Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/275

257 Thursday, Feb. 26th.—Sent J out with the dogs this morning, and he returned at 10 a.m., bringing a kangaroo of 36lbs. with him; a very seasonable supply.—A gentleman thinking of going to the Hotham river has made me an offer to take my sheep to keep for a fifth of the increase. This sounds tempting, but it is far away to send them—perhaps 140 miles. The expense of getting them here for the butcher, or carrying the wool, would make it almost as dear as the third of the increase would at York.—Paid a man to-day 30s. for thrashing thirty bushels of barley and winnowing it.

Saturday, Feb. 28th.—Observing the door of the meat safe open this morning, at a very early hour, I examined it, and found the native dogs had paid it a visit and carried off 28lbs. of fresh kangaroo and a roast fowl, thus leaving us without a day's provisions, for my beef is just out. J had been out in the morning with the dogs, but without success, so there is nothing for it but to take the gun and go pot-hunting. I killed three brace of pigeons and a cockatoo.

Sunday, March 1st.—The Governor arrived on Thursday last. I had not heard of it till to-day, when a mounted policeman came up expressly to order me down to a Council meeting to-morrow, at 10 a.m. I must rise early. I dare say I shall have to stay during the week, for the discussion of our ways and means will come on this week in our Legislative Assembly. For some time past, we had been expecting here an increase of military force from Van Diemen's Land, under command of a Major Dease. To-day we have received the enormous addition of eight men!—but no major. There are growing now in front of this house some specimens of what are called here "Caffre melons"—something between a pumpkin and melon. I weighed one yesterday; it was 5½lbs., the same one to-day weighed fully 7lbs., thus increasing more than one pound in weight in one day.

Tuesday, March 11th.—Was kept in town all last week, and did not reach home till Sunday, and had to start next morning