The sunset of a
fine day will generally cast an air of happy contentment on any
scene; but here, at this retired farmhouse, the brightest tints on
the surrounding woods could not make me forget that forty hardened,
profligate men were ceasing from their daily labours, like the
slaves from Africa, yet without their holy claim for compassion.
Early on the next morning Mr. Archer, the joint superintendent, had
the kindness to take me out kangaroo-hunting. We continued riding
the greater part of the day, but had very bad sport, not seeing a
kangaroo, or even a wild dog. The greyhounds pursued a kangaroo rat
into a hollow tree, out of which we dragged it: it is an animal as
large as a rabbit, but with the figure of a kangaroo. A few years
since this country abounded with wild animals; but now the emu is
banished to a long distance, and the kangaroo is become scarce; to
both the English greyhound has been highly destructive. It may be
long before these animals are altogether exterminated, but their
doom is fixed. The aborigines are always anxious to borrow the dogs
from the farmhouses: the use of them, the offal when an animal is
killed, and some milk from the cows, are the peace-offerings of the
settlers, who push farther and farther towards the interior.
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