|
DROVE ROADS
Many years ago the inhabitants of Europe drove large herds of cattle along broad
grassy tracks which came to be known as 'drove roads'. Sometimes they traveled
a long way in search of fresh pasture when their own land was not
rich enough
for their cattle to be fattened on. Sometimes they were going to distant markets
when there were not enough rich people locally to buy their meat. The earliest
routes followed the dry, high land, avoiding swamps and the danger of surprise
attack. Later, the tracks ran along lower ground when people had settled at those
levels and where springs were to be found.
Although large numbers of men and boys helped to drive the cattle, the true
drover was the man with the overall responsibility to the owners. He had to take
complete charge of the animals for the length of the journey. He alone was made
answerable for large sums of money which came from the sale of the cows, and
which he would eventually hand over to the owners. He was also answerable for
any misbehavior of his men; for example, he prevented them from being cruel
to the cattle, an offence which could mean imprisonment.
This movement of animals took place over vast distances - often hundreds of kilometers
- and required much organization, which was the sole responsibility of the
drover. A constant worry was providing sufficient quantities of food for the
hungry cattle, which needed enormous amounts of fodder to sustain them through-
out their journey. It was like feeding an army-except that the drover had no
wagon train loaded with supplies to feed his 'army' of cattle; he had to rely
on* the food that could be found along the way. He also showed great skill in maneuvering these herds which sometimes numbered as many as 200 animals,
often spread out over considerable distances. Frequently, he had to ride ahead on
horseback to check the wandering instinct of the cattle, redirecting them along
the right track, or follow behind to urge them on or bring back stragglers which
had got left behind. He had to be particularly careful that the cattle did not stray
into private land to feed. Such trespass could be punished by the cattle being
driven into a fenced enclosure by the landowner until the drover had paid for any
damage they had done. Then, too, he had to be on the look-out for farms which
lay on his route and blow a horn to warn the farmer of his approach, so that the
farmer would have ample time to prepare. Imagine the confusion if the farmer's
own cattle were to get mixed up with the traveling herd! Many hours would be
spent in sorting them out and quarrels would break out over disputed ownership.
Controlling a large herd was sometimes a dangerous job. Cattle are easily
frightened by sudden loud noises. For instance, a herd crossing a wooden bridge
in which the planks rattled noisily would break away in uncontrollable panic
and it would take hours to calm and reassemble them. The drover also had to
cope with bands of robbers who might violently attack him for his money or drive
off some of his cattle.
But it was the actual handling of the cattle that called for his greatest skill. He
had to have an intimate knowledge of the temperament of his animals in order
to judge how far and how fast to drive them. They must not be overdriven, for it
was essential that they reach their market in prime condition. Rest days would
therefore be necessary, because there would be keen competition between drovers
arriving at an important market to get the best prices from the butchers, who
could quickly assess the condition of the animals.
A drover needed close knowledge of the country through which he traveled,
some of which was very wild and gave cover to robbers. If possible, he avoided
the hard roads, which injured the cattle's feet, and their toll-gates where travelers
had to pay money to pass through. He chose the broad green tracks. Along these
the herd could move in safety, sometimes foraging through the scrub on either
side, or sometimes stopping to graze. Above all a drover had to have honesty,
endurance, patience, and courage. The progress of the cattle could be wearisomely
slow, mainly because of their enormous appetites, and normally they traveled
only about ten kilometers a day. At night, whatever the weather, the drover
usually slept rough with the cattle.
The droves of cattle passing along the same routes every year influenced the
life and industries of the land they crossed. At various points, tanneries could be
found where hides were prepared for the tradesmen working in leather. As the
animals were fitted with 'shoes' to ease the wear on their soft hooves, blacksmiths
set up their forges to make thousands of iron shoes ready for the cattle that were
to come their way. As droving was 'thirsty work', many villagers living along the
route found that selling drink became a profitable business.
At times, the men would drink too much and offend the disapproving country-folk, but
generally they were popular and their arrival would be welcomed, for
they brought letters or news-sometimes of great events like famous victories or
natural disasters. Their highly colored tales of the outside world were especially
welcome in isolated communities and encouraged some of the bolder spirits to
leave in search of fame and fortune. Sometimes the drover would pay rent for a
field in which his men and cattle could stay for the night. The grass was usually
closely bitten down by morning but, as a result of being heavily manured, the
field was soon very fertile. Farmers willing to put up herds for the night
sometimes planted clumps of high trees close to their farmhouses at a point
visible a long way off. Local people, attracted by the shouting of the men and
the bellowing of the animals, would often help to guide in the cattle; they were
also, no doubt, encouraged to do so because the head drover usually bought
helpers plenty of beer.
The drovers' lives were not all hardship. There was variety in their journeys.
They could satisfy their curiosity and their love of being constantly on the move.
There were frequent changes of scenery and unexpected adventures on the way.
