XIX KANGAROO-HUNTING 469 



in this case rather more numerous than usual, owing to some 

 of the valleys being swampy and producing a coarser pasture. 

 Two or three flat pieces of ground near the house were cleared 

 and cultivated with corn, which the harvest -men were now 

 reaping ; but no more wheat is sown than sufficient for the 

 annual support of the labourers employed on the establishment. 

 The usual number of assigned convict-servants here is about 

 forty, but at the present time there were rather more. Although 

 the farm was well stocked with every necessary, there was an 

 apparent absence of comfort ; and not one single woman 

 resided here. The sunset of a fine day will generally cast an 

 air of happy contentment on any scene ; but here, at this 

 retired farmhouse, the brightest tints on the surrounding woods 

 could not make me forget that forty hardened, profligate men 

 were ceasing from their daily labours, like the slaves from 

 Africa, yet without their holy claim for compassion. 



Early on the next morning Mr. Archer, the joint superin- 

 tendent, had the kindness to take me out kangaroo-hunting. 

 We continued riding the greater part of the day, but had very 

 bad sport, not seeing a kangaroo, or even a wild dog. The 

 greyhounds pursued a kangaroo rat into a hollow tree, out 

 of which we dragged it ; it is an animal as large as a rabbit, 

 but with the figure of a kangaroo. A few years since this 

 country abounded with wild animals ; but now the emu is 

 banished to a long distance, and the kangaroo is become 

 scarce ; to both the English greyhound has been highly 

 destructive. It may be long before these animals are 

 altogether exterminated, but their doom is fixed. The 

 aborigines are always anxious to borrow the dogs from the 

 farmhouses : the use of them, the offal when an animal is 

 killed, and some milk from the cows, are the peace-offerings 

 of the settlers, who push farther and farther towards the 

 interior. The thoughtless aboriginal, blinded by these trifling 

 advantages, is delighted at the approach of the white man, 

 who seems predestined to inherit the country of his children. 



Although having poor sport, we enjoyed a pleasant ride. 

 The woodland is generally so open that a person on horseback 

 can gallop through it. It is traversed by a few flat-bottomed 

 valleys, which are green and free from trees : in such spots 

 the scenery was pretty like that of a park. In the whole 



