48 
III. 
Among the Forest Giakts of Australia. 
Read at the General Meeting on December 7th. 
By the Hon. Secretary. 
Such is the heading of an article by Theodore Miiller in the Gartenlaube 
of November, 1871 ; and as it is of sufficient interest to the natural 
historian to deserve being brought before this Society, I take the liberty of 
giving you a translation of it. 
"The bright afternoon sun, towards the end of an Australian summer, 
was sending its burning rays from a cloudless sky, and we who had been 
wandering since an early hour in the morning, had had the full benefit of 
his more than genial warmth. Since our yesterday's encampment we had 
passed through park -like parts , crossed considerable mountain chains often 
without any path or track to guide us, and now we had gained the summit 
of the last mountain ridge before the goal of our journey. 
" High gum trees mingled with stately tree ferns surrounded us, whilst 
the declivity of the mountain before us was robbed of its robe of trees by 
the axe and by fire. Below in the dale a small clear brook "Olinda 
Creek," flowed in its winding bed, and farther still a small homely, 
comfortable-looking settlement, with its orchards and vineyards extended 
for some distance. 
" Scenes like this one were familiar to us, and it was not this which 
rivetted our gaze ; for there below in the valley began the reign of the 
mighty forest giants. 
"From the foot of our mountain extended a verdant meadow, only 
separated by the brook just mentioned, and on the other side of it towered 
up like slender masts, tree after tree, each rising high towards the azure 
blue sky above us. Often and often I had seen during my Australian 
wanderings many a giant of the forest, but never yet a forest of such 
gigantic trees. 
" We went or rather leapt down the steep forest path and our 'Halloo' 
and ' Coo-eh ' — this latter the usual far-reaching cry of the natives — 
sounded clear and far into that forest temple opposite to us, under whose 
deep shadow we soon were walking. Never shall I forget the impression 
the surroundings made upon me and my companion. These gigantic 
slender trees, the twilight of the forest, the solemn, awful silence, our 
almost noiseless walking, produced a feeling such as one can only possess 
when surrounded by nature in her grand wild garb. 
