THE VICTORIAN JiAT^UEALlST. 8l 



however, to our collecting proclivities it was midday before we 

 had gone half the distance, so we resolved, if we could obtain any 

 water, to rest and enjoy the solid refreshment we had provided 

 ourselves with. Of water, however, not a drop was obtainable, 

 so on we tramped for another mile or so until we came to a small 

 selection, from the proprietor of which we calculated upon 

 obtaining a supply of that of which we were now in urgent need. 

 Our knock at the door of the hut brought out a young woman, 

 who very kindly promised us a drink ; but, after waiting from ten 

 to fifteen minutes, she appeared with a bucket of milk, stating 

 that the little water they had was so bad she did not like offering 

 it to us. In fact, every one with whom we spoke during our 

 visit to Mirboo stated they could not recollect so dry a season, 

 and, certainly, in none of the fern gullies we visited, and in 

 which water is usuall)'^ plentiful enough, was any obtainable. To 

 be unable to procure a drink of water in Gippsland, where 

 drought has hitherto been almost unknown, was a new experience 

 to us ; but this state of things was soon altered, for whilst taking 

 our lunch on the shady side of the local school-house the rain 

 came down in torrents, and soon there was abundance of the 

 element so greatly needed. This necessitated our return, and 

 now our umbrellas came in useful for another purpose besides 

 collecting ; for, had it not been for them, we should have got 

 thoroughly drenched. On our way out we had observed numer- 

 ous holes on the track which we were loth to believe were crab 

 holes, they being so much larger than any we had ever before 

 seen, but with the rain our doubts were dispelled, for at almost 

 every hole a crab had ventured out to enjoy the — to him — 

 delightful change. Along this road we did not meet with as much 

 success as on the previous day, for what reason we cannot say, 

 there being as much large timlDcr, and more shiubs in flower, but 

 on neither one nor the other was there much of insect life — indeed, 

 on the shrubs there was literally nothing obtainable, which was 

 more than a surprise to us, for, generally, just before rain is the 

 best collecting time. 



The third day of our stay opened exceedingly close and 

 oppressive, and by no means of a nature to induce long distance 

 walking ; but, undeterred by this, we started on a western road, 

 which we were informed would eventually bring us to the 

 celebrated Mirboo coal mine. We, however, did not reach so 

 far, so cannot give a description of the mine or its coal, beyond 

 recounting the statement of one resident, whose opinion was that 

 the coal was a really good one for domestic use ; for other 

 purposes we presume he was unable to say. This was a much 

 prettier road than the two previous ones, there not being such an 

 abundance of dead trees — indeed, after about a mile there were 

 none of these unsightly objects to be seen, and the shrubs were 



