Thamanampalli Surekha

Light-house on Cape Otway. As we were running free, ten knots through the water, our skipper gave orders to shorten sail, as he was not anxious to make too close upon the land until daylight, so we turned into our berth and slept soundly till morning. Cape Otway-Fate of Gellibrand and Hesse-Heads of the Barwan river-Entrance to Port Philip harbour-The pilot comes on board-First news of the gold discovery-Peaceful demeanour of the gold-diggers-The pastoral interests of the colony in danger-Effect of the news upon our ship's company-Geelong harbour by sunset- Hobson Bay in the morning-Useful memoranda-The townspeople come on board-On shore at Williamstown- Steamboat to Melbourne-First impressions-The Yarra-Yarra river-Scenery on its banks- -Arrive at Melbourne. It was a bright sunny morning in the middle of December when our good ship safely made the Australian coast. As we sprang upon deck with alacrity the instant we awake, to have a first glimpse of the land, we found the ship, with her full spread of canvas out, sailing cheerily along before a fair west wind within a few miles of the shore, which, as our skillful captain had calculated the previous night, proved to be bold land of Cape Otway. To us, who ad been wearied gazing upon the monotony of sea and sky far so many long weeks, the sight was refreshing and intensely picturesque; a thrill of pleasure brightened up the countenances of each succeeding passengers as they made their appearance on deck, and all turned with looks of curiosity and interest to view this portion of their adopted land which had first presented itself. Such feelings with the mere traveller or tourist are evanescent, for he has a home to return to, and he excepts to smile over the mishaps of his journey when he reaches his own fireside. Very different are the impression on the anxious heart of the emigrant when he first obtains a glimpse of his adopted country; he comes not here to pay a flying visit, to gaze at the sights and "lions" of the land of his fore fathers to make himself a new home, like a bride, he leaves his kindred and his parents' roof to wed the fortunes of a strange country; to find a resting-place for life, and lay his bones in a foreign land. As the port of their destination heaves in sight, the anxious band of pilgrims notice with eager eyes the aspect of the shore; the most trifling objects are looked upon with intense interest, unanimity of feeling pervades every breast; all petty quarrels are forgotten in the general excitement, and every tongue becomes laquacious in commenting upon the varied features of the country opened up by the moving ship. The land we had thus made will be seen, on referring to the map, to form the southern portion of the Geelong country, of which Cape Otway is the extreme point, and guards the entrance to Bass's Strait as well as Port Philip, Upon this conspicuous headland there is a lighthouse erected, in every way creditable to the colony, and forming one of three lighthouses maintained in Bass's Strait at the joint expense of the whole group of colonies, for the benefit of all vessels, thereby rendering the navigation of this strait in the night-time as safe as any of the European channels. There appeared nothing inviting about the aspect of the country at this locality as we saw it from the ship. It seems one interminable forest over hill and dale; the hills rising above one another in a succession of "tiers," as they are locally termed, unit thy attain an altitude of about a thousand feet, forming Mount St. George, which we saw before us towering majestically above its neighbours, and densely timbered to its summit, the faliage of the trees presenting that dark sombre green which so peculiarly distinguish the forest scenery of Australian from that of Europe. It was amongst those gloomy-looking "tiers" that two enterprising colonists from Van Diemen's Land, Messrs. Gellibrand and Hesse, met an untimely fate. These gentlemen were among the first who landed on the shores of Port Philip, with their sheep and cattle, in 1836; and it is but just that we should pay a passing tribute to their memory, in the midst of the unparalleled prosperity which now reigns over that land which they assisted in reclaiming from the savage not more than sixteen years back. Their fate was not uncommon amongst the early wanderers through the Australian wilderness. In the enthusiasm which blinds all explores to the dangers which may beset their path, they started on a tour of discovery through these forests ill prepared for the journey from which it is supposed that they died victims to hunger and fatigue rather than from any hostile attack of the aborigines. Although such fatal occurrences seldom happen in Australia now, still there are a sufficient number of instances known of people being lost in the bush-particularly in these gold "prospecting" times-that new-comers should be careful how they wander away from roads and settled districts. By noon we had approached within twenty miles of Port Philip heads, and stills no opening was discernible into its spacious harbour. That we were steering for the right point was evident from the number of vessels of all sizes coming from the east and from the south steering in the same direction. Upon sweeping the coast with the telescope, however, the break soon became apparent; likewise the lesser headlands of the Barwon river, which finds an outlet here into the straits about twelve miles to the westward of Port Philip entrance.