204 Australian Life 



sullen, and nothing will restrain them from 

 "going wild," for a time at least. As they grow 

 older, this longing for freedom from restraint 

 gains upon them, and they become less diligent 

 and attentive to their duties. The best work is 

 obtained from those who are taken when quite 

 young, and removed to some distance from the 

 district to which they belong. 



The women are more reliable, and on the sta- 

 tions in the far West and North, perform all the 

 household drudgery. Some of them make very 

 faithful and useful servants, and as they are very 

 fond of children, are frequently employed as 

 nurses. They are cheerful and good-tempered, 

 fond of a joke, and of bright colours, and easily 

 managed by any one who understands them. La- 

 dies who have grown accustomed to them will 

 often declare that they prefer them to the best 

 white servants, especially for work in the bush. 

 This opinion is shared by some of the gins them- 

 selves, if the story told by a Western station 

 holder be true. His wife employed an Irish 

 servant-girl as well as a black gin, and between 

 the pair an endless quarrel went on. For the 

 Irish girl, the lady of the house made a dress, and 

 promised the gin one exactly like it. She was 

 rather surprised to hear the latter begging for 

 something of different pattern, and on asking 

 the reason was told, "Mine think it people take 

 me for sister that white Mary." 



According to bush report, the black-fellow has 



