ABSTRACT
The reaction of most visitors and migrants to the Australian bush was usually one of two extremes. The ground is gently undulating; water collects in the lower spots and here magnificent waterplants grow, over which in turn attractive insects hover. The whole thing was like a wild dream. The long standing in water and the terrible fear had their consequences. Lucy put a pot of milk on top of a case beside my bed, then my cat came and sat next to my feet and we shared the milk. Many March-birds, among them the laughing bird which normally gives me so much joy, sounded their voices and beside me croaked countless frogs. ‘Ha ha ha,’ shouted the laughing bird. Was he making fun of me? ‘Ha ha ha.’ ‘Ha ha ha/ always this mocking laughter.
