236 MR, LAWRENCE’S EXCURSION. 
island, also called the ‘Western mountains," