Beyond
These Trifles I Noticed No Yankeeism, And The Conversation Was English
In Point Of Expression.
I was rather startled at hearing one gentleman
ask another whether he meant to wash this year, and receive the answer
"No." I soon discovered that a person's sheep are himself.
If his
sheep are clean, he is clean. He does not wash his sheep before
shearing, but he washes; and, most marvellous of all, it is not his
sheep which lamb, but he "lambs down" himself.
* * *
I have purchased a horse, by name Doctor. I hope he is a homoeopathist.
He is in colour bay, distinctly branded P. C. on the near shoulder. I
am glad the brand is clear, for, as you well know, all horses are alike
to me unless there is some violent distinction in their colour. This
horse I bought from - , to whom Mr. FitzGerald kindly gave me a letter
of introduction. I thought I could not do better than buy from a person
of known character, seeing that my own ignorance is so very great upon
the subject. I had to give 55 pounds, but, as horses are going, that
does not seem much out of the way. He is a good river-horse, and very
strong. A horse is an absolute necessity in this settlement; he is your
carriage, your coach, and your railway train.
On Friday I went to Port Lyttelton, meeting on the way many of our late
fellow-passengers - some despondent, some hopeful; one or two dinnerless
and in the dumps when we first encountered them, but dinnered and
hopeful when we met them again on our return. We chatted with and
encouraged them all, pointing out the general healthy, well-conditioned
look of the residents. Went on board. How strangely changed the ship
appeared! Sunny, motionless, and quiet; no noisy children, no
slatternly, slipshod women rolling about the decks, no slush, no washing
of dirty linen in dirtier water. There was the old mate in a clean
shirt at last, leaning against the mainmast, and smoking his yard of
clay; the butcher close - shaven and clean; the sailors smart, and
welcoming us with a smile. It almost looked like going home. Dined in
Lyttelton with several of my fellow-passengers, who evidently thought it
best to be off with the old love before they were on with the new, i.e.
to spend all they brought with them before they set about acquiring a
new fortune. Then went and helped Mr. and Mrs. R. to arrange their new
house, i.e. R. and I scrubbed the floors of the two rooms they have
taken with soap, scrubbing-brushes, flannel, and water, made them
respectably clean, and removed his boxes into their proper places.
Saturday. - Rode again to port, and saw my case of saddlery still on
board. When riding back the haze obscured the snowy range, and the
scenery reminded me much of Cambridgeshire. The distinctive marks which
characterise it as not English are the occasional Ti palms, which have a
very tropical appearance, and the luxuriance of the Phormium tenax.
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