Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/110

 be gleaned, as to who were the fortunate occupiers of those vast and beautiful localities, although numerous flocks of sheep and herds of cattle plainly indicated their owners could not be far distant.

"The sun was shining in all his golden splendour as we now traversed a much more bush-like country, leading us at length on a tolerably good road, which ultimately brought us to Bacchus Marsh. We halted in the Government Paddock, having completed a distance of thirty-two miles. The men appeared much fatigued, and my own pedestrian powers were fairly put to the test. A considerable portion of our route was over bad or indifferent roads, and a scorching sun had lent his powerful rays to add to our fatigue. Bacchus Marsh appears quite an agricultural district, for which it seems adapted, being well supplied with water, and the soil of a superior quality to what we had in many instances passed It boasts of two excellent hotels, although apparently but thinly populated.

"News here reached us of the rioters having been entirely routed by the detachment of military stationed at Ballaarat, with a very exaggerated account of the loss of life; but the news of the victory obtained by the soldiers and police being subsequently confirmed, it was determined to halt the following day, which was Sunday.

"It was my tour of duty, and I turned out in the evening for the purpose of visiting the guard, &c., when I was particularly impressed with the beauty