BOH-HOYS AND MULES. 195 



of dotterel it was ; the specimen then killed being, I be 

 lieve, still in the possession of Mr Hart. I killed several 

 of these excellent birds while in America, and there they 

 are commonly called the " kildeer plover," but what their 

 true ornithological name is I am not sure. On approach 

 ing our camping place for the night, called " 1 10 Creek," 

 we saw some partridge or quails and an English rabbit or 

 two, at which latter I tried to get a shot, but in vain ; and 

 here I had to take two of my men considerably to task for 

 the following ill conduct. The creek or brook by which 

 we were encamped was not only very steep in its banks, 

 but at the places at which the water in it could be reached 

 it was very boggy, and the drinking place for the mules 

 and horses was at a little distance from the camp. 



I was sauntering along with my gun and Brutus in 

 search of game, when I heard all sorts of impious oaths 

 and the sound of blows arising from the wood in which 

 ran the brook, when, on reaching the spot, I found two of 

 the Boh-hoys beating my mule Black Jack, whom I drove 

 in my ambulance with my favourite mare, because he 

 would not drink. I pretty soon stopped this proceeding, 

 and asked these two unmitigated Boh-hoys if a sound 

 thrashing would be likely to increase the appetite no 

 doubt they always had for liquor. I then ordered them, 

 mules and all, to camp, and shortly after followed, to en 

 joy a very good dinner on the game killed in the morning. 

 After dinner it became so sultry that on lying down in 

 my ambulance to sleep I could scarce bear even a single 

 blanket in the shape of coverlid, and there being no air to 

 waft it away, the heat of the noon-day's sun seemed to 

 pervade the roof, to cling to my " fixings," and to lie dor 

 mant in every article within my waggon. While in my 

 first sleep the growling of advancing thunder reached me, 



