"EX ROUTE" TO BALLARAT. 335 



attention and civility of the host and hostess. The morning 

 breaks bright and fresh, and leaving the rich hay and corn 

 fields of the valley, we mount, by rather a rugged ascent, 

 once more into the upland and wooded country. We reach 

 the Pentland hills, where another encampment has been 

 formed in the long ravine. We trot slowly on; the sky * 

 cloudless, a sharp frost nips the uplands. The campers eat- 

 ing, drinking, and smoking, architects, chemists, booksellers, 

 tinkers, tailors, sailors, all cold but cheerful. 



" At Ballan we find the inn eaten out. A horse passes at 

 speed, bearing on his back two horsemen. We meet sulky 

 parties of the unsuccessful returning, and see signs in small 

 excavations of prospecting parties. The forest grows denser ; 

 towards the afternoon we reach the hospitable roof-tree of 



Lallal, the abode of Mr. F , a rich settler, where all the 



laughing jackasses in the colony seem to have established a 

 representative assembly. Ha, ha, ha ! ho, ho, ho ! and hu, hu, 

 hu ! ring forth in every variety of key. 



" The cavalcade in motion splashes through the broad 

 river, where one driver in his shirt, without breeches, walks 

 beside and urges on his horses, fearful of his dray sticking on 

 the way. Our next point is the splendid forest scenery and 

 mountain of Warrenheep, where we refresh with a draught 

 from the delicious mineral spring. Two miles from Warren- 

 heep the hills begin gradually to slope to Ballarat. The 

 forest trees are loftier and denser, but the surface soil is not 

 so richly grassed. The road emerges on to a rich bottom of 

 considerable extent, and the left extends upwards in such a 

 gentle slope as to diminish the appearance of its height. 

 Within a mile and a half of Golden Point the tents begin to 

 peer through the trees. The black hill rises precipitously on 

 the right, and the road is visible down which the carriers are 

 conveying their washing stuff. 



" The bank of the creek is lined with cradles, and the 



