100 



of the style known as " Badger-boxes," in distinction from 

 huts, which have perpendicular walls, while the Badger-box 

 is like an inverted V in section. They are covered with bark, 

 with a thatch of grass along the ridge, and are on an average 

 about 14 X 10 feet at the ground, and 9 or 10 feet high. The 

 sleeping bunk, raised about three feet, occupies the whole of 

 one end, and can accommodate six people easily. The other 

 end is enclosed by the fire-place, if on high ground ; but 

 those in the flats among the pine are left open in front, with 

 the floor slabbed, and provision made for mooring the boat to 

 the bedpost. Longley, before mentioned, kept a careful and 

 minute diary for several years, and makes frequent entries 

 illustrative of this life, such as the following : — 



1863, April 3 : — Went in the dingie to a stump to make a fire to 



boil the kettle for breakfast. 

 1863, April 7 : — Log getting ; Longley and Doherty cut off a log, 



up to our waistbands in water. 



1863, July 4 : — Water 2 feet up the posts of the bunk this morning. 

 Had to boil the kettle on a stump. 



1864, Oct. 12 ; — Took rations to the Badger box. Water up to our 

 waists. 



1867, Aug. 22 : — Did not go to bed last night, as the water was 

 rising imtil daylight this morning. 



1868, Oct. 6 : — Flood over the second step this morning. 



And many others to a similar effect. 



The men are generally employed in pine-getting and rolling 

 into the river, during February, March, April, and May, with 

 occasional visits home for rations, etc. After that they are on 

 the constant watch for floods, and go up the river to clear 

 down whenever there is a chance. When the logs reach the 

 tidal water they are caught and put into " pens," which are 

 enclosures in some eddy or still water, formed of stakes inter- 

 laced with brushwood, and a log chained across the entrance 

 as a gate. When a vessel comes for a load, from 10 to 18 

 logs are fastened together into a raft, and towed down below 

 the bar alongside the vessel at the usual anchorage. The 

 settlement has extended in this direction since my last visit, 

 and there are now several dwellings close to the anchorage. 



As regards distribution of ground, there is an understood 

 code of honour among them not to interfere with each other 

 within a certain distance, so well observed that I heard no 

 complaint of any one having taken an undue advantage. A 

 creek or flood-channel is usually the centre line of a property, 

 and is followed up on both banks. Any new comer wishing 

 to go higher up the same creek must go ahead at least a 

 quarter of a mile. 



Longley's diary for the years 1863, 1864, 1865, and 1866 



