150 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Leaving Ballarat about 1 1 a.m. on our way to Ararat, we were- 

 soon in new country, as two of us had not been farther than 

 Ballarat before, and, as probably this part may be new to some 

 of our hearers also, a few remarks as we journey onwards may 

 not be out of place. Though close to Ballarat, the Dividing 

 Range, as marked on the map of the colony, does not assume 

 any great size; in fact, for some miles the country is rather flat 

 and uninteresting, being upper volcanic formation of pliocene 

 age. Farming, however, is extensively carried on, and as we 

 approach Windermere several large farms are passed. It was 

 now raining fast, which made the country look more desolate 

 still. Mount Blowhard and its companions could only just be 

 made out, though only about seven or eight mnles away to the 

 north. Altogether, the prospect was not very encouraging to 

 tourists. Soon Lake Burrumbeet came in sight, a large, dreary- 

 looking sheet of water covering about eight square miles. The 

 country appeared to be principally devoted to grazing and sheep 

 farming, till getting near Beaufort the Silurian again crops up, 

 and signs of gold mining make their appearance. Beaufort, 

 from the railway, seemed a thriving township, and about ten 

 miles away to the north are the Pyrenees Ranges, of which 

 Mount Cole is a prominent feature. Had the day been fine, we 

 should have had several good views of the Dividing Range as 

 we travelled on, but, being so dull, where the mountains were 

 any distance from the railway they were lost to view. Leaving 

 Beaufort the country became more wooded, and hills and valleys 

 combined to make up some pretty bits of scenery. A few miles 

 beyond Buangor the railway runs quite close to the ranges, and 

 then strikes across the plains to Ararat. Here the rain came 

 down in earnest, and it was still raining when we reached that 

 town, at about a quarter past one. 



Here we left the main line, and travelled by the Portland line 

 to our destination. But before proceeding farther we must give 

 due credit to Ararat for having the best refreshment station in 

 Victoria, as in all our journeys we have not yet seen its equal ; 

 in fact, it is almost worth the journey from INIelbourne to see 

 and experience the excellent treatment there of tired and hungrj'- 

 passengers. We left Ararat about two o'clock, and were soon 

 bowling along over the plains which lie at the foot of the 

 Grampians. On our right was a rather picturesque series of 

 hills, extending for some distance south-west of Ararat, 

 exhibiting many signs of cultivation. Presently we crossed a 

 small stream which is the head of the Hopkins, a river well 

 known in its lower reaches near Warrnambool. After a short 

 stoppage at W^ickliffe-road, so as to allow the morning train from 

 Portland to pass, we were once more on our way across the 



