CHAPTER I 
Letter I. Rockhampton. — On a sea of glass — In the mountains to 
Towoomba — A fine view — A kangaroo-hunt — Art and discomfort on 
the s.s. Maranoa — Rockhampton — On the road — Wild cattle — Mount 
Morgan Mine — The Murray Lagoon — Mackay — “The Rocks” — A 
glorious view — Snakes — Rest. 
Rockhampton, Queensland. 
We are at last really on our way to Thursday Island. 
I find that a steamer leaves here for the South early 
to-morrow, so if my letter is rather disjointed and shaky, 
you must put it down to my sea journey ; for you 
know as of old that “ a life on the ocean wave ” is 
about the last that I would choose. I cannot, however, 
grumble, for, so far, we have sailed on a sea of glass for 
days — not even a ripple upon the water — and I have 
been dreaming the sunny days away, while we skimmed 
past the numerous islands, too lazy even to read or to 
do anything but watch the sea-birds passing and the 
porpoises chasing each other ; now and then a turtle 
basked on the top of the water, or a black and yellow 
sea-snake lay coiled asleep, but at the sound of the 
engine, like a flash, it disappeared. Then there was 
the endless amusement of silently studying one’s fellow- 
passengers — the lucky digger with his universal “ shouts” 
to all on board, the woman with the ubiquitous infant, 
the fussy old party whom nothing satisfies, the new 
