Return to Sydney. 39 



sesses the advantage of continuing for a considerable time fit 

 for use. 



Our return to Sydney was fixed for the following morning. 

 We were. desirous of catching the steamer which plies from 

 Wulongong every second day, as our Commodore, and several 

 of the scientific staff, had received an invitation for the evening 

 at Sydney. As the steamer would first of all start towards 

 noon from Keiama, we employed the hours of morning in a 

 visit to the coal mines of the Keira, and hunting in the ad- 

 joining forests. Coal is very abundant in these mines, and is 

 wheeled along a level shaft in small waggons as far as the high 

 road, whence it is conveyed by regular carts to the city. 

 About 200 of these are brought up every day. 



Unfortunately our plan for returning by the steamer fell 

 through, as a high wind and heavy sea rendered the entrance 

 of the boat into the harbour a very problematical business. 

 Accordingly, as the boat had not made her appearance by 4 

 p. M., there was nothing for it but to return by coach to Ap- 

 pin, so as to enable us to reach Sydney in time for our invita- 

 tion. The cool of evening began now to be felt among the 

 lofty steep hills, over which lies the road to the interior. At 

 first all went well, and the early part of our journey was per- 

 formed in all comfort and at a rapid pace. But we soon came 

 to some very steep parts of the road, where our tired horses 

 gave out, and could not proceed one step further. By this 

 time we had left the coach, and went on on foot, shooting and 



