Page:Extracts from the letters and journals of George Fletcher Moore.djvu/182

 156 climate is said to be, that rainy weather never continues longer than three days in succession; it was so within my own experience last year.

In the evening sowed a little wheat in the garden where potatoes had been, and as a reward for my labour dined on steaks of kangaroo, and excellent soup made of the forequarter and tail, and afterwards enjoyed vocal music—I mean a frog concert.

5th.—Mr. Burgess tells me that he has purchased two bullocks at 25l. each, and advises me to buy one; but as I have only two acres more to plough, it is better to wait until the next season. Mr. Tanner has purchased eighty-two sheep at 33s. each; they are considered worth the money, though in very poor condition after their voyage from Van Diemen's Land. I myself offered in vain 50l. the other day for seventeen merinos.

10th.—Nothing very particular or new has occurred within these few days past, excepting a third attempt at a newspaper here in manuscript. It is a rare specimen, and somewhat costly, price 3s. 6d. I ought to have before recorded the shooting of bitterns, pigeons, and parrots, in a hunting excursion with Mackie and Stone, on the margin of a lake which is ten miles in circumference, where we saw swans and ducks in abundance, but could not get near them. However, we had a dinner for six shillings each, of wild ducks, besides pudding and cheese, with