276 SURREY HILLS. 



tion I had before made, and the truth of which 

 again struck me forcibly, namely, that the face of 

 the Emu bears a most remarkable likeness to that 

 of the aborigines of New South Wales. Had there 

 been any intimacy between the native and the 

 Emu, I might have been disposed to resort to this 

 circumstance as an explanation ; for some maintain 

 that the human countenance partakes of the expression 

 and even of the form of whatever, whether man or 

 beast, it is in the habit of associating with. 



The Company have another station about sixty 

 miles S.E. from Circular Head, at the Surrey hills, 

 from whence the road to Launceston is good and 

 wide. But between it and Circular Head there 

 are several rivers to ford, and the country is not 

 only very hilly, but densely wooded with enormous 

 trees, some of which I was informed were 30 feet 

 in circumference. This causes great difficulty in 

 clearing the land. They accomplish about fifty 

 acres every year. The establishment consists 

 of one hundred persons, many of whom are convicts. 

 They are kept in excellent order ; and their being 

 strictly forbidden the use of spirits no doubt con- 

 tributes materially to prevent their giving trouble. 

 1 could not help thinking that the Company con- 

 ducted its operations on too extensive a scale to 

 render their undertaking profitable. The high pay 

 of their officers, and the difficulties encountered in 

 clearing the land, are in themselves considerable 

 drawbacks ; especially when we consider, that after 



