and bound to see the sights of 'Frisco, came past, and, in appreciation of the remark, gave a loud guffaw.

ners.

and furnish you with five for ten cents, which | cheeked, health-tanned “middies,” just off ship, you can unload upon the small boys at the next corner, on the time-honored principle of doing evil that good may come. Fearful of the fate of that mariner who bade the gallant crew good-morning, and got unceremoniously dumped overboard and keel-hauled as a reward for his politeness, we shall prudently abstain from any description of a wash-house. An opium-den demands a more solid recognition, as it is the dominant vice of one-third of the human race, and, as such, entitled to respect. | Still, the delicate action of that wonderful drug-whose child, Imagination, is as rainbowhued as its parent, Poppy, which seems to penetrate those inmost cells of the cerebral system, where lies that awful and unmeant-to-bescanned boundary between matter and spiritmust surely require its own influence to be its own delineator, and we therefore abstain from the description as we do from the vice. A barber-shop is a pleasanter theme. Your Chinese barber has not yet reached that stage of appreciation of comfort which employs the sybaritic back-lounge and the luxurious legrest. The customer sits humbly on a common cane chair, while his neck and cheeks and brain-pot - all except the roots of the top-howl, fails to affect his eminently practical inknot-are relieved of hair. The shaver does his part of the business soberly and conscientiously, as if time were no object. The shavee gives himself up to the process with all the laisser-aller of a white man. While the writer was admiringly looking on at the operation, through the window, his curiosity was supplemented by that of a couple of je-ne-sais-quoi loungers.

The "middies" passed on, saw the sights, etc., while the writer continued to wend his way southward, deliberating on men and manThe almond-eyed, blue-bloused heathen swarmed along the sidewalk, with an easy, swinging, devil-may-care swagger, bred of an independence unknown to him in his place of birth, but arguing his appreciation of the ad| vantages he here enjoyed. There was not the same cringing servility, the dog-like obsequiousness, with which he used to get out of the way of the "Melican man." No, not much; John's acute, ready, and practical apprehension recognizes the fact that in this land he is a "man and a brother," and determines, with his usual sagacity, to make the most of it. The smile of perfect security illumines his bland, vacuous face; for he well knows that the thunders of the sand-lot have produced no lightnings, and his confidence that they will continue to not do so in the future approaches the sublime.

"Well, what do you think of that business?" said the writer; "doesn't it strike you as coming up to the point? There are four hundred millions more where these came from."

"Yes, and forty on the top o' that," responded the latest arrival.

It is very apparent that the fierce agitation which causes capital to flee and pessimists to

ner consciousness. He feels he can afford to take it easy. Still, it occurred to the writer, must not this parchment-skinned pagan be sensible of his vast inferiority in the progress of all that constitutes life? Must he not survey the thundering locomotive, as it flies past, drawing with the ease of perfect power loads such as he never dreamed of seeing moved before; cars steadily and majestically mounting hills without the apparent aid of horse or engine; telephones, by which he communicates with his business partners at a distance?—for your Chinaman uses and appreciates the value of the telephone-must he not survey all these things with a withering sense of his own in

"With power to add to their number, like feriority?-feeling that his race is morally and bank directors," suggested the writer.

mentally dead, and knowing that if a vast At this moment the inmates of the shop, com- aerolite should fall from space and obliterate prehending that they were objects of scrutiny the Flowery Kingdom at a single blow, and and attraction, with that instinct of privacy leave nothing but a rocky excrescence upon the which has always been a distinguishing trait of face of the planet where it once existed, that the the Flowery Kingdom, came and hung red cur- world would go tranquilly on as usual, and tains over the door-panes, so as to obscure our never feel the loss of its four hundred millions vision; and, as the group passed on with the of human ants; that no art, no science, no polremark, "Gentlemen, this is no free theatre-ity, no human hope, no form of progress would it costs money," a couple of bright-eyed, rosy-suffer, or be concerned at such a happening.

