APPEARANCE OF THE BOGAN PLAINS 31 



season of drought even the evergreens shed their leaves. 

 Looking closely at the ground, it is seen to be covered with 

 withered root-tufts of grass and herbage; and on this 

 miserable-looking forage the sheep and the wild animals 

 not only thrive, but fatten as in a land of Goshen. 



Water has to be found for the sheep, and this is the 

 great anxiety of the squatter. In winter the rainfall is 

 stored in water-holes artificially constructed, but the supply 

 thus collected usually fails long before the summer is over, 

 though it is husbanded with the most anxious care. Some- 

 times there are natural water-holes, situated far apart, on a 

 sheep-run, and these may last a long time ; but on the run 

 where I spent most of my youth we often had to dig for 

 water. This was sometimes found at depths of twelve to 

 twenty feet, but we occasionally dug wells a hundred feet 

 deep without finding it. If we were fortunate enough to 

 discover a supply, it had to be drawn up to the troughs 

 with hand-pumps, and this was work invariably put upon 

 the new chums, or "Johnny Raws," as they delighted to 

 call them on our run. Frequently have I spent whole days 

 incessantly pumping till my arms felt wearied and strained 

 to the point of leaving the shoulder-sockets, but never have 

 I found a squatter, or "an old hand," who had the 

 slightest care for, or sympathy with, a new chum. All the 

 dirty and laborious work on a station is allotted to the 

 unfortunate individual, the latest arrival at the station, who 

 bears the title of new chum ; and the more he complains 

 the worse is his lot. Should he presume to remonstrate, 

 all hands delight to find fresh means of annoying and 

 oppressing him, and the best thing he can do is to submit 

 with such grace as he can command. In time things find 

 their level. 



The most common birds on the plains are carrion 

 crows, and they are always there in thousands. They are 

 very rook-like in appearance, and have the same call note 

 as the English rook. Their cawing is incessant, and may 

 often be heard on moonlight nights till long after midnight. 

 Like all the genus, they are exceedingly restless birds, and 

 have a very bad repute with the squatters, who make the 



