ably
in arrear; and stores and provisions were sent up only in small
quantities and of an inferior quality. At length, a letter arrived from
the agent, directing them to send produce to Sydney, to meet certain
heavy liabilities. As wool was not forthcoming, they were to boil down
both cattle and sheep, to dismiss a large number of the men, and to
practise the most rigid economy. The requisite boilers and casks for
the tallow soon afterwards arrived. It was most disagreeable and
painful work. Flock after flock of sheep were driven in and
slaughtered; the carcases were put into the cauldrons, the fat was
packed in the casks, and the hides roughly dried; while the meat, which
might have fed thousands of the starving poor in the old country, was
allowed, of necessity, to rot uselessly on the ground. Theirs was no
solitary instance of the consequence of want of capital to carry on
business, for such was the condition to which the greater number of
squatters throughout the colony were reduced. Fortunately, tallow and
hides were in demand, and realised high prices, and thus many of the
settlers were soon able to get out of their difficulties, though left
with sadly diminished flocks and herds. The Gilpins and their overseer,
Craven, spared no exertion to save, as far as possible, the loss of
property. One day Arthur had gone in search of some cattle, which had
strayed among the range of mountains to the west. After looking for
them in vain, he was returning, annoyed and out of spirits, when he
observed a stream issuing from the side of a hill, with the banks on
either side encrusted with a glittering white substance. He tasted it,
and found it perfectly salt. Collecting a pocketful, he returned home
with his spirits completely revived. All the party were of opinion that
it was a salt spring; that others would be found in the neighbourhood;
and that salt could be manufactured with which the meat, which was now
lost, might be preserved either for sale or for future consumption. The
next morning they eagerly set out for the spot. They were not
disappointed. Other springs were found. By evaporation alone, a small
supply could be procured; and with some simple apparatus they hoped to
produce as much as they would require. A cauldron and some pans were
sent up, and after a few experiments they succeeded to their
satisfaction; and they were able to send into Sydney, with the next
dray-load of tallow, a cask of salted