opossums stripped the peach-trees of their wealth, in which labour of love
they were eagerly assisted by the flying-foxes during the night, whilst any
that had escaped these nocturnal depredators became the spoil of two or
three idle boys, who loafed about all day, seeking mischief, and, as always
happens, succeeding in finding it, even in this sequestered region. From
this it will be seen that my efforts in the direction of husbandry were
attended with some difficulty, and, despite a real liking for the animal
world, I had imbibed a holy hatred of that particular section of its
society which insisted on devouring my substance under my very nose, only
retreating to the nearest tree until my back was turned, and then resuming
operations with unblushing effrontery. By way of a mild vengeance, I had
got into the habit of coming out every morning directly I awoke, with my
gun, and easing off both barrels amongst the cockatoos, wallabies, or
whatever particular class of robbers happened to be afield at the moment --
a practice which served as a safety-valve for my injured feelings, whilst
at the same time it provided me with a cockatoo pie, or a good bowl of
kangaroo-tail soup.

Once, in my indignation at finding my palings broken down, and some
sugar-cane, that I had been most carefully rearing, rooted up and
destroyed, while the author of the mischief, a huge sow, innocent of the
restraining ring (I would have hung the ring of the 'Devastation's' best
bower-anchor to her snout, had I been allowed to follow out my wishes),
stood gloating over the havoc she had caused. Then, in my wrath, I had
hastily loaded a carbine with a handful of salt, and prematurely converted
a portion of my enemy's flank into bacon; but even this just act of
retribution was not to be accomplished without further loss to myself, for
on receipt of my hint to move on, her sowship dashed straight ahead, and
brought down a whole panel of my fence about her ears, owing to which the
village cows, which I had often observed throwing longing glances over the