GIPPSLAND WILDS 43 



timbered to the water's edge. Tall reeds grow in 

 quiet reaches, the haunts of Coot and Heron; Ducks 

 cruise inshore, and Cormorants, perched on dead 

 branches, look curiously at the motor launch as it 

 glides past. This forest lake, where "Peace comes 

 dropping slow," seems to be for the quiet passage of 

 bark canoes, and boats that move to the "dreamy drip 

 of oars." 



The road from Nowa Nowa to Buchan, a distance 

 of seventeen miles, traverses a forest, and is one of 

 the finest coach drives in Victoria. But wild Nature 

 does not please everybody. "It's a pity that all this 

 country isn't under wheat," remarked a gaily dressed 

 young woman to a fellow-passenger, as the Buchan 

 coach was travelling through the forest. The party 

 included a youth, evidently a city clerk, whose foolish 

 talk entertained the girl who sighed for wheatfields 

 We were all anxious to see a "Native Bear" or Koala 

 [Phascolarctus cinereus], which, the driver had told 

 us, was domiciled in a gum tree along the road. 

 When he pointed with the whip handle, all eyes were 

 focussed on an innocent little creature, which re- 

 turned the compliment with a look of mild surprise. 

 The smart youth jumped out and flung a stone at the 

 "Bear"; he was rewarded with a sharp rebuke from 

 the driver, and resumed his seat, rather crestfallen. 

 The Koala climbed to the top of its tree, and the 

 coach rumbled forward. 



Coming into Buchan is rather an exciting ex- 

 perience. The road slopes steeply from a windy 

 rise, and nervous passengers are inclined to become 

 limpets for the nonce. But Australian coach-drivers 

 know their business, and there is little to fear, coming 

 into Buchan. 



The caves are both beautiful and interesting. 

 Fairy Cave, the "tourists' darling," has been civilised. 

 To a naturalist its most striking feature is a cluster 

 of swallows' nests, against the wall in the entrance, 



