214 EFFECTS OF FOEEST TEGETATIOX ON CLIMATE. 



supply of our rivers, and perhaps assist tlie elements in 

 gradually ameliorating tlie severity of sucli a drought as many 

 of our brethren are still passing through ; for though we have 

 been blessed on part of the sea-board with refreshing showers, 

 there are even now thousands of sheep travelling in search of 

 grass and water, w^hile most of the runs throughout the country 

 are occupied to their full capacity. 



There are also spots along our coasts which should be planted 

 to prevent the inroad of drifting sand. The cutting down of a 

 natural scrub on the cliffs of Newcastle was followed by an in- 

 road of sand which maintains its position ; and a graveyard near 

 Wollongong has been partially if not completely covered with 

 sand, as is the case in numerous places on the eastern coast of 

 England, and of which there are given some excellent illus- 

 trations in the late Sir Charles Lyell's " Principles of Geology" 

 (vol. I., chap. 20). 



The late Dr. Mitchell has been heard to say that, on his arrival, 

 in the Colony, the sands that now exist as formidable dunes 

 between Sydney and Botany had scarcely advanced beyond the 

 shore. Should they continue their march, the flood of sand may 

 threaten the burial of as many buildings as lie hidden beneath 

 the undulating wastes of the Atlantic coast of France ; but they, 

 and even the sand-hills of Central Australia, may be made to 

 obey the same law as the billows of ocean itself — " here shall 

 thy proud waves be stayed" — by the careful and well directed 

 employment of the means furnished by Him who gave that com- 

 mand of old; for Man, to whom the dominion of this lower 

 world is given, is able by the simple use of natural contrivances 

 not only to protect the flowing streams of water, but to shackle 

 and enchain the desolating floods of harder material that have 

 entombed churches and houses, and driven out inhabitants of 

 many a seaside towai and village in Europe. 



If any apology be needed for introducing at such length the 

 subject just discussed, let it be pleaded in the words of the 

 poet : — 



Rura mihi et rignii placent in vallibus amnes 

 Flumina aniem, silvasque inglorius * * 

 * " O ! qui me gelidis in A'allibus Hsemi 

 Sistat et ingenti ramorum protegat umbra ; 

 Felix, qui potuit renim cognoscere causas. 



[Geor., ii., 435.) 



