Chap. XII. A BULLOCK-DRIVER. .' . 368 
not to care so much for the fine — he had got used to 
that, and paid it with great regularity, — but the manner 
of inflicting it seemed to offend him, and he took his 
own means of revenging himself. 
His team of bullocks were soon christened ** Short- 
" land," " Smart," " Best," and " Cole ;" and he used 
to apply the coarsest epithets to them as he flogged 
them along. One day the Colonial Secretary, stately 
and pompous as usual, happened to pass the dray which 
they were dragging over the beach. Brutal threats 
to " cut Shortland's tail off if he didn't move on ;" to 
" break his heart," to " cut his liver in two," or to 
" whip his skin oflP," startled him in his promenade ; 
and on turning suddenly round he beheld old Sam 
" whacking" his team. 
To the surprise of the spectators, the Chief magis- 
trate asked the bullock-driver whether ** he applied 
" those expressions to him ? " 
Sam answ^ered, with an innocent grin, " I wasn't a 
" speakin' to you ; I 'm a driving my bullocks ; that 's 
*' my business ;" and the Colonial Secretary retreated 
from the scene, amidst a loud repetition of the most 
frightful imprecations, threats, and mockery of the 
bullocks by the bullock-driver, who triumphed over his 
superior. A crowd of the lower classes roared with 
laughter during the whole scene. 
Sam Phelps was quite a character, only to be seen in 
new colonies. He had been exercising his trade in the 
recent settlements in Australia, where he had no doubt 
witnessed and appreciated on many occasions the pride 
of tyro Government officers. After this scene, he com- 
pletely gained his point in holding up the early Magis- 
tracy to ridicule ; and a crowd of idlers would always 
collect at the door of each public-house to see Sam 
pass, and hear him address his titled team. As long 
