THE PROSPECTOR 181 



is at the outset chosen, whose orders all are bound to 

 obey, on pain of expulsion. He rides, as a leader should, 

 at some distance ahead of the main body, accompanied 

 by a black. The others follow in twos, like the United 

 States cavalry hunting down Indians, or Tarass Bara- 

 bola's brigands in Ruthenia, while the spare horses and 

 pack-horses bring up the rear. At first, till they get out 

 clear into the open country, they ride at the rate of 

 fifteen miles a day ; then at various speeds, as the leader 

 determines — 10, 20, or 25 miles daily. Or sometimes 

 they encamp for a few days, while the country is 

 being explored in various directions, and possibly marked 

 off for future selection. For every bit of good country 

 the party passes through is examined, its trees marked, 

 its landmarks noted, so that it may be described when 

 leases or licenses are applied for at the Crown Lands 

 Department. When the tents are first pitched, the 

 party is carefully organized, and special duties assigned 

 to each member of it. The worst bushman is made 

 cook, and is also left in charge of the camp and of the 

 spare- and pack-horses while the others are gone on 

 flying excursions. All of these, and all the apportion- 

 ment of functions, are directed by the leader, who 

 exercises an absolute despotism. On no other terms, 

 to all appearance, could the party be held together. 

 Only thus could the quarrels, heartburnings, and 

 jealousies in the band be kept under ; only thus could 

 latent rebellion be nipped in the bud. Then we may 

 picture their joy when they discover from some emi- 

 nence far-stretching plains and rolling downs, clothed 

 with rich natural grasses and nutritious herbage. These, 

 they know, will one day be the home of thousands, when 

 farms have replaced runs, and towns have supplanted 

 farms. Meanwhile, the first inescapable pastoral stage 

 has to be traversed, and the runs have to be defined 

 and formed. In each great area several large runs are 

 measured off. The bearings of the most remarkable 

 points are taken, and the boundaries of each run are 

 vaguely defined according to the natural features of 



