within a very few yards of it, has water quite fresh, or nearly so. In the
former are found large seafish, such as cod, mullet, sea-carp, and a fish
similar to our perch. I an speaking of holes discovered at a distance of a
hundred and twenty miles from the sea, and having no visible communication
with it. In several districts there are large rivers, but their course is
uncertain, and it is impossible to say that any one river empties itself
into the sea. Goulburn is a fine river, and ninety miles from this on the
banks of that river, are found very large lobsters, and other shell-fish.
To stand on an eminence, and to cast your eye down into the valley beyond
and beneath you, is to have an enjoyment which the ardent lover of nature
alone can appreciate. Far as the eye can look, there is uninterrupted
harmony. Splendid plains covered with the fleecy tribe, and here and there
(alas! only but _here_ and _there_) a speck of water, enough to vindicate
nature from the charge of utter neglect--and no more. A glance thrown in
another direction brings to your view an endless tract of country deprived
even of these solitary specks, where the grass grows as high as your knee,
and where no man dare take his flocks and herds for lack of the sweet
element. If the surface of this land were blessed with spring water as
England is, the wealth of this colony would surpass the calculation of any
living man. As it is, who can tell the ultimate effect of this important
deprivation? There are one or two stations, on which spring water has been
discovered, but it is a rare discovery, and dearly prized. In Melbourne
we have no water, but such as is carted by the water barrel carters from
the river _Yarra-Yarra_. Every house has its barrel or hogshead for
holding water. The _Yarra-Yarra_ water is brackish, and causes dysentery.
The complaint is now prevailing. In many parts of the interior puddle
holes are made, and water is thus secured from the heavy rain that falls
in the early part of summer. Water saved in this manner never becomes
putrid. The leaves of the gum-tree fall into the pool abundantly, and not
only give to the water a very peculiar flavour, but preserve it from all
putrefaction. This gum water is safest when boiled with a little tea, and
drunk cold. Every settler in the Bush drinks water in no other way,
and--for want of better things--he takes tea and fresh mutton at least
three times a-day. His bread is a lump of flour and water r