SYDNEY. 363 



CHAPTEE XXIY. 



SYDNEY AND ITS ENVIRONS A DRIVE TO BATHURST AND THE TURON 

 DIGGINGS. 



MY first visit to Sydney, the handsome and flourishing 

 capital of New South Wales, was in the beginning of the year 

 1855. The environs and suburbs, particularly on the coast, 

 are proverbially beautiful. The harbour is one vast inland 

 lake, dotted with numerous islands, and on every side of the 

 bays and opposite shores are erected towns and villages, to 

 which easy and continual access is obtained by steam-boats 

 plying in all directions. One of the most delightful spots in 

 the neighbourhood is a part of the harbour, called the " North 

 Shore," situated rather higher than Sydney, and commanding 

 a splendid view of the city and surrounding country. 



Here, in a little nook of the coast, I was fortunate enough 

 to be able to hire a cottage, situated in the midst of a large 

 garden, full of every description of fruit and flower, and 

 embosomed in vines now teeming with innumerable clusters 

 of the nearly-ripened fruit. A somewhat precipitous descent 

 led directly to the sea, where, in a retired part of the rocky 

 coast, was excavated a bath, always full at high-water, 

 bathing in the open sea being very dangerous, on account of 

 the numerous sharks that frequent the harbour, some of 

 enormous size, and which have often been the cause of fatal 

 accidents. 



Immediately opposite, and at the distance of about a mile 

 across the waters, lay the city of Sydney, with all its bustle, 

 dust, glare, noise, and confusion; whilst here the shade, soli- 

 tude, and repose was as perfect and unbroken as in the midst 



