102 DOWN THE RIVER. 



as scavengers, and share with the vultures the dead carcases of the oxen 

 and horses which have died in the bush. It is, however, a curious fact 

 that although so numerous, I never yet heard of any one who had found 

 their nests, nor did I ever see a young one. I am quite unable to account 

 for this, as in the breeding-season they are as common around our home- 

 steads as at any other time. 



After breakfast we ferry the ladies and children across the water, as the 

 former are anxious to make sketches, and we ourselves return to the sand 

 bank and join the blacks who have commenced fishing. Ramrod, in a 

 state of great excitement, directs our attention to a belt of scrub about a 

 quarter of a mile distant, and we observe with surprise that three large 

 animals are feeding there, with whose appearance we are quite unacquainted. 

 As soon as they see us they raise their long necks, and gallop awkwardly 

 towards us, uttering a strange guttural sound. We discover them to be 

 Camels, two females and one male; their appearance is so threatening that, 

 although we believe them quite harmless, yet we all make a rush to the 

 boat, and push oflf into the stream; after surveying us for a few minutes 

 they return to their feeding grounds, and disappear in the forest. The 

 history of these Camels is this: — A gentleman residing at Twofold Bay, 

 had, many years before, imported a pair with the view of making use of 

 them as beasts of burden; but they were not found to answer — the ground 

 was too hard and stony for their wide feet; and they were also very 

 troublesome — breaking down the fences, and destroying the crops, added to 

 which, they were objects of such intense dread to the horses and cattle, 

 that whenever they made their appearance, the former would break out 

 of their enclosures and take to the bush, and on this account, the stock- 

 men secretly destroyed the young of the camel soon after it was born. 



The female ultimately died, and the male, having its liberty, took up 

 its abode on the banks of a salt-water river some miles up the coast, near 

 the hut of a small farmer, who made use of it as a ferry-boat to convey 

 goods across the river, and levied a sort of toll on every traveller who 

 required its services. An amusing story is told of a pedlar who refused 

 to submit to the tax, and as the Camel was perfectly quiet, he loaded it 

 with his wares, and perching himself on the top, guided it into the stream ; 

 but when half-way across, the farmer, who had watched his proceedings 

 with great disgust, called out ^couchez,' upon which the obedient animal 

 recognised the well-known voice, and laid himself down, and the unfortu- 

 nate pedlar with his wares was precipitated into the water. 



A few years later, the Government imported three more Camels, with 

 the intention, I believe, of employing them in an exploring expedition into 

 the interior — a purpose for which they were well adapted; but the male 

 died, and the two females were ultimately sent to Twofold Bay, and 



