ignorance adds to the difficulty of training them. [Note: Since
this was written, a school-house, also used as a church, has been
built in this district by private subscription and Government aid.
A clergyman, who lives some twenty-five miles away, rides over and
holds service once a month.]



Letter XVI: A sailing excursion on Lake Coleridge.


Lake Coleridge, February 1867.
A violent storm of wind and rain from the south-west keeps us all
indoors to-day, and gives me time to write my letter for the Panama
mail, which will be made up to-morrow. The post-office is ten miles
off, and rejoices in the appropriate name of "Wind-whistle;" it
stands at the mouth of a deep mountain gorge, and there never was
such a temple of the winds.

This bad weather comes after a long spell of lovely bright summer
days, and is very welcome to fill up the failing creeks in the lower
ranges of hills. I must tell you how much we have been enjoying our
visit here. F--- knows this part of the country well, but it is
quite new to me, and a great contrast to the other scenery I have
described to you We had long talked of paying Mr. C. H--- a visit at
his bachelor cottage on his station far back among the high ranges
of hills, but no time was fixed, so I was rather taken by surprise
when last week he drove up to Broomielaw in a light American waggon
with a pair of stout horses, and announced that he had come to take
us to his place next day. There was no reason against this plan,