Living in this Bush township afforded me an excellent opportunity of
seeing the manner of life led by the people in the far-away districts.
The houses were nearly all built of weatherboard or slabs, roofs of
thatch or shingle, our own house and the two inns alone being built of
brick. They were whitewashed outside and inside, and generally consisted
of two front rooms and two skillion rooms at the back; halls were
unknown, except in brick houses. The Crown commissioner’s cottage, with
the doctor’s and clerk of petty sessions were all of the “Bush” type of
architecture, not possessing any special beauty, though tolerably
comfortable within. When the wife of our clerk of petty sessions made up
her mind “to give a dance,” her husband demurred, “No room large
enough.” “Oh, but, John, you and the black servant can soon put one up;
and most likely some of our friends in the neighbourhood will assist;
now the shearing is over, they have very little to do.” She was right;
everybody was ready to assist. Thus a large room was soon added to the
cottage, and many dances were held therein. In those days colonial
girls were not particular about having waxed floors as they now are.
Cinderella dances would have been scoffed at, as in the “Bush” people
gladly ride thirty or forty miles for a dance, which always lasted until
daylight. Then dresses changed for riding habits, breakfast, and a
lovely ride home. Montefiores being surrounded by gold-fields, the
sterner sex preponderated. The gold commissioners, in their uniforms,
formed a lively contrast to the general civilian dress. In many
instances costumes were worn that could not be considered quite _en
règle_, as travellers did not always carry dress suits in their valise.
Gloves too often were not the best fitting; but these drawbacks mattered
little when youth and health led the way. Ladies were better off, as
white muslin and ribbons could always be purchased at the stores. We
were rather troubled about shoes and gloves, having small hands and
feet. I am almost afraid to state how many times our satin shoes were
re-covered and our gloves cleaned. We could always fall back on mittens,
being the two youngest ladies out in the district. It goes without
saying such dances were very delightful, and we received numbers of
bouquets. My brother did not look forward to these dissipations with the
same anticipation of delight as we did. “Oh, those merry days when we
were young!” How fresh they come back to my memory as I am writing this,
with a white world of snow outside our windows! Where are those many
dancers? So many, so many are “at rest.” A few only left, with children
and grandchildren around them. Strange to say, though the oldest
amongst us was under thirty, not half a dozen are living; most of them
died in the prime of life. This will appear singular to people in
England, where, judging from the obituary notices in the daily papers,
greater average of life is attained. We sometimes saw the gold escort
pass through the township, with the mounted troopers guarding the
precious freight. Bushranging was not uncommon then, therefore we were
ready to anticipate the escort being “stuck up.” What accounts of
hairbreadth escapes from capture were related! On one occasion, after
the capture of a gang of bushrangers, the owner of some stores was told
by one of the gang how nearly his stores were to being “stuck up” and
robbed by them. He asked the storekeeper, “Do you remember one evening,
just as your store was closing, three men coming in to look at some
saddles? Several were brought for us to choose from, and as you came in
from the back store it was arranged that one of us should ask you to
show us some straps that were hanging above your head. When you reached
up to do so we were to pinion your arms, knowing when you were
overpowered we should have little trouble with the others. While you
were free we knew it would not be a safe game. Well, you did not do as
we expected, but just passed through and entered the house; so our
little game was put a stop to, as we suspected you had recognised us,
and we made a hasty move, leaving the store, mounted, and rode off. It
was hard lines, as we knew you had been buying gold heavily that week.
We consoled ourselves, as we might be able to stick up the escort, and
have your gold with the rest.” Accounts of bushrangers “sticking up”
stations, travellers, and banks were very frequent, and it was very
difficult to follow them to their haunts and hiding-places amongst the
gullies and mountain gorges only known to themselves, as they were
wonderful bushmen, and only by the aid of black trackers could they be
followed. There was the greatest difficulty in cutting off their
retreat. The Australian women in many instances displayed great courage
and coolness when brought in contact with bushrangers. Mrs. K---- near
Bathurst was much praised; she was a young and beautiful woman, and when
their place was “stuck up” rode into town to obtain the money the
bushrangers insisted upon receiving before they would release her
husband and others. On another occasion, when they “stuck up” a station
and secured all the men, they made the ladies of the family provide
dinner, then play the piano, and dance with them; however, they did not
maltreat the women, and behaved themselves tolerably well, considering
the character of their visit.
A young man (who was a terrible boaster) was placed in a very ludicrous
position. He had been boasting in public of his courage, often saying
what he would do if those fellows the bushrangers dared to attack him.
“I always carry arms and my revolver handy when travelling, always
remembering that at any moment I may be called upon to ‘stand’ and
throw up my arms.” “Would you fire at them?” “Of course I would, if
there were a dozen of them.” This occurred in the billiard-room of an
hotel in one of the towns in the western district. A few weeks after
this boastful young Englishman was riding along a lonely bush road at
about 10 A.M. when suddenly the word “Stand” electrified him, and in an
instant a man seized his bridle; but, curious to relate, the revolver
was not brought into requisition, and it is questionable whether he had
presence of mind to think of it. He was mounted on a valuable horse
lately purchased; this, with his watch, revolver, and a few pounds, were
worth taking. His captor told him to “get off the horse, as he wanted
it,” then led him away from the road, covering him with his own
revolver; then said, “Give me your coat and hat; you can have mine
instead.” When he had got all that was worth having, the bushranger
coolly said, “I am old enough to be your father, so take my advice.
Never boast what you will do until you’ve tried it. You see that one man
is more than a match for you, no need for a dozen. Now sit upon that
stump while I ‘bail you up’” (which he very quickly did, with some rope
he took from the “swag” he carried). “Mind you sit here quietly until
sunset; then you can make as much noise as you like. I have some one to
let me know if you move. Now remember, if you play any tricks,” and then
placed his revolver too close to the young man’s ear to be pleasant. The
poor fellow remained there all day long, becoming more and more enraged
at his ignominious position, thinking of the cool, impudent rascal, and
determining to get away to give an alarm if possible. While trying to
free himself he heard a rustle near, and a piece of wood thrown at him,
to warn him that he was being watched. At last he fell asleep, and was
awakened by a voice calling out, “Why, mate, what’s up?” and saw two
rough-looking men by his side. They soon released him when he told them
his story, and found they were two station hands returning home from the
town. They had left the road to light a fire for their tea, which was
soon made, and the hungry, weary young fellow declared that “quart pot
tea” and damper were enjoyed by him with greater relish than the best
meal he had ever sat down to. He said as little as possible about his
captor, and described him very incorrectly, as he was not without some
misgivings that it might be a trap of the bushranger. He sat with them
till the sun set, and then started for the town, thanking them for
releasing him, and the tea. It was a lesson not to be forgotten, and he
always in after years told the story whenever he heard “new chums”
saying what they would do if this or that were to happen to them.
It is to be regretted that too many young men, when they go out from
England, have an idea their mission is to teach colonials, and to show
feelings of contempt for them; but this mistake has been lessened
considerably of late years, since communication with the mother country
has become more frequent and rapid, and the false ideas or impressions
of colonial people are being dispelled. For all this, only a few weeks
since I read an article in a daily paper teeming with false notions and
very unfair remarks upon the colonies and colonials. Even at this
present time young men leave England thinking “they can teach the
Australians a thing or two,” and when they find how mistaken they have
been, return disgusted with their want of success, besides lacking the
moral courage to acknowledge they have met their equals, and in many
instances their superiors; so in the worst spirit possible set about to
malign them. This class of traveller is well known, and their accounts
are certainly unreliable. Such men are unfitted for the life of a new
colony, or perhaps for any country. There is great want of good taste
and common sense, which has been instrumental in producing a far from
friendly feeling in the Australian youths; and is it to be wondered at
when such unfounded remarks are made on all that is dear to them? Is
there not very much that the Australian may well be proud of, and may we
not commend them for a spice of “blow”? It should be borne in mind that
these colonies have reached their present position in a century only,
and the majority of colonists would not disgrace any society in
England.