There is another dangerous snake, called “yellow snake” by the colonists, and “Jaruk” by the Yas natives: it attains a large size, and has the reputation of being very venomous, the bite producing almost immediate death.[80] The most deadly snake in appearance, and I believe also in effect, is one of hideous aspect, called by the colonists the “death adder,” and by the Yas natives “Tammin,” from having a small curved process at the extremity of the tail, or, more correctly, the tail terminating suddenly in a small curved extremity, bearing some resemblance to a sting, it is considered by popular rumour to inflict a deadly sting with it.
This hideous reptile is thick in proportion to its length; the eye is vivid yellow, with a black longitudinal pupil; the colour of the body is difficult to be described, being a complication of dull colours, with narrow, blackish bands, shaded off into the colours which compose the back; abdomen slightly tinged with red; head broad, thick, and flattened. The specimen I examined measured two feet two inches in length, and five inches in circumference. It is, I believe, an undescribed species.[81] A dog that was bitten by one, died in less than an hour. The specimen I examined was found coiled up near the banks of the Murrumbidgee river; and being of a torpid disposition, did not move when approached, but quietly reposed in the pathway, with its head turned beneath the belly.
The “diamond snake” is handsome, attains a large size, and I believe is not considered venomous. It is said, that when cattle are bitten by a venomous snake, they resort immediately to the water. A cow was found lying dead near the river, at “Gudarigby,” during the time I visited the farm, and from appearances the body presented, the stock-keepers formed an opinion that its death was produced by the bite of a venomous snake.
Leeches are abundant in all the “water holes” about this part of the colony, and are used for medicinal purposes: they are of a black colour, with longitudinal orange lines extending the whole length of the body, the abdomen being of a dark orange colour. They are in great demand at Sydney, as few or none are found in its vicinity.
On the 19th of November I visited the farm at “Gudarigby,” the property of W. H. Dutton, Esq., in company with his brother, Mr. F. Dutton, and Mr. Manton. We remained the first night in the bark hut erected on Mr. Manton’s farm. Snakes of the black and brown species were numerous at this place, no doubt arising from the location being close to the Murrumbidgee river. We had sufficient proof of the existence of these reptiles, from seeing several which had recently been destroyed by the men on the farm; one had dropped from the back shed upon a man’s bed during the night, and occasioned him to quit, and leave the reptile in undisturbed possession for the remainder of the night: in the morning, search was made, the reptile discovered among the blankets, and killed: it was a “black snake,” and measured full three feet in length. The warm valley in which the farm is situated, as well as its being near the river, must make it an agreeable retreat to the reptiles. We, however, slept through the night without experiencing any visits from them, although we often expected to feel their cold bodies gliding over and awakening us, from pleasant dreams to disagreeable realities.
The following morning we proceeded on the journey to “Gudarigby,” over a hilly and broken, but still romantic and beautiful country; with a variety of flowering plants spread over the luxuriant, verdant declivities and flats, casting different hues over the soil; among them the delicate and beautiful orchideous plant called “fringed violet” by the colonists, the Thysanotus junceus of botanists, was particularly abundant: its elegant lilac-coloured flowers, in clusters of from three to six upon the same stalk were very conspicuous. The “native hyacinth,” and others of the Orchideæ family, with white, dark red, yellow, and pink flowers, were abundant.
After proceeding full six miles over a rich but broken country, fertile flats, and limestone hills, the declivities rich in herbage, but the summits arid, rocky, and bare of verdure,—we arrived at “Narrángullen,” a fine flat, abounding in excellent pasturage, with thickly wooded hills. This was formerly a sheep station, but deserted from the great losses sustained by the sheep devouring their lambs.[82]
From this place we passed up a gully, bounded by lofty mountains, thinly-wooded, which brought us to the almost perpendicular ascent of an elevated mountain, which certainly gave me a few ideas of what Nature’s roads may have been in this colony before the formation of new ones came into fashion. This I was told, was one road to the farm, and the shortest, but there was another for drays not so steep, but many miles further round; by that one we proposed returning as soon as the visit to the farm was concluded. We led our horses, or rather they scrambled up this steep acclivity, to the summit of a ridge of mountains, from which the view was magnificent; it seemed as if Nature had sported with her superfluities in the formation of this country; mountains over mountains heaped: some were thinly and others densely covered with timber; the tout ensemble formed a splendid specimen of wild and romantic scenery. About the elevated ridges, the black-wattle acacias, in full bloom, were numerous, and their fresh and verdant foliage was well contrasted by the arid melancholy appearance of the Eucalypti trees around. A descent more gradual than the ascent, with the soil covered by long thick grass, brought us to a well-watered flat through which the Murrumbidgee river, and large creek, flowed; and in this place (completely surrounded by the river and creek, and consequently rendered impassable during floods produced by the rains) the farm was situated.
This place, secluded by lofty-wooded mountains, and in a situation of great romantic beauty, cannot be valuable except as a cattle run, for which, from the abundance of grass and excellent supply of water, a better selection could not be made, but for sheep the situation is too moist. After rather a laborious and fatiguing journey, we enjoyed, in a neat and clean hut, some fine river cod fish, tea, and delicious rich milk, and our horses had, in this fine valley, excellent grass. Among the feathered animals which abound here, is the Dacelo gigantea, Temm., better known to the colonists and strangers by the appellation of “Laughing or Feathered Jackass.”[83] Its peculiar gurgling laugh, commencing from a low, and gradually rising to a high and loud tone, is often heard by the traveller in all parts of the colony, sending forth its deafening noises whilst remaining perched upon the lofty branch of a tree watching for prey; it is respected by gardeners for destroying grubs, &c. The natives at Yas call the bird “Gogera,” or “Gogobera,” probably from its peculiar note, which has some resemblance to the sound of the word. It is said that one seldom laughs without being accompanied by a second, forming a very harmonious duet.
This bird, from its devouring mice and venomous reptiles, deserves protection; (hawks also destroy snakes in this colony.) A gentleman told me that he was perfectly aware of the bird destroying snakes, as he had often seen them carry the reptiles to a tree, and break their heads to pieces with their sharp strong beaks; he also said he had known them destroy chickens soon after they were hatched, and carry away eggs, breaking the shell with their sharp beaks, to get at their contents. One of these birds, seen upon the branch of a tree near a river, looking so stupid, and nodding as if asleep, was shot, and it was then found that this peculiar manner proceeded from having swallowed a small snake, which had got into the stomach, throat, and bill, but had not yet accommoded itself in the former cavity.