lab., BRITAIN OF THE SOUTH.* Tins title, somewhat hackneyed by
much use, has heretofore been tacitly accorded to the long chain of beautiful islands utterly misnamed geographically New Zealand. Misnamed, because in the first instance they have not one feature in common with Old Zeeland either in land or people, and in the next because of all the splendid scions of the British Empire there is none that more completely carries on the traditions of the parent country than the land of the Long White Cloud, Ao Te Roa.
But still, taking its physiographical details into due con- sideration, there is undoubtedly much anomaly in the bestowal of the title of South Britain upon New Zealand. Its stupendous Alpine ranges have but their feeblest counterpart even in mountainous Scotland. Its wonderful range of climate, from the soft Italian airs and sapphire skies of Auck- land to the extraordinary sample weather of Otago in winter, is foreign to anything we can show in this much-maligned group of islands (meteorologically). In its freedom from worms that slay and beasts that devour it enjoys our own blessed immunity, but it knows intimately the earthquake and the volcano, which we are by the especial favour of heaven happily ignorant of here. From which brief reasons it may be postulated that New Zealand is not rightly termed a Southern Britain except in the character of her fine people.
There is, however, a land of which little is heard in these strenuous days, lying beneath the full altitude of the Southern Cross, a land whose physical characteristics are such that the homesick wanderer chancing upon it might fairly be excused if he said, upon beholding it, "This is my home." Pendent like a jewel from the lip of Australia, framed in the azure of the Great South Sea sufficiently remote from the Antarctic Circle to be free from too rigorous climatic conditions, Tasmania the Beautiful slumbers on, making no history, but awaiting the time when, weary of travel in lands where aliens receive their gold with scowling faces, British travellers in search of • Tasmanian Biters, LoAss, and Flowers. By A. S. Murray. London : H. Virtu:. and Co. L426.] health and change of scene shall discover her. In furtherance of that good end, we welcome, with both hands a goodly volume from the pen and pencil of Mr. A. S. Murray. As literature, it may be said to bear out all that is claimed for it as a book of sketches, slight indications which may serve to arouse interest in the subject and send the reader to seek more solid information elsewhere. But in its artistic appeal this book merits high praise. Seventeen large plates in facsimile from the original water-colour drawings of the author not only lend it a personal charm that is of high value, but convey such an idea of the beauty of this true Southern Britain as can never be obtained from photographs, no matter how excellent their execution.
The main fact about Tasmania to-day is that its mag- nificent resources are almost untouched, its beautiful park- like lands and exquisite scenery are almost in a state of primitive solitude ; it seems almost entirely over- shadowed, overweighted, by the nearness of its gigantic neighbour, Australia. And yet its history shows that in the early days of Victoria she owed much of her develop- ment to the older Colony, which, if it supplied her with some undesirable citizens, also gave her of its best for the development of her resources. To-day if you ask an Australian, whether of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, or Queensland, what he knows about Tasmania and her products, the answer will almost certainly be" Fruit and jam." For from Tasmania Australia receives all those " homey " fruits for which English-speaking Colonists long all the world over,—apples, plums, strawberries, raspberries, black and red currants, (Sze., and also the well-known square tins of delicious jam which are so familiar a feature in Australian homes.
But we should be doing a serious injustice to Tasmania if we gave the impression that it is a totally neglected country. Its population though small is select, wideawake to their best interests, and if not possessed by such a fervour of energy in the direction of getting on as their fellows in the neighbour- ing Colonies, have much to show for their labours. They would, however, be the first to declare that their mapifieent forests, their metsitiferous wealth, and their unequalled position in the centre of the Australasian group of Colonies have never yet been adequately recognised. Their great romantic trade, the whale and seal fishery, has, in common with similar enterprises everywhere, died completely away, and its place has been inadequately filled by the carrying business of merchant vessels. Tasmania's chief claim to recognition by travellers is, however, in its lovely scenery, its lakes, mountains, and rivers, specimens of which will be found finely set forth in the present volume. Sport is principally confined to fishing, both in the sea and the rivers, which is very good. The wild animals are neither important nor numerous enough to make much diversion for the hunter, even the truculently named Tasmanian "devil" being only a creature the size of a bull terrier that is given to harrying sheep. Tiger-cats, wombats, opossums, and kangaroos are found, but not plentifully, and birds as game may be regarded as non-existent.
In one respect Tasmania is at a great disadvantage cora.- pared with New Zealand in its ophidian fauna. Like Australia, Tasmania has many poisonous snakes, and these wriggling pests, although acquaintance with them soon lessens the fear in which strangers hold them, are certainly a draw- back to the enjoyment of the visitor. Insect pests are to be found also, but not in such appalling abundance as in some parts of Auetralia, where life is made burdensome by their pigmy hosts. Altogether, Tasmania is a land that deserves far more consideration than it is receiving to-day from those who are ever anxious to explore new countries. In the interest of our own great chain of outposts round the world, we can hardly afford to pass by with real or apparent indiffer- ence such gardens of earth as is Tasmania, especially when we listen to the gloomy vaticinations of some of our scientific men with regard to the overcrowding of the areas fit for the occupa- tion of white men. An excellent antidote to any feelings of depression induced by such pessimistic prophecies will be found in a study of Mr. Murray's stately volume, which we welcome as an altogether worthy successor to the artist-author's pre- vious work dealing with the basin of the river Murray. Doubt- less this later book has afforded much more scope to Mr.
Murray's talent from the far greater variety of scenery which Tasmania can boast of, and to which be has done ample justice in the large number of drawings here presented.
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