CHAPTER VIII. 



AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA. 



HE very name of Australia recalls the numerous voyages whicli, 

 previous to Cook's decisive expedition, were undertaken in searcli 

 of a vast Austral continent supposed to balance in the south the 

 immensely preponderating extent of upheaved land in the northern 

 hemisphere. But, reduced by the illustrious navigator to its true 

 proportions, this southern region can no longer be considered as a "make-weight" 

 to the continents lying north of the equator. Nevertheless, it is still extensive 

 enough to be regarded as one of the great sections of the globe comparable to the 

 southern divisions of Africa and America. It may thus be considered as one of the 

 three southern continents which are connected with those of the north either by 

 narrow isthmuses, or by continous chains of islands. The insular lands uniting it 

 with the Asiatic peninsulas belong themselves in great measure to the Australian 

 zone by their climate and natural productions. The Austral mainland is, more- 

 over, considerably increased in extent by a submarine bed fringed with 

 barrier reefs. Its superficial area with that of the adjacent islands scarcely 

 exceeds three-fourths of that of Europe ; but with the other lands stretching from 

 New Guinea to New Zealand, the whole area of the upraised land in this part of 

 the South Sea is very nearly equal in extent to the European continent. 



General Survey. 



But in other respects what a profound difference between these two antipo- 

 dean lands ! Relatively speaking, the one is the most densely, the other the most 

 sparsely peopled division of the world, the discrepancy between the two being in 

 the proportion of a hundred to one. At the same time it should be remembered 

 that Australia has but entered on the career of its evolution in the common stream 

 of human cultiire, while its new occupants have already made astounding progress 

 in numbers and influence. Still, this region is far from enjo3'ing the advantages 

 in physical constitution and climatic conditions that have made Europe a privileged 

 section of the globe. Compared with this favoured region, Australia presents the 

 heavy, shapeless outlines of a rough-hewn block, being, for the most part, deficient 

 in lofty mountain ranges, extensive river basins ramifying in all directions, fertile 



