314 TAIILEE. 



water, though breaks here and there allow small 

 patches to be seen, athwart which a native canoe 

 occasionally glides to and from the fishing grounds. 

 These fairy boats, stealing along the water on a 

 fine calm morning, greatly enhance the beauty of 

 the scene. They belong to a party of natives who 

 have taken up their quarters near Tahlee, and who, 

 though by no means a fine race, have always been 

 well disposed towards Europeans. Unfortunately 

 they are much addicted to the use of ardent spirits, 

 having acquired the habit from the whalers who 

 frequent the place. A young woman and her hus- 

 band form part of the domestic establishment at 

 Tahlee. 



We were as much delighted as surprised with the 

 richness of the vegetation, when compared with 

 its dry parched appearance at Sydney — another of 

 the striking contrasts characteristic of Australia. 



At Captain King's table I tasted the wonga-wonga 

 pigeon ; it is the largest of any of the Australian 

 kinds, and the flesh is very white and rich. It is a 

 difficult bird to shoot, as it always keeps in the 

 thickest foliage, and is strong and quick on the 

 wing. 



Through the kindness of the same friend I was 

 also enabled to enjoy a ride into the country, during 

 the interval between the observations for rating the 

 chronometers. I had to ascend the Karuah river, 

 flowing into the north-west corner of Port Stephen, 

 for twelve miles, to a place called Boorral, the furthest 



