John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 250

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2/                                                                        21/8

greater portion of the distance although a very wild mountainous broken densely scrubby dense unknown country.  The road nominated is a painful one -   Such hills - which no amount of money could make good, to stand at the foot of some of them and look up they appear almost perpendicular - horses  are useless except for packing of [?]
purpose they are only used & principally for winter. During summer months Bullock teams are often employed.  A team usually consist [consists] of 8 or 10 Bullocks  -  their load about one tons [ton]  -   Two or three teams usually travel together to assist each other up the worst pinches  -  in many cases but half the load is taken up at once.  By dint of a vast amount of cursing swearing and thrashing the dray is worked up a few yards  -  both wheels are immediately chocked a [?] or two spell  And the swearing and thrashing commence afresh - And so on for all the worst of the hills -  Downhill a good [?] tree  is hooked on behind to act as a drag -  Good Bullocks will pull as often as they are put to it, but it is most fearful work for them

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