184 MOUNT LAVINIA. 



Among other farms about Yas Plains is ' ' Mount 

 Lavinia," the property of my late fellow-travel- 

 ler, Henry O'Brien, Esq., at whose place I 

 passed many agreeable days during my sojourn 

 at Yas. The house has been erected in a pic- 

 turesque situation, upon a hill of moderate ele- 

 vation, near the base of which the Yas river 

 winds its course : the effect, on the approach to 

 the house, is extremely pretty ; the view from 

 the hill overlooks a good extent of picturesque 

 country, the greatest part is devoted to sheep 

 pasturage ; and some portion of arable land is 

 alone wanting to make this spot still more charm- 

 ing. From another hill, on the plains, a short 

 distance from that just mentioned, the view is 

 still more expansive, overlooking the extensive 

 verdant downs, surrounded in the distance by 

 thinly-wooded hills, terminated in the south- 

 west direction by distant blue mountains, near 

 which flows the fine stream of the Murrum- 

 bidgee. 



The plains were animated by herds of cattle, 

 flocks of sheep, and troops of horses, grazing, 

 reposing, or exercising : the whole combination 

 of this beautiful scenery excited the most pleas- 

 ing sensations, which were heightened by its Eng- 

 lish character, and cause the settler to reflect less 

 on the remoteness from home ; when surrounded 



