John H. W. Pettit letters to his family in England, illustrated with sketches by the writer, 1852-1868 - Page 250
You are here
Primary tabs
Transcription
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