63 MYOLA CHAP. 
They say the v^etation here is most beautiful after 
the rains, a blaze of colour from the flowers which 
cover the rocks^ while the ground is clothed with large 
white lilies ; now, excepting for the vivid green of the 
coral-trees and the brilliant pink leaves of a budding 
Banksia, the landscape has a dry and withered look, 
and the only living thing that we saw was a little yellow 
and black wallaby, that scuttled away like lightning 
when it caught sight of us. Climbing kangaroos are 
found in the jungle scrub. Not far away from here a 
man whom we met at Muldiva had for a pet one that 
ran up trees as well as an opossum. 
The sun had been intensely hot all day, and great 
dark shadows of cloud, boding rain, were gathering 
for a downpour. We reached the station at six o'clock 
in the evening, and, oh ! the heartfelt satisfaction and 
sweet sense of rest in being in a home again and away 
from hotels. We arrived only just in time. With a 
tremendous gust of wind everything took to itself 
wings ; crash went the thunder, then died away into a dull 
roar ; then,for afew seconds, continuous flashes of lightning, 
and down poured the rain in one great waterspout on 
the iron roof with the most deafening noise ; the sound 
of water was ever)nvhere, above and below, spouting, 
dripping, and soaking, leaping and rushing over every- 
thing, forming rivers and miniature cascades in every 
direction, and I thought of my warning letter. Things 
did not look promising for the morning ; but when it 
came a bright sun was shining, and there was not even 
a puddle to be seen. 
After a comfortable night's rest and an early break- 
fast, we started in two buggies for the caves, Mr. A. 
coming himself with us the first day, and taking us 
through them. We were some little time in reaching 
the first entrance. The rocks were piled up in such 
Digitized by LnOOQ IC 
