24 



the owl famih^ It has a head somewhat resemliling 

 that of a frog, and makes a croaking sort of noise. 

 After supper we think of bed, and having no bed or 

 pillows with us, mother earth has to be our bed, and 

 our boots, covered over with coat, our pillow. We 

 have with us a waterproof which is about two yards 

 square. This is laid out on the ground and our rug or 

 blanket is doubled and put over it. We lay on the 

 underside of the blanket and cover ourselves over with 

 the upper part. 



The sk}^ is one sea of stars with the Southern 

 Cross well overhead. This is not a very nice spot for 

 camping, as the district is well known for the number 

 of black snakes that are in the vicinity. We are up 

 early, for one cannot sleep with the noise of all the 

 birds chattering, and the thrilling cry of the Cucka 

 Burra, as the natives call it, or Laughing Jackass. 

 One of us goes to look for the horses, as thej' are not 

 tied up, and sometimes they are nowhere to be seen. 

 We have known them wander away for about five 

 miles, but they generally leave some track to show 

 which wa\^ the}' have gone. After the}' are found and 

 harnessed, breakfast is partaken of, and then we shift 

 on again. Our next stage takes us sixteen miles before 

 we come to any water, so we have to take some with 

 us in a canvas bag, holding three gallons, which is 

 hung on the back of the wagon. During this stage 

 we have to climb a 1,200 ft. range. We find it very 

 slow work getting along. It is not a wooden-block 

 road we can assure you. Upon reaching the top of 

 the range, after an arduous climb, we stop for dinner. 

 The horses are taken out and left to graze for about 

 an hour after their hard work. There being no water 



