THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 169 



BOTANICAL TRIP TO THE WIMMERA. 



By C. French, F.L.S. 



(Department of Government Botanist.] 



/Read before the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria, \\th 

 November, \%%-].) 



Baron von Mueller being anxious to trace out and fix the 

 geographical limits of certain plants, also to procure, if possible, 

 (for the "Key") additional species from the north-western portion 

 of the colony, suggested to me that I should spend my annual 

 leave of three weeks in the Wimmera district for that purpose. 

 This I at once agreed to do, as the district was strange to me, 

 and I was desirous of seeing the singular country of which I had 

 heard so much. 



I left Melbourne on the 29th of August by the 6.30 a.m. 

 train, and, after a long and somewhat dreary ride, reached 

 Dimboola (250 miles from Melbourne) at about 7.20 p.m. of the 

 same day. The night was cold, wet, and as dark as pitch. I 

 ■had, however, some useful hints from Mr. D. Le Souef, and had 

 but little difficulty in finding the hotel, the proprietor of which 

 (Mr. M'Lellan), being a bit of a naturalist himself, made me 

 very comfortable, and we were soon on very good terms. 



Shortly after my arrival at the hotel I found a very kind letter 

 from Mr. Percy Scott, of the Albacutya Station, proffering 

 assistance in enabling me to get into the back country, as the 

 Baron was desirous that I should proceed, so far as time would 

 permit, towards the Murray River. 



I had not been long in Dimboola before I found that I had 

 come a day too late for the mailman, with whom I proposed to 

 drive to Albacutya. I had, therefore, to wait three days before 

 I could make a fair start, so I resolved to go on to the 

 Aboriginal Mission Station, situated about ten or twelve miles 

 from Dimboola. 



Having some time to spare, I went for a stroll around the 

 town, and was somewhat surprised at the number of shops of 

 all kinds ; Dimboola, as you are aware, is situated on the 

 Wimmera River, and is one of the oldest settlements in the 

 colony. 



After seeing the sights of Dimboola, I obtained a conveyance 

 and drove out to the Mission Station, and, having an introduc- 

 tion to the pastor (the Rev. Mr. Kramer), I was most hospitably 

 received by himself and his wife, Mr. Kramer having just 

 finished the marriage service on the occasion of the first 

 European wedding which had taken place since the establish- 

 ment of the mission. 



The natives here seemed very happy and contented, the little 

 black children running to and fro being to me quite a novelty. 



