164 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



are most conspicuous. At the time of our arrival, the trees were in- 

 fested with locusts (Cicada), which made a noise absolutely deafening. 

 The sound this insect produces is the same as that made by the analo- 

 gous species in the United States, but is continued here during the heat 

 of the day, and ten times more deafening. 



Handsome equipages abound ; and the stage-coaches are numerous. 

 These, with the costume and demeanour of the more respectable part 

 of the population, struck us as being more like what is seen in our towns 

 than in those of Europe. Every thing has a new look about it, and the 

 people manifest more of the bustle and activity of our money-making 

 and enterprising population than are to be seen in old countries. The 

 acquisition of wealth seems to be the only object of all exertion here, 

 and speculation was as rife as we had left it in the United States. 

 Cutting down hills, filling up valleys, laying out and selling lots, were 

 actively going on. There are in truth many particulars in which the 

 people of Sydney resemble those of America. This is observable, 

 among other things, in the influence of the public press. In Australia, 

 however, it is more licentious than any except the lowest of our news- 

 papers ; taking unwarrantable liberties with private character, and is 

 far from being remarkable for discrimination. 



All the religious sects of the British Islands have their representa- 

 tives here. Each has its ardent advocates, who appear to be in con- 

 tinual war with those of the others. The contest between them had 

 risen to a great height at the time of our visit, which is probably to be 

 ascribed to the agitation of a question in relation to the distribution of 

 the school-fund. 



In one particular, a most striking difference is to be observed 

 between the scenes to be witnessed at Sydney, and in the cities of 

 the United States. This consists in the open practice of the vice of 

 drunkenness, which here stalks abroad at noonday. It is not rare at 

 any time, but on holidays its prevalence surpasses any thing I have 

 ever witnessed. Even persons of the fair sex (if they may be so 

 called) were there to be seen staggering along the most public streets, 

 brawling in the houses, or borne off in charge of the police. However 

 highly coloured this picture may be thought, it is fully corroborated 

 by the police reports of the Sydney papers on Monday mornings. 

 The police-officers themselves are among the venders of the intoxi- 

 cating liquid. 



The facilities for indulgence in this vice are to be seen every where 

 in the form of low taverns and grog-shops, which attract attention by 

 their gaudy signs, adapted to the taste of the different orders of custo 

 mers, as "the King's Arms," the "Punch-Bowl," the "Shamrock." 



