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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : //books . google . com/ DIGGING, SQUATTING, AND PIONEEBING LIFE THE NOETHEEN TEEEITOEY OP SOUTH AUSTRALIA. BY MRS. DOMINIC D. DALY. * LONDON: ' SAMPSON LOW, MAESTON, SEABLE & EIVINGTON, &t. gnus*art's Joust, FBTTBB LAXB, FLEET STREET, E.G. 1887. » [All rights reserved."} ••; ••• •• LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIK^EO, bTAilKuUD sltthhl AM' CIIAi.I^G CltO'A. TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN HONOUR OF HER JUBILEE, AHD TO ^\it JHentorp xrf tng JUar jEtoiker, WHO DIED DUBING THE PUBLICATION OF THE FOLLOWING PAGES, HARKDET W. DALY, October 3rd, 1887. /• .1910f 4 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. PAGE The Early History of North Australian Colonization . 1 CHAPTER II. 1870. The Voyage to Port Darwin—The Gale—We run to Brisbane . .10 CHAPTER III. THE BRISBANE VISIT. Moreton Bay—The Glass Houses—Scenery—Botanical Gardens — Society— Government House — The Birthday Ball—Dressmaking on board Ship . 21 CHAPTER IV. AT SEA.—TORRES STRAITS. At Sea again—Queensland Coast—Making for Barrier Reef—Coral Islands—Sunday at Sea—Natives on the Coast—Shooting Sea Gulls—Wrecks on the Barrier—Cannibalism of the Mainland Natives— Scenery—Feeling our Way—"Them's them"— Look-out in the Foretop ..... 28 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. 1870. PORT DARWIN. PAGE End of the Voyage—Somerset—South Sea Islanders —Pearling Vessels—Booby Island—Our Greeting off Escape Cliffs—The Bengal ashore—A Visit from the Land Selectors—Arrival in Port Darwin —First Impressions . .38 CHAPTER VI. OAMP LIFE. Camp Life—Songs—The Piano—Harmonium—Horses —Riding Parties—The Jungle—Bush Tea-making, Famine Bay—Picnics and Races ... 50 CHAFrER VII. NATIVES. The Larrakiahs—King Nilunga's Wives—Lubras— Washing Days—Washing a Baby—Spearing of Charlie—Retribution—A Scare—Natives gene­ rally 66 CHAPTER VIII. 1870. Iiand Selectors—Expedition into the Interior—Return of Party—Selection of Land—Stables as Land Office—Camp Convivialities—Stockmen—George —Horse-breaking—Pros and Cons of the Territory —After-dinner Talk—Arrival of the Omeo— Fixing First Telegraph Pole .... 77 CONTENTS, VII CHAPTER IX. ALLIGATOR AND SNAKE STOBIES. PAGB Alligators—Death of Trooper Davis—Funeral—Mit- perdinga's Wrestle with a young Alligator— His Escape—Fate of Heed at the Roper River— Taken out of his Boat by an Alligator—Snakes— Death of Neptune—Bob Collard and the Python —Seeing the New Year in—A curious Vigil— —Other Reptiles—Guanas—Lizards. 88 CHAPTER X. 1870-71. The Overland Telegraph—Difficulties of Transit- Failure of First Contract—The Government take over the Work—Success—Our Roper Expedition —Cutting Stuart's Tracks—Dreams ... 98 CHAPTER XI. 1871. Building the Residency — Difficulties — Want of Timber—Scarcity of Lime—The Roof—Nautical Architecture—" All Hands save Ship w—Shifting of Quarters—Our Pets—Mac—Poultry . .108 CHAPTER XII. 1871. The Climate—Wet and Dry Seasons—Our Food Supply—Gardens—Growing of Fruit Trees- -The Gvinare sent to Timor, with news of Breakdown of Line—Our Mails — Franco-Prussian War — Malay Servant—Our Loyalty—Hunting Parties on Melville Island. - .116 viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIII. 1871-2. PAGE I return to Adelaide—Torres Straits—Brisbane—New­ castle—Melbourne—Delights of Shopping—Ade­ laide—Life in South-Eastern District—Comple­ tion of Telegraph Line, and Landing of Cable at Port Darwin — Complimentary Messages—Dis­ covery of Gold in Northern Territory—A Bush— We return to Port Darwin .... 