GEORGE TOWN. 4.S6 



forms one of the first sights to which strangers 

 arriving at Launceston are conducted, by a path 

 which, winding along the face of a precipice, sud- 

 denly brings the cataract in sight, tumbling and 

 roaring over the rocks into the pool, which seethes 

 like a cauldron below, and sends up a steaming 

 mist into the air. From the waters of the South 

 Esk, the country around Launceston derives its 

 fertility ; and perhaps there is no part of our south- 

 ern colonies that more resembles England. The 

 number of gentlemen's seats, before alluded to, 

 thickly scattered over an undulating country cleared 

 of all timber, save a few monumental trees, and 

 well cultivated, strongly suggested thoughts of home. 

 When the weather permitted, the boats were em- 

 ployed in continuing the survey of Port Dalrymple. 

 Observations were made at the flag-staff in George 

 Town,* which we found to be in lat. 41° 6' 20" S. 

 and long. 4° 23' 44" West of Sydney ; variation 

 9| East. This place is only a straggling village, 

 situated on the east bank, about three miles and a 

 half from the mouth of the Tamar, upon a flat, 

 forming the north side of a snug cove at the western 

 foot of a group of conical hills ; on one of them is a 

 signal station, by means of which, with another 

 intervening, communication is kept up with 

 Launceston. 



* The geological formation in the neighbourhood of this place 

 will be found in Vol. I. page 280. 



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