that we were upon the
soil of this great island-continent which possesses an area of nearly
three millions of square miles. So far as we can learn, it was a land
entirely unknown to the ancients, though it is more than probable that
the Chinese navigators knew of the existence of North Australia at a
very early period. Still, until about a century ago it presented only a
picture of primeval desolation. The hard work of the pioneer has been
done, and civilization has rapidly changed the whole aspect of the great
south lands. To-day the continent is bordered by thrifty seaports
connected by railroads, coasting-steamers, turnpikes, and electric
telegraphs. It is occupied by an intelligent European population
numbering between three and four millions, possessing such elements of
political and social prosperity as place them in an honorable position
in the line of progressive nations.

The first railroad in Australia was begun in 1850, but at this writing
there are ten thousand miles of railroad in successful operation, owned
by the several local governments. So favorable is the climate, that
nearly the whole country might be turned into a botanical garden.
Indeed, Australia would seem to be better entitled to the name of
Eldorado, so talked of in the sixteenth century, than was that imaginary
land of untold wealth so confidently believed by the adventurous
Spaniards to exist somewhere between the Orinoco and the Amazon.

This new home of the British race in the South Pacific, surrounded by
accessible seas and inviting harbors, inspired us at once with vivid
interest. We say "new," and yet geologically speaking it is one of the
oldest portions of the earth's surface, containing a flora and fauna of
more permanent character than that of the European continent; for while
a great part of Europe has been submerged and elevated, crumpled up as
it were into mountain chains, Australia has been undisturbed. It is
remarkable that in a division of the globe of such colossal proportions
there was found no larger quadruped than the kangaroo, and that only man
was a predacious animal. He, alas! was more ferocious than the lynx, the
leopard, or the hyena; for these animals prey not upon each other, while
the aborigines of Australia devoured their own species.

What America was to Spain in the proud days of that nation's glory,
Australia has already been to England; and that, too, without the crime
of wholesale murder and the spilling o