Sometimes, too, they would arrive in a village where a celebration was
in
progress. And always they were conscious of their special
skills which they
brought to their task and which set them above ordinary villagers. The cattle were
an impressive sight as the huge herds moved slowly over the hillsides-and a
beautiful one when, scattered over a large field, they grazed peacefully in the
fading evening light.
|
| |
|
| |
Questions |
| |
|
| |
|
|
From paragraph 1 : |
| |
1. |
(a) |
Why was it necessary for the men to drive their cattle long distances ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(b) |
In this paragraph the word 'rich' is used in two different contexts. |
| |
|
|
(i) What does 'rich' mean in pink ? |
| |
|
|
(ii) What does 'rich' mean in blue ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(c) |
Why is it dangerous for the drovers to go near swamps ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(d) |
What is the advantage of a high route when faced with a 'surprise
attack' ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(e) |
Later the tracks were along lower ground where 'people had settled' and
'where springs were to be found'. What two benefits would the drovers
gain from this ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
From paragraph 2 : |
| |
|
(f) |
Quote the sentence that tells us the drover was responsible for the
conduct of his men. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(g) |
Quote the phrase that tells us the drover was responsible for financial
matters. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
From paragraph 6 : |
| |
2. |
(a) |
The drovers preferred 'the broad green tracks' to the 'hard roads'. |
| |
|
|
(i) What was the advantage of a broad track ? |
| |
|
|
(ii) The tracks were green. What was the advantage of this ? |
| |
|
|
(iii) Give one disadvantage of 'hard roads'. |
| |
|
|
(iv) What further advantage would the tracks have ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(b) |
' ... sometimes foraging through the scrub ... or sometimes
stopping to graze'. |
| |
|
|
What is the difference between 'foraging' and 'grazing' ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(c) |
Some of the qualities a drover would need are 'honesty, endurance,
patience and courage'. |
| |
|
|
(i) Which quality would be most needed when the 'progress of the cattle'
was 'wearisomely slow' ? |
| |
|
|
(ii) Which quality would he need when the slept under rough and
uncomfortable conditions ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(d) |
How would the 'enormous appetites' of the cattle impede progress ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
From paragraph 8 : |
| |
3. |
(a) |
The people in 'isolated communities' liked the 'highly colored tales' of
the drovers. |
| |
|
|
(i) What is meant by 'highly colored tales' ? |
| |
|
|
(ii) Why are the people in these 'isolated communities' attracted by
these tales ? |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(b) |
Give three other reasons why these 'isolated communities' would welcome
the drovers. Use material from paragraph 8. Number your answers 1, 2 and
3. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(c) |
How did the farmers attract the drovers ? Mention one way. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
From paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 : |
| |
|
(d) |
Give one or short phrase which has the same meaning as it has in the
passage : |
| |
|
|
(i) profitable; (ii) generally; (iii) visible;
(iv) curiosity; frequent; (vi) in progress;
(vii) skills; (viii) scattered |
| |
|
|
|
| |
4. |
|
The passage describes the difficulties encountered by the drovers in
driving and controlling the cattle. Write an account of the problems the
drovers faced and what they did to deal with them. Use only the
material from paragraph 3, 4 and 5. Your account which should be in
continuous writing must not be longer than 160 words, including the 10
words given below.
The drovers had to overcome the problems of the long ... |
| |
|
|
|
|
Sponsored Links
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answers |
| |
|
|
|
| |
1. |
(a) |
-- in search of richer pastures |
| |
|
|
-- to sell their cattle. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(b) |
(i) fertile; (ii) wealthy |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(c) |
The cattle would sink into the soft and wet ground. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(d) |
It would give the drovers a better view/vantage-point of the attackers. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(e) |
-- The drovers could buy food and drinks from the people. |
| |
|
|
-- The cattle would have water to drink. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(f) |
'He was also answerable for any misbehavior of his men.' |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(g) |
'answerable for large sums of money' |
| |
|
|
|
| |
2. |
(a) |
(i) The cattle could move safely. |
| |
|
|
(ii) The cattle could forage through the scrub or stop to graze. |
| |
|
|
(iii) The 'hard roads' would injure the feet of the cattle. |
| |
|
|
(iv) There is safety from robbers. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(b) |
'foraging' means searching while 'grazing' means eating grass |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(c) |
(i) patience; (ii) endurance |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(d) |
The cattle takes a long time to feed/graze. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
3. |
(a) |
(i) very interesting/adventurous stories |
| |
|
|
(ii) The had no knowledge of the outside world. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(b) |
1. The animals would manure the land making it more fertile. |
| |
|
|
2. The farmer would get rent. |
| |
|
|
3. The drovers would buy plenty of beer. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(c) |
They planted clumps of high trees. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
(d) |
(i) paying; (ii) on the whole; (iii)
noticeable/can be seen; (iv) inquisitiveness;
(v) many; (vi) was going on; (vii) abilities;
(viii) spread |
| |
|
|
|
| |
4. |
|
The drovers had to overcome the problems of the long traveling
distances. One problem was getting enough food to feed the cattle. They
had to rely on food found along the way. Another problems was
controlling a big herd over a wide area. They rode on horseback to check
cattle from straying or getting lost. They must also ensure no cattle
wandered into private land as landowners would impose fine. The drovers
must be on the alert for farms to prevent mixing of cattle. They blew
horns to warn farmers of their approach. Often, cattle were easily
frightened by nose and the drovers had to calm and gather them together.
Drovers also had to watch out for robbers who might steal their money or
cattle. Furthermore, the cattle must be handled carefully so that they
arrive in good condition and could fetch high prices. This meant no
overdriving of the cattle and allowing sufficient resting time. ( 157
words ) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
