LUSHINGTON YALLEY. 
101 
yet sheltered, position, was in ruins, and formed 
one of seven, which could be seen on the neigh- 
bouring hills around — monuments of the de- 
vastating work of the brand and the assegai of 
the ruthless savages, whose love of rapine and 
plunder had (during the late frontier wars) 
levelled them to the ground. This one had 
twice been destroyed, and the inmates driven in 
terror from its walls ; the last time under such 
distressing circumstances of death, pillage, and 
bereavement, that it could not be a matter of 
wonder that it was not again to be rebuilt. 
Leaving this pretty spot, (but not until we 
had inspected a large and well-stacked rick of 
oats, together with an amply stocked garden 
and several acres of rich land laid under the 
plough,) we wound our way towards the adjoin- 
ing location of "Lushington Valley." This 
luxuriant vale was part of the original land 
apportioned to the settlers of 1820 on their 
first arrival, and yet displayed many traces of 
the taste and industry, which they and their 
children had expended on it. Here, however, 
traces of the torch, and the savage hands that 
wielded it, were visible ; dwellings in ruins, and 
« hedge-rows and gardens trampled down, being 
the sad remnants. Notwithstanding all these 
disheartening drawbacks, we were pleasingly 
surprised with the active and cheerful assiduity, 
