Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/74

48 along it, are now very few indeed; and though they are “protected,” ere many years are gone there will be none. So great is the change that it is curious to think how, on this very trip I have written about, we were in danger from them when ascending Mount Cook. It seems to me but a short time ago—yet they are gone.]

They will destroy much of the beauty of these islands in getting rid of the “scrubs,” or tropical jungles, which are so beautiful, and probably many of the trees and plants will become extinct. Some are of great beauty.

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, 1885.

When the City of Melbourne came in I had to bid quite a moving farewell to many. I eluded the dog, and I suppose he is still hunting for me and wondering where I am. The policeman and the Irish banker wrung my hand and said nothing—I think I regretted the policeman more than any one, but I am glad I was not “a ship that passeth in the night.”

I was received by the City of Melbourne as if I had been the Prodigal Son. They did not actually fall upon my neck, but I had to shake hands with every one on the ship and retail all my doings. The “blanked” man embarked, but I did not trouble about him.

A very large number of Chinese arrived, and learnt at Thursday Island that a new law had been passed in Australia, and that they could not land there without paying a certain sum and having a sort of passport with their photograph attached. Here was a dilemma. They would all have had the great expense of returning to Normanton, or perhaps China; but a man in