The broken lines had been repaired. The river had fallen
back into its channel, and we passed the spot unconsciously
without a sight of the ruins. We reached the frontier of New
South Wales at Albany at midnight. We were now in an-
other province, among other men, other principles, and other
political theories. Victoria is democratic, progressive, and
eager for colonial federation. New South Wales has the
same form of government; is progressive, too, in its more de-
liberate manner; but it is Conservative, old-fashioned, in favour
of Imperial federation, and opposed to Colonial federation,
which it fears, its likely to lead--little as the Victorians mean
it--to eventual separation and independence. There are dif-
ferences of tariff too, and a certain rivalry between the two
colonies. New South Wales is the elder brother, and expects
a deference which it does not always meet with. We were
asleep when we crossed the border. A special carriage had
been reserved for us, not lined with blue satin, but comfort-
able enough to make us unconscious of ornamental differ-
ences.

In the morning, we became aware of a change in the aspect
of the country. We were in the high bush, with an occa-
sional clearing, but the land was generally unenclosed and un-
occupied; we were among mountains, or what in Australia
pass for mountains--from two to three thousand feet above
the sea--a wooded plateau broken into ridges, with glimpses
occasionally into deeply cut valleys below. Victoria had been
brown and heat-scorched. Here trees and grass were greener
and fresher from the rain. Of animal life there was little visi-
ble; not many sheep or cattle; of rabbits, none; of kanga-
roos, none. There were a few magpies, a few parrots, so
pretty with their bright colours that one wished for more. A
pair of laughing jackasses expressed their opinion of us, as we
went by--only a pair; and this was nearly all. After breakfast
the country improved: farms and homesteads began to show,

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