River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-06-11
LETTER FROM ABROAD.
AuafIAllR.

continuance of my story Of that beautiful
and interesting land. Before proceeding.
however, will say that our prospect of
meeting seems as remote as ever. You
will be sorry to hear, and | am sorry to
write it, but we are going out again in
the ship. The doctor says that North
American winter is out Of the question
for the Captain at present, and he even
thinks it would not be advisable for him
to remain here unless he was perfecrly
recovered; so he has made up his mind to
make cnother voyage, and of course,
Mrs. r and | will accompany him.
We are very busy with our preparations,
and | often wish that the days we're as
long here as they were off Cape Horn.
1t was summer time when we came round
and it was nearly all day,-the sun used
to set at ten o'clock and rise again at two;
in fact, daylight never left the sky; we
never know when to 60 to bed, or when
to get up, and our poor rooster nearly
went into decline with continued crow.
ing. In winter it is just the reverse,
nearly all night. We found it pretty
cold weather, although the thermometer
never stood lower than forty above zero.
do not know how we could stand Ca.
nadia winter. We spent May day In
Liv pool, and instead of the May pole,
they celebrate the day by display of
powerful draught horses, drawing the diff
ferent articles of merchandise that has
contributed so much of their commercial
prosperity. In the procession there were
some fifteen hundred vehicles, and all
had two and some four horses attached.
These belonged to the corporation, the
different colliery companies, fire brigades,
railways, express wagons, and the various
trades, such as brewers, blkers, &c.
The horses were carefully groomed and
artistically decorated with different col.
ored ribbons. The sight was grand one.
But to return to Australia. OF the for
est products of this far-off and extensive
island the Gum is the most important and
numerous; many of its varieties
being particularly well adopted for house
and ship building purposes. Iron bark,
blackbutt and blue gums are among its
most useful varieties. The Peppermint
tree, (of the same species) yields from its
leaves large supply, each spring, of the
most delicious mamma, which, in addition
to its fine favor, is highly esteemed for
medicinal uses.
The Acacias are both numerous and
beautiful, and are much valued for their
ornamental appearance; their bark is also
largely used for tanning purposes, one of
these the "Myall' is a most pleasing and
graceful tree, its leaves by daylight are
of pale grayish green color; but the eff
feet Of moonlight upon them is surpass.
ingly beautiful, each trembling, pendu-
lous leaf reflects silvery light, through
which their graceful and delicate sprays
are family visible, like penciled tracings.
In gentle breeze of wind the brilliant
effect is Of course much heightened, Very
large and valuable ceder, for joiners and
cabinet makers use, grows in abundance
on the banks OF the rivers and creeks.
Several species Of pine flourish in these
localities also. The Corypha palm or
cabbage tree, the beach, mangrove, fig
tree, chestnut, cypress, river oak, the
currajong, the grass tree, and the bunga.
bunga are also among the productions of
its trackless forests, many Of which are
fine handsome trees, chestnut, fig and
bunga bunga are especially so; the latter
being an important vegetable production
of the country, furnishing as it does so
large a supply Of food to the natives
The districts in which it chiefly -four
ishes are especially reserved by the gov.
eminent for its exclusive use. A species
of sandal wood, which gives out in burn
ing fragrant perfume, grows plentifully
on the Dawson river. Mahogany is also
plenty, although Of a coarser grain than
that brought from the West Indies.
The grass tree presents very singular
appearance, having straight bare trunk
of about ten feet in height, crowned with
an immense bunch Of coarse grass. In
addition to the ordinary fruits OF Eng.
land, which crow pro(usely, the vine, fig,
date, pomegranite, guava, banana, or
angc, mulberry and lemon are freely and
generally cultivated in fact. every fruit
common TO temperate or intertropical
climate, may be successfully produced.
The pineapple, in the northern districts,
grows as freely as the cabbage in Eng.
land, and the cotton and tobacco plant
flourish luxuriantly, and it is only the
want Of adequate labor that prevents the
extensive cultivation OF such valuable
products as sugar, coffee, rice, opium,
spices, ind 90, silk &c, a considerable
manufacture Of light wines Is carried
on in New South Wales, and as
the choicest varieties Of wines have been
imported, and the climate and soil seem