As one digs deeper and deeper into Australian history, and especially manuscripts and rare books, there surfaces some extraordinary writings. Some are by established authors and many are simple folk, mostly eager and often disillusioned emigrants, who wanted to record their stories. As a folklorist I use this site as a 'sort of' filing system and this section offers a taste of jottings relevant to my particular interest in tradition. Some of the most interesting are from diaries and scrapbooks by bushmen and women. Letters to loved ones are also a fascinating insight into pioneer life.

A QUEENSLANDER'S TRAVEL NOTES

910.4/5 A G Stephens. 1894
Being Stephen's world trip to the World fair in Chicago, NY, London etc.

Toast:
appears on first page and is a variant of the known toast

To the west, to the west, to the land of the free
Where the mighty mosquito is loud in his glee.

He mentions being near Wallangarra Station and staying overnight in a shanty pub where he fell asleep to the sound of the Prince Imperial Polka.

IMPERIAL CAMP SONGS AND RECITATIONS

A821/S
W H Stephens ñ collected by
1914
Joke. The returned army man applied for a job as cook.
ìCan you cook hash?î the boss enquired.
ìStruth noî, said the soldier, ìYou don't make hash ñ it accumulates.î

EXTRACTS FROM HOLT'S MEMOIRS

Book: Mitchell library, Sydney

Flogging Of Paddy Galvin

Flogging Of Maurice Fitzgerald (on Holt's arrival)

JAMES O'BRYAN, "THE INFORMER." Jem Stag Tune: The Bowspirit of Wapping