74 Australian Life 



in some form or other in any part of Australia, 

 and has been christened "The Great Australian 

 Joke." One variant of it runs as follows: 



Two mates, Bill and Jim, were carrying their 

 swags through a very inhospitable stretch of 

 country, and both were completely down on their 

 luck. One afternoon they passed a dry water- 

 hole, on the edge of which was the not unusual 

 adornment of a dead beast. When they had left 

 it some distance behind them, Bill opened his 

 mouth for the first time that day, saying, "Jim, 

 did you see that dead bullock?" About dusk, 

 they came to a creek, where they camped, lighted 

 a fire, and made a damper and a billy of tea. A 

 couple of pipes were smoked, and as blankets 

 were being unrolled, Jim also spoke, saying, "It 

 wasn't a bullock, it was a horse." When the 

 sun rose next day, a scorching hot wind was 

 blowing, but the travellers had to push on, for the 

 tucker-bags were nearly empty and they were in 

 a bad country. As the sun grew more and more 

 powerful, they felt the necessity for camping and 

 a rest, but they came to no water, and must needs 

 tramp wearily on. Suddenly Bill threw his swag 

 angrily on the ground, and turning fiercely upon 

 Jim, spoke yet again, saying, "There 's too much 

 blessed argument about this outfit for me." 



The philosophy learned upon the wallaby track 

 teaches those who walk it to mock at their own 

 misfortunes, and to meet privation, hardship, and 

 danger with a jest upon their lips. The traveller 



