CHAPTER II.

CONFIGURATION AND CLIMATE.

DIMENSIONS OF AUSTRALIA--MOUNT KOSCIUSKO--THE MURRAY RIVER SYSTEM--WIND LAWS--THE HOT WIND--INTENSE HEAT PERIODS--THE EARLY EXPLORERS--STURT'S EXPERIENCE--BLACKS AND BUSH FIRES--DROUGHTS--UNEXPLORED AUSTRALIA. 17-26

_Illustrations_:

The Giant Gum-tree 18 Railroad through the Gippsland Forest 19 Junction of Murray and Darling Rivers 20 The National Museum, Melbourne 26