Edward Shann

“ Throughout 1835 'Cattle Chosen' continued to delight its owners. In September Fanny laughs at her dear 'Tippoo's' fears about it. 'We find cause to rejoice in it daily. One year in the fertile region of "Cattle Chosen" has effected more in the way of agriculture than ages would have produced upon the vast forests of the Blackwood. The Vasse butter is unrivalled, and we anticipate in a few years an extensive and productive dairy farm.' In November Bessie Bussell rode over from Augusta with John, Vernon, Alfred, and big Dawson, a sawyer, as escort. ”

“ Few notes in a minor key, for all that, are struck in the letters that came to Augusta, by soldiers changing guard or by the overlanding members. This is one by Alfred: 'My dear Bessie, Charley has written us such a nasty exaggeration of evils that I have nothing but the horrors of ruin before me. My imagination is replete with destruction — "sale of houses, land, horses, cows," — "separation, misery" — "we are eaten up by disorganization" — "our family must be brought together in some way to prevent the expense of two establishments," "The Governor will not aid us." ”

“ Bussell's passing visit in the 'Ellen' on her way to Augusta, John Bussell and a native boy came upon the tracks of cattle half a mile above the house. 'Yungera, yungerunga', cried the boy, 'a cow and a calf'! No further trace was found until on the 28th, the day of the Lady Mamma's visit. Within half an hour of her coming, Yulika walked into the farm with a yearling heifer. [4] 'Was it not singular', comments Fanny to Capel Carter (21st October 1834) , 'that our long truant Yulika should have walked into their farm at the Vasse on the very day that Mamma paid them her passing visit. ”

“ Our sitting-room is a well-sized and well-proportioned room which we are gradually rendering comfortable and civilized. The walls of wattle and daub have been most beautifully plastered, so that not a crack is visible. ”

“ Before Charles's time to return overland to his official duties at Augusta, all the stores had been transported up the Vasse by boat to the selected site, a store had been erected, and a new house was well under construction. A time of strenuous building, well-sinking and gardening enabled the little group to weather in relative comfort the wet season, of whose breaking the storm at their landing was the sign. On the 9 July John found time to write to his mother: 'We are now comfortably settled in four small cottages. ”

“ The spirits of the party at Augusta must have been raised by each packet of letters brought overland from the Vasse group. 'As the Vasse is only sixty miles from Augusta', wrote Fanny to Uncle John Bussell at Henley, 'we have frequent visits from the different members of our infant colony. A walk of two days and a night in the bush is compensated by a short spell of home society.'
Later, when the family was re-united, Fanny was to learn of some trying privations experienced during that first winter on the Vasse. ”

“ The room upstairs forms a dormitory for all the females of the family. The windows command on one side a pleasant view of the river, with the country in its unredeemed state, which is so completely parklike that you would scarcely believe that a year and ten months only have elapsed since the improving hand of the European was first extended over its glades. ”

“ We began rolling things clear of high water. The boat's crew and Captain Toby wished us goodbye, but not without receiving the hearty thanks of all hands round. He went on board and was very sorry he could not stop and assist us up with the goods. He wanted us to come on board and dine, but we refused. An hour afterwards he was under sail, and we lost sight of the "Ellen", about an hour before sunset. The native which I mentioned took Alfred, Dawson and myself to show us a native well. The other natives who were there did not like the look of us. ”

“ John, Vernon and Alfred slept in the tent with Phœbe. Charles and Dawson pitched a sort of a tent with the sails. I rigged the truck with my hammock, and it kept the rain off beautifully. It blew, rained, thundered and lightened tremendously. Most of them got wet a little. Charles and Dawson were the worst off, but fortunately Charley slept so well he knew nothing about it. [2] Charles, Vernon, Alfred, and Dawson, with the soldiers, were employed, after finishing the road, in putting up a hut for the stores. After finishing the truck, John and myself walked to see how they got on with the hut. ”

“ The natives took us exactly to the place. We got one and returned to the well, leaving the natives on the beach. We enlarged it, waited till it got full, and then filled the breaker. Dawson carried it home, but not without getting wet from the shoulders to the shoes, through our not having a bung. When we returned we found John had Phœbe's tent fixed. We all stayed there that night. She made some dough-boys, and we had some pork for supper, which was very acceptable, for we had not eaten anything since the morning, when we breakfasted on the "Ellen." ”

“ We are the most thriving, though the most infant part of the colony. Look at our garden, our cows! How fat they are! pretty things! Their udders are twice as big as any other cows'. They are all in calf and will increase. If they do not there is a Jonah among us, and we will oust him after trial by Bible and key. ”

“ Had we from the beginning of our career been the possessors of two cows, forty sheep and two mares, and had our success been tolerable, we should by this time have had at our disposal flocks and herds. ”

“ Found it getting too dark to make out the road. Returned, but not without some alarm, as we heard the barking of dogs, and were afraid they were hurt by the natives. It proved to be Mr. Chapman's pups. The party came from the hut; we had some wheat-coffee, pork and bread. ”