162 
CRUISE OF HALS. CHALLENGER. 
point was fixed upon as the least difficult for making 
the descent, but so rugged was the place then that 
those engaged upon the survey of the land had to 
be lowered down the cliffs with ropes, to enable them 
to measure and peg out the line. Two or three gorges 
on the route are spanned by viaducts built of white 
freestone, and one projecting rock is pierced by a 
tunnel. It was altogether a most enjoyable trip, and 
after spending a short time in the vale, which is over 
ninety miles from Sydney, we retraced our way to 
Mount Victoria, where a most excellent lunch had 
been prepared. Ample justice was done to the good 
things provided, and after a few speeches the train 
was once more in motion, and we were speeding on 
towards Sydney, where we arrived at 7.30 p.m. 
The town is of itself both pleasant and interesting. 
The ground on which it is built undulates consider- 
ably, giving it a most picturesque effect, although 
perhaps interfering somewhat with the appearance 
of regularity; in the business part of the city are 
George Street and Pitt Street, the shop-windows of 
which would remind one of London or Liverpool, were 
it not for the verandahs which stretch across the 
pathway in front of each house. The other streets 
are all named after the old governors — such 
as Macquarie, King, Blyth, Hunter, and Philip. 
Amongst these^ Macquarie Street is the most im- 
portant, containing the Houses of Parliament, the 
Treasury Buildings, the entrance to Government 
