Seven Years in the Australian Bush

by James B. Stevenson

Overview

"Seven Years in the Australian Bush...was widely read in Australia and the British Islands. Throughout his life Mr. Stevenson bore the scars of the spear wounds inflicted by the savage natives of the northern parts of Australia." Hilo Daily Tribune, Dec. 14, 1921

In the 1860's James Stevenson emigrated to Queensland, Australia, and found work as a "stockman" (cowboy) on the "cattle station" (ranch) of a "squatter" who had a large extent of land in the "bush" ( scrubland) along the Upper Burdekin river.

In 1880, Stevenson described his adventurous life as a stockman herding "mobs" of cattle in the Australian outback in his book "Seven Years in the Australian Bush."

Stevenson would have many run-ins with the Aborigine inhabitants of the bush, including ransoming several captives:

"Two of the boat's party advanced undercover of the guns of the others, taking the presents with them. These they laid down beside the man, and, lifting him up, began their retreat to the boat. Before they reached it, however, the blacks seemed to regret their bargain, for they came forward in numbers with their spears raised, and evidently intended to prevent the embarkation. It was a critical moment. Just as the men reached the boat a rush was made..."

Another time while herding stock, Stevenson "heard in front of me, and in the scrub on one side, a most hideous yelling, just as if two hundred native dogs were congregated in one spot and were trying which could howl the loudest. I rode over at a gallop towards the edge of the scrub, from whence the sound proceeded. I had about reached the spot, when just in front of me up sprung a black fellow in full war paint, with his spear drawn back, and ready to throw. 'Yau, Yau,' he cried in horrified tones ...."

Spears were not the only weapon favored by the local Aborigines, as he relates:

"The silence was suddenly broken by the cracking of a dry stick upon the ridge opposite us. we heard a hissing, whizzing noise close over our heads, and something struck a rock behind us with great force. J— jumped to his feet, and got behind a tree, exclaiming a boomerang, the blacks are upon us!'"

Aborigines sometimes caused landslides:

"Whish came a smaller stone and struck the rock close to us. Then bump, bump, and a whole avalanche of boulders were leaping down upon us. Among the scrubby trees at the opposite side, we could see some blacks very busy. We sprung up the side as fast as we could, thus escaping the avalanche, but still exposed to the shower of small stones...."

In describes a boxing match between kangaroos, Stevenson writes:

"We suddenly came upon an open glade, in the centre of which a novel sight presented itself. About 30 or 40 kangaroos of all sizes, were seated upon their haunches in a circle, forming a regular ring. In the centre were two old fellows squaring up to each other. We planted ourselves behind a giant mahogany, and silently watched them. They shaped and squared in the most orthodox style, hopping round each other, now and then making a feint, and sometimes succeeding in planting a blow on each others' heads. At last they closed, and a fierce tussle ensued..."

Dingoes were a constant nuisance, as Stevenson found:

"The native dogs were very numerous, and kept up a continual howling all round my camp. I did not mind them much, as I had never known them attack a man. I was awakened by a tugging at the saddle under my head. Opening my eyes, I saw by the indistinct starlight the head of a huge dingo within a few inches of my own. With a yell, I started up. The dog retreated a few paces, and then stopped, at the same time setting up a howl, in which he was joined by a number of others.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940185588406
Publisher:	Far West Travel Adventure
Publication date:	08/21/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	419 KB

About the Author

James Bristow Stevenson was born al the family estate, Knocken, near Belfast, Ireland, and he wa3 78 years of age at the time of his death in 1921. For, the past quarter of a century before his death he was an official of the Sydney Harbor Trust, before that being for many years with the Bank of New South Wales as manager of branches and as chief accountant of the head office in Sydney. Mr. Stevenson in his younger days was an explorer, and with William and John Hand, the noted Australian explorers, in 1864, first ventured into what is known as the "Gulf Country" in the region of the Gulf of Carpentaria, away up in the north of Australia. It was when with this expedition that Mr. Stevenson gathered the material for his book, "Seven. Years in the Australian Bush," was widely read in Australia and the British Islands. Throughout his life Mr. Stevenson bore the scars of spear wounds inflicted by the savage natives of the northern part of Australia. He was a noted horseman in his young days and both on the flat and over the steeplechase courses he won many a victory.

Editorial Reviews

"Seven Years in the Australian Bush...was widely read in Australia and the British Islands. Throughout his life Mr. Stevenson bore the scars of the spear wounds inflicted by the savage natives of the northern parts of Australia."

Hilo Daily Tribune, Dec. 14, 1921 - N/A