THE WOMBAT. 



TO APOLLO BAY. 



By H. E. Hill. 



It having been decided to send a party out from this institution- 

 last Christmas, four o'clock on the 24th December finds us at 

 the college amidst a miscellaneous assortment of goods,, 

 consisting of rugs, tents, provisions, &c. 



After packing all the paraphernalia in the smallest 

 possible space, we sit down on the steps waiting for our 

 coach, which is not so punctual as Cobb and Co usually are, 

 so that we do not actually make a start till half past five. 

 The morning is cold and drizzly — an inauspicious opening for 

 our trip. 



Near Winchelsea we see a novel sight — a man cutting a 

 crop with a scythe. I am not sure whether he has finished 

 yet. 



At 11 o'clock we reach the Barwon again, and stop for 

 breakfast. Numbers of laughing jackasses and magpie larks 

 enliven us, and we move on again. Cross the Barwon for the 

 fourth time at Murroon (near Birregurra), and the monotonous 

 flat country disappears ; in its place we travel over a series of 

 sandy rises covered chiefly with grass trees. This continues 

 till we reach Yaugher, when an abrupt change takes place in 

 the nature of the land. The rises we have been crossing are 

 replaced by the hills which form the outskirts of the ranges. 

 About a mile further on we reach Forrest, cross the Barwon 

 for the sixth and last time, and pitch our tents. Notice- 

 great numbers of mudlarks (Grallina picata, Lath.) about the 

 river here. Having made a stage of sixty miles we feel a bit 

 tired, and turn in almost at once. Just as we are getting to 

 sleep, a local gentleman who wishes to clean our boots, pays 

 us a visit. This appearing rather superfluous in a camp-out,, 

 we decline with thanks. 



JOHN BUCHANAN, 



Sail, Tent, Tilt, and Tarpaulin Maker, 



MOORABOOL ST., G-EET_.02sTC3-. 



THE OLD SHOP. 



