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080 BRYANT'S RANGES Charles Thatcher

1. Oh, what a curious world is this,
So various in its changes:
I'm now alluding to the rush
Down there on Bryant's Ranges;
he diggers are all hastening there,
As fast as they are able,
With tent and pick and puddling tub,
And dish and spade and cradle.

Chorus: Bow, wow, wow,
Tol-de-rol-de ri-de-i-de,
Bow, wow, wow.

2. Golden Square is out of town,
Their tents away, they've collared;
Kang'roo Gully's gone sometime,
And Eagle Hawk has followed.
Dead Horse Flat looks dead indeed,
Their tools away they've carted,
And Ironbark some days ago
With Sydenham Gully started.

3. The White Hills now appear quite blue,
There's few left in that quarter,
Sailor's Gully's short of hands,
But Long Gully is much shorter;
And on Commissioner's Flat as well,
A very striking change is
And all the world is hastening
To the rush on Bryant's Ranges.

4. Sheepshead now has lost its jaw,
So many have departed;
Job's Gully out of patience got,
And with old Tinpot started.
Pegleg's given us leg bail,
And what a deal more strange is,
Old Blatherskyte has paid his debts,
And gone to Bryant's Ranges.

5. Mother Hicks, that sells sly grog,
Went away on Sunday,
Sold right out, and sent back for
A cart load more on Monday;
And Timmy Timkins, who you know,
Lives just about close handy,
Has started with a dray load full
Of whiskey, gin and brandy.

6. When I went to work this blessed day,
On the spot where I'm located,
My driving pick and puddling tub
Had both absquatulated.
I found my cradle gone as well,
Says I, "Confound these changes;
No doubt, my tools are in full work,
Down there on Bryant's Ranges."

7. Well, let those rush away that like,
I'm game to bet a fiver
That I'll not rush and lose the tin
I once did at McIvor;
I'll get good information first,
Before I make my changes,
And if it turns out well, why then ...
Here's off to Bryant's Ranges!

verse 6 - Absquatulated verb (used without object), ab·squat·u·lat·ed, ab·squat·u·lat·ing. Slang. to flee; abscond: The old prospector absquatulated with our picks and shovel.