INTAGLIOS.

THE

CALIFORNIAN.

A WESTERN MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

VOL. I.-MAY, 1880.-No. 5.

FIELD SPORTS IN AUSTRALIA.

Every country is famous for its indigenous and dingo (wild dog) were the only quadrupeds plants and animals. While what is called the hunted by regular packs of hounds. The womantipodes though not antipodean in respect to bat, or tailless bear, is a very inoffensive but California, or, indeed, to the United States- mischievous creature. It constructs broad and has contributed thousands of new specimens to deep, well-like holes in the ground, which are the science of botany, it is no less interesting dangerous to man and horse when engaged in in the study of the animal kingdom. But, al- the chase or mustering cattle, most of which though climate, food, and all the other condi- are as wild as the proverbial Texas steers. tions for the existence of savage beasts are to Men and horses have been killed or badly be found in Australia, yet that vast continent is maimed by falling down wombat holes, as the entirely free from lions, tigers, leopards, and all apertures are designated. The wombat, howthose other quadrupeds which, in Asiatic and ever, unlike the bears of other lands, can African country life, are a standing terror to the scarcely be called an animal of the chase, as inhabitants. The only dangerous creatures of its locomotive capacity is of an extremely the kind have been imported from the United | limited description. Instead of running for libStates and Europe, and have been re-embarked erty it climbs a tree, or takes refuge in its subafter the adventurous proprietors of the men- terranean abode. It may therefore be said ageries had glutted the curiosity of our Aus- to afford similar sport to "opossum -hunting" tralian cousins. A person may there travel in this country. So far as the chase is confrom ocean to ocean-so far as is known of the cerned, our observations must be confined to explored portions of New Holland-without the kangaroo and dingo, of which much may encountering any danger from the lower order be said of interest to those unacquainted with of creation, except from the fangs of the snake. the habits and modes of pursuing these aniThis reptile-from which not even the Garden mals. It is true that deer are now hunted by of Eden was exempted-has made its home in the many Australian sporting clubs and private every lovely clime of the earth, and its hateful parties; but as this sport is followed in the presence is occasionally found in the sunniest same manner there as in this country and bowers of what has been facetiously termed Europe, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the great South Sea "Island.” it here.

There the wild animals of the chase are, so far as the safety of man is concerned, of the harmless type, and will turn on their pursuers only when closely pressed and beset, much on the principle adopted by the troddenon worm. Until deer were imported and allowed to extensively propagate, the kangaroo

Vol. I.-25.

The reader must not suppose that the element of danger is absent from kangaroo-hunting. Human life, but more frequently that of dogs, is often sacrificed, sometimes from the attacks of the animal when brought to bay, and sometimes from other causes which will presently be described. Of course the risk to life or

[Copyright by THE A. ROMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY. All rights reserved in trust for contributors.]

limb is small, compared to that in tiger or even | ing incidents. As many as a thousand or more

elephant-hunting. But in both there is abund-
ance of the sportsman's charm, excitement;
while more activity on the part of man and horse
is required in pursuing the kangaroo than in
hunting the savage animals of Asia and Africa.
A steed of the swiftness of the race-horse, and
dogs of a peculiar breed-known as kangaroo-
dogs are requisite. The Scotch staghound is
too heavy and slow for the pastime, and the
English or Italian greyhound is too light, and
lacks endurance for the sport. The kangaroo-
dog is of a breed between the Scotch stag-
hound and the English greyhound, possessing
in a high degree the strength and hardiness
of the former, combined with the fleetness of
the latter. Like the stocks from which he has
sprung, he follows his game by sight, not by
scent. This is the proper method of hunting |
the animal, as from its peculiar mode of pro-
gression-a series of long leaps-the scent is
left at only distant intervals. Nevertheless, the
kangaroo is likewise hunted by packs of fox-
hounds, which follow by scent. Although this
is constantly lost, yet the great number of the
dogs causes it to be speedily recovered. The
jump of a full-grown kangaroo ranges all the
way between ten and thirty-five feet, the longest
being made down hill. The chase is usually
short and swift, seldom extending over four
miles, which are generally run in nearly as good
time as a running race of that distance. The
staying powers of horses and dogs are tested to
their utmost, and not unfrequently the kangaroo
defies the speed of his pursuers, and success-
fully bounds out of their sight and reach. This
he can all the more readily do in a thickly tim-
bered country, where the trees both obstruct the
view and render fast riding dangerous. Many
a hunter has been killed or swept from his
horse by coming in contact with broad-spread-
ing limbs of trees, and many are so venture-
some as to ride at full speed through a wood
where occasionally both knees will graze trees
at the same time. This practice amounts to
foolhardiness, and is by no means the common

