the midst of men who had been exiled from their country for their crimes, 

 as free from danger as from fear, and slept till the rising sun called my 

 companion to the duties his father had marked out for him and me to try 

 my maiden prowess against parrots, cockatoos, or any other birds that might 

 happen to range within reach of my murderous aim though I fancy that 

 J returned to breakfast that day guiltless of the death of any. Unfortunate 

 at fowling, I resigned the piece to my friend, and tried my hand at fishing 

 in the dark waters of the creek, whence I hauled a bouncing perch, which, 

 with the wild ducks my companion brought home, furnished us with a 

 sumptuous feast at dinner. 



In obedience to his father's instructions, my friend arranged to start on 

 the second morning after our arrival at Cabramatta, to explore the country 

 on the banks of the Cow-pasture river, where they were to have a grant of 

 land, in exchange for a farm they had in another part of the country, and 

 which the government required for its own purposes. Accordingly, we 

 started he and I with three convict servants, and a horse to carry pro- 

 visions ; and, after about two hours' march, we reached Narrang Cobbedee 

 a peninsular nook, containing just the quantity required, and of which, 

 indeed, they had previous information. Winding almost round it, the 

 river, which I then saw for the first time, formed a natural boundary, and 

 -insured, by its vicinity to every part, the good quality of the ground. A 

 gentle acclivity on the isthmus offered an excellent site for the buildings 

 and farm establishment, commanding a view of the whole area, and being 

 out of the reach of floods. 



I have since seen that hill covered with flocks and herds, and the valley 

 before it yellow with ripened corn when the stately gums had given place 

 to green maize, and the wild and leafy apple-tree to the more useful peach, 



