Monday 6th January 1873 Mr John Hawkins Farm Coghills Creek Victoria Australia
...What a narrow escape I had from being bitten by a big black snake. I was binding...and the reptile crept out from the swathe. If I had been in haste I could not avoid being bitten…I called the binders then, but neither would go near it, I ran for a big stone and soon dispatched it... - Joseph Jenkins
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Monday the 6th of January 1873
Mr John Hawkins
Farm Cog-
Hills Creek
Victoria
Australia
Up early. The sun appeared but
was soon lost in a thick and a
cold mist....from W. S. W.
We were ordered to go and stack wheat
we had a good dunking. The sheaves were
wet. I was called to cover the haystack
the wind breeze southward when it
cleared up, we went to reap and bind
O what a narrow escape I had
from being bitten by a bitten by a big black
snake. I was binding and within
few yards to the reaper. The snake
was under the swathe, or rather
in it as I had the band in my
hand under it and the big reptile
crept out from the
swathe. If I was in haste, I could
not avoid being bitten, It bended
its curves to the growing crop. Nothing
was at hand to kill it. It was too
strong to head upon. I called the
binders then but neither would go
near it, I ran for a big stone and
soon dispatched it. After it was killed
many wanted to show it that
there was a punishment after death. It
was 4 feet 7 inches long.
Tuesday the 7th of January 1873
Coghills Creek
Mr John Hawkins
Farm
Up as usual and in for
breakfast. We did finish
to reap and bind on this
farm. At dinner time it was ... and
dry with moderate gale from S. S. E
...of more dry weather, but very
cold at this season of the year. After
dinner we went to reap and bind
Paddy the workman’s wheat
about 6 acres of healthy looking
crop. It blows a .....gale
and it is chilly cold. We did not finish.
Wednesday the 8th of January 1873
Coghills Creek
Mr John Hawkins
Farm
Up at the appearance of the
Sun. Three of us were paid off
this morning. Harry the ... is here
with me yet. Dry and windy, we went
to Paddy’s place to finish his wheat
we were only two binding after
the reaper which was cutting to
and fro. Cold with stiff westernly
breeze. We have finished by now
and went over to Mr Hawkins
farm. We began to cut in. I was
stacking. Harry was paid off
this afternoon. I will be the next.
Too many are out of work and
the wages are low. Farmers are
not in hurry. No hot wind... [END OF PAGE]
Detail
Encounter with a snake
extract from Joseph Jenkins' Diaries
Monday 6th January 1873
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