CHAPTER I. THE CLIMATE OF AUSTRALIA.

Australia, forming as it does a vast island continent in the Southern world, lies to some extent within the tropical range, for the Tropic of Capricorn traverses its northern part.  At present, however, its most densely populated portion lies just outside the tropics, and it is this semi-tropical part of Australia with which we have mostly to do.  And apart, too, from the mere fact of Australia being between certain parallels of latitude, which makes its climate tropical or semi-tropical, as the case may be, its position is peculiar in that it forms this enormous ocean-girt continent already described.

One of the most extraordinary circumstances in connection with the Australian people is, that they have never yet realized their semi-tropical environment.  It would naturally be supposed that a dominating influence of this kind would have, from the very first, exercised an irresistible effect on their mode of living.  But, on the contrary, the type of the Australian dwelling-house, the clothing of the Australian people, and, what is more significant than anything else, their food habits, prove incontestably that they have never recognised the semi-tropical character of their climate all over the rest of the world it will be found that the inhabitants of different regions adapt themselves to their surroundings.  For instance, the Laplander and the Hindoo live in such a widely different manner, that one can scarcely believe they belong to the same human family.

It has, however, been reserved for Australia, strange even from the first, to prove an exception to this universal law.  Yes, strange even from the first!  For did not the earliest arrivals find that the seasons came at the wrong time of the year; that Christmas-tide came with sunshine, and that the middle of the year was its coolest part?  Were there not found in it curious animals, partly quadruped, partly bird, and partly reptile?  Were there not discovered, also, other animals who carried their young in a pouch?  Moreover, did Dot these first settlers see that the trees shed their bark, and not their leaves; and that the stones were on the outside, not the inside, of the cherries?

But even admitting these peculiarities of season, of fauna and of flora it may be asked, How is it that the people of Australia have never adapted themselves to their climatic surroundings?  The answer, or rather answers, to such an interrogation must largely consist of matters of opinion.  This being the case, therefore, I call do no more than attempt to give my own explanation of this singular anomaly.  It must be remembered that the one great impetus to colonisation in Australia was the discovery of gold in 1851.  Up till that time settlement had been proceeding steadily, it is true.  Indeed, one may go 80 far as to say that the development of the country was progressing, although slowly, on safe