the bundle. There's no raw-meat tint about you; you're tanned like a
native. Buy a blue jumper and get a cabbage-tree up in place of that cap,
and you'd pass muster as a Sydney-sider born and bred.'

'A cabbage-tree?'

'Hat--straw. Get a second-hand one if you can: they're more appreciated.
Usually a man likes to colour his own hat as he colours his own pipe; but
you're eager to meet the Australian prejudice against newness. Another
bit of advice,' continued the bar-man, who was glad of the chance to turn
his vast antipodean experience to some account. 'If you happen to be
anybody in particular, as you love your peace of mind and your bodily
comfort, don't speak of it.'

'Luckily, I'm nobody in particular.'

'That's all right. I was idiot enough to let it be known that I was
afflicted with an aristocratic name, and I had to hold this job against
banter enough to drive a cow daft. Now my name's Smith.'

'Are you a new chum, then?'

'Lord no! I've been out seven weeks.'

It was Jim's turn to laugh. 'Well,' he said, 'if a man can qualify as a
representative Australian in seven weeks, I'm not going to complain.'

The barman provided much more valuable information. Bed and board could
not be had at that establishment for love or money, and, furthermore, it
was unlikely Jim would be able to find lodgings anywhere in Melbourne.