Australasia, Volume 1 1893
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About Google Book Search Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world’s books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http://books.google.com/ 1 . ( STANFORD'S COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL (NEW ISSUE) STANFORD'S COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL (NEW ISSUE) AUSTRALASIA VOL. I. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BY ALFRED R. WALLACE, LL.D. DUBL., D.C.L. OXON. AUTHOR OF 'THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO,' 'GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS,' ETC. MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS LONDON: EDWARD STANFORD 26 & 27 COCKSPUR STREET, CHARING CROSS, S.W. 1893 NEW ZEALAND CHIEF . • . : viii PREFACE productions of such, as well as to their more important industries. The Districts, Counties, and chief Towns are briefly described; while the numerous Maps and Illustrations, and the full Index, will, it is hoped, add greatly to the value of the work as a book of reference. All the information is brought up to latest date obtainable. Thanks are due to Mr. John Murray for his courtesy in permitting the use of several blocks from Dr. Lumholtz' interesting volume " Among Cannibals " ; and to Messrs. Cassell, Blackie and Son, and the Religious Tract Society, for illustrations borrowed from various of their publications. LIST OF WORKS USED IN PREPARING THIS VOLUME GORDON and Gotch, Australian Handbook : 1891.-Silver's Aus tralia and New Zealand. 2nd Edition: 1874.-Encyclopaedia Britannica, article" Australia."-Angas, G. F. Australia Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.-Angas, G. F., Savage Life and Scenes in Australia and New Zealand: 1847.-Lang, History and Statistics of New South Wales: 1875.-Russell, Climate of New South Wales: 1877.-Hayter, Notes on the Colony of Victoria: 1876.-Harcus, South Australia: 1876.-Muller, Select Plants or Victoria: 1876.-Muller, Baron von, Second Systematic Census of Australian Plants: 1889.-Sturt, Interior of South Australia : 1833.-Sturt, Central Australia: 1849.-Mitchell, Expedition in Interior of New South Wales: 1839.-Mitchell, Expedition in Interior of Tropical Australia: 1848.-Forrest, Explorations in Australia: 1875.-Warburton, Journey across the Western Interior of Australia: 1875.-Leichhardt, Journal: 1847.-M'Douall Stuart, Explorations in Australia: 1864. Wills, J. E., Exploration from Melbourne to Gulf of Carpentaria: 1863.-Giles, Travels in Central Australia: 1875.-Giles, Journey from South to West Australia, Journal and Proceedings of Royal Geographical Society: 1876.-Giles, Australia Twice Traversed: 1889.-Howitt, Land, Labour, and Gold: 1868.-Trollope, A., Auatralia and New Zealand: 1873.-Journal of Royal Geographical Society.-Proceedings of Royal Geographical Society.-Clarke, Rev. W. B., Remarks on the Sedimentary Formations of New South Wales.-Wood, Geological Observations in South Aus tralia. - Strzelecki, Physical Description of New South Wales: 1843.-Smith, R. Brough, Geological Map of Australia: 1878. Reports of the Geological Survey of Victoria.-Hooker, Sir Joseph, Essay on Flora of Australia. Hooker, Sir Joseph, Flora of New X LIST OF WORKS USED IN PREPARING THIS VOLUME Zealand. Transactions of Ethnological Society of London, vol 3. Oldfield on Australian Aborigines.-Transactions and Proceedings of New Zealand Institute.-Wallace, Geographical Distribution of Animals, and Island Life.-Dilke, Sir C. W., Greater Britain, 1868.-Dilke, Sir C. W., Problems of Greater Britain: 1886. Stow, J . P., South Australia, its History, Productions, and Natural Resources: 1883.-Leigh, W. H., Reconnoitring Voyages and Travels in South Australia: 1839.-Murray, Reginald A. F., Victoria, Geology and Physical Geography: 1887.-Griffin, G. W., New South Wales, her Commerce and Resources: 1888.-Bennett, Dr., Wanderings in New South Wales, 2 vols.: 1834.-Meredith, Mrs., My Home in Tasmania, 2 vols. - Cook, Samuel, The Jenolan Caves: 1889 (photographs and maps). Foster, J. J., Official Guide to the Jenolan Caves.-Wilkins, W., Australasia: 1888.-Grey, Lieut. George (now Sir George Grey), Journals in North-west and West Auatralia: 1841.-Wall, H. B. de la Poer, Manual of the Physical Geography of Australia: 1883.-Lumholtz, Carl, Among Cannibals: 1889.-Favenc, Ernest, History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888 (maps and illustra- tions). -Curr, Edward M., The Australian Race, its Origin, Languages, Customs, etc., 4 vols. : 1886.-Calder, J. E., The Native Tribes of Tasmania: 1876.-Hochstetter, Dr. F., New Zealand, Physical Geography, Geology, Natural History, etc.: 1867.-Taylor, Rev. R., Te Ika a Maui, New Zealand and its Inhabitants, Geology, Natural History, etc.: 1856.-Taylor, Rev. R., New Zealand, Past, Present, and Future: 1868.-Payton, E. W., Round about New Zealand: 1888.-Haynes, S. L., A Ramble in the New Zealand Bush.-Green, Rev. W. S., The High Alps of New Zealand: 1883.-Ross, M., Guide to the Lakes of Central Otago : 1889.-Hutton, F. H., Report on the Geology and Gold fields of Otago: 1876.-Year Books, Almanacks, Official Hand Books, and Reports of the various Colonies. CONTENTS AUSTRALASIA CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION PAGE Definition and nomenclature-Extent and distribution of lands and islands-Geographical and physical features-Ocean depths -- Races of mankind-Zoology and botany-Geological relations and past history-Geographical divisions I AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND CHAPTER II The PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE OF AUSTRALIA Dimensions, form, and outline-Contour of the country-Mountains and table-lands-The interior-Rivers-Climate of Australia Climate of New South Wales-Winds-Snow-Droughts and floods 14 CRAPTER III THE NATURAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA Characteristics of Australian vegetation-Botanical features and rela tions of the Australian flora-The external relations of the Aus tralian flora-General features of Australian zoology-Mammalia -Birds-Reptiles, fishes, and insects 44 CHAPTER IV THE GEOLOGY AND PAST HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA General considerations-Palaeozoic formations-Mesozoic formations Tertiary formations-Quaternary or Post-pliocene deposits-Ex- xii CONTENTS PAGE tinct volcanoes and their products-Geological features of the gold mines-The "oldest" drifts-The "older" drifts-" Re cent" drifts-Quartz reefs-Probable past history of Australia -Origin of the desert sandstone-Subterranean waters-Origin of the drifts and alluviums 83 CHAPTER V THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES Physical characteristics-Mental qualities-Clothing, dwellings, and food-Cannibalism-Weapons and tools-Occupations and amusements-Government and war-Religion; ceremonies of initiation, marriage, and burial-Language-Probable origin of the Australian aborigines . 111 CHAPTER VI THE BRITISH COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA ; THE DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION OF THE COUNTRY Outline of Australian colonisation-Early history, discovery, and maritime exploration of Australia-Inland exploration-Early explorations of