TheextremeuniformityofthevegetationisthemostremarkablefeatureinthelandscapeofthegreaterpartofNewSouthWales。Everywherewehaveanopenwoodland，thegroundbeingpartiallycoveredwithaverythinpasture，withlittleappearanceofverdure。Thetreesnearlyallbelongtoonefamily，andmostlyhavetheirleavesplacedinavertical，insteadofasinEurope，inanearlyhorizontalposition：thefoliageisscanty，andofapeculiarpalegreentint，withoutanygloss。Hencethewoodsappearlightandshadowless：this，althoughalossofcomforttothetravellerunderthescorchingraysofsummer，isofimportancetothefarmer，asitallowsgrasstogrowwhereitotherwisewouldnot。Theleavesarenotshedperiodically：thischaracterappearscommontotheentiresouthernhemisphere，namely，SouthAmerica，Australia，andtheCapeofGoodHope。
Theinhabitantsofthishemisphere，andoftheintertropicalregions，thusloseperhapsoneofthemostglorious，thoughtooureyescommon，spectaclesintheworld——thefirstburstingintofullfoliageoftheleaflesstree。
Theymay，however，saythatwepaydearlyforthisbyhavingthelandcoveredwithmerenakedskeletonsforsomanymonths。Thisistootruebutoursensesthusacquireakeenrelishfortheexquisitegreenofthespring，whichtheeyesofthoselivingwithinthetropics，satedduringthelongyearwiththegorgeousproductionsofthoseglowingclimates，canneverexperience。Thegreaternumberofthetrees，withtheexceptionofsomeoftheBlue-gums，donotattainalargesize；buttheygrowtallandtolerablystraight，andstandwellapart。ThebarkofsomeoftheEucalyptifallsannually，orhangsdeadinlongshredswhichswingaboutwiththewind，andgivetothewoodsadesolateanduntidyappearance。Icannotimagineamorecompletecontrast，ineveryrespect，thanbetweentheforestsofValdiviaorChiloe，andthewoodsofAustralia。
Atsunset，apartyofascoreoftheblackaboriginespassedby，eachcarrying，intheiraccustomedmanner，abundleofspearsandotherweapons。
Bygivingaleadingyoungmanashilling，theywereeasilydetained，andthrewtheirspearsformyamusement。Theywereallpartlyclothed，andseveralcouldspeakalittleEnglish：theircountenancesweregood-humouredandpleasant，andtheyappearedfarfrombeingsuchutterlydegradedbeingsastheyhaveusuallybeenrepresented。Intheirownartstheyareadmirable。