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 should have with the endeavour to settle down in a new home, I could never understand, in spite of the antiquity of the expression. The garden was naturally our first object of interest, and I found that it was much indebted to its original clerical possessor, who had planted it with a number of pomegranates and fig-trees. Also, no doubt in the laudable desire of planting the British flag upon a foreign shore, he had planned the beds and walks of his flower garden in the form of a Union Jack; but though I trust that I am not a bad subject, I must own that I felt less obliged to him for the flower beds than for the fruit trees, as the national ensign took up a much larger space of ground than my own pair of hands could ever hope to keep neat.

Our vineyard had been, most unfortunately, placed on a bit of the stiffest clay which the garden afforded, whilst plenty of sand, in which vines would have flourished, lay comparatively idle in our glebe-field close adjoining. As to out-buildings, we were very badly off. There was neither pig-stye, cow-house, nor poultry-yard, and the only apology for a stable was a remnant of an old shed open to every shower which might fall. It was clear that we should have to supply all these deficiencies at our own cost, but before commencing operations we determined that we would give a look at our neighbours premises, and learn in what manner farm-buildings might be inexpensively erected. The nearest models in our immediate vicinity were found in the little farm-yards belonging to some of the pensioners to whom I have already referred. These men have been employed as guards in the convict ships, and, on their arrival, have