y embarked, and in an hour's time were at
Melbourne, gazing with interest at every thing that met our view.

The city was full of life and business: heaps of goods were exposed
ready for transportation to the mines, and large, lumbering carts of
English build were crawling slowly through the streets, drawn by five
and six yoke of oxen, while the drivers, armed with whips, the lashes of
which were of immense length, though the stock or handle was barely two
and a-half feet long, whirled them over the frightened animals' heads,
and whenever they struck the poor brutes, a small, circular piece of
skin was taken out, leaving the quivering flesh exposed to the sun, and
a prey for the numerous insects that hovered in the air.

We carried our stuff on shore, and then considered what was necessary to
get to the mines; and while we rested upon our bundles, and ate a
portion of the salt junk and biscuit that the cook of the ship had
insisted upon our taking with us, we took a calm survey of
Melbourne--its advantages and disadvantages. The city occupies two sides
of a valley, called East Hill and West Hill, and is well laid out.

The streets are broad, unpaved, and formed so that during the heavy
rains the water will centre into the gutters, which are flagged with a
substantial kind of stone to prevent the sidewalks from washing away
during the rainy season, when the gutters resemble small mountain
torrents, and enough head is obtained to carry half a dozen sawmills.

At the place where we landed there is barely sufficient room for the
steamer to turn round for the bay, or arm, of the River Zarra is small,
and the water shoal. Every available place near the landing was crowded,
however, with crafts of all descriptions, from the light-draughted
schooner to huge launches, with loads of goods which they had received
from ships lying in Hobson's Bay. Altogether, the scene reminded one
very much of San Francisco; and so our spirits rose as we contemplated
the bustle going on.

"Well, my men, are you in want of work?" asked a well-dressed elderly
gentleman, who had arrived in a carriage driven by a coachman in livery,
and a footman, dressed in the same garb. He appeared to own every thing
that he looked at; for we had seen half a dozen men take his orders, and
then proceed to obey them with alacrity.

"We thought we'd try the mines first," I replied, in answer to his
question.

"Hard work--hard work," he said, with a smile. "Amer