HUNTING THE KANGAROO. 187 



similar to that of the districts round Mount Ber^on and lake 

 Hawden, towards Rivoli Bay. Here, also, I observed the biscuit 

 tufa, much of which was extremely small, being no larger than 

 a wafer, and lying very thickly scattered over the ground. We 

 met Smith and Hawson returning from hunting in the scrub, each 

 with a 'large kangaroo slung across his saddle, and their stock- 

 whips curled round their shoulders. They presented admirable 

 examples of full bush costume, in their blue woollen shirts, with 

 appendages of pannikins, tether-ropes, and rifles. We prevailed 

 upon them to accompany us ; and the kangaroos and an emu that 

 we had killed were planted (to use a colonial term 1 * in the boughs 

 of a she-oak tree, to remain in safety until our return. Upon the 

 open ecrubby plains and the low grassy hills, we observed 

 numerous kangaroos. They frequently appeared in flocks of 

 eight or ten at a time, and give constant sport to, the dogs. 



" The rain poured down heavily until near sunset, when it 

 cleared off", and we were amply rewarded for our ride by the 

 enchanting prospect before us. The mountains of the Marble 

 Range, rising abruptly, and presenting their steep sides of quartz 

 to the evening sun, sparkled in its rays as though inlaid with 

 diamonds ; and a richly verdant country stretched out all around, 

 scattered with park-like trees, in the centre of which, surrounded 

 by green banks of velvet turf, lay Waungarrie Lake. The calm 

 surface of the water mirrorred the sunset clouds, and was 

 besprinkled with multitudes of black swans ; while, some kanga- 

 roos were quietly feeding near the water, undisturbed by dogs or 

 savages, for no traces of the natives were discernible. 



f My companions had already built a tolerably snug shelter of 

 boughs for the night, and we sat down in front of it, with OUT 

 pannikins of tea, around a blazing fire, busied in roasting kangaroo 

 steaks upon the ashes. The night was mild, with thunder and 

 lightning. This country, which is entirely uninhabited, would 

 afford an excellent district for sheep or cattle, and I know of no 

 situation more enticing for a settler's homestead, in the neighbor- 

 hood of Port Lincoln, than the banks of Waungarrie Lake." 



