Chapter I: Preface

The idea in mind is to present, as far as possible, a true picture of life in the Scrub, as I had experienced it. With this end in view, I have neither glossed over the difficulties and disabilities, nor enlarged on the advantages, of selection life in the Scrublands. I have tried to make the book a fairly reliable and interesting guide to anyone thinking of tackling the life. With what success I leave the reader to determine.

THE AUTHOR.

"Up North."

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Dreary Monotony of Grey Sea and Greyer Sky Frontispiece

I went with them to where they were chopping 49

I had some 20 acres brushed, and two or three felled 66

We had a really decent comfortable little house up 143

CONTENTS.

Chapter. Page.

I.--Newcastle (N.S.W.)-Chile Coal Run 9

II.--One night in Port Jackson 15

III.--Good-bye to the Sea 20

IV.--I Become a Land-lubber 26

V.--Northward Ho! 33

VI.--The Promised Land 38

VII.--My Selection 44

VIII.--I start as a Land-holder 55

IX.--Camp Life 61

X.--Colonial Experience 68

XI.--Home Again! 75

XII.--Scrub Life 79

XIII.--The Cyclone 86

XIV.--Effecting Improvements 92

XV.--More Improvements--Bullockies 101

XVI.--An Accident 108

XVII.--Social Amenities 113

XVIII.--Burning Off 119

XIX.--Wardsman and Deckhand 125

XX.--Married 134

XXI.--Starting Housekeeping 138

XXII.--Struggling Along 142

XXIII.--Joyful Experiences of Cow-Cockying 149

L'Envoi 156

From Chart House to Bush Hut