The “Lyre pheasant” on descending from high trees, on which it perches, has been seen to fly some distance; it is more often observed during the early hours of the morning, and in the evenings, than during the heat of the day. Like all the gallinaceous tribe, it scratches about the ground and roots of trees, to pick up seeds, insects, &c. The aborigines decorate their greasy locks, in addition to the emu feathers, with the splendid tail-feathers of this bird when they can procure them.
The station of “Been” is situated on an extensive plain, or flat; is very wet during the winter season, from the flooded state of the Tumat river and adjoining creek; the soil, however, is not usually swampy. The river running down one part of the estate, and the “Been” or “Gheek” flowing down in another direction, (emptying itself into the Tumat,) gives the flat a heart-shaped form. It is surrounded by lofty mountains, small fertile flats and thinly-wooded ranges, abounding in rich pasturage. Nature has made it a beautiful spot, and it is capable of much improvement from the labour of man. The aborigines, among the tribes in this part of the colony, having found out that by killing the cattle of the settlers, they can procure a larger supply of food with less trouble than by hunting, have commenced spearing cattle; it was this which formerly led to the sanguinary skirmishes with the Bathurst natives, the stock-keepers shooting the blacks, and they, in return, murdering any Europeans who fell in their way, the lives lost on both sides were numerous.
About ten or twelve miles from this station there is a small fertile plain, or flat, called “Blowrin;” it abounds in rich herbage, and is surrounded by woody and verdant ranges of hills, with the Tumat river flowing through it, besides being irrigated by numerous rivulets. In the vicinity of this plain, small mountain rills would be seen gushing over the abrupt declivities into the vales beneath, refreshing the vegetation, so profuse about these spots. On the rich grassy plain, the “sparkling cowslip” was profusely scattered, and a multitude of other flowers, vying with each other in beautiful tints, adorning the soil.
The roads, or rather cattle-paths, to this plain, led through defiles of hilly and picturesque scenery; hills towered above us, clothed at some parts densely, and at others thinly, with various kinds of timber; a number of trickling streams ran murmuring through the vales, their banks covered with a luxuriant vegetation, while the rich pasturage afforded abundance of food for the herds of cattle located here, and for the kangaroos and emus, which are numerous in these valleys and ranges.
On the banks of the Tumat stream, shrubs of the genus, Pomaderris, Westringia, Grevillea, Veronica, and Acacia, were profusely in flower; and the flax plant, (Linum Australis?) called “Warruck” and “Brangara” by the natives, grew luxuriantly about the flat, attaining the height of from two to five feet, and the largest circumference of stem, half an inch. This plant, by cultivation, might form a valuable article of commerce, and could be procured in any quantity. The natives first pulling the bark from the stem, remove the epidermis from the flax, and dry it in the sun; they then manufacture it into small cord by rolling upon the thigh; (a similar method is adopted by the New Zealanders when manufacturing their flax into twine;) it is afterwards employed in the formation of nets, and for a variety of other purposes.
CHAPTER XV.
Kangaroo hunt—Ferocity of that animal—Use of its tendons—The culinary parts—Haunts of the kangaroo—A death struggle—Dissection of a kangaroo—Preservation of human fat—Ascent of trees in pursuit of game—Parrots and cockatoos—The emu—The native porcupine—Species of ophthalmia, termed the blight—Leave the Tumat country—Banks of the Murrumbidgee—Aborigines—Water gum-tree—Kangaroo rat—The fly-catcher—The satin bird—Sheep stations—Colonial industry.
On arriving at the plain, having the dogs with us, we started a kangaroo;[108] (the common species, or Macropus major of Shaw; Kangurus labiatus, Geoff.;) the dogs pursued, but we stopped our horses, for a young kangaroo was lying tranquilly upon the grass, apparently unconscious of danger; the stock-keeper, who accompanied me, alighted and secured it. To prevent escape, he tied the hind legs, and then placed it upon the ground; the animal, however, contrived to make off, and we had some difficulty in re-capturing it. Occupied with the young, we forgot the old one, and, as the dogs returned unsuccessful from the chase, it must have either outrun them, or perished in the river which was near; for when closely pursued, these animals run towards a river, (when one is near,) and dash into it without hesitation. Should the water be deep, they instantly sink and perish; if shallow, they remain in it, keeping their pursuers at bay.
The following anecdote was related to me respecting an animal of this species. A man went out to hunt kangaroos, and having started a large male, the pursued animal took refuge in a water-hole, sufficiently shallow to enable him to keep his head and fore-paws above water, and here awaited the attack of the dog, which he soused fairly under water, when he came within reach. Pat, (for the gentleman was from the sister kingdom,) in a great rage at the threatened death of the dog, would have shot the kangaroo, but the gun missed fire; he then entered the water-hole “to bate the brains of the baste out” with the butt-end of the gun; but the “baste,” not fancying to be thus treated, turned from the soused and now senseless dog to his more formidable adversary, and a struggle took place, in which the man was often thrust under water, and victory was promising much in favour of the kangaroo, when some of Pat’s companions fortunately coming to his assistance, attacked and killed the animal with clubs, and rescued him in almost an insensible condition; on recovery he vowed not to hunt the “big bastes again.” This circumstance occurred some years since at Yas Plains, on its first settlement, and when kangaroos were exceedingly abundant. It is now a rare occurrence to see one upon these plains. Happening to meet the hero of the above tale, (I mean the man, not the kangaroo,) I asked him how he felt when the beast hugged him; he replied, “Not very comfortable; he tumbled me about famously; they are mighty strong bastes, and don’t seem to like being meddled with.” Indeed, many persons when alone are afraid to face a large “old man” kangaroo. A man recently arrived in the colony, was sent after cattle; he returned in great terror, having, it appears, come suddenly on the ranges upon a kangaroo, as “large,” he said, “as a horse.” I asked him the colour of the animal; he replied that he did not recollect it; he only wished to get away from the beast, and running down the hill, was glad when he saw the animal warn’t following him; it is probable when he went down one part of the range, the animal, equally, if not more frightened, descended another. We passed over the ranges close to the stream of the Tumat, a rugged route, at some parts dangerous for horses, but the sure-footed animals carried us safely over places which would have astonished European horsemen.