The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-21
Australian Scenery.

The richest climates, the richie st soils, the
finest forests and plains, and the most
pleasant landscapes, are to I've found in
Eastern Australia. Here are to be found,
in the deep valleys of ranges which drain
the clouds from southern breezes, the only
noble forests; in the eastern exposure,
both warm and temperate and moist, the
loveliest glens and slopes; aud on the
shores, under tho tropical heights, the most
luxuriant vegetation. In Victoria and in
Gipp's Land glens, the gaunt eucalypti hide
their nakedness in their crowded proxi-
nifty they tower to heights of upward of
four hundred feet, and challenge California
in their gigantic length of stem. Nor do
they leave a bare surface in their shade,
but shelter a thicket of min osas and ferns.
High up the heights and upon the snowy
mountains, upon impossible precipices,
and on the edge of morasses, these giants
flourish with height, q foliage, and in
number unequaled elsewhere. The Silu-
rian ridges are generally timhered t" their
tops, the glens moro densely than tie
submits, falling in gentle slopes of open
forest, east to the sea, and westward to the
baealtic downs of the inland slopes.
Upon the banks of eastern rivers, some
time far south of the tropic, but generally
north, we find juDgles of impenetrabe
shade and the richest beauty. Palms ex-
tend farther south than Sydney, cedars are
common from that north, and upon the
! Coasts of Nor heru Queensland purely
| tropical luxuriance is found in spots upon
every river. Perhaps the most tropical
scenes are to be found in the valleys If
Rockingham Bay, and upon the slopes Of
the Bellenden Ker Ranges. Here we have
towering mountains very near the tropical
sea, a great rainfall in q warm climate !;
here we have precipitous declines coast
! wise, consequently rich valleys upon the
n.aboari, wo HAYS the forms and md 'uT HnIo
ance Of a pnrejy tropical veGela,''" mere
iunples grow which cannot Dc Iravt:: "a
except behind tie axe; where mighty
! eedars are mixed with the bombyx, the
figs, and the bamboos of the east vines
and lanas bind the foliage together in heavy
clustering masses, while graceful feathe1J
palms tower singly above all, aud the
daIkly shaded underground is rich in or
chids and ferns and calladiums. Here the
deadly nettle-tree paralyzes the travellers
horse, and the jungle is broken by the
steamng, rank luXuriance of the wide
swamps. The scene in Indian in it's type
and Brazilian in it's beauty Australian
only in it's grand exception to the whole
arid continent.
West of the great Cordillera, north and
south, upon all its inland elopes, beautiful
park-like vistas form the downs of the
sheep farmer. Level sometimes, but gen
orally undulating, they stretch in grassy
waves to green shores of 1uxuriant jungle
not to an open scattered forest of gaunt
eucalypIl 30 OICen rs 10 LnlCheGS Oh acaClaS,
relieved by trees of the bauhinia, the
cedar, and other deciduous families. Sa-
vannas and rolling ridges of grassy up
lands, alternated with belts aud patches of
itch, shady thckets, bounded by forests,
and Enclosed by ranges of angula, fantastic
valcanic peaks and barriers, make land
Scape of great beauty, not uncommon 10
the western slopes of the '"r'iilicra. 1t
only lacks Que feature 70 mate Il perFtc!
picture. 1t has wood uuG plain and moun-
tain, but waits the oEe other 1mPoi lHnt
factor the same one want OF the county
there is 10 water Ia the View.-hdnkinS
% Dominion Of australia"
There are many reasons for not sleernE
! in church. In North Adams, MassI chusetis,