234 ADIiLAIDE. 



Landing at Glenelg we proceeded towards Ade- 

 laide, which lay about six miles to the northward, 

 in the centre of a rich plain, stretching from the 

 foot of Mount Lofty to the sea, and contracting 

 gradually to the southward, where beyond Glenelg 

 it rises into downs, increasing in height as they ap- 

 proach Cape Jervis, and ultimately blending with 

 spurs thrown off from Mount Lofty range. Adelaide 

 itself is situated on the banks of the Torrens, a 

 very insignificant stream, or rather series of pools, 

 in the dry season. 



I have spoken, in a former chapter, of my 

 astonishment at first seeing Sydney ; but certainly 

 the same feeling was roused in a still greater degree 

 by the first appearance of Adelaide ; although I 

 was prepared for something great by what I had 

 heard of the multitudes that had flocked thither 

 from the mother country. In truth a noble city 

 had in the course of four years sprung, as if by 

 magic, from the ground, wearing such an appear- 

 ance of prosperity and wealth that it seemed almost 

 incredible it could have existed but for so short a 

 time. The fact is that this was mainly owing to 

 the liberal expenditure of the governor. Colonel 

 Gawler, who saw the policy at the earliest possible 

 opportunity of making adequate preparation for the 

 stream of population that was so rapidly flowing in. 

 Every public building was erected on a scale to suit 

 the anticipated splendour of the colony, and in so 

 substantial a manner, that it will be long ere 