rule.

kangaroos are found in a herd, varying in size, from the "joey"—as a young one, a foot high, is called-to the "old man," from six to seven feet in height-as a full-grown male is designated. The swiftest are the females, termed "flyingdoes." On the approach of danger, they at once pick up their joeys and place them in their pouch-the kangaroo being a marsupial animal. When pursued, they bound off with their young at a tremendous speed, and, if possible, will save their own and joeys' lives. But if a flying-doe finds the hunters and dogs gaining on her, she does not hesitate to throw her young one out of the pouch, as a sort of offering to her pursuers, and, by being rid of its weight, to increase her own chance of escape. This may not exhibit the highest type of maternal affection; it is, however, kangaroo morality. Nor is the apparently unfeeling act without justification. The casting adrift of the young one by no means as instinct may tell the motherconsigns it to certain destruction. Being fresh, it jumps off at a great rate. The dogs, not unwisely, generally refuse the apparently tempting bribe offered to them, and continue their chase after the flying-doe as the easier to catch of the two. If the hunters should determine otherwise, and take after the joey, in order to capture it alive-for young kangaroos soon become great pets on a lawn, and continue such when they grow old-they are likely to be led a very tiring race of three or four miles before Miss Joey surrenders herself to death or bondage. In order to get within gunshot of a herd of kangaroos, it is necessary to proceed with great caution. While the main body of them are browsing, there are sentinels regularly stationed at the outposts to watch for danger, and to give an alarm at its approach. The sight and hearing of the kangaroo are very acute. It can hear at a great distance the breaking of a twig, the rustling of trees, or a tread on a dry leaf. No sooner is an alarm given by a sentinel than the whole herd are "over the hills and far away," almost in the twinkling of an eye. The sedate "old men" rarely mingle with the herd. They hold themselves aloof at a considerable distance, and consort in twos, threes, or fours, like a solemn deliberative body, or stand far apart, alone in solitary dignity.

The animal is found only in those regions of country where a peculiarly sweet herbage, known as "kangaroo grass," exists in large quantities. Nor is the kangaroo discovered where the general feature is prairies or plains. It is a common practice for professional men It must have timber and undergrowth for shel- and others, living in the large Australian cities, ter from the sun's rays; but before and a little to take a run into the country every year for after sunrise, and a little before and after sunset, three or four days' kangaroo-hunting. For this it seeks the plain or "open," where it indulges reason the hotel-keepers of the interior, in orin its morning or evening meal. These and a der to attract custom, generally keep a few few more details it is necessary to give before good kangaroo-dogs. Let us suppose that a describing a regular hunt and its accompany-party of four gentlemen of Melbourne have ar

ment is thus satisfactorily wound up, the evening repast is partaken of, and a dreamless sleep renews the frame for a rising at three o'clock in the morning to pursue another day of pleasurable excitement, not unaccompanied with considerable fatigue.

