lb Voyage of the Novara. 



excursion as far as Appln and Wulongong, in the district of 

 Illawara. From Campbelton to Appin is a distance of 12 

 miles, by a tolerably wide level road, partly through culti- 

 vated farms, partly through forest scenery. We encountered 

 but one vehicle the whole distance, containing a family 

 dressed in their best, to accompany a body to the grave — • 

 probably some father or sister. "A funeral in the bush," 

 said our driver to us with a somewhat serious face, as he 

 called our attention to the cart moving on slowly through 

 the stillness of the wood. In a simple little forest hut, whose 

 inhabitants are engaged in avocations that necessarily imply 

 the closest daily intimacy, the stroke of death must fall with 

 redoubled severity, as he strikes down some of the dearest 

 and best beloved. 



When we reached Appin the day was already too far 

 spent to admit of our reaching Wulongong, the end of 

 our journey, the same evening. Uninviting as was the filth 

 of the little village ale-house where we alighted, we had to 

 make the best of its accommodations, as it was the only inn 

 in the place. The dialect which now saluted our ears un- 

 mistakeably proved that we were domiciled in an Irish 

 house. The people were by no means poor, they possessed 

 an extensive '' run" nsar the hotel, but it is part of the 

 character of Irish settlers to be superior to the virtues of 

 cleanliness and order. Quite close at hand began the forest, 

 a visit to which was rewarded by the capture of several 

 species of birds peculiar to New South Wales, among others 



