The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-01-04
Australian scenery.

We find the following description Of Ans
London SpcctatOr, entitled, "Sqnuttiug in
Nictoria: -
The greater part of Australia is. in its
natural state, for eight or nine months in the
wear, almost entirely destitute of water
10 ~ new conner II sounds Strange to hear an
ny country sGaatter remark HAT he has no
water on his run yet, but be hopes he soon
shall have. Although more rain falls in
Victoria than in most parts OF England dur
ing he year, there are hardly any springs,
and lew streams, except the large rivers,
which are few and far between. which run
tor more than IL few days AFTER rain has
crHse& falling. Why the rain runs OF 50
iu>, is not thoroughly explained. but il seems
shore is IN incrrslalion of the subsoii which
prevents the RAIN from penetrating to any
depth. he creeks, as they sru called leave
WAFER holes, some cf which never dry M
through the summer; hut these also are FAR
between: and so generally he first business
OF II sqnaiicr III new country is TO construct
'mks to receive the water from the roofs of
his house and onlbrildings. and the second
Is 10 hGi'd dam from SIX 10 twenty feet
HIGH across The nearest holow--fvr almost
every hollow Is Il watercourse after heavy
r;t!n--and in this way to make n reservoir
containing water enough for his sheep TO
,riuk all The year round, and be washed in
AZ shcuring time. a dam is rs much an es
Genital urpcndagG to Il station as a barn is
"a Il farm yard.
Probably it is this absence Of moisture in
the ground, aud consequently in the air also,
which makes distant objects in Victoria so
marycliously clear, and gives such peculiarly
brilliant color 10 the landscape where the
conformation OF the ground admits of u dist
ant view. never saw such brilliant color.
ing anywhere i'll Europa. it is the one re-
dccniing feature; without which the scenery.
except III tho mountainous districts, would
be tame and drsary enough. Tue country
j, seldom undulatinc, Us III Tasmania. The
trees arc generally small, STUFFED, and dis.
casrd, except on the ranges; the plains are
almost destitute OF any trees at all aud vc.
rotation is scanty, except III early SPRING
time. There is great plain extending for
nearly q hundred niles westward OF Gee.
long almoEt without break, SO Hat and 50
destitute oStrccs or other objects high enough
to break tie line of the horizon, that at the
hegh. of dozen feet from the ground yun
may any day see a hil--and not high bill
either-i uli iorty.fve miles disian, as The
crow flies, looking not dim and misty, but Il
clearly defined blue patch upon the horizon.
To mos, people there is something iotol
ernbly dr>olatc and rcpulsivc in such PLAIN
Even TO those who are most fond OF epeu
country it must be depressing under certau
circumstances, notably during rainy fort
night in winter, or on 81 hol-winJ day in
summel. Blu, there is something indiscrih.
ably grand and enjoyable in The continual
contemplation Of So vast "A landscape, -
When the sun is high, it is an expanSe OF
tirf green in winter and brown in summer !;
hut az the afternoon advances, earth aud
lsy become family purple, aud crimson, and
Golden; The colors deepen from hhlf-hour
20 half hour. till the sun sinks into its bed
of turf in a gorgeous blaze Of fplendor.-- -
There are several shallow lakes upon the
plain, some very large. and most Of them
salt. Coming suddenly upon one Of them
ono evening from behind some little sand
hills which concealed it, the margin for some
hundred yards in width dry and coated With
mud an! brine, no human being or bnbi,a-
ton visible, and the full brilliance OF the
setting sun lighting it up, the scene was Tex,
cept Tor The absence Of mountains III the
dis,ance) singnlarly like the landscape in
Holman Hunts picture of the Scape Goat.
II is pity that this kind of scenery is spoil.
ed nv cultivation. Cut up into little pieces,
a plain loses its vastness, while its rnonot'
ony is increased"