One painful sight was a road-gang of convicts chained by the legs. They
were certainly a villainous-looking set, mostly doubly convicted felons.
Despair was depicted in the countenances of many. Jacob told me that
he had known several who had been guilty of murder, that they might be
hanged, and as they thought put out of their misery; others had
committed suicide. Yet these men were once joyous, bright-cheeked,
innocent little boys, the pride of their parents. Some had grown into
manhood before they fell into open sin, though many probably were born
among scenes of vice, ignorant even of the name of virtue or religion.
"Still, debased as they are, all have souls to be saved," I thought to
myself, and I resolved that, though I could do those poor wretches no
good, I would do my best to improve the convicts assigned to me as
servants.
We soon came to the end of the road, and struck across the country.
Here Jacob's guidance became of great value. We were much interested by
the novel appearance of the country, so different from anything we had
seen before.
The huge gum-trees (_eucalypti_), with their evergreen,
mistletoe-looking leaves, standing apart from each other, impressed us
most. It seemed to us as if we were walking through a large park, with
wide open spaces and clumps of trees here and there; only the leaves of
the trees hung down long and thin, with their edges upwards, and the
grass, though tall, was sparse, the blades growing apart from each
other.
In some places the ground was covered with heather, and with other
bright-coloured small flowers, but all without scent. This was
supplied, however, in abundance from the groves of acacia, near which we
passed. The birds with gay plumage, especially the parrots--parroquets
climbing from branch to branch or flying amid the trees--made us feel
still more that we had got into a new land.
The greatest excitement, however, was caused the first time we fell in
with a kangaroo, now so scarce near the settled districts. Jacob
seizing Charley White's gun said that he knew we should soon fall in
with some more, and going on cautiously ahead he very soon fired, and
then shouted to us to give chase. He had severely wounded but not
killed a large kangaroo; and the animal went leaping over the ground
with his long legs, leaving, however, a thick trace of blood behind him,
which showed that he could not run a long course. This encouraged us to
follow with greater zeal, and we enjoyed it the more as we dashed
through the forest after having been shut up so many months in our
little vessel. At last we got up close to the kangaroo, a huge fellow,
who turned round boldly to meet us. My son John, being close to the
animal, was going to strike him with a stick, when Jacob Rawdon cried
out to him to beware, and he had just time to spring back as the animal
struck at him with the formidable claw of one of his hinder feet.
However, it was his last effort before the animal sank exhausted from
loss of blood to the ground.
Jacob told us that he had seen many a dog killed when rushing in on a
kangaroo standing at bay, by being ripped up, and that John had had a
narrow escape. The countenance of the animal had so mild an expression
that we could scarcely believe that he could commit so much damage.
We at once set to work to cut him up, and then, each of us loaded with
the best parts selected by Jacob, we continued our journey. We slept at
the cottage of a settler, who received us very kindly. We feasted on
our kangaroo flesh, and were able to repay him with a portion of it.
The next night we camped out near a stream. Jacob Rawdon shot a number
of parrots, which we roasted for supper. The next morning we reached a
lightly timbered, undulating country, with a river running through it.
Rawdon stopped and looked round.
"Here, Mr Biddulph, if you take my advice you will pitch your tent.
You have grass and water for sheep and cattle, and timber to build your
house, and barns, and fences, and to keep your fires burning. What more
do you desire? the soil is good; you may grow corn and vegetables and
fruit-trees. You think that we are now in a desert: in a few years you
will find yourself in the midst of civilisation."
I talked over the matter. Jacob showed me that he was right, and the
boys agreed with him. He understood surveying, and we measured out
roughly two thousand acres. He told me that as a free settler I should
have no difficulty in obtaining a grant of it. We soon fixed on a site
for a house--not far from the stream, but at a sufficient height to be
out of its influence when swollen by rains. The stream ran into a
navigable river not far off, and from a neighbouring height we could see
it and the sea in the far distance. Charley and John were highly
pleased with the country, and were eager to get back to Sydney to secure
the grant, lest any one else should make application. Jacob laughed at
their eagerness.
"It is a good big country, and there is room for all," he observed.
He was right. A large part of half a century has passed since then, and
a steady stream of human beings has been setting in ever since, and
still there is room for all who come wishing to work.
John wanted Charley to stay and camp out with him while Jacob and I went
back; but to that Charley would not agree. He did not like leaving me
to travel alone with a doubtful character such as Jacob, and he besides
wished, I have no doubt, to see Mary. I, however, was very strongly
disposed to trust Jacob.
We got back to Sydney without any adventure, and found all well on
board. The sheep had greatly improved in appearance. I sold a ram and
four ewes for a price which fully covered all the charges of the voyage;
the rest of those I had brought I kept, that I might have a good stock
with which I might commence on my own property. I at once also made
application for a grant of the land I had seen, and obtained it without
difficulty. I got an excellent price for the whole of my cargo, and
soon found a purchaser for our little schooner. She was to run between
Port Jackson and other ports, either opened or about to be opened, to
the north and south. Altogether my speculation turned out a most
successful one.
I felt something like Noah coming out of the ark when I landed, for the
last time, with my wife and family and chattels and sheep; and having
selected a quiet place, we all knelt down and returned hearty thanks to
God for the protection He had afforded us during our passage across the
ocean. We asked Him to guide and protect us for the future; and I am
very sure that He heard our prayers.