Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/173

 155 repairing them: we saw many of their footsteps, but were well pleased to find those who had impressed them "not at home."

29th,—Captain Irwin has come up to spend a day or two at this place: he is very fond of rural life, and talks of remaining here half the week. I bathed at nine o'clock at night.

Late arrivals have again lowered the prices of provisions— meat particularly. One of our merchants is selling salt beef at 4½d. a pound at Fremantle, wine 5s. 6d. per gallon; and clothes and shoes have fallen in price, in consequence of recent importations.

Jan. 1st, 1833.—One year seems to be distinct from another; yet where is the boundary? They touch each other so nearly that we can hardly separate them. The last moment of last year was remarkable for being unusually cold, though the midst of our summer. I assure you I looked at the kitchen-fire very longingly last night before bed-time. Some of my oats, which have been cut, were seven feet high well headed, and heavy: they were produced upon ground merely ploughed over once, and harrowed without manure. A ewe has lambed to-day; there are now sixty-two sheep and lambs in all: two or three have gone blind, but from what cause I know not. Somebody in Sydney threatens to send a cargo of sheep and cows here—I hope he will—but when?

My men requested a bottle of rum for new year's night. I sent it; and they are now enjoying themselves over it. Some questions have already arisen here about executions. No person can be got to act as sheriff. You could scarce believe what legal intricacies are familiar here, in this early stage of the settlement. Though it is a new country, settlers retain all their old manners, habits, prejudices, and notions of a sturdy, free, commercial, litigious people.

2nd.—Another cool cloudy day: we had no such weather