350 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



tion continued for upwards of a mile in extent, until the 

 stream regained its pristine stillness and tranquillity in the 

 level country beneath, and in fact appeared to have thus far 

 cut its way through the granite mountain, of which the point 

 npon which I was standing when I first looked down upon 

 this extraordinary scene was the apex. 



All the parrot and cockatoo tribe seemed to have selected 

 the noble trees and verdant knolls that crowned this beauti- 

 ful eminence as their especial abode, and filled the air with 

 their harsh notes, screaming defiance to an intruder upon 

 their domain. The intricate retreats and caverns in the long 

 range of granite rocks that bordered the falls, and which 

 were covered with a thick growth of underwood, were the 

 favourite resort of bush-rangers, and other evil-doers, either 

 as a temporary rendezvous, or a hiding-place from the pur- 

 suit of the police, which at this period did not present any 

 very formidable obstacle to their proceedings or security. 



I often made a short visit to Lallal for a little relaxation 

 from my official duties, and, as the hospitable proprietor had 

 given me a general invitation to his residence, found the 

 same comfortable accommodation during his absence that I 

 should had he been at home. Having heard that the pools 

 beneath the falls contained some very large eels, I determined 

 to attempt the capture of some of them, and looked up the 

 large hooks and strong tackle that I happened to have by me 

 in order to fabricate a line strong enough to hold one of these 

 serpentine monsters, should I be fortunate enough to get 

 hold of him. They were said to weigh ten pounds and 



upwards, and Mr. F assured me that he had seen and 



eaten them of that weight. 



Having selected the best materials I could find, I pro- 

 ceeded to Lallal, and on the evening preceding my fishing 

 operations procured a good supply of lobworms at the 

 station. I had an old trolling-rod that I had brought from 



