THE ^'TCTORIAN NATURALIST. 



short clay pipe black with age, is not easily forgotten. However, 

 he seems to be a master of the art of punting, and we are soon 

 across the stream, and then, within a few minutes after leaving 

 the river, are in the middle of Orbost. The township at present 

 consists of one main street, with indications of one or two 

 others, and gives promise of rising to importance in future 

 years, when the now wild district of Croajingolong shall have 

 become settled, and its valleys and mountain-sides brought under 

 cultivation. 



Arrived in Orbost, we soon find our way to the house of Mr. 

 James Cameron, who had very kindly taken a considerable 

 amount of interest in our trip, and to whom we are indebted for 

 valuable assistance in several ways. 



Our chief difficulty concerns the engaging a guide and pack- 

 horses ; but, after some delay this is accomplished, though 

 we find that the preparations occupy so much time that it is New 

 Year's Day before we leave Orbost. 



Before going further, it may be as well to indicate briefly the 

 principal sources of our knowledge with regard to Croajingolong. 



Many years ago now the Baron von Mueller traversed the eastern 

 part of the country, and since that time, when he, amongst other 

 things, discovered the presence of the Waratah, practically very 

 little fresh information concerning the botany has been acquired. 

 The geodetic survey party entered the district in 1870, when the 

 boundary line between Victoria and New South Wales was 

 marked out. Of this party Mr. Ellery was the head ; under him 

 were Messrs. Turton and Newton, with C. Walter as photographer 

 and botanical collector. Tiey completed the triangulation from 

 Lakes Entrance to Mount Taylor, and also erected beacons on 

 the highest points. It was during this trip that the party noticed 

 the high point of Mount Ellery, which was named in honour of 

 the government astronomer, although they afterwards discovered 

 that the blacks had named it Goonegerah, or " Egg" Mountain, 

 from the shape of the stone on its summit. The photographs of 

 Mr. Walter of Mount Ellery were copied in the Australian News. 

 Since then, in more recent years, surveyors have been at work and 

 tracks cut through the country ; these tracks now bear the names 

 of those who cut them, as Brace's and Whitelaw's. Still more 

 recently Mr. Merrall passed across, and recorded his observations, 

 which had reference chiefly to the topography of the district, in a 

 paper contributed to the Victorian branch of the Royal Geo- 

 graphical Society of Australasia ; and, lastly, some valuable infor- 

 mation is to be found in a paper by Mr. James Stirling, 

 F.G.S., read before the Royal Society of Victoria in November 

 last. Mr. Stirling had exceptional opportunities of seeing the 

 district whilst in charge, during a considerable time, of Govern- 

 ment prospecting parties, and his most valuable contributions 



