The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-02-19
Topics Of Interest.
australia

Nbfh Jason vent upon hts pcfiluus
Z expedition TO Colchi. in quest of the
Golden Fleece, hc took with him The
flower Of Grecian chivalry. simula-
ted by the love Of adventure. aud. per-
haps, by the hope of gain, (for on ihi.
point the heroic tradition is prudenily
sileni) he found no, the .lightcs, diiHcul-
I ~ IN securing companion. for an cape
d'tioa which would require an absence
of years from home aud country, and
which would be attended with certain
danger, and, perhaps, death. The Uni
ted States and Great Britain have re.
spectivcly found y new Colcl,is ia Cal.
iiornia and Australia. The tempting
promise held ou, by the golden fleece"
OF those countries are luring away the
flower Of their population. The young
and ardent--ihose in the prime Of life
even the aged, and tender women and
children--all are filled with desire 10
possess the golden treasure. Neither
I the love Of home, the claims Of kindred.
nor the allnremenls of ease and bappi-
ness, eau restrain the current which, is
moving towards the Ophirs Of modern
times. The tide OF emigration sets on
ward with resisiless impetuosiiy, and
viii ultimately completely food the gol-
den regions with a superabundance Of
labor.
With California, the people Of the
United States are now thoroughly ia
miIiar. Australia, the California Of
England, is not 30 well known in this
country, though public attention is be-
ginning TO be directed 10 that quarter,
and there are signs that its mineral
wealth will soon draw largely upon our
adventurous population. Information
with regard to Australia and IFS produc-
lions is beginning to be sought for with
interest. Lines Of packets have been
established TO secure portion Of its lu-
crative trade. A country which but
little more than year since was but
little known comparatively, has obtain
ed celebrity and importance which
promises soon TO eclipse the worldwide
popularity Of California.
Australia proper, or Australasia, COM
priscs several islands in the South Pa
cific, the principal Of which are New
Holland, New Guinea, and Van Die
mans Land New Holland, or what is
generally kaoMn-aS Australia, ia -ihe
larges, isisnd on the face of the globe.
II is almos. equal in size to the whole
continent of Europe, being abou, 25o0
miles in extreme length, and 2000 miles
in breadth. Its estimated area is D.
69o,Sl0 miles. The island is almost
surrounded by chain OF mountains
running nearly parallel with, and at
distance Of from so TO 100 miles from
the coast. The country between these
mountains and the coast comprises the
only inhabiiable portion Of the island,
the interior being a desert Of vast ex-
tent, which has never been explored,
although it has by one adventurcr been
penetrated 10 distance of four hundred
miles, and which is destitute of water
and almost Of vegetation. There are
several rivers which take their rise in
the mountains and flow towards the in
terror, and il was nj one time supposed
that they found an outlet ia some great
lake; but !, is now the opinion Of geog.
raphers that they lose themselves or are
absorbed in the marshes and burning
sands Of the interior. II is almost a
law with the rivers Of New Holland,
that they are larger and have more fer
tile lands on their banks near their
source than at their outlets. There are
few rivers which can be entered by ships,
and even those ran be nnvigaied but n
short distance. Most Of the streams
laid down on the maps OF Australia are
dry during portion of the year, or are
but mere succession Of water holes.
Australia is = laDd Of singulariiirs.--
la the animal, vegetable, and mineral
kingdoms, there is. u marked difference
between IT, Roiuc,iops and those ofany
other land. The formation Of the coun-
try is study for geologiss. II is sup
posed that the mountain chains with
which /. is ssroundeI, a, with COLLAR,
we're once islands, and tha, the intervcn-
ing spaces have beeo filed up in the
course of ages BY the washings from the
islands. by deeayvd vegetable matter,
sc. II Is believed tia, the interior of
thr islands, the terra iaoognifa TO which
We have aliudnl, is even now In an in
ehoa,e state, or, in other words, in pro-
ccss u formation. The table land be.
tween the mountains bears every ap-
i'earanee of having been bat recently
huriei updcS the ocean The sccnrry
of The mouniainou, districts Is very pic
iurcsque. Deep gallies. Irccipices,
rocks piled on rocks, iaterspcrsei wiih
the moe; luluriant vegetation, by turns
ase ibe mind and please shs eve
l.akes are abundant bot, aaolber sin.
zolariiy u the island, lhey are aeiiher
larsr nor dep. Lake Aloxandrina The
larger which has been discovered, y
fey milr' loHs and fory viie. yoi in
many p'sees il Is % shallow that & can
noi aosi sres a bot. None Of them
have Any outie', hh ,he waters are
cssl'ofsied 90 absorbed.
The rlimsle u Aasigsiia ,arie, ac-
caFiias 'e The ho4liiy. The northern
portion u as i.isnd lie. 40 ihe tor,i4
rone, aha Il coarse saioys ifa7ieai
s1itasfr III sr.-sst-r-, r..Y+..,,. q, L,...