230 3TATUEAL HISTOET SKETCHES. 



On June 21, which is the shortest day here, the sun 

 rises about 7, and sets a little after 5 P.M.; and on 

 December 21, the longest day, it rises a little after 

 4> A.M., and goes down about half-past 8 P.M. The sun- 

 sets are sometimes magnificent. The moonlight nights 

 are very beautiful ; and at times the heavens present a 

 splendid appearance, spangled with myriads of stars, 

 many of them strangers to our northern hemisphere. 

 My favourite constellations were Orion's Belt and the 

 Southern Cross, for they have been my guiding stars on 

 many a night when the shades of evening closed in over 

 the forest, and found me miles away from my bush-tent. 

 A man soon becomes accustomed to find his way about 

 the bush. A little knowledge of the proper position of 

 the sun, moon, and stars, and a small pocket-compass, 

 the bushman's surest friend, will guide him day or night 

 through the most trackless forests. If ever the night 

 comes on thick, the best plan is to " camp up" at once, 

 for when the track is fairly lost, the more a man wanders 

 about to find it, the more confused will he become. I 

 never needed a watch in the bush. The sun is always 

 due north at twelve, and the reflection of its rays on a 

 compass will show the time within about a quarter of an 

 hour. The hottest months in the year are January and 

 February, and then at times the heat is intense. The 

 greatest curse to this country are the hot winds and bush- 

 fires. In the summer evenings the sun sets fiery red, 

 and the bushman well knows what this betokens. Next 

 morning the burning north wind comes sweeping over 



