this time the drays were seen making their approach; and great was
instantly the bustle in preparation for the reception of the "loading."
The articles which constitute a station's "supplies" are of such a
kaleidoscopic variety, that their enumeration would almost be endless;
and we will merely observe that the heterogeneous mass was safely, and
speedily, transferred from the dray to the ground, whence it was
deposited in the store. Various edibles; and their condiments such as
tea, sugar, flour, oilman's stores, etc., were successively unpacked and
stowed away; and everything appeared to be sound, until it was
discovered that the salt, which had been placed in the bottom of the
dray, was unfortunately damaged; it had, in fact, during its submersion
in the water "dissolved," and

"Like the baseless fabric of a vision,
Left not a rack behind."

Such events as this are of frequent occurrence; and, where the
opportunities of procuring supplies are very rare, severe are the
straits, and numerous the inconveniences, to which residents in the
interior are subjected. After long and continued wet or dry weather,
when travelling is rendered difficult or impossible, from the country
being impassable by floods, or impracticable from drought and absence of
feed, settlers in the remote districts are often reduced to states
bordering on absolute starvation, or at least to a subsistence on meat,
without any concomitant "fixins." When such cases occur, which we are
happy to say is seldom, the squatters lend to one another the articles
most in demand, until they either all become destitute of provisions, or
are relieved by the receipt of a fresh supply. But articles that are not
in every day consumption, and not considered of paramount importance,
they are frequently compelled to do without for months; and so
accustomed do they become to this species of self-denial, that the
absence of many things is thought very little of. Salt, however, is an
article indispensable on a station; for the greater portion of the meat
consumed is required to be salted, to preserve it in the hot weather;
while it is also frequently necessary, on some stations, to supply it to
the sheep and cattle. For this purpose, rock salt is usually provided;
but, in its absence, the ordinary coarse salt is put into small canvas
bags, and suspended from trees, that the cattle may satisfy their saline
cravings by licking the moisture, which, from the nightly de