434" LAUNCESTON. 



which, by blasting, was made ; the top was blown 

 off, so that now vessels are liable to be carried upon 

 it, whereas, before, when it broke the surface, such 

 was not the case. 



The valley, through which the Tamar winds, is 

 narrow, with sides generally steep and densely 

 wooded ; in some places, the reaches are wide, and 

 the hills recede ; on their lower slopes, near Laun- 

 ceston, are situated many pretty villas, peeping 

 through garden shrubberies ; whilst further down 

 are the straggling habitations of the more recent 

 settlers, surrounded by clear patches, with difficulty 

 won from the forest by the axe and the firebrand. 

 On the whole, therefore, it may be said that art 

 and nature combine to render beautiful the scenery 

 on the banks of this important stream. 



The first view of Launceston, the second town in 

 Tasmania, is very pretty. The valley of the river 

 expands as you approach, and over a low tract of land 

 on the east bank, the straggling mass of buildings 

 forming the town is descried. Though very healthy 

 it lies on a kind of flat, backed with open woodland 

 undulations at the junction of the North and South 

 Esks ; and, during the winter, is subject to fogs 

 so dense that many persons well acquainted with 

 the town frequently lose themselves. Where the 

 streams unite, they become the Tamar, one of 

 the principal rivers in Tasmania. At the distance 

 of half a mile from the confluence, the North Esk 

 makes a by no means insignificant waterfall. This 