ranged to depart together to indulge in the sport. A very usual place to hie to is Western Port, situate on the banks of the bay, between forty and fifty miles from the Victorian capital. The first step is to telegraph to a hotel-keeper on the spot, announcing that the party will arrive on such a day, to have ac- The party, as stated, having arrived in the commodation in readiness for them, and to have evening from Melbourne, devote the remainder the dogs in order. On receiving the telegram, of it in perfecting arrangements for the morthe landlord directs the dogs to be locked up row's sport. They are in the saddle at early and kept without food for a day or more before dawn, and depart for the hunting ground acthe arrival of his expected guests, as hungry companied by a guide from the hotel. This dogs hunt better than those which are food-adjunct is necessary for several reasons. The satisfied. Moreover, the best kangaroo-dogs guide knows the favorite haunts of the game; are apt to become lazy, and to lose all interest he knows the names of, and can control, the in the chase, except so far as it affords a pros- dogs; he secures and carries, hung to his sadpect for a hearty meal. For this reason one of dle-bow, the tails of the kangaroos that are these canines will occasionally remain from killed, as the tail is usually the only part that is home for a week or so. No alarm is felt that he thought worth bringing home; he places the has been lost or stolen. What he has done was carcasses of the animals in forks of trees out merely that he had chased and killed a kanga- of the reach of the hounds, else they would emroo on his own account, and had remained and brace an early opportunity to desert and return gorged himself until the flesh had given out. to the meat; and, finally, the guide prevents The weather being warm, he had no need of the party from being lost in the "bush," as the home shelter; the long, dry grass afforded a wild country is there called. It is no uncomcomfortable bed, and a neighboring brook mon occurrence for a party, unprovided with a supplied all the draughts his moderate tastes guide, to be lost for several days. The early required for washing down tender morsels morn is selected for the commencement of the of kangaroo. Satisfied with this sort of sport, because, as already mentioned, the kan"dog's spree," he would not just then re- garoos choose that time for feeding on the peat it, but would slink home, and, by his plains, and remain until they are driven to seek guilty look and depressed tail, stand a self- the shade of the trees for protection from the convicted canine criminal. Of course, he is sun's rays. On the plains or "opens" there is a duly sentenced and punished. fairer field for hunting than among the trees, and two or three hunts may be had on the prairies before the sun is much above the horiOn sighting the game the party ride abreast toward it at a walk, the dogs following or being at the sides of the horses. This slow approach is continued until the kangaroo will tolerate it no longer without breaking away. It may be remarked that it is easier to approach near the animal on horseback than on foot, because kangaroos are more or less accustomed to see horses and cattle grazing near them, the stupid marsupial not always calculating the very serious difference which prevails between a horse alone and a horse with a rider on his back. On the kangaroos making off, the hunters and dogs follow in rapid pursuit, and the excitement of the chase begins. Racing speed is kept up for a considerable time, the game, if surprised on a small prairie, fleeing to the shelter of the nearest timber. If, before being run down, it should gain the trees, the chase is still continued, the horses, if necessary, jumping over the trunks of fallen trees, wombat holes, and other obstacles in their path. The kangaroos lead their pursuers over the

But to return

to the hunting-party of four. In order to have their horses fresh for the chase, they send them to the hotel a day or two before they start thither themselves in a drag or a dos-à-dos, in which they also bring guns and fishing-tackle. They arrive shortly before sundown, and just in time to behold the glories of an Australian sunset beyond a majestic forest, and one of the largest bays in the world. The locality is chosen for a threefold reason: it affords good hunting, fishing, and shooting. The bay is at their feet; the woods and marshes, alive with game of various kinds, are close by; and a ride of two miles brings the party to where kangaroos abound in vast numbers. It would be impossible to fill up the entire summer's day with hunting; no horses or men could endure the fatigue. As will presently be seen, by about ten o'clock in the forenoon of each day, men and horses come in from the chase, and are glad to seek repose until after an early dinner. Then shooting may be indulged in for two or three hours in the shade of the woods, and in the cool of the evening, fishing in the bay is found a pleasant recreation. The day's amuse

zon.