130 CHAPTER XIV. 1872. End of Voyage—Arrival at Port Darwin—Greetings— Changes in Camp—The Gold Fever—Floating Companies — Gold-digging Disappointments — Fever and Sickness—Entertainments—The Digger 143 CHAPTER XV. Gold-Mining Life—A Digger's Death . .153 CHAPTER XVI. 1873. A Lull in the Excitement—Return of Miners—Home Life—A Birthday Party—The Springbok's De­ parture—Her Adventures—Somerset—A Naval Court of Enquiry—End of the Voyage . 170 CHAPTER XVII. 1873. A Brush with Natives—"Scotchman"—Woolnas in War-paint—Arrest of " Scotchman "— My Hus­ band's Return—We bid Adieu to Port Darwin . 182 CONTENTS. IX CHAPTEB XVHL 1873. PAGE Our Voyage in the Schooner—The Diggers as Fellow- Passengers—Baby and Jane—Discomforts—Baby as Luck—Provisions run Short—Run for West­ ern Australia for Supplies .... 190 CHAPTER XIX. 1873. Perth—Swan River — Meet Captain Cadell—Our Convict Landlord — His Matrimonial Success— Convict Gardeners—Oak Trees—Sir Frederick Weld—A new Gold-field—An Anxious Ministry —Breaking the Sabbath—A Minister rebuked by a Digger — Fremantle — A Free Fight — De­ tention of Schooner—At Sea Again—Adelaide . 199 CHAPTER XX. 1873-1878. Depression of the Settlement — Government Per­ plexities— The Labour Question—Arrival of Chinese Coolies—Gold-mining Returns—Pastoral Progress—Agricultural — Railway— Outrages by Natives—The First Northern Territory Newspaper 209 CHAPTER XXI. 1879-1883. Murder of an Overlander by the Natives at Limnen's Bight River — Proposed Development of the Territory by English Capitalists—Duplication of the Submarine Cable—Gold Mining — Sugar Planting — Chinese Labour Question — First Surplus Revenue—The Railway—Government Gardens — Indian Immigration Scheme—Agri­ cultural Prospects—Trepang Fishing Trade—Port b X CONTENTS. PAGE Darwin a future Remount Station for India— Northern Territory Association formed—Statistics 229 CHAPTER XXII. 1884. Discovery of Stuart's Tree—Extracts from the Ex­ plorer's Journal—Melville Island—Pearl Shell Trade—Mr. Parsons appointed Government Resi­ dent—Desire on part of Settlers for Representation in Parliament — Progress of Chinese—Terrible Outrage on Daly River by Blacks—Visit of the Duke of Manchester—First Shipment of Cattle to Eastern Ports—G< >ld—Pastoral, Agricultural News 247 CHAPTER XXIII. 1885. Opening of Malay Trade—Trepang Fishers—Death of a Bushman—Jetty commenced—Eastern Cattle Market—Mining—Pearling—Completion of Rail­ way Survey—The Victoria Country—Pastoral Occupation — Agriculture —Tobacco — Sugar — Coffee—Missions—Difficulty with Natives . 268 CHAPTER XXIV. 1886-1887. The Tine Creek Railway—Admiralty Survey—The Jesuit Mission—Malays and North Australian Natives—Trouble with Blacks—Murders and Out­ rages—Melville Island—Kimberly Gold Rush- Scenes on the Overland Route thence—Lynch Law on the MacArthur—The Northern Territory at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition—Father Wood's Visit and Inspection of Mines . 284 CONTENTS. xi CHAPTEB XXV. 1886. PAGB Father Wood's Visit—Scenery—Geology—The Bivers Mary and Katherine — The Beefs — Wild and Romantic Scenery—Palm-shaded Grottoes—Aus­ tralian Orchids—Young Squatters—The Victoria —Telegraph Station 311 CHAPTER XXVI. THE BUSHMAN^ CHAPTER. " Overlander's " Journey from Bourke Town to Pal- merston—A Crane in Jam Tins—Copper-nosed Bob—Fever—Water—Grass—A lonely Grave— Aboriginal Artists—Alligators—Travis' Tomb— Fording a Eiver—A Back-block Homestead—Mr. Wallace's Station—Bush Luxuries—Traces of the White Man—Pine Creek Township—Port Darwin Camp—An Up-Country Auction—Southport— Palmerstoii—Difference between the Caresses of a Crucodile and a cross-cut Saw—Pearl Fishing .