216 ON AND OFF THE TDEF. 



company the Unionists are unusually active, and some 

 have been seen in the vicinity of the premises. 

 Immediately the doors and windows are looked to 

 and the barricades got ready in case of the worst 

 happening. One or two revolvers are inspected. 

 The excitement spreads, and by the time the re- 

 port has reached the far end of the hut it has been 

 added to, and the last man informed is told that 

 a large body of armed Unionists are outside thirst- 

 ing for his blood. Lights are out at 9.30 p.m., when 

 the bulk of the men turn in. 



Sunday is devoted to rabbit hunting, bird-nesting, 

 and fishing, with an occasional game at cricket ; the 

 shearers, however, are very poor cricketers. 



A public-house is situated within one mile of 

 the shed. It is kept by an elderly widow, who 

 has buried three husbands, a fact which indicates 

 the quality of the grog kept on the premises. The 

 home-made grog business is a common practice 

 amongst bush publicans, owing to there being no 

 proper police supervision. Some queer things 

 occur at these bush shanties, and in many of them 

 it is not safe for anyone with money to go into 

 an hotel (?), for if the publican cannot rob the man 

 himself he puts someone on to do it for him. 



The following is a fact : One man who had earned 

 nearly £1,000 within a few montho at rabbiting went 

 to an hotel and called for three drinks — one for him- 



