The Dingo Boys; or, The Squatters of Wallaby Range, by George Manville
Fenn.
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A family from England arrive in Australia, where they acquire the carts
and other material needed to set forth and find suitable land to squat
on. The family consists of several adults, two young daughters of
around twenty, and three boys of around sixteen, cousins. There is also
an old English gardener who has agreed to come out with them.
On the way up-country they acquire somehow an aboriginal hanger-on, who,
however, proves a tower of strength in all sorts of vicissitudes in
which they find themselves. Because he's black they call him Ashantee
at first, shorten this to Shanter, and then refer to Tam o' Shanter on
certain occasions.
The adults keep saying they distrust Shanter, but time after time he
proves them wrong, and gets them out of situations which appear
hopeless, in the typical George Manville Fenn style.
An interesting read, but you will have to get used to the speech forms
used by Shanter, which are in a sort of pidgin cum aboriginal form.
Nothing too difficult, though, as plenty of guidance is provided in the
text.
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THE DINGO BOYS; OR, THE SQUATTERS OF WALLABY RANGE, BY GEORGE MANVILLE
FENN.