th that gentleman's services.

He had obtained his office by favour of a minister at home for
services rendered at an election. His salary was 900 pounds per
annum. The next inspector received the same salary. He was brother
or brother-in-law to a bishop, and had many ancestors and relatives
of high degree. Philip foolishly showed him a few nuggets which he
had picked up in Picaninny Gully, and the inspector showed Philip the
letter by which he had obtained his appointment and 900 pounds a
year. It was only a couple of lines written and signed by a certain
lord in London, but it was equivalent to an order for a billet on the
government of Victoria. Then the inspector said he would feel
extremely obliged to Philip if he would give him one of his little
nuggets that he might send it to my lord as a present, and Philip at
once handed over his biggest nugget. Little amenities of this kind
make life so pleasant. My lord would be pleased to receive the
nugget, the inspector was pleased to send it, and Philip said "it
cannot be bribery and corruption, but this inspector being a
gentleman will be friendly. When he mentions me and my school in his
report he cannot possibly forget the nugget."

Barney, the boozer, one day visited the school. He opened the door
and stood on the threshold. His eyes seemed close together, and
there was a long red scar on his bare neck, where he had on a former
occasion cut his throat. All the scholars were afraid of Barney, and
the girls climbed up on the benches and began to scream.

Philip went up to the Boozer and said:

"Well, my friend, what do you want here?"

"The devil knows," replied Barney.

"Very likely, but he is not here, he has gone down the road."

Then taking Barney by the arm he turned him round and guided him to
the road. Barney went about twenty yards until he came to a pool of
water. He stepped on to the fence and sat on the top rail gazing
into the pool. At last he threw his hat into it, then his boots,
coat, shirt, and trousers. When he was quite naked, he stamped on
his clothes until they were thoroughly soaked and buried in mud.
Barney then resumed his search for the devil, swinging his arms to
and fro in a free and defiant manner.

The school was also visited by a bishop, a priest, a squatter, and a
judge. The dress and demeanour of the judge were very impressive at
so great a distance from any centre of civilization, for he wore a
tall beaver hat,