PLEASURES OF AUSTRALIAN BUSH LIFE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 64, 9 December 1863, Page 6

PLEASURES OF AUSTRALIAN BUSH LIFE.

Extract from a letter from a " Free Selector" at Woombah, Clarence River, dated 17th October:— We have been greatly annoyed by somfe Richmond River blacks, numbering about one hundred, who are camped about two hundred yards from our hut. They came from Rocky Mouth, and crossed over the creek last Tuesday, inquiring for work, and as we wanted some sheets of stringy bark from the hill, I agreed with them to bring us some, which they did, but insisted upon being paid double the price for which they had bargained, and to which I was compelled to submit. They have since come three or four times every day asking for work, flour tea, sugar, tobacco, and clothes. Of course we had to feed the men employed getting the bark on the first day, as is usual with the settlers. We have since refused to give them work or food, and they are very troublesome in consequence. We are afraid to leave tlie hut and go to any distance. Yesterday, while we were felling trees on the hill at the back of the hut, not more than twenty yards distant, and within sight of the roof, one of them forced the door of the hut, which was secured by a peg inside, and half emptied our bag of flour. The chief came again in the evening, and asked for more, and wanted our tomahawk. We have repeatedly refused to give them anything for the last two or three days, and the chief showed his dissatisfaction in a very marked manner yesterday. The men all go stark naked, and are very different from the natives you see about Sydney. They arc tall, well made, very muscular and active, and are always well armed —carrying their tomahawks and boomerangs in a belt, which latter weapon they use with wonderful effect. The night before last they were making new boomerangs and *vcre exceeding noisy. We were fearful of an attempt to break into the hut, as the chief who is a fine powerful man, made most un mistakeable signs of great displeasure when he left us in the evening. Ilis gin told us the other evening that all the land about this place belonged to her. They have since taken all our beef, and for two days we have been without any, and are extremely anxious to know when we shall have more bullock (beef). I intend procuring some this afternoon, but shall not return till after dark, when, perhaps, I may be able to get from the boat to the hut without being seen. They have several times forced themselves into the hut against our will, and if they stop much longer here we shall be either starved off the place or robbed of all we have. There are no neighbours within two miles of us. W is away; however, we shall endeavor to make the best of a bad job. The blacks kill plenty of kangaroos and other game, and obtain quantities of honey, and come to us with their bellies full, and ask for flour, bullock, and tobacco; and steal if they can. One of them the other day, wanted rum; and being told that we had none, pointed to a square bottle on the table containing vinegar, of which he took a pretty good dose. I heartily wish we were rid of them.—Sydney Herald.