clear days the distant summits stand sharply outlined against the sky, while at other times looming through a wreath of mist and cloud, the mighty mass of the nearer elevations is strangely intensified.

The surface of Victoria is drained by two fluvial systems, the one consisting of streams which have their sources on the northward slope of the Dividing Range and flow towards the Murray, the other comprising the watercourses which have their origin on the seaward slope of the mountains and which drain into the Southern Ocean. Of the rivers comprised in the first category, the most important are as follows. The Goulburn, which has a total length of 345 miles, rises in the vicinity of Mount Matlock, and its course lies through some most picturesque country; in its upper portion it winds in and out through labyrinthine ranges whose sides are in places heavily timbered, while in others steep and bare precipices rise abruptly from the channel of the stream. Lower down it passes through stretches of rich agricultural land. Its tributaries, the Jamieson, Howqua, Seven Creeks, and Broken River all drain country possessing somewhat similar characteristics. The Loddon (225 miles) enters the Murray near Swan Hill. The Campaspe (150 miles) rises near Mount Macedon, and, after receiving the waters of the Coliban, drains some excellent agricultural land, and enters the Murray at Echuca. The Ovens has a course of 140 miles from its source in the vicinity of St. Bernard Mount till it gives up its waters to the Murray near Bundalong; its lower course runs through splendid pastoral country. Between the King River, which joins the Ovens at Wangaratta and the main stream, are situated the fertile Oxley Plains. The Mitta Mitta rises in the Bogong district at an altitude of over 2,000 feet, and after a course of 175 miles joins the Murray a few miles to the east of Albury. During its course the stream receives several tributaries, of which the most noteworthy are the Dark River on the right, and the Victoria, Bundarrah, and Big Rivers on the left bank. Much of the country drained by this river is mountainous, and contains some very wild and picturesque scenery. The Avoca (163 miles) and the Wimmera (228 miles) both fail to reach the Murray, the lower courses of the rivers terminating in salt lakes or marshes.

The Snowy is the longest of the coastal rivers, and after a course of 300 miles, only 120 of which, however, are in Victoria, enters the sea near Point Ricardo. The country passed through in Victoria is wild and almost wholly unoccupied. West of the Snowy River the Tambo, Mitchell, and Latrobe drain into the lakes in the Gippsland district. The Yarra rises near Mount Baw Baw, and after a course of 150 miles enters the sea at Port Phillip. The name of the river is an aboriginal term, signifying everflowing. Its upper course lies through rough mountain country, clothed in places with magnificent forests of beech. After receiving the waters of Badger Creek, the stream emerges into a more open region, where it is joined by the river Watts. In the country drained by these tributaries there are some densely-covered forest areas,

containing magnificent specimens of eucalyptus amygdalina. Some of these giants of the bush reach a height of over 400 feet; in one specimen that was measured the distance from the ground to the first branch, where the tree had a diameter of 4 feet, was no less than 295 feet. Other trees measured close to the ground had a circumference of 130 feet. The leaves of the E. amygdalina, as well as of the E. globulus, which abounds in the district, yield on distillation a valuable medicinal oil. Near the sea, where the city of Melbourne stands, the stream widens considerably, and the channel has been deepened to afford increased facilities for navigation. The Hopkins (155 miles) rises in the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, and after draining some excellent pastoral country, and in addition the fertile Warrnambool district, enters the ocean near the town of Warrnambool. The Glenelg, which has a length of 280 miles, is one of the most tortuous rivers in the state; its basin contains fine pastoral country.

The lakes in the north-western district are indeterminate as to area, their size depending on the rainfall. Lake Hindmarsh in some seasons has an area of 30,000 acres, and Lake Albacuyta of 13,000 acres. These depend for their supplies on the expansion of the Wimmera River; Lake Tyrrell, 60 miles north-west of Lake Albacuyta, also owes its existence to a stream flowing into it from the south; but it has no ascertained outlet. In seasons of drought its waters dwindle considerably, and this applies also to Lake Buloke, 50 miles south of Lake Tyrrell, which has an area of 11,000 acres. On the southern side of the Dividing Range, and due north from Cape Otway, are situated Lakes Corangamite and Colac. The waters of Lake Corangamite, which is situated at an elevation of 380 feet above sealevel, are salt, and cover an area of 90 square miles. The lake is 16 miles long, and has a breadth of 8 miles in its widest part. Lake Colac, with an area of 10 square miles, is fresh. The soil in the districts surrounding these lakes is extremely fertile, and shares with the Gippsland district the claim to be considered as the garden of Victoria.

The Gippsland Lakes lie immediately to the rear of the Ninety-mile Beach, and are separated from the ocean by a narrow belt of sand interspersed with chains of salt-water lagoons. In places the lakes communicate with the sea by narrow shifting channels, and, to obviate this disability to navigation, the Victorian Government went to considerable expense in the construction of a permanent entrance. The most important of the lakes are Lake Wellington, Lake Victoria, and Lake King. Farther east is Lake Tyers, a beautiful expanse, the scenery surrounding which has been compared to that of Port Jackson and Port Stephens in New South Wales. The principal lakes, which receive the drainage of several rivers and creeks, are fresh water; they are visited by large numbers of tourists, to whom they offer many attractions. The Gippsland district is famed for its fertility, and is the home of a prosperous agricultural and pastoral population.

THE

QUEENSLAND..

AREA AND BOUNDARIES.

HE State of Queensland occupies the north-eastern portion of the continent of Australia, and embraces within its limits an area of 668,497 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the State of New South Wales, and on the west by South Australia and the Northern Territory of that State.

COASTAL FEATURES.

Queensland has a coast line measuring 3,000 miles, well marked and lighted throughout, and portions of it, particularly in the north after leaving Keppel Bay, are remarkable for the beauty of their scenery. From Mackay northwards towards Bowen, the Whitsunday Passage offers magnificent views of mountains rising abruptly from the margin of the ocean, together with many picturesque islands, whose denselywooded sides dip down to waters of the deepest blue. The Hinchinbrook Passage is especially noted for the grandeur of its scenery, particularly in autumn, when the wild mountain sides next the sea are brightened by the presence of numerous flashing cascades. In addition to the hosts of islands off the east coast, the presence of the Great Barrier Reef tends to break the force of the waves, and affords a comparatively smooth passage up or down the coast. This vast natural

breakwater, built up by the tireless energy of the coral polyp, lies at a distance of from 10 to 150 miles from the shore, and the long voyage from Torres Strait on the north, as far down as Cape Capricorn, may be performed entirely within the sheltered channel thus formed. There are numerous openings by means of which vessels sailing in the open ocean may pass through to the calmer waters between the reef and the shore, but these passages require very skilful negotiation. Captain Cook's vessel, the "Endeavour," had the misfortune to strike on the reef in 1770, and but for the fact that a portion of the coral came away when the ship floated off, and helped to block up the rent in her timbers, the historic voyage would have had a disastrous ending. Cook appropriately named the headland near by Cape Tribulation, and the stream at the mouth of which he careened and repaired his vessel the Endeavour River. The point in the reef where his mishap took place has been located, and a gun and various other relics are stated to have been recovered therefrom.

Proceeding northwards from Point Danger, the northernmost point of New South Wales, there is a stretch of rather uninteresting coastline, the first important headland being Lookout Point, on the extreme

end of Stradbroke Island. The projection on the north-western corner of the island is known as Amity Point. Cape Moreton, on Moreton Island, is a rocky promontory, on which a lighthouse has been erected. The next important projection is Double Island Point, on the southern crescent of Wide Bay. Here a lighthouse has been erected at a height of 315 feet above the level of the sea. From this point northward the coastline takes a decided sweep to the west, through about 11 degrees of longitude. Bustard Head stands at the entrance to Port Curtis. The bluff promontory on the north-eastern end of Curtis Island was named Cape Capricorn by Captain Cook, because it lies almost precisely under the tropic line. A lighthouse stands on the headland at a height of 316 feet above the sea. Continuing northward past Cape Manifold and Cape Townsend, shoals of small islands are passed through. Cape Conway lies at the northern end of Repulse Bay, and the passage northwards from this point is thickly studded with islands, the scenery in the neighbourhood being strikingly picturesque. Cape Bowling Green, on the southern part of the bay of the same name, is provided with a lighthouse. Near Cape Cleveland the coastal scenery for miles is dominated by Mount Elliott, which rises to the height of 4,000 feet. From Cape Grafton northwards the coastline offers much grand and striking scenery. At times the mountain sides rise directly out of the ocean, at others retreating inland, many charming vistas of wooded plain and rugged height are disclosed. Cape Tribulation, named by Captain Cook, is about 30 miles south of Cooktown, while 30 miles northward is the projection known as Cape Flattery. The Great Barrier Reef is here fairly close to the shore, and there are numerous subsidiary reefs and islets. Farther north Cape Melville stands at the entrance to Bathurst Bay. Higher up on Cape York Peninsula are the headlands named Cape Direction and Cape Grenville. Cape York, the most northern point of Queensland and of the Australian continent, is situated in latitude 10° 40". Rounding Cape York and turning southward into the Gulf of Carpentaria, the scenery undergoes a complete change. Instead of the lofty precipices and richly-wooded heights and islands of the eastern coast, the Gulf shore for many miles consists of monotonously low swampy ground and dismal clumps of mangrove. The only noteworthy projections on the eastern side are Duyfken Point (erroneously spelled on the map as "Duyfhen ") and Cape Keerweer, both reminiscent of the early Dutch visitors to these localities. On the southern shore are Points Tarrant and Bayly.

The eastern coast of Queensland, from Point Danger right up to Cape York, is diversified by numerous indentations, but the contour of the shore line in the Gulf of Carpentaria is more or less regular and unbroken. Commencing from the south, the first noteworthy indentation is Moreton Bay, the entrance to which is protected by Moreton and Stradbroke Islands. The bay, which receives the drainage of the Brisbane River, is shallow, and navigation is rendered difficult by the presence of numerous flats and banks. The channel, however, is well lighted, and

the more troublesome obstacles are being removed by constant dredging. Wide Bay is situated at the mouth of the Mary River, between Fraser or Great Sandy Island and the mainland. A dangerous shifting bar obstructs the entrance. Hervey Bay is protected by the northern end of Great Sandy Island. Higher up is Port Curtis, with Facing Island opposite it. Keppel Bay is a large inlet, on which the town of Rockhampton is situated, Curtis Island lying at the south. Broadsound is a considerable inlet situated in latitude 22, the sea near its entrance being dotted with numerous small islands. Port Denison is the harbour of Bowen, and possesses excellent anchorage of from three to five fathoms. Cleveland Bay, on which Townsville is situated, is protected on the south by Cape Cleveland, and on the north by Magnetic Island. The approach is well marked and lighted. Rockingham Bay is a large inlet in latitude 18°, Hinchinbrook Island lying at its southern extremity. Mourilyan Harbour, north of Double Point, has a narrow entrance, but affords excellent anchorage of from four to twelve fathoms. Cooktown is situated on the Endeavour River, and while the entrance to the bay is narrow the port is easily negotiated. Princess Charlotte Bay is a large inlet situated in latitude 14°. Near the head of Cape York Peninsula is situated the harbour of Port Albany. The fortified harbour of Thursday Island, an important place of call for steamers trading to China and Japan, is situated in Torres Strait. In the Gulf of Carpentaria there is a fine harbour at the mouth of the Batavia River, named Port Musgrave. The best anchorage at the head of the Gulf is the Investigator Road.

GENERAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

As is the case in New South Wales, the main features in the relief of Queensland are a coastal belt, a table-land region, and a great interior plain district.

The Great Dividing Range extending northwards from New South Wales enters Queensland territory at Wallangarra. Proceeding northwards to Maryland the range divides, the Herries Range branching off to the north-west, and the Main Range continuing to the northeast for about 40 miles. Here another bifurcation takes place, the Macpherson Range stretching to the sea coast, where it terminates at Point Danger, and the Main Range extending in a general northwesterly and westerly direction for about 35 miles. Another spur here branches off in a seaward direction, while the Main Range extends westerly and then northerly, and with many twists and turns traverses the entire length of the State. Grey Range enters the State at the 142° meridian, and extends northward to Gowan's Range, the Cheviot Range branching off to the westward. In the central districts are the Drummond, Peak and Denham Ranges. Clarke's Range and Leichhardt Range extend northwards in the northern districts nearly parallel to each other. The Boomer Mountains, Broadsound Ranges, and Connor's Range form the coast range nearly to Mackay. From Townsville,