23 



pentaria, to see if we could find something new in the 

 way of birds. This was in the nineties. On the route 

 we were taking we should find no natives, as they are 

 dying out fast, except, perhaps a few stragglers here 

 and there, so we could not get the natives to come with 

 us. On this account we had to go alone. At this period 

 we both took our share in the trapping. Our turnout 

 consisted of a new wagon, three draft horses, saddle 

 horse, half-ton of seed, and roll of half-inch mesh 

 wire netting, two cwt. flour, seventy-lbs. sugar, five- 

 lbs, tea, fourteen-lbs. tobacco, rice, bully, jams, tinned 

 milk, fish and meat, medicine chest, and many other 

 things too numerous to mention, which altogether 

 weighed about a ton. We also had with us breech- 

 loading guns, Winchester rifle, revolvers, and plenty 

 of ammunition ; these articles are indispensable in 

 the Australian Bush. After loading up we started out 

 on a Saturday afternoon, and needless to say we did 

 not get very far that day. We drew up about five 

 miles out from Townsville and camped on the Banks 

 of the Boley River. The one which is riding the 

 saddle horse goes on ahead to find a suitable place for 

 camping. By the time he has made a fire and other 

 preparations the wagon is generally on the scene. 

 The horses are then taken out, unharnessed, and taken 

 to the water, hobbled, and bells put on, then they are 

 right for the night. We now attend to our own wants, 

 and make tea and sit down to our last meal of the day. 

 At this time we have some baker's bread, probably 

 the last we shall see for three months. This being our 

 first night out we have our meal in silence, except for 

 the tinkle of the horses' bells and the cry of the 

 " Maupauk" (the Great Night Jar). This is a bird of 



