258 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



family, afforded many opportunities of making collections, and getting 

 information. 



Some idea may be formed of the advancement of this district, and 

 the rise in the value of property, from the fact that Mr. Plunket sold 

 his farm for fourteen thousand pounds, which, but two years before, 

 he had bought for seven hundred. 



Dr. Osborne, R. N., has a farm likewise, near Lake Illawarra, 

 which is now divided by a narrow sand-beach from the sea. This 

 lake is shallow, and is about six miles long, by four miles wide. It 

 contains a great quantity of fish, principally mullet.* Large quanti- 

 ties of shells are to be seen on its banks. These are burnt into lime, 

 which is used both for building and a manure. On the borders of 

 the lake reside several fishermen, and it is a general resort for the 

 natives. Mullet, caught in large quantities, are salted and dried. 



Daisy Bank, the seat of Dr. Osborne, is about ten miles from 

 Woolongong. Here also our gentlemen met with that kind hospi- 

 tality, which reigns throughout this country. This part of the 

 district is nearly all brought into cultivation. The mountain scenery 

 is fine, and a few very large trees are conspicuous objects in it. The 

 side of the mountain affords a good field for making botanical 

 collections, as it is not easily accessible to cattle. A large accession 

 was made to our collection of seeds. The woods were alive with 

 birds, among which were the white cockatoo, which collects in flocks, 

 and does infinite mischief to the wheat-fields. They are difficult to 

 approach in consequence of the good look-out kept by the old birds. 

 The small species of the kangaroo, called the wallaby, is found here, 

 as are large black and diamond snakes, lizards, black and white 

 cockatoos, and sand-leeches. The latter is much dreaded, as its bite is 

 venomous, and produces ulcers. It is very troublesome, crawling up 

 and attaching itself to the flesh, where it gloats upon the blood, and 

 not unfrequently bursts from repletion. 



This district is level, and was thought to resemble some parts of 

 our own country after the harvest was gathered in. Silicified wood 

 is very common in Illawarra, and many stumps of it are seen in 

 passing along the road. In some of them, the texture of the wood is 

 well preserved ; and so natural is their aspect, that at first sight they 

 appear as if they were now standing where they had originally 



* One of our gentlemen was assured by the fishermen that there were thirteen kinds 

 of fish in Illawarra Lake. 



