XIX ASCENT OF MOUNT WELLINGTON 477 



the interval of seven years, they mustered only fifty -four 

 individuals ; and while each family of the interior of New South 

 Wales, uncontaminated by contact with the whites, swarms 

 with children, those of Flinders' Island had, during eight years, 

 an accession of only fourteen in number ! " 



The Beagle stayed here ten days, and in this time I made 

 several pleasant little excursions, chiefly with the object of 

 examining the geological structure of the immediate neighbour- 

 hood. The main points of interest consist, first, in some highly 

 fossiliferous strata belonging to the Devonian or Carboniferous 

 period ; secondly, in proofs of a late small rise of the land ; 

 and lastly, in a solitary and superficial patch of yellowish lime- 

 stone or travertin, which contains numerous impressions of 

 leaves of trees, together with land-shells, not now existing. It 

 is not improbable that this one small quarry includes the only 

 remaining record of the vegetation of Van Diemen's Land 

 during one former epoch. 



The climate here is damper than in New South Wales, and 

 hence the land is more fertile. Agriculture flourishes ; the cul- 

 tivated fields look well, and the gardens abound with thriving 

 vegetables and fruit-trees. Some of the farmhouses, situated 

 in retired spots, had a very attractive appearance. The general 

 aspect of the vegetation is similar to that of Australia ; perhaps 

 it is a little more green and cheerful ; and the pasture between 

 the trees rather more abundant. One day I took a long walk 

 on the side of the bay opposite to the town : I crossed in a steam- 

 boat, two of which are constantly plying backwards and forwards. 

 The machinery of one of these vessels was entirely manufactured 

 in this colony, which, from its very foundation, then numbered 

 only three-and-thirty years ! Another day I ascended Mount 

 Wellington ; I took with me a guide, for I failed in a first 

 attempt, from the thickness of the wood. Our guide, however, 

 was a stupid fellow, and conducted us to the southern and 

 damp side of the mountain, where the vegetation was very 

 luxuriant ; and where the labour of the ascent, from the 

 number of rotten trunks, was almost as great as on a mountain 

 in Tierra del Fuego or in Chiloe. It cost us five and a half 

 hours of hard climbing before we reached the summit. In 

 many parts the Eucalypti grew to a great size, and composed 

 a noble forest. In some of the dampest ravines tree-ferns 



