HUGE AVOIDABLE LOSSES. 
The Zebu cattle which escaped to the bush would gradually reach the Adelaide 
Plains, a few miles inland, and in the nine years must have increased con- 
siderably. Although in the Indies these cattle, being kept in very small numbers 
in daily contact with the natives, are extremely docile, when given liberty they 
become very wild, much more so than English breeds of cattle. Their descendants 
crossed with British breeds may be found amongst the Adelaide River herds 
to-day, and they are always characterized by a greater difficulty to drove and 
manage than the others. Zebus with all the characters of the pure-bred are 
still occasionally seen. Three years ago, a typical bull broke through the fence 
at Batchelor Farm, and remained with the herd for some time. Attempts to 
domesticate him failed, and eventually he went as he came. A settler, Mr. 
Milton, secured two pure-bred bull calves in the bush, and they, being paddocked, 
became docile. In the wild state they: are not readily seen in the thick bush 
country, and it is impossible to say how many still exist. These facts are 
mentioned to show the Zebus persisted and travelled inland. In the long dry 
season they would frequent the rich plains, but in the summer the plains become 
swamps, and the high lands are sought. From the sea inland, the Adelaide River 
TICK-INFECTED STEER. 
This could have been avoided by early scientific inspection of shipment of cattle from the East. 
is unfordable until the railway crosses it, and there also was the main road to 
the interior. Glencoe Station from there is less than 20 miles away. It is 
certain the wild cattle would pick up with strays from the travelling mobs 
who would wander back along the track they had come, dropping ticks by the 
way. From what we know now, a comparatively few female ticks dropped near 
the waterhole at Glencoe would suffice to infest with redwater a non-immune lot 
of cattle. Thus the first outbreak is accounted for. All the facts fit in and. 
form a complete story. 
The spread inward to the Katherine, the Roper, and McArthur rivers is 
casily explained. Cattle suffering from disease drop out of a mob, and are 
left to die or recover. Those which recovered from a slight attack would 
naturally wander backward along their route dropping infected ticks. By 1890. 
it was observed that “‘ Redwater does not attack acclimatized or Territory-bred 
«attle,” showing that immunity was being acquired. The introduction to Queens- 
land proper was undoubtedly expedited by the establishment of the Burketown 
215 
