I have before spoken of the change in the features of this portion of the eastern coast.  Here a number of conical hills, from four to six hundred feet in height, suddenly presented themselves to our view, two of them, very remarkable headlands, and preserving the aboriginal names of Yacaba and Tomare, constitute the entrance points of Port Stephens.  The sea-face of Tomare is a high line of cliffs, from which projects a sand-spit, leaving only a narrow entrance.  When in this I noticed that a round hill at the south end of a distant range, was over the opening between the first island and the northern shore of the harbour.  Within the entrance are extensive sandbanks, leaving between them and the south shore a narrow, and in some parts deep, channel, subject to a rapid stream of tide.  Port Stephens may be considered a large estuary, about fifteen miles in length, contracted near the centre to a width of about a mile, which is further lessened by the presence of a woody islet, the same I have before alluded to.  Nearly two miles within this narrow the Beagle anchored off the settlement of the Australian Agricultural Company, a straggling village called Carrington, on the western shore of the harbour.

TAHLEE.

On the side of a hill, half a mile to the westward, is the residence of the superintendent, a situation which, to enhance the pleasure of our visit, was held by Captain P.P.  King, R.N.  Tahlee, the name of this spot, surpassed in beauty all I have ever seen in Australia.  It stands on the crest of a steep grassy slope, over which are scattered numerous small bushy lemon trees, the deep verdure of their foliage, interspersed with golden fruit, contrasting charmingly with the light green carpet from which they spring.  At the foot of this declivity, a screen of trees rising to a considerable height, almost shuts out the view of the water, though breaks here and there allow small patches to be seen, athwart which a native canoe occasionally glides to and from the fishing grounds.  These fairy boats, stealing along the water on a fine calm morning, greatly enhance the beauty of the scene.  They belong to a party of natives who have taken up their quarters near Tahlee, and who, though by no means a fine race, have always been well disposed towards Europeans.  Unfortunately they are much addicted to the use of ardent spirits, having acquired the habit from the whalers who frequent the place.  A young woman and her husband form part of the domestic establishment at Tahlee.

We were as much delighted as surprised with the richness of the vegetation, when compared with its dry parched appearance at Sydney—­another of the striking contrasts characteristic of Australia.

At Captain King’s table I tasted the wonga-wonga pigeon; it is the largest of any of the Australian kinds, and the flesh is very white and rich.  It is a difficult bird to shoot, as it always keeps in the thickest foliage, and is strong and quick on the wing.