Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/105

1832.] which are several small islands. On its further side is a long and narrow woody point of land, over which are seen the sea in Frederick Henry Bay, the hills of Tasmans Peninsula and Muddy Plains, and more remotely, those of Bruny Island. In the distance, surmounting the lower hills to the west, Mount Wellington, the top of which is still covered with snow, bounds the interesting picture. The weather has become as fine as that of 5th month, in England. Many little flowers begin to enamel the ground, one of which is too much like an English daisy not to excite the pleasing recollections associated with that little flower. Others, by their form and colour, bespeak the antipodes of England: and "strange bright birds" of the parrot tribe, as they exhibit in the sun their brilliant plumage of crimson, yellow, blue, and green, remind the British spectator, that he is in a foreign land; his ears are also assailed by the strange sound of their screaming voices, and by the unceasing noise of frogs and crickets, the former of which often rival that of a spinning mill.

By the day of the week, it is a year since we sailed from London. The time seems to have gone rapidly, though we have passed through a great variety of scenes. On the 5th, it will be a year since we saw the face of a member of our own Society, to which we do not feel the less attached on that account. The remembrance of the last meeting we were at, with our fellow professors, is still fresh in our recollection. The Comforter, who powerfully affected our minds at that time, is still, through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, present with us, to bless and to keep us; so that from season to season we can acknowledge that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with us.

On the 2nd we had a meeting with about 70 persons, in the school-house at Sorell Town, and on the 3rd, after a rough passage over the Bluff Ferry, and a walk of nine miles through the bush, we re-crossed the Derwent, in a large boat, from Kangaroo Point, to Hobart Town, where we were cheered by letters from our friends in England.