KANGAROOS, 285 



respecting an animal of this species. A man 

 went out to hunt kangaroos, and having started 

 a large male, the pursued animal took re- 

 fuge in a water-hole, sufficiently shallow to 

 enable him to keep his head and fore-paws 

 above water, and here awaited the attack of the 

 dog, which he soused fairly under water, when 

 he came within reach. Pat, (for the gentle- 

 man was from the sister kingdom,) in a great 

 rage at the threatened death of the dog, would 

 have shot the kangaroo, but the gun missed 

 fire ; he then entered the water-hole ' ' to bate 

 the brains of the baste out " with the butt- 

 end of the gun ; but the '' baste," not fancying to 

 be thus treated, turned from the soused and now 

 senseless dog to his more formidable adversary, 

 and a struggle took place, in which the man was 

 often thrust under water, and victory was pro- 

 mising much in favour of the kangaroo, when some 

 of Pat's companions fortunately coming to his 

 assistance, attacked and killed the animal with 

 clubs, and rescued him in almost an insensible 

 condition ; on recovery he vowed not to hunt the 

 " big bastes again." This circumstance occurred 

 some years since at Yas Plains, on its first 

 settlement, and when kangaroos were exceed- 

 ingly abundant. It is now a rare occurrence to 



