KILLING A WILD
SOW--ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH.

I passed nearly a year at Highfield, during which time I made myself
acquainted with all the routine of a sheep-farmer's life. I learned to
ride stock, shoe horses, shear sheep, plough, fence, fell and split
timber, and everything else that an experienced squatter ought to be
able to do, not omitting the accomplishment of smoking. Mr. Lee then
offered me what he had offered C----, and I agreed to accept it pending
a visit I meditated making to Christchurch to consult my friend Mr.
Gresson about a desire I entertained of entering the Government Land
Office and to become a surveyor.

I had done my best to like the life of a sheep-farmer, but I was
becoming weary of it, and something was always prompting me to seek for
more congenial employment. So far as stockriding, pig-hunting, and
shooting were concerned, the life was delightful, but such recreations
could be enjoyed anywhere. To sheep and sheep-farming I conceived a
growing aversion as a life's work, and although I was prepared to hold
to it if nothing better to my mind presented itself, I was equally
determined to find something else if it were possible.

Mr. Lee had three shepherds at this time in charge of flocks, who
resided in different places at least four miles from each other and from
the home station. Two of these were the sons of gentlemen in the Old
Country, and one of them a distant relation. The life of the boundary
shepherd is a peculiarly lonely one, especially if he be young and
single. His residence is a little one-roomed hut, sometimes two rooms,
built of mud and thatched with grass, an earthen floor, with a large
chimney and fireplace occupying one end. His furniture consists of a
table, bunk, and a couple of chairs, and if he be an educated man and
fond of reading he will have a table for his books and writing
materials. He is supplied monthly with a sack of flour and a bag of tea
and sugar, salt, etc. His cooking utensils are a kettle, camp oven, and
frying pan, to which are added a few plates, knives and forks, and two
or three tin porringers. He always possesses at least one dog and a
horse, and possibly a cat. The only light is that procured from what is
called a slush lamp, made by keeping an old bowl or pannikin replenished
by refuse fat or dripping in which is inserted a thick cotton wick. He
cooks for himself, washes his own clothes, cuts up his firewood, and
fetches water for daily us