,^,?] AVD AS, The Victorian Grampians. 155 



attention be wholly absorbed by the view, for there are 

 objects near at hand to admire. The rocks here present so 

 perfect a resemblance to a " Giant Grand Piano," complete 

 even to the stool, that one would almost think it were the 

 work of a sculptor. Many climb up and pretend to play upon 

 it, and a g"entleman of ponderous proportions, who, in rol- 

 licking- mood essaved to play and sing" a " Pean of Praise," 

 broke the stool from its pedestal. It is a fortunate matter 

 that he did not break his neck as well by rolling down into 

 the caves below. But " All's well that ends well," and the 

 local people are about to have the stool repaired. On the 

 top of the peak is a perfectly formed seat on which one may 

 rest his limbs, and. while admiring the view, test his lungs 

 to hear the famous echo. All sounds, whether singing^, 

 whistling, or cooeeing, reverberate perfectly. 



Many other peaks are over 2,000 feet above sea-level and 

 have cliffs 700 or 800 feet high. They have been made very 

 easy of access by tracks constructed by the Public Works 

 Department. For the sake of variety one of these routes 

 may be followed on the return journey. After descending 

 to 2,000 feet level Eucalyptus atpina is met with. Being a 

 eucalypt that does not attain great proportions, it was pleas- 

 ing- to see specimens about 4 feet 6 inches in circumference 

 at three feet from the ground. It is peculiar to the Gram- 

 pians, being found nowhere else in Australia but upon the 

 highest of these peaks. A beautiful plant, which Avill wave 

 welcome to visitors with its graceful pendulous branches and 

 plumes of scarlet flowers about Christmas time, is Huniea 

 clegans. Plumed PTumea. It grows in plenty on the Wonder- 

 land Peak. Thriving among the rocks in profusion are 

 thousands of the liHaceous plant, Stvpandra glauca, its 

 flowers, a pale indigo, sprinkling the rocks like veritable 



" Scraps of the blue 

 Dropped from the skies where the wee stars peeped through.'" 



The last of the rock phenomena is seen in the " Muzzled 

 Monster." This formation is very unique, and presents the 

 appearance of some great monster with a muzzle on, the 

 ropes of which, formed by seams of quartz, being very 

 distinct. 



Throughout my wanderings in these interesting parts I 

 was accompanied by Messrs. C. and F. D'Alton, who have 

 resided there all their lives and are thoroughly acquainted 

 with the district. As many of the more beautiful part^ 

 cannot be visited without the assistance of a guide, I would 

 like to mention that the services of these gentlemen arc 

 always available in that capacity. Visitors may rely upon 

 being shown by them all the beauties, and saved from anv 

 danger, which element is always present in mountaineering". 



