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We remained there for three weeks, visiting the various charitable institutions. We were much gratified in witnessing the pleasure evinced by the inmates, when they saw us, of whom they had heard. Even the smallest urchin in the orphan asylums of that distant land knew the name of General Tom Thumb, and to our surprise was well informed as to our relationship and movements. On one occasion, when the children were assembled before us, Mr. Bleeke, to test their knowledge, asked them whether the little people they looked upon were men and women, o childen like themselves. They replied almost in one voice '"It's Tom Thumb and his wife, Commodore Nutt and little Minnie Warren." One urchin about five years old, to give greater emphasis to his knowledge and judgment, shouted, "General Tom Thumb got married to Lavinia Warren by Barnum. That's Tom Thumb," pointing at the General, "and he's a man, cause cause got whiskers; and that's his wife," pointing at me, "and she's a woman cause she wears a big chig-non." That boy, we concluded, had a good head.

From Ballarat we returned to Melbourne, and sailed for Launceston, Tasmania, arriving there May 26. The census just taken showed the population of the entire country as ninety-nine thousand. The circumstance of the island being situated at the southern end of the globe reverses the seasons in relation to ours. June, July, and August are the winter months, and December, January, and February the summer months. It took me some little time to used to this topsyturvy condition of the almanac, but somehow it seemed to be in harmony with the queer things and ways of the whole country. The mountains, which mostly bear Scotch and English names, are one thousand to forty-five hundred feet high.

We traversed the island in our coaches, stopping at all towns within reach, without regard to population or position, for we found ourselves objects of much attention and interest everywhere, and money came in plentifully. At Oatlands (it seemed an appropriate name) we had to clear out a stable to give our performance. The stable belonged to the inn, where we stayed. We used the grain room as a dressing room, brushing the grain back to make space, and as we moved about a fringe of wheat and oats clung to our skirts and bedecked our trains.

During our coach trip through this almost unknown country we had many odd experiences. One I remember particularly, was a source of merriment to the whole party for many days. We had traveled all day, and about five o'clock arrived at a small "station," where we were to spend the night. The proprietor greeted us cheerily, and comforted us greatly by the announcement that he would give us an "American supper." We were in just the condition to appreciate this, and exchanged congratulatory glances. Supper was served, and we were invited to regale ourselves on boiled punkin and boiled salt pork. Half starved and tired as we were, the situation was irresistibly funny, and for years after an allusion to an "American supper" would be greeted with peals of laughter.

As the "station" contained only three rooms and one bed, the question of disposing of our party for the night became a serious problem. Mr. and Mrs. Bleeker were given the bed. The General and myself occupied the sofa, our length, or should I say the lack of it, enabling us to stretch out comfortably, feet to feet. Minnie was bestowed in the cradle, from which she persistently sung "Rock me to sleep mother," until assured by my husband that he rock her to sleep if he could find a rock big enough. The pianist and the Commodore secured the dining table and the rest arranged themselves as comfortably as they might, tired enough to rest almost anywhere.

At another place, after a journey of over thirty miles, we found ourselves the guests of an old Scotchwoman, who was as nearly distracted by so large a party descending upon her. With native hospitality, however, she gave us welcome and soon set before us a fine supper of scones and kangaroo steak. This last had a piquant flavor from the fact that we had that day seen a giant fellow, which, clearing ten or fifteen feet at a bound, had passed very near us, without deigning to give us a glance. Our sleeping accommodations here were even worse than those we had experienced before; but we were young, tired, and good natured, and our hostess kind beyond expression, so we took the soft side of stools, table, and chairs, and slept the sleep of youth and fatigue.

On June 27 we sailed again for Melbourne, and during the voyage experienced a gale which for severity had never been equaled in that quarter of the globe. We were joyfully received on our arrival, as many had given up the vessel for lost.

There is a sandy desert intervening between the settlements in the western part of Victoria and those across the line in South Australia. As it would cause much delay in going several hundred miles to the coast and then having to wait for a passing steamer, Mr. Bleeker determined to cross the desert with our coaches. It was a perilous undertaking, but we had confidence in our manager and felt no fear. The mail was carried across once a week in a light vehicle. There were two lakes on the route, Alexandrina and Victoria, which were traversed by a little steamer built expressly to carry the small mail vehicle, and totally inadequate to one of our coaches. They were connecting lakes and were forty-five miles long, consequently we had to drive around them, a much greater distance. The proprietor of the vehicle that carried the mail came twenty miles to dissuade us from undertaking the journey; but Mr. Bleeker gave him a characteristic reply. "I am convinced," said he, "that I can go wherever man or horse can go; and where I go these little people will follow."