Page:Rambles in Australia (IA ramblesinaustral00grewiala).pdf/75

Rh looked still more English, for the groups of gum trees that crowned the hills were indistinguishable, and the evening light seemed to diffuse an atmosphere of calm contentment over the thriving country-side, as of a day's work well done. We ran through the little scattered township, to the Freemason's Hotel, at which our friend the motorist deposited us, and vanished into the dusk.

As we went in out of the darkness one of our fellow-travellers brought us a specimen of the pretty, curious "kangaroo paw," a flower that looks as if it had been cut out of bright red and green moss, whose buds take the exact shape of a kangaroo's little foot. After dinner we strolled along the broad, silent country road, leading out into the deep stillness beyond, broken only by the barking of the village dogs, and the croaking of unseen frogs. The men of the neighbourhood loitered in the light of the shop windows, kindly looking and highly curious. We met at Bridgetown a Government official at the head of the Fruit-growing Department. He told us that this corner of South-Western Australia, a district as large as the state of Victoria, was the finest soil for fruit-growing in the whole state. The industry was of very recent growth, the first trial shipment was only made ten years ago, but