74 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



to miss it. Only just, though. We passed through Inglewood, 

 which is a small town built of wood, and after traversing- a track 

 a trifle worse than before, as we had to wind in and out amongst 

 the trees, none having been cleared, we arrived at Tyler's Flat 

 at half-past five. We found out an acquaintance, and then took 

 up our quarters at the Tyler's Half-way House. 



Next morning I awoke with a severe cold, caused; no doubt, 

 by the canvas walls of our apartment admitting a draught. I 

 know they flapped about considerably. Discovering a dead 

 rabbit near the "hotel," I began to think there would be some 

 sport, but it was the only rabbit I saw. I came across a person 

 from Manchester, who took me down his "claim." He gave a 

 bad account of the diggings, and said it was a fortune or noth- 

 ing. We afterwards went to meet an acquaintance at the Pelican 

 Hotel, after which I occupied the remainder of the day in writing 

 letters home. We stayed at the Criterion Hotel ; all these hotels 

 are mere shanties, built of wood, and one storey in height. 



In the morning we went to the saw-mills, and afterwards I took 

 my gun and went shooting. My success was very moderate. 

 Kangaroos there were none, and all I got was five green parrots 

 and five miners. The latter are brownish-coloured birds about 

 the size of a thrush, but not near as pretty. I suppose they 

 derive their name from frequenting the diggings, where they are 

 very tame. Some lads who followed me were made happy by 

 giving them the birds. In the evening we took a walk round 

 the place. It was quite a little town with main street, contain- 

 ing ironmongers', chemists', and other shops, all built of wood. 



The district is bounded by hills covered with timber. On the 

 flat were numerous holes, in fact it looked like a large cemetery 

 with all the graves open. There were heaps of whitish-coloured 

 earth around the holes. This was the " wash-dirt," or 

 "bottom," from which the gold would have to be washed. 

 Several men were engaged in this operation near the creek, 

 which was, as usual, in Victoria, spanned by a strong stone 

 bridge. As night fell, I sat under a tree enjoying my pipe, and 

 wondering what my friends were doing at home. In the morning- 

 I went along with some other people part way to " Uncle Tom's 

 Gulley," where there was a "new rush." 



After dinner I took my gun and went shooting. I got to a 

 place where there were a lot of skulls and bones of cattle, &c., 

 and here I saw a good many Australian magpies. These birds 

 are somewhat similar to ours, but perhaps a trifle larger. They 

 are frequently kept in confinement, and seem to be always 

 whistling one tune, viz., "There is nae luck about the house." 

 Evidently that tune must be very popular or very easy to 

 learn. 



