Old Melbourne Memories

y cattle near the old burying-ground at North Melbourne. I was bound for the Western district, where I proposed

I want with money in those days? I was a boy, which means a prince-happy, hopeful, healthy, beyond all latter-day possibilities, bound on a journey to seek my fortune. All the fairy-tale conditions were fulfilled. I had "horse to ride and weapon to wear"-that is, a 12-foot stock-whip by Nangus Jack-clothes, tools, guns, and ammu

ver with the fading light about eight. I had a reason, too. Here bivouacked my good old friend the late William Ryrie, of Yering. He, too, was journeying to the west country with a large drove of Upper Yarra stores

as if I would have given all the world for a doze unrebuked. At last the whole four mortal hours came t

ith the eyes of unworn, undoubting youth! On three sides lay the plains, a dimly verdurous expanse, over which a night mist was lifting itself along the line of the river. The outline of the Anakie-You Yangs range was sharply drawn against the dawn-lighted hori

quick to distinguish my valuable pair. Old Watts, the campkeeper, a hoary retainer of Yering-who gave his name to the affluent of the Yarra so

r. Donald Ryrie rode a favourite galloway yclept Dumple-a choice roadster and clever stock-horse, much resembling in outline Dandie Dinmont's historic "powney." He and I were sufficiently near in age to enjoy discursive conversation during the long, slightly tedious driving hours, to an extent whic

tion in those Arcadian times. "Purchased land" was an unknown quantity. Droughts were disbelieved in, and popularly supposed to belong exclusively to the "Sydney side." The horses were fresh, the stages were modera

left behind; then to Beale's, on the Barwon; thence to Colac, for we had decided to take the inner road and not to go by

earned a Christmas at home. When I arrived at Geelong I turned out early next morning, and rode to Fyans' Ford to see if I could[Pg 14] find "tale or tidings" of the red cow left behind, as before mentioned. How h

good feed, and passed into the house. In the parlour was a maid-servant laying the breakfast.

r, sir." I noticed a

said, guessing at her name with the affabili

sir," she mad

ould manage something in less time?

pened, and a middle-aged personage, with full mil

sure of knowing you, sir," he

id not particularly see the necessity either.) I was cool and cheerf

r," he said, with i

g

grounds, large and extensive, had been occupied by a private family. Nothing very uncommon about that. So here had

lly, at the same time pointing out that the place had been an inn when I last saw

you must not lose your breakfast for all that. Mrs. -- will be ready direct

ood laugh over my invasion of the parlour and Mary's astonishment. I breakfasted with appetite. We parted cordially. A

as the Old[Pg 16] Man Plain, but a good stretch. We did not "make" the lake until after dark. How they all rushed in! It was shallow, and sound as to bottom. We concluded to let them alone, not believing that they would wander far through such good feed before day. So we

pastoral man before the Fall, ere he was driven forth into far sun-scorched drought-accursed wilds to earn his bread by the sweat of his brain, and to bear the heart-sickness that comes of hope long deferred-the deadly despair that is born of long years of waiting for slow remorseless ruin. Ha! how have we skipped over half-a-century, more or less! Bless you, nobody was ruined in those golden days, because there was no c

up a small, but very choice, bit of the "waste lands of the Crown" on his own account. There abide the "FF" cattle to thi

ell Garrard dwelt for a season, with his fresh-coloured English yeoman face, his pleasant, racy talk, and unerring judgment

Parin Yallock station proper. Both good fell

days when my

, too, even for horsemen-we camped. It came on to rain. It was our only unpleasant night (except one when we missed the drays and had no supper. I didn't smoke then and[Pg 18] oh! how hungry I was). The cattle were uneasy,

ttle; my colt went down tail first, and nearly "turned turtle," but eventually the corps d'armée got safely over to

e lake, I don't know how many fathoms deep, and shelving abruptly. All the leaders were out of their depth at once, and swam about with a surprised air. However, the beach was hard and smooth, so back they came, in good trim to set to at the luxuriant he

handsome [Pg 19]blackwood trees. The Lake Purrumbeet was the great central feature-a noble sheet of water, with sloping green banks, and endless depth of the fresh pure elem

Basin Bank station. Here we saw the heifers of the NB herd. They were "tailed" or herded, as was the fashion in those days, and a fine well-grown, well-bred lot they were. The overseer was either Donald or Angus "to be sure whateffer," one of a draft of stalwart Highlanders which Mr. Black used to import annually. Very desirable colo

or at the next stage, the trail was not so plain. I have a reminiscence of our having camped one night at a spot n

or to the other. But I shall always consider the sub-district that I have just described, including Messrs. Black's, Robertson's, Manifold's, and one or two ot

Messrs. Bolden, and there, not many miles from the site of the flourishing township of Warrnambool, we drafted our respective cattle, and w

ow where Warrnambool now stands. No trace of man or habitation was there, "nor roof nor latched door." As I rode over the sand hummock which bordered the bea

an and I spent our days in "going round" the cattle; shooting and kangaroo-hunting in odd times-recreation to which he, as an ex-poacher of considerable expe

l whaling company had their headquarters at the Port, and Captain Campbell, a stalwart Highlander long known as Port Fairy Campbell, had

of the soil. One evening I was astonished to see splendi

e, Mrs. Burge?" said I

er consciously; "I gave

upon my mental vision,-"Where do the lubras get

such proportions, and which invades even this far north-western corner of New South Wales. What glorious times I had, gun in hand, or with our three famous kangaroo dogs, slaying the swift marsupial. In those days he was tolerated and rather admired, no one ima