On their way back to the hotel the youths again encountered the communicative policeman. Pointing in the direction of a round building similar to a windmill and supporting a signal-mast, he said,
"That is what we call the Observatory, and it is used for signalling vessels coming into the harbor. It's one of the relics of the convict time; there was once a windmill there where they ground the grain for the convicts to eat, and when the wind didn't blow the prisoners had to work a treadmill in the lower part of the building. I used to know an old fellow who had often done his 'trick at the wheel;' he said he used to have to go it four hours on a stretch, and when through with his trick he was ready to lie down and take a rest. There isn't any part of the treadmill there now, as it was quietly stolen away by the boys, who sold the old iron for a good price."
[Illustration: "NO MORE TRICKS AT THE WHEEL."]
LEAVING BRISBANE.--THE REGIONS AROUND THE CITY.--QUEENSLAND SCRUB AND FOREST LAND.--FRUITS AND GARDEN PRODUCE.--TROUBLES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.--IPSWICH AND ITS COAL-MINES.--WINE-MAKING IN AUSTRALIA.--CHARACTER OF AUSTRALIAN WINES.--THE LABOR QUESTION.--POLYNESIAN AND CHINESE LABORERS.--POPULATION OF QUEENSLAND.--NATIVES AND ABORIGINES.--PECULIARITIES OF THE BLACK RACE.--CATTLE-TRACKERS AND THEIR ABILITIES.--HOW THE ABORIGINALS LIVE.--THEIR HOMES, WEAPONS, AND MODE OF LIFE.--AUSTRALIAN MYTHS AND SUPERSTITIONS.--CURIOUS THEORIES OF RESURRECTION.--SMOKE AND FIRE SIGNALS.--HOW A WANDERING WHITE MAN SAVED HIS LIFE.--RELIGIOUS IDEAS.--HOW THE EEL MADE THE FROG LAUGH.--THE BUN-YIP AND HIS WONDERFUL ATTRIBUTES.
[Illustration: A RELIC OF OLD COLONIAL TIMES.]
The sights of Brisbane were soon exhausted, and our friends arranged to make a journey to the interior, in spite of the efforts of hospitable residents to detain them for several days in the capital. The trio agreed that nowhere else in the world was there a more hospitable population than in Australia, and in no other country was the stranger made more heartily welcome. They had already recorded this impression, and it was renewed at every place they visited during their journey through the continent. Frank thought that the name of Australia Felix, which was originally applied to the Port Phillip district, should be given to the entire country, in view of the general amiability of the inhabitants and their courtesy to strangers.