Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/131



is a small assemblage of scattered houses, a few of which are of stone, and the rest of weather-board. This place was originally intended to be the chief port in the north of V. D. Land; but Launceston took the precedence, having greater advantages, notwithstanding its distance is forty miles from the sea; and the police, and other establishments were removed thither. In the afternoon, the wind and tide serving, we proceeded up the Tamar, which is devious in its course, and opens out into many pretty bays. The shores present traces of basalt. The adjacent country is hilly, and wooded down to the water, except in places where the land has been cleared; on which corn and grass are verdant. Some of the habitations of the settlers look comfortable. We completed the last few miles of our voyage in the dark, in a boat, and met a hearty welcome at Launceston, from Isaac and Katharine Sherwin, a thoughtful young couple from whom we had received a previous invitation.

21st. We visited a school that does not belong to any particular denomination of Christians, but is supported by several, and is in a thriving condition: we also had a meeting in a small court-house, at which two hundred persons might be present. I went to this meeting feeling poor and empty, but