The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
FACTS FROM AUSTRALIA.


ance is not so surprising as that OF Englishmen.
many OF the moro intelligent OF whom are In
about az great confusion touching the 40
oRraphy and characteristics OF their vast pos
sessions as they used to be. and oven now are.
with reference to those OF tho United States.
Even to tho Australians themselves the interior
OF their enormous island was until within
fcw years as much Of an unknown region as
the unexplorod centre Of Africa to tho civilized
world. And not yet is there much general
knowledge in Australia or elsewhere OF the
sterile country which lies inside that narrow
belt Of the island which has become the homo
OF a vigorous and enterprising people.
or tho entire area Of Australia which IL very
little less thnn that Of the whole OF Europe
about one NTH or half million square miles
in tho middle is a barren wilderness, which can
only be explored at the cost OF frightful hard
ships and at the risk Of life itself In the south
ern portion OF this desert there are dotted, here
and there, hills Of soft white. yielding sand
thickly clad with spiniiex scrub oak and other
low shrubs. with an occasional group Of euca-
lyptus trees but in ts northern part not even
this moan vegetation appears. and the sandhills
are bare. The fierce rays OF the sun in sum
mor oiton set the parched foliage OF tho wilder
ness in q blaze. and devastating fires prevail
which give rise to hot winds that render op-
prossivo the outlying settlements.
Australia has mono OF tho great mountain
chains and mighty rivers 20 which we are ac-
customcd on this continent. Its highest range
OF hills IN the Warragong. or Blue Mountains.
which attain a height Of 1000 feet above the
sea level There arc no great inlcts except the
Gull OF Carpentaria, on the north coast, but the
harbors 81 Sydney and Port Darwin are as use
full and grand ms any In the world not emitting
Rio Janciro. Constantnoplc Hon9 Kong. or
San Francisco. The enormous expanse OF
country 10 almost entirely level. giving indica-
tions that it was once the bed Of the ocean.
There are many salt marshes and lagoons in
the centre md west. and in the cast a few rivers
which alternately expose their dried beds TO the
baking rays OF the sun and overflow their
banks The largest navigablo river in east
Australia il the Murray. Long and severe
droughts sometimes prevail. In 1865 there
was no rainfall in central or south Australia.
and cattle aud sheep died by thousands daily.
From paper read before the Geographical
Society of this city by Mr.. joss Young. who was
the astronomer Of tho Giles expedition. sent
out in 1874 to explore the interior Of the island
continent VIC get many interesting facts re-
garding Australia. which are here given with
out much regard TO connection.
SO dry is the soil and climate In tho interior
so little variation is there. that Mr.. Young often
left delicate instruments uncovered in the open
air over night. and never found on them the
slightest particle Of rust from dew or other
moisture. Great eucalyptus trees arc ono Of
the features Of tho more favored parts Of Aus
tralia. Some OF them are Of enormous growth.
$50 To 400 feet high and one specimen in the
Warragong range. which is lying on the
ground. measures 420 feet in height or rather
A mo- ia IL hat
they begin TO die at the top and die downward.
and that they usually shoot the bark instead Of
the leaves. There II IN absence OF edible
fruits except few berries and some small
indigenous peaches. The scrub. of which we
have spoken, is generally q species of euca-
lyptus. and it covers fully one-nith Of the whole
colony. The monotony OF travelling through II
can only be understood by experience. For
days and weeks and months you may be in IL
without seeing twenty yards in any direction.
II is in this scrub that so many lives have been
lost from time 10 time The kangaroo affords
sport and food for the natives and for the hunts
man among tho colonists and the tail Of
the animal as is well known. makes an excel
lent soup. The Australian bear has scarcely
energy enough to move Insects are wonder
fully prolific. mosquitoes and flies being par
ticulary abundant. " The native children are
sometimes hardly recognizable, SO completely
are they covered with flies. filing their eyes
n ses. and mouths" Spiders are very COM
mon. rs also are ants the tarantula being the
most formidable Of the former and the bulldog
ant the worst species Of the latter These ants
are an inch or moro in height and about two
inches long. They all fight ferccly. and their
sting Is not to be desired Tho fish are whales
seals, sharks. Goldfish. snappers. mullet. and
hosts OF others not found in any other part Of
the world. There are no Eliminating animals
no pachydermata. and no carnyora. except the
native dog or dingo. Australia. however. is
distinguished by the great majority Of mar
suphial or pouched animals Of which there are
now few traces in any other part Of the world.
The birds Of Australiaare the emu. resembling
an ostrich, and the more common varieties
OF the natives Of Australia who are rapidly
! approaching extinction. Mr. Young gives q far
more favorable report than those we are accus-
toned to get As the result Of his observations.
he declares that the Australian black ia not
naturally 80 depravcd As many other races
better cared for and better known" He has
never found any traces Of cannibAl habits
among them, and none Of torture or OF scaping.
Any native whom l asked has secuted the
idea with disgust. and have seen their graves
and heard them burying their dead" They
are treachcrous. as are all uncivili2ed races.
but they are not bloodthrstY. They have litllo
or no religion. though they believe the spirit is
immortal. They also fancy that the dead will
sometimes return in another shape. hence thoy
carry dead body round and round the grave
at some distance. in order 10 puzzle tho de-
ceased As TO his Whereabouts. They are also in
| ahIect terror Of an evil spirit. called Chinchi
| There seems 10 be no government among them
but when anything is in dispute II is referred
IA, ..f
| The celebrated boomerang SO well known as
one Of their layorite weapons is u curved piece
| Of thin wood, which. by means OF a combina.
| ton Of forces. can be thrown with great dex
| terlty, making the most curious evolutions and
| pu2zling any one standing near as to where il
In going 10 stop. II IA unsafe to sock shelter
behind tree, for one may be taken in the real
| or on the hank.
The continent Of Australia. as Mr. Younl
| likes 10 call the great island. is divided int,
| five colonies. The largest Is Western Aus