264; NATTJBAL HISTOBY SKETCHES. 



should be three, and if they would only give it a fair 

 trial, they might make as good wages at it as any other 

 bush work. I should, however, certainly not recommend 

 either the labourer who can earn his steady 1 per 

 week, or the man in town who has a regular and certain 

 billet, to leave it and take to the gun. They are both 

 better off where they are, and would probably be neither 

 of them fit for this work ; for it is a great mistake to 

 suppose that shooting is a game to which any one may 

 turn for an easy living when he can do nothing else. 

 But for men like myself, who are neither labourers nor 

 men of business, but who can at least handle a gun, and 

 do not mind roughing it so long as they are free, this is 

 the life ; and I am certain that they would be far more 

 independent, and I do not know whether they would not 

 make as much at it as many a man in town, who, to all 

 appearance, holds a good and lucrative situation. For 

 although the profits may not be great, the expenses are 

 small ; and if it was not for " the bursts," which are 

 almost sure to occur when a bushman visits town with 

 the hard earnings of perhaps a twelvemonth in his 

 pocket, he might always save a little money. 



And now, in conclusion, a bit of advice to any old bush 

 friend, who may chance to cast his eye over these pages. 

 Unless his circumstances are such that he can live inde- 

 pendent, or has good friends able and willing to help 

 mm, let him stay where he is, and not think of returning 

 home. "We all know what home sickness is ; and where 

 is the wanderer in a foreign clime, let his condition be 



