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avenue of acacias and sycamores, growing so close together as to afford a complete shade from the noonday heat. At the end of the avenue we came upon a splendid specimen of the Norfolk Island pine, said to be the largest and finest tree out of the island itself. After resting for a time under its delicious shade, we strolled on through other paths overhung with all sorts of flowering plants. Then, passing through an opening in the wall, a glorious prospect of the bay suddenly spread out before us. The turf was green down to the water's edge, and interspersed with nicely-kept flower-beds, with here and there a pretty clump of trees.

Down by the water-side is a broad esplanade-the most charming of promenades-running all round the beautiful little bay which it incloses. Tropical and European shrubs grow in profusion on all sides, an English rose-tree in full bloom growing alongside a bamboo, while at another place a banana throws its shade over a blooming bunch of sweet pea, and a bell-flowered plant overhangs a Michaelmas daisy. A fine view of the harbor and shipping is obtained from a part of the grounds where Lady Macquarie's chair--a hollow place in a rock

is situated—itself worth coming a long way to see. Turning up the gardens again we come upon a monkeyhouse, an aviary, and—what interested me more than all -an inclosed lawn in which were numerous specimens of the kangaroo tribe, from the "old boomer" standing six feet high, down to the rock kangaroo not much bigger than a hare. We hung about, watching the antics of the monkeys and the leapings of the kangaroos until it was time to take our departure.

The country inland, lying to the south of Sydney, is

by no means picturesque. Much of it consists of sandy scrub, and it is by no means fertile except in the valleys. But nothing can surpass the beauty of the shores of the bay as far up as Paramatta, about twenty miles inland. The richest land of the colony lies well into the interior, but the time at my disposal was too short to enable me to do more than visit the capital, with which the passing stranger can not fail to be greatly pleased.

Altogether, it seems a wonderful thing that so much should have been done within so short a time toward opening up the resources of this great country; and most wonderful of all, that the people of a small island like Britain, situated at the very opposite side of the globe, some sixteen thousand miles off, should have come hither, and within so short a time have built up such cities as Sydney and Melbourne-planted so large an extent of territory with towns, and villages, and farmsteads-covered its pastures with cattle and sheep-opened up mines-provided it with roads, railroads, and telegraphs, and thereby laid the firm foundations of a great future empire in the south. Surely these are things of which England, amid all her grumblings, has some reason to be proud!

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TO AUCKLAND, IN NEW ZEALAND.

Leaving Sydney.-Anchor within the Heads.-Take in Mails and Passengers from the "City of Adelaide."-Out to Sea again.-Sight New Zealand. Entrance to Auckland Harbor.-The "Galatea."-Description of Auckland.-Founding of Auckland due to a Job.-Maori Men and Women.-Drive to Onehunga.-Splendid View.-Auckland Gala. -New Zealand Delays.-Leave for Honolulu.

On the last day of December, 1870, I set out for Honolulu, in the Sandwich Islands, embarking as secondclass passenger on board the "City of Melbourne." Our first destination was Auckland, in New Zealand, where we were to stop for a few days to take in passengers and mails.

I had been so fortunate as accidentally to encounter a friend, whom I knew in Maryborough, in the streets of Sydney. He was out upon his summer holiday, and when he understood that I was bound for New Zealand he determined to accompany me, and I had, therefore, the pleasure of his society during the earlier part of my. voyage.

As we steamed down the harbor I had another opportunity of admiring the beautiful little bays, and sandy coves, and wooded islets of Port Jackson. The city, with its shipping, and towers, and spires, gradually receded in the distance, and as we rounded a headland Sydney was finally shut out from farther view.

We were soon close to the abrupt headlands which guard the entrance to the bay, and letting drop our anchor just inside the southern head, we lay safely sheltered from the gale which began to blow from the east. There we waited the arrival of the "City of Adelaide" round from Melbourne with the last mails and passengers for England by the California route.

But it was some time before the "Adelaide” made her appearance. Early next morning, hearing that she was alongside, I hurried on deck. The mails were speedily brought off from the inward-bound ship, together with seven more passengers. Our anchor was at once weighed, and in ten more minutes we are off. We are soon at the entrance to the Heads; and I see by the scud of the clouds, and the long line of foaming breakers driving across the entrance, that before long we shall have the spray flying over our hurricane deck. Another minute and we are outside, plunging into the waves, and throwing the water in foam from our bows.

I remain upon deck, holding on as long as I can. Turning back, I see a fine little schooner coming out of the Heads behind us, under a good press of sail. On she came, dipping her bows right under the water, but buoyant as a cork. Her men were aloft reefing a sail, her yards seeming almost to touch the water as she leaned over to leeward. Passing under our stern, she changed her course, and the plucky little schooner held up along the coast, making for one of the northern ports.

Taking a last look at the Sydney Heads, I left the farther navigation of the ship in the hands of the captain, and retired below. I was too much occupied by private affairs to see much more of the sea during the next twenty-four hours. New Year's Day though it was, there was very little jollity on board; indeed, as regarded the greater number of the passengers, it was spent rather sadly.

The weather, however, gradually moderated, until, on the third day of our voyage, the weather became fine, such wind as there was being well aft. On the fifth day the wind had gone quite down, and there only remained the long low roll of the Pacific; but the ship rolled so heavily that I suspect there must have been a very strong under-current somewhere about. Early in the forenoon we sighted the "Three Kings' Islands," off the extreme north coast of New Zealand. At first they seemed to consist of three detached rocks; but, as we neared them, they were seen to be a number of small rocky islands, with very little vegetation on them. The main land shortly came in sight, though it was still too distant to enable us to recognize its features.

Early next morning we found ourselves steaming close

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