40 
HAMBLETON 
CHAP. 
side of it ; away went the pole and what a smash-up 
we had ! I had to ride ignominiously back to the 
hotel sideways on a Chinaman’s broken-kneed horse, 
only too thankful that things were not worse. 
Hambleton Sugar Plantation, ten miles from Cairns, 
from which I now write, is one of the most beautiful 
places I have seen in Queensland. The house, which 
is very pretty and comfortable, is in an almost perfect 
situation at the foot of high mountains, with a magni- 
ficent view of them all round. The plantation itself 
lies in a valley below, and one can see Cairns by the 
sea ten miles away in front. The wild, rich, tropical 
vegetation is all around, and it is tantalising to see the 
Bellenden Ker ranges so close without being able to go 
up and explore them. I can only send you sketches 
and give you a rough outline of what this lovely 
country is like. There are oranges, lemons, bananas, 
tamarinds, pine-apples, melons, grenadillas, and custard 
apples, ripe in the garden ; the latter fruit I have only 
now tasted for the first time. It was a large one. 
I ate it all, and the rich, creamy flavour satisfied me 
so much that I have never managed a second. It is 
much cooler here than in Cairns, and for the first time 
since I left Brisbane I have been able to take quite 
long walks. I have spent a lazy fortnight enjoying 
the peaceful quiet, the happy home life, and listening 
to the prattle of four of the sweetest little children I 
ever met. They never bore one and, like their fair 
mother, grow more winning day by day. 
Before going further, however, I must not forget to 
tell you of a rather insane midnight ride I had to see 
a corroboree of really wild natives. Would I be tired ? 
Would I be frightened ? Would I mind a rough 
journey ? and numerous other thoughtful inquiries were 
made, but you know well enough what my answers 
