Page:Australia, from Port Macquarie to Moreton Bay.djvu/171

whole, a strange race. In general they submit, from mere indolence or carelessness, to great privations, especially with regard to the comforts of their table; although a little trouble and instruction to their servants, ought to supply it with abundance of vegetables, poultry of all descriptions, &c. &c. without any expense. I have myself known many squatters, who during the prosperous times possessed large incomes from their wool, and yet, through mere carelessness, were content to live on an unvarying course of salt beef, damper, and tea; although, during their annual visits to Sydney, they lived in the most extravagant style, at first-rate hotels, keeping two or three horses at livery stables, and drinking Chateau-Margaux, Hock, and Champagne. The following is a specimen of the daily life of the generality of the squatters at their stations in the bush. On awaking in the morning the squatter lights his pipe, and smokes while his breakfast is being prepared. This consists of a huge heap of mutton chops, or a piece of salt beef, and damper, which he washes down with an ocean of strong green tea, literally saturated with coarse brown sugar. After breakfasting, the squatter again lights his pipe mounts his horse, and sallies forth on his daily avocations among his sheep or cattle. The short well blackened pipe, his constant companion, is frequently replenished in the course of the day; his dinner is the counterpart of his breakfast, viz. mutton-chops, or salt junk, damper, and tea viscid