The Wreck, 409 



to shed just one tear more r" A table was accordingly set out in 

 the road (his was a lone house just on the edge of the plains), a 

 gallon of rum was put on it, the horses were tied to the garden 

 rails, and the whole party dismounted to mourn for the dead man 

 after the old Irishman's peculiar fashion. How long the carouse 

 lasted, I suppose no one can tell j but the horse — more sensible 

 than the men — walked away with the dray across the plains, and 

 not one of the mourners can tell how he followed it heme. 



Poor George ! it was the cursed drink that killed him, and it 

 even followed him to the grave. The clerk who assisted at the 

 funeral service was far from sober, and not a mourner could ride 

 home from the funeral. Sad that a country so blest by Providence 

 in all other respects, should be tyrannized over by those two greatest 

 of all human curses — the thirst after gold and drink. 



And now let no reader think that this sketch is intended as a 

 burlesque — the facts happened exactly as I have stated them 3 and 

 this little story is intended only to show to quiet stay-at-homes the 

 state of society in Australia in the earlier days of the diggings. It 

 has probably now altered ! George's deaih is no solitary instance, 

 but it was the only one of the kind I ever witnessed 3 and although 

 I dare say hundreds of men have seen far more distressing accidents, 

 I can only say that this one left upon my mind an impression which 

 can never be obliterated. 



Very soon after the funeral I left this station and went down into 

 the Western Port country kangarooing, where I remained for three 

 years. When I left Australia in 1859, our ship lay off Williams- 

 town, and one day I thought I would have a last look at the poor 

 fellow's grave. I well knew where to find it j and there it lay just 

 as it was left after the funeral, save that the little mound which 

 marked his last resting-place was entirely overgrown with wild 

 marsh-mallow — a sure sign that he had died amongst strangers. As 

 I left it, I could not help thinking that there were probably some 

 afar oft' who would have given much to see that rude grave but for 

 a few minutes^ as I had done 3 and as I closed the churchyard 



