by a ticket-of-leave stock-keeper, and an assigned prisonerservant. These men entertained us hospitably with milk and damper, fare such as was offered to us at every station at which we called, on our way, and sometimes with the addition of tea and meat. There were two black youths residing in the hut with the stock-men; we were informed that they made themselves useful in minding the sheep, milking the cows, &c. The stock-keeper observed that these Blacks stopped with them better than their countrymen generally do with white people, because they treated them more like companions, and gave them a part of such provision as they themselves eat, instead of throwing scraps to them, as if to dogs.

19th. Our accommodation last night, though the best the place afforded, was such as we but seldom have had to put up with. Our bed was more sombre than would be found in the meanest, mendicant lodging-house, in England; it was only outdone by a blanket, generally used by one of the Aborigines, which was folded to add to the width of the bed. Another such bed, spread on the uneven clay floor, served our hosts; the two Blacks coiled themselves up on some sheep-skins, near the fire, pulling a blanket over them. My companion was driven from his restingplace, by bugs, which were very numerous. He tried to rouse the Blacks, in order to obtain more fuel, to revive the fire, but his efforts proved in vain; he therefore sat down on the best seat he could find: it was an uneasy, narrow stool, which did not stand level. At length, he was obliged to return to bed, by cold and faintness, which overcame all obstacles, and he fell asleep.

These stations, as they are called, usually belong to opulent settlers, living in or near towns, who derive a great part of their wealth from their large flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle. These are tended by their servants, many of whom are prisoners, on their extensive locations, or on unoccupied, contiguous lands, in the interior of the Colony. Many of them also send flocks beyond the boundaries of the located part of the Colony, which is, in many directions for a great distance, low, open, grassy, forest hills, with

here and there clear flats, or plains. In such situations, some of the less wealthy settlers feed their own flocks, foregoing, for a few years, most of the comforts of life. Three men called at the hut where we lodged, and after breakfast, we read a Psalm, and gave expression to the exercise of our minds on their account; pointing out the terrible consequences of remaining in sin, and directing their attention to the grace of God which bringeth salvation, and to the mercy offered us in Jesus Christ.

On the way toward Wellington, we passed a neat, but humble cottage, belonging to another settler. Most of the cottages in this part of the country, are of split timber, placed endwise into the ground, or of large sheets of Gumtree bark, fastened to a frame work of poles; the roof being also of this material. A few of the timber cottages, are plastered inside and out, and are whitewashed. After recrossing the Bell River, which we crossed thrice, yesterday, we again came upon Limestone. One of the trees upon this formation, is Sterculia diversifolia; it resembles the Oak in form, and the Poplar in foliage; and is like an English tree, in verdure. It attains to forty feet in height, and its bark is so tenacious as to be convertible into cordage; whence it also, is called Corrijong. Its roots are thick and soft, so as to be cooked for food by the natives. The trunk of the young tree is remarkably thick and green. It grows intermingled with various species of Eucalyptus, some of which are distinct from any we have before seen, and are about the size of the Willows and Birches of England. On the side of the Bell River, we met a Black, with a blanket thrown loosely around him, driving a team of bullocks he was the first we had seen, except the two boys last night, since the 11th. On arriving at the Missionary Station, at Wellington Valley, we received a kind welcome from John Christian Simon Handt and his wife, and from Ann Watson, whose husband was from home; and we felt thankful, that we had reached this extreme point of our journey.

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

Wellington Valley.-Mission Station.-Worship.-Doctrine.-Mission Stock.Aborigines.-Morals.-Language.-Aquatic Plants.-Myami.-Honey.-Animals.-Food of the Natives.-Cavern.-Mount Arthur.-Shrubs, &c.-Burial Place.-Public Worship of Friends.-European Influence.-Grass.-Initiation of Blacks as Young Men.-Native Women.-Prisoner Servants.Molong.-Effects of Drunkenness. - Infanticide.-Feigned Intoxication.— Kangaroo Bay.-Civilization, and Missionary Labours.-Milk.-Help in time of need.-Pious Fellow Traveller.-Definition of Love.-Bathurst.-Verdure.

WELLINGTON VALLEY was formerly a Penal Settlement for educated prisoners. The houses and barracks are of brick; most of them are whitewashed. The best is occupied by the two missionary families; another, temporarily, by two young settlers, and a third by four soldiers. The number of Blacks at present on the settlement, is very small thirty were here lately, but most of them have gone away for a short time, it is conjectured, on account of the death of one of their countrymen. Two native girls only, sleep in the house, the others preferring to be out of doors, by their fires.

20th. G. W. Walker was confined to, the house by indisposition. At eleven o'clock, there was public worship. Some of the neighbouring settlers, and the few soldiers stationed here, as a guard against bush-rangers, &c. were present, in addition to the persons belonging to the missionary establishment. I remained as a devout spectator, while two hymns were sung, and J. C. S. Handt read the prayers of the Episcopal Church. He then addressed the congregation, informing them that, as I was present, he designed to forego preaching. Then turning to me, he said, if I had anything to say to them in love, they should be glad

to hear me. My mind had been under much exercise, and after a short pause, I stood up, and gave utterance to what was before me; alluding to what was said by the apostle Paul, when he preached to the Athenians; and showing, that the superstitions of the present day, do not consist in worshipping idols of wood and of stone, graven by art, and man's device, but in imagining that we are doing God service, by going through certain forms and rituals, devised by man, in imitation of the expressions of spiritual devotion. These things I had to contrast with that worship which is in spirit and in truth; showing their inferiority, and that the Lord, to many who use them, is an unknown God. In commenting on the words, "whom ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you," &c. I had to direct them to the working of the Holy Spirit, felt by all men as a witness in themselves against sin, and to declare, that this is the drawing of the Father, whose goodness seeks to lead us to repentance, in order to bring us unto the Son, that we may find life in him, and for his sake, receive the remission of sins that are past, and through him be enabled to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. That thus, we may come to the knowledge of God, who made heaven and earth, and all things that are therein, who is not worshipped by men's hands, neither dwelleth in temples made with hands; but who is worshipped in spirit and in truth, by those whose hearts are turned unto him, and who are led by his Spirit; and who walk in his fear, and live to his glory. These regard his law, as it is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, and as it is put into their inward parts, and written in their hearts; their whole lives are an act of worship, both when assembled especially for the purpose, and when engaged in their daily avocations. Of such, the Lord is truly their God, and they are truly his people.

21st. I walked with J. C. S. Handt to see a flock of about five hundred sheep belonging to the mission, which has also a herd of about one hundred cattle, and a few pigs and horses; the sheep are said to be in the best state of any in this country. The harvest of last year was SO plentiful that the surplus wheat is sufficient for the supply of the present season. This is a great blessing, as

the drought has prevented the raising of an adequate crop for the present year, and the supply of food is a principal attraction to draw the Blacks to the place. These people are not numerous here; a hundred is the greatest number that has been seen at the Station, at any one time, since its establishment, and several of these were from a distance. About thirty is the usual number resorting hither. They are said to be very capricious, and by no means desirous to learn, further than they are tempted by a supply of food. This is what may reasonably be expected, from a people who are not yet aware of what they are to gain, by learning to read. They are contented with food of the plainest kind, and like other races of men, are not disposed to work, beyond what they find necessary for obtaining the supply they require. They often prefer eating boiled wheat, to being at the trouble of grinding their corn in handmills, and making bread. Their moral state is represented as of the lowest grade. Immoralities of the grossest kinds are reported to be practised amongst them, but these are, in some measure, traceable to the influence of the prisoner stock-keepers.

The Blacks of N. S. Wales are a decreasing race: they do not, however, appear to be inferior in intellect to other nations; but man, when from under the influence of the restraints of religion, and of civil institutions, seems to be the same degraded being, all the world over. In N. S. Wales, he is far indeed, removed from the dreams of natural innocence, of those who do not see the effects of the fall in themselves, or believe that these effects exist in others. The N. S. Wales Aborigines do not openly make feasts upon human subjects, like the natives of New Zealand, and of some other islands of the Pacific; but there are pretty well authenticated instances of cannibalism among them.

The missionaries at Wellington have acquired a tolerably competent knowledge of the language spoken among the Natives of this part of the country; it differs considerably from that of the eastern coast; they are teaching two half-domesticated girls, and three boys to read, both in