strict of England; though in themselves, and for the Australian bush,
they were at times anything but contemptible. After heavy rains, when
the river was swollen into a large body of water, they were certainly
grand. During the early part of the summer, when the stream was lower,
they might be designated pretty; but towards the close of the dry
season, when the rivers ceased to flow, and their courses become divided
into endless chains of pools, preserving in their concatenation an
independent existence, the "falls" were either extremely mean, or
entirely evanescent. For the present, however, we will refrain from
making any further description, until we visit them with our friends on
the morrow; merely premising that the summer was about half spent, that
it was in fact about Christmas time, and the water in the creek rather
low.

On the following day, as had been previously arranged, the party, having
been preceded by the provender carriers, mounted their horses and moved
off from the house under the guidance of Tom Rainsfield. The shortest
route to the falls lay through the bush, in a direct line of about seven
miles; but the equestrians preferred following up the course of the
river; as, though longer by some three miles, it was pleasanter and
more picturesque. At the same time they had no desire to hurry
themselves; but determined to spend the greater portion of the day in
the excursion, and therefore rode on at their leisure, in couples; how
arranged, we need not say.

After nearly two hours riding, upon their arrival at the desired goal,
the scene that presented itself to their view, was pleasing and
charmingly picturesque. Facing the party, and extending in either
direction for a considerable distance, was a ridge or range forming a
natural terrace, rising from eighty to a hundred feet almost
perpendicularly. It was literally covered with bush of various
descriptions, from the dwarfish wattle to the lofty gum, and iron bark;
presenting to each other, in their various tints of foliage, a relieving
contrast of colour. From the very midst of this, the fall emerged; and
after tumbling over a few impediments in its way, through which it
seemed vainly endeavouring to force a passage, it made a leap of about
sixty feet; and formed as pretty a little cascade as could be imagined.

The party stopped at the head of the creek, where they obtained a good
view of the falls; and were perfectly enraptured with the scene, which