I40 SOMERSET chap. 
as they go by. The flag is always hoisted on our flag- 
staff in return. Everything is wrapped in sunshine, and 
my friends here seem to live contentedly year after year 
away from all the cares and worries of the outside 
world. This is the only house (with the exception of 
a telegraph station about twenty -five miles oflF) in this 
northern part of Australia. 
Mr. Jardine is the only settler here, a worthy 
monarch too, coming from Rockhampton in the first 
instance, with his brother, in 1864. They came all 
the way overland with stock, and were nearly a year on 
the journey, having many hairbreadth escapes from the 
natives, who never in a single instance let them pass 
without attacking or following them. They were not 
an amiable race in those days, and between Somerset 
and Cape York could muster 3500 fighting men ; now 
there are only a hundred or so left. It was here that 
Kennedy, the explorer, years ago, almost within sight of 
home, was killed by the natives. At different times 
camps were formed here of white settlers who shared the 
same fate, and Mr. Jardine could tell some curious tales 
of long s^o, but I only hear of his brave and daring 
deeds from outside sources. He has many a time had 
to fight hard for his life. He can arm a hundred men 
if necessary, and you would be amused to see the number 
of guns, pistols, and other weapons hanging against the 
walls, many of them being kept ready loaded in case of 
sudden attack. 
A Mrs. Thomson here, years ago, was rescued by 
H.M.S. Rattlesnake from the natives (who had pre- 
viously killed her husband, the master of a trading vessel, 
and his mates, and had compelled her to live with 
them). She had been with them for so long that 
she had forgotten her own lang^us^e and could say 
nothing but " White Mary." In a few weeks, however, 
Digitized by LnOOQ IC 
