as Australia, but formerly as New Holland; the vast interior of
which had been supposed to be a desert, an inland sea, or anything
that a poetical imagination might suggest. Attempts had been made,
but always with insufficient means, and on too contracted a scale,
to solve the problem. It was now for Victoria to take up the
question in earnest. The 1000 pounds of the unknown contributor,
increased to 2200 pounds by private subscriptions, with 6000 pounds
voted by the colonial legislature, supplied in all a sum of above
9000 pounds for the prosecution of this great national enterprise.
Let Victoria, then, receive the honour so justly her due, for an
undertaking only on a par with her characteristic spirit of
advancement. Any stranger who visits Melbourne, a place but of
yesterday, must be struck by the magnificent scale and number of
the public buildings. Let him look at the Churches, Library, House
of Parliament, University and Museum, Railways and Parks, Banks,
Hotels, Theatres, Botanical Gardens, [Footnote: Under the charge of
that noble father of industry, Dr. Mueller.] etc., and then call to
mind that all this is the growth of less than a quarter of a
century, and that the existence of the colony dates from a period
subsequent to the accession of our beloved Queen.

The arrangements for the expedition were in progress from 1858 to
1860, under Mr. O'Shannassy, a man far above the common order, who
now fills the superior office of Chief Colonial Secretary. He
entered into the object with his own peculiar zeal. On his personal
responsibility, Mr. Landells, who figures in this narrative, as
also in a preceding one, with little credit, was despatched to
India to procure camels, those ships of the desert, whose aid in
traversing the unknown interior was expected to prove invaluable.
"The camels are come!" was the cry when these new and interesting