At the very large stations in this district there were usually a number of aborigines camped on the property.  There was a permanent group at Yancannia station, as it was one of the very few places in the western district of New South Wales where the aborigines of bygone days could survive, because there was a constant water supply.  There were only about four places with permanent water in the whole area west of the River  Darling, except along the Paroo River.  One waterhole was at Depot Glen, Mount Poole,  which the aborigines called  Currawilpa.  They could survive for quite a number of months in very dry times, where the carvings are at Mootwingee.  The reason for the carvings and hand stencils is quite obvious. The aborigines  did not have to go hunting, as they would wait for the animals to come in for water, then would spear them.  While waiting all day for kangaroos to come to the rockholes the aborigines would occupy their time with paintings and rock carvings. The following figures give some idea of the size of southern Queensland sheep stations at the turn of the century: Manuka station 110,000 sheep, 30 shearers, 27 rouseabouts;  Kayrunnera 120,000 to 150,000 sheep, 30 shearers but 40 rouseabouts.  There is a reason for this variation. Some stations scoured only their stained fleeces of wool, while others scoured the whole clip.  Yancannia used to do this, and when they had scoured, dried and baled the wool, it was ready for the mills.  Ondurua  had 130,000 sheep, 40 shearers, 40 rousabouts (they called them “shed hands’ now ); Bowen Downs, 170,000 sheep, 70 shearers, 50 rouseabouts;  Wellshot and Cooma – martin, 175,000 sheep, 100 shearers 100 rouseabout – there were 200 excluding station hands on that station; Marathon, 200, 000sheep, 50 shearers, 60 rouseabouts;  Isa Down 150,000 sheep, 64 shearers,50  rouseabouts.  There are no sheep stations of that size those day – that was before the country was divided up. In the first instance, particularly the Western Lands blocks in Western New South Wales, the lease was granted for 40 years or thereabout and, after that time , one third of the property was resumed for closer settlement. And that is what we find today  –  many so – called  “sheep stations” are really “ selections”. A station stockman had to have proper equipment – a horse and saddle were supplied by the station, a quart – pot was hung on the side of the saddle, there was a waterbag in front, and finally there was the stockwhip – that was the setup for a station hand.  Clothing consisted of moleskin trousers, a blue shirt and elastic – sided boots.  The reason for the elastic – sided boots was that, if a horseman was thrown, he could slip out of the stirrup irons.  With lace – up boots, his foot was likely to be caught. The cook rose at 6.30 a.m. and rang the bell, then the station hands got out of bed.  By 7 o’clock it was breakfast – time – it took him half an hour to prepare  it, and took us half an hour to get ready – and we would have our meal in the kitchen.  By 7.30 we were at the stockyard.  One of the jackaroos, or the junior overseer, would arrive and allocate the work for that particular day.  I have dealt only with the main station, but there were also “out – stations”, for example, Fowler’s Gap was an outstation for Corona, which was a very large property.  In addition, there were boundary riders’ huts twenty miles or so from the head station, which had to be visited.  Their job was to look after a number of paddocks (usually 100 square mile blocks, or 64,000 acres each).  Then there was the general mustering camp which moved from place to place, shifting stock .  We would work six days a week when at the station and, on Sunday, would do our washing and mending.  I was not old enough to receive a man’s wage, so I was paid ten shillings a week, which meant I had to work                                                CONTINUE