Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-25
SG8NE8 IN AUSTRALIA.
z FASCINATING RIDB IN IT'S DENSE
FORESTS.
what the Rider saw-Ihe Tropical Birds
and PIa1t5-ReautifuI Landscape
seersry-Fera FoTests-Etc.

what the Rider saw-Ihe Tropical Birds
and Plaut8-Reautiful Landscape
scensry-Fern Forests-Etc.
u is perhaps safe TO say that no part OF
Australia is at irst 20 thoroughly un-Aus-
tralian ~ sne eastern and northeastern por-
ton Of a.ppsland. Here the barren sandy
plains aud eternal gumtees" Of ths sur
rounding districts are no longer the chief,
Il not me only objects in view and, in
stead OF ons m01otouous monotone of color,
the traveller is refreshed by myriads Of
Gorgeous Blossoms and flowers, rare plants
sad trees % great beauty, and CORE
sDondingiy marvellous diversity Of life.
Fr015 lu1uEiant valleys long ranges covered
with sssssiras and peppermint swell Ike
Green waves IN every direction, and beyond
thsir rounded SUBMITS the lofty hlghEs Of
q continuous mountain chain rise abruptly
into tha dark blue Of Australian skies.
Some Of these mountains are very striking
In their bold outlines and IN their massive
s-5 peculiar -culpture, several peaks reach
ing aa slti5ude considerably beyond the
highest British summit. snow lies On
many cf shem lor nine months in the year.
The creeks and rapid streamlets flowing
down these mountain gCrges aad winding
through the ranges are, moreover, clear as
She front streams Of Scotland, and alto
gs.her unlike the typical Australian
creek. visited this portion OF
c1pFsJASD ES TaE FULL TIDE or SUMNER.
Audit is almost impossible 70 describe the
iresh beauty and laNurisnce it presented in
contrast ga tie 05her parts Of Victoria I
had aeen. Leaving o1r halting-place, near
the source AZ the Yackandaudah creek,
NY friend and myself started one morning
IN February TOR ride aouth through the
RANGES. Although early the heat Of the
sun was aiready very powerful yet the
oliecs Ii hsd upon re waE more braclug shan
enervat4ne, ggeh is the ciearness and dry
ness Of thie australian atmosphere. C1o-
mencing oar journey, and following 3
Well-dehnsd 3nsh path under the tall gums,
gay With mvE.ads OF par0QBets and res JAS
and resonant with the harsh 1hreks OF 10.
dignant caczaroos. We come ut last upon
more varied vegetation, aud fiu1 ourselves
passing through oue OF tlosa beautiful fern
forssss for hich this division Of Victof.4
Is more especially famed. One word only
as regards the bush itself. 1t is o some
what prevalent idea at bone that an Aus
traiian fOrest-the bush of the coloniats-
is either an inextriosble Jungle or st least
q woodland q 3nse with an intricate pa-asit-
zeal undergo with. But This, while fire.
guentiy the case IN the gulies and Valleys
Of the highe' parts, is not characteristic
# the bush proper. This latter consists
% an endless round" OF similar trees
growing g. 3 considerable distance from
each othrr. SO shat a horseman can easily
ride thrc lgh them at good pace without
any unusual caution 7 say round, for
AUSTRALIAN WOODS
Have the Appearance Of endless circles .
sad j. Is this aspect Of theire which rend-
srs j almost impossible for sav one but a
native 20 ind his way through them with
on, tack biazed trees or a compass.
g 10 lnvaryIng monotony OF tbe trees, the
sgniar distances between them, and the
4bsence Of any forest landmarks, render
-'o basb far more bewilderine than the
1sls.t English forest. Bat on leaving the
slsh proper and entering enc u those for
s- composed OF tree. ferns and bsautiful
varieties OF 6uoalypti and acacia. this m
Ger-r1wth becomes more and more marked.
indeed, ID many parts Of Gippsland the
explorer Wo5id make but slow progress, as
- vance can only be made by the tedious
end a-I3g.rs process Of cutting ones way.
Oh Irss entering this scrub The scent of
a--h0Wll1g waffle strikes my G0mpan-
IO1 AID SELF IS peculiarly delicious, ming
ling az Is does with the aromatic fragrance
81 the peppermint and other allied plants.
The clear
MUSICAL NOTES or TIE MkGPTE
Swell most ehsruingly through the still
AL aad above the chatter and screaming
o. brsaktasciag parrots and busy butcher
birds, elrT'es every nov and again the
hoarse slucAle of the laughing iacksss.
Suddenly, from come unknown cause, there
causes aE almost complete silence; but be-
fore many seconds are over, shriil burst
Of laughter comes from the depths of the
forss5, succeeded 10y peala OF the same de-
l-ri@c ipCilatiou from seemingly every
quarter and, g. Il indignant at some sigbt,
Jac parrots and c0ckst0cs redor5.e ,aeir
shrieke elj Che paEoQuets and rosellas,
and lrs dGsh co and fro among Che
brauehes Of tnc trees Ike tiny RED and
green mateors. The sbriIlness is sstound-
iar, and is increased by the iuoessant birl
Of tha crlcket-ii-e 2icAdas. IL Is some min
aces 1t least before the arnithologic vitu-
perasi0n CAIN downs. Here, amid many
BEAUTIFUL VARIETIES or wAITLEs,
We notice the weeping myrtle. the native
cherry, the musk aster, one or two vsgie
ties of honeys0ckle a beautiful climber,
probably a clematie, a few msgnoli8s and
orchids of Respondent hUes. and some par
ticularly fine grasses besides many otbel
flowers sud sbrubs unknown to urscieuti6c
yes a 5ovo these wave in intricate pro-
fusion the sturdy branches OF the Dickaouia
antarc5ica, and as we proceeded further,
that sail more graceful fern, the tall slso.
phila aussrans. After we have ridden for
some time, we cone suddenly to a small
creek, or rather pool, surrounded by a
beautiful species OF iris while al around
us are th;ck maenoiIas, whose delicious
fragrance makes the
AIR sEEN HEAVY WITH SWEETNESS.
Ne have never before OF since seen hi.
shrub in such spiendcr and luxuriauoe As
we ride or the sun grows higher and higher
lu tbe heavens, and a gradual silence seems
90 be creeping over the forest with the
ripsuinF noon. The scrub which had
lately seen full Of life, appears 60 be de,
serted by is noisy denizens, and only Of
rare intervals the mulflad ohuokls Of The
'' jackass' falls on our ears. Hank wha.
was that? Like a far-away villsge bell, a
soft sound rings through the still air, and
row another and another My compsnion
whispers So me the beu-bird q" The
solemuity q the looa seems to deepen.
ana the promised vigor Of the day to have
80 sided into Injurious dream. " e dis.
mount and tying cur horses 70 q tree, be.
take ourselves 70 midday rest for an hour
or two. Is we lie there Iazily smoking,
with tho scent Of she magnolias in the
warm air. and the dreamy call Of the dis
tant bell bird rising sid falling at solemn
intervals, sc get dTowsy, aud perhaps Just
o little sentimental. However. it does no
harm, and adds very much TO our enjoy
meut From -ur resting place we can Just
see the blue line Of distant range rolling
away nor5bv ards, end behind 1t some out
lying
SrMH1r OF TEE MISTY BECOMES.
Not q breath stirs hardly any sound falls
upon tbs esr. ] think OF that mystic land
N which t seemed always afternoon. 50
and leei as il I too had partaken Of the
iotos juice, and had put away al thinga Of
that world n which / late had part, and
fallen into . sweet dream never to fade