346 SPOUTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



spring, or milk from the cow, was a most active and in- 

 dustrious farmer, and perfectly understood the management 

 of a sheep-farm, having upwards of forty thousand on his 

 station ; yet at others he was a confirmed drunkard, and 

 incapable of work or conception of any kind. In fact, he 

 made no secret of his failing and propensity to indulge in 

 ardent spirits, and only attributed his comparative steadiness 

 of purpose in abstaining from them to the difficulty of get- 

 ting them in this remote station, the expense attendant 

 upon it (he was a Scotchman !), and the natural prudence of 

 his character. He compromised matters between his weak- 

 ness and his resolution in the following manner : Once in 

 the year he despatched a dray for groceries and other house- 

 hold necessaries to Geelong, which returned loaded, not only 

 with the articles in question, but with an additional burden 

 of various kegs and cases of whisky and Hollands. Upon 



its arrival, G was generally nearly invisible for a period 



varying from two to three months, and in a daily state of 

 intoxication ; fortunately, he took the precaution of en- 

 gaging an intelligent young man as an overseer, who looked 

 after his interests during this temporary aberration. When 



the liquor was exhausted, G returned to his senses and 



milk and water, to which he remained steadfast during the 

 remainder of the year, but only to recommence his in- 

 dulgences after the usual term had expired. 



On this occasion, and being aware that it was his total 

 abstinence time of year, we brought a few creature-comforts 

 in the shape of several bottles of cognac with us, which 



G resolutely refused to partake of, although we could 



see what a pang it cost him. He gave us an excellent 

 breakfast of tea, together with the produce of his own dairy, 

 ham of his own curing, chops cut from his own sheep, and 

 eggs from his own poultry, and also the welcome intelligence 

 that both snipes and quails had arrived at the station. 



