146 HISTORY OF 



set upon by a bull, who brought up the rear, 

 and which they killed in their own defence. 

 This answered the purpose better perhaps than 

 a calf, for he had all the marks of the Cape 

 cattle when full grown, wide spreading horns, 

 a moderate rising or hump between his shoulders, 

 and a short thin tail Being at this time 38 

 miles from Paramatta, little of the meat could 

 be sent in. 



The country where they were found grazing 

 was remarkably pleasant ; every where was 

 thick and luxuriant grass ; the trees were thinly 

 scattered, and free from underwood ; several 

 beautiful flats presented large ponds, covered 

 with ducks and black swans, and the ground 

 rose from these levels into gently rising hills. 



Those lost in 1788, two bulls and five cows, 

 must have travelled in a western direction until 

 they came to the banks of the Nepean, and find- 

 ing the crossing easy, they came at once into a 

 country well-watered and stored with grass. 

 Thus finding themselves in possession of a, 

 pasture equal to their support, and in which 

 they remained undisturbed ; and as few natives 

 wsre to be seen near there, they were likely to 

 remain for years unmolested, to propagate their 

 species. 



It was a happy circumstance to have in the 

 woods of New South Wales a thriving herd of 

 wild cattle. Proposals were made to bring them 

 into the settlement ; but if these had been sa- 

 crificed, in what better condition would the 



