THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 85 



After leaving Sydney in the Tomki, a twin-screw steamer of 

 400 tons, we had a very rough time at sea, but by Saturday 

 morning we were outside the Richmond Heads. The entrance 

 to the river is protected from the sands by two long and massive 

 stone breakwaters, but the bar sometimes silts up to a remarkable 

 extent, and often the steamers are delayed through not being 

 able to cross. The entrance, too, is very narrow, and a tug-boat 

 is needed to keep our steamer's head in the right direction. 

 One vessel, the Lismore, some years ago attempted to cross in 

 rough weather, and was driven on shore a little to the north. 

 Her remains are still seen on the sands. About a mile from the 

 entrance is the town of Ballina, and we are now on a splendid 

 sheet of water between mangrove-lined banks, for the Richmond 

 here must be 500 yards in width. From Ballina the river takes 

 a long sweep to the south, and after passing several beautiful 

 islets, some in midstream, we stop to unload cargo at the Broad- 

 water Sugar Mills. This establishment is the only one of its kind 

 in the district, and to it is sent all the cane grown along the river. 

 The cane is conveyed on barges, which are moored, until ready 

 to be unloaded, under a large shed built over the water's edge. 

 We passed several tugs coming down stream with as many as 

 three and four of these cane-laden barges in tow. 



Leaving Broadwater the river takes another great turn to the 

 northward. Several townships have sprung up along the river's 

 course ; our steamer stops at each place unloading cargo, pro- 

 visions, &c, receiving produce on the return trip to convey to 

 Sydney. Habitations, each with its area planted in cane or 

 maize, are scattered along both sides of the river. A steam 

 launch is occasionally seen moving from one plantation to 

 another, conveying goods to and from the larger wharves. One 

 launch I noticed was fitted out as a general store, no doubt going 

 its round once a week. 



The township of Curaki is a place of some importance. It is 

 situated at the junction of the two arms of the Richmond. One 

 branch, called the Casino arm, goes away to the north-west past 

 the town of Casino, while the other is the north arm, along which 

 we steam towards Lismore. The river now is much narrower, 

 and has a very winding course, so much so that every now and 

 again our steamer has to slacken speed to round the sharp curves. 

 The country on either side consists of rich alluvial flats, one time 

 well timbered with gum trees, but now studded with plantations 

 of cane, maize, and in some places arrowroot, while in the 

 stretches used as pasture the dry rung timber is left standing. 

 Making our way up stream, however, we pass an occasional patch 

 of semi-tropical vegetation, the first reminder that we are nearing 

 the " Big Scrub." Soon after coming in sight of the outskirts of 

 Lismore we stop awhile at the wharf of the New South Wales 



