John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 258

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until you imagine they must be  'kilt [killed?] entirely' and are to all appearance really and truly dead also well & good, if not they will gammon [?] to be - and  when you are fairly off so are they & have [?] seen some of the half bred ones takin [taking?] young but they are useless destructive cunning brutes  =
If the Weather permits I purpose [propose?]  moving camp tomorrow eight to 10 miles further in after which I will have but little opportunity of troubling the post again for a time as we will be located in the middle of a most horrid inaccessible piece of country.
You at home undoubtedly think this sort of work of a most miserable character it certainly is not very cheerful, but one gradually becomes accustomed to and thinks but little of it - I give myself credit for being now a very tolerable bushman and of course necessarily often in entirely new country and under circumstances in which a young hand would be teatotally [?] lost - by somehow have always a good notion of working my way back or ferreting out the place I want to make altho [although] it may take days to do so, if out of my reckoning without being in the least degree [distant?] by aknowledge [acknowledge] of the fact - towards dusk endeavor [endeavour] to find grass & water - looking after the Horse if [?] have one passing him out with a bell on, & have a good [?] and and [?] endeavour to make [?] comfortable for the night, if the 'Yarraman' is inclined to ramble notice which way he heads, drive him back to Camp last thing. Wake up once or will make a fire listen for the Bell & go off [?] again = Up at daylight track the horse bring him back  -  discuss a piece of Damper & Beef take a little tea in a Kannitin [?] saddle up and start, if out for only a short trip my equipment is light enough  - a small Blue Blanket with a hole on the centre to poke my head thro [through] = A small tomahawk a pocket compass & some grub = (you would be astonished at the quantity of Rum) a Blanket will keep off if lined a little on the shoulder = have been dry thro [through] a days rain except past the lower part of my legs & feet. When the trip promises to be long usually take a Pack horse with provisions etc. It is horrid work when out of
grub for a day or two, one does not feel hungry as much as faint and weak - climbing these big hills under such circumstances is [word crossed out] rather trying.
When I have to go any distance hereto an unknown or comparatively unknown my great [?]  is to gain some idea of the Course of any streams water courses or Sheds - When in a fix and find myself at all inclined to get in the slightest degree annoyed or [?] I usually sit down and do a small amount of smoking - Take things
cooly is my motto in the Bush

 

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