In four months from the time the 'Thistle'
left Launceston she had on board two hundred and forty tuns of oil.
In the year 1836, the Hentys had a few cattle running behind the
Bluff when Major Mitchell arrived overland from Sydney, and reported
good country to the north. They then brought over more cattle from
Launceston, and stocked a station.
The first beast killed by the Hentys for their whalers was a heifer,
and the carcase, divided into two parts, was suspended from the
flagstaff at their house. It could be seen from afar by the men who
were pulling across the bay in their boats, and they knew that
Henty's men were going to feed on fresh meat, while all the rest were
eating such awful stuff as Yankee pork and salt horse. The very
sight of the two sides of the heifer suspended at the flagstaff was
an unendurable insult and mockery to the carnivorous whalers, and an
incitement to larceny. Davy Fermaner was steering one of the boats,
and he exclaimed: "There, they are flashing the fresh meat to us.
They would look foolish if they lost it to-night."
There was feasting and revelry that night at Single Corner. Hungry
men were sharpening their sheath-knives with steel, and cutting up a
side of beef. A large fire was burning, and on the glowing coals,
and in every frying-pan rich steaks were fizzing and hissing.
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