I believe that Bourke and Wills found Hungerford, and it's a pity they
did; but, if I ever stand by the graves of the men who first travelled
through this country, when there were neither roads nor stations, nor
tanks, nor bores, nor pubs, I'll--I'll take my hat off. There were
brave men in the land in those days.

It is said that the explorers gave the district its name chiefly
because of the hunger they found there, which has remained there ever
since. I don't know where the "ford" comes in--there's nothing to
ford, except in flood-time. Hungerthirst would have been better. The
town is supposed to be situated on the banks of a river called the
Paroo, but we saw no water there, except what passed for it in a tank.
The goats and sheep and dogs and the rest of the population drink
there. It is dangerous to take too much of that water in a raw state.

Except in flood-time you couldn't find the bed of the river without
the aid of a spirit-level and a long straight-edge. There is a
Custom-house against the fence on the northern side. A pound of tea
often costs six shillings on that side, and you can get a common lead
pencil for fourpence at the rival store across the street in the
mother province. Also, a small loaf of sour bread sells for a
shilling at the humpy aforementioned. Only about sixty per cent of
the sugar will melt.

We saw one of the storekeepers give a dead-beat swagman five
shillings' worth of rations to take him on into Queensland. The
storekeepers often do this, and put it down on the loss side of their
books. I hope the recording angel listens, and puts it down on the
right side of his book.