196_276962567510749796536750399772704617124

191

[This page crossed through.]

[Crossed through - Sunday Novr. 12th]

previously asked permission to do so we ordered [indecipherable] backsides kicked before they had a chance about 20
of them remained. McLarty speaks well of the country is glad to meet with someone who believes in it
in fact fellows here McLarty and Cornish, speak very opposite to Riley, McDermott and others.
It will take me several days to keep up this diary and make out my [indecipherable[. Sid talks about
getting a black boy here. Pearling seems to be very profitable at Kings Sound and it would be a good thing
for Mr. Emanuel to go in for small farm and get blacks.
The pearling season is from September to April then you bind blacks as servants for 12
months when they are given a share so you can have them whenever you wish to, that is the way and
so the law [?] is evaded. The payment is merely nominal. The blacks cost you about 2/-
for every 22 you put by as profit for yourself so I have heard it said. Slept out in the
open air last night as usual instead of in the shed as others did. Josey also slept out.
Later in the night Old Tom came prowling about. Josey and I had a conversation about him at the last
camping place and Josey said he would not have believed he was such a treacherous old fellow who was at once so selfish
and who acted as such a bad advisor to Sid, and did little. He had overheard so many
things said when it was thought that he was asleep that he had been obliged to come to the conclusion that Old
Tom was a thoroughly abusive old rascal. And he had such a way of doing or insinuating
things such a crafty way. I notice since we have come to this station that Kilfoyle thrusts
himself forward a good deal but I do not think that will serve his purpose much hereafter.
He is so frightfully ignorant and was obviously stupid about things beyond his experience
from panic.