mounted, and all our luggage consisted of my little travelling-bag
fastened to the pommel of my saddle, containing our brushes and
combs, and what is termed a "swag" in front of F---'s saddle; that
is, a long narrow bundle, in this instance enclosed in a neat
waterproof case, and fastened with two straps to the "D's," which
are steel loops let in in four places to all colonial saddles, for
the purpose of carrying blankets, etc.; they derive their name
apparently from their resemblance to the letter. In this parcel our
most indispensable garments were tightly packed. We cantered gaily
along on the way to Christchurch, the horses appearing to enjoy the
delicious air and soft springy turf as much as we did. There was a
river and half-a-dozen creeks to be crossed; but they are all quite
low at this time of year. As we stood in one of them to let the
horses drink and cool their legs, I saw a huge eel hidden under the
shadow of a high overhanging bank, waiting till the evening to come
out and feed upon the myriads of flies and little white moths that
skim over the surface of the water.

It is considered a great advantage to our station that there is only
the river Selwyn (of which the Maori name is the Wai-kiri-kiri)
between us and town, not only for our own convenience, but because
it is easy to take sheep across it, and it offers no difficulties to
the wool drays. This river has a very good reputation, and is very
rarely dangerous to cross; whereas the Rakaia and the Rangitata
towards the south, and the Waimakiriri towards the north, of
Christchurch, are most difficult, and always liable to sudden
freshes. The general mode of crossing the larger rivers is by a
boat, with the horse swimming behind; but accidents constantly occur
from the foolhardiness of people attempting to ford them alone on
horseback: they are lost in quicksands, or carried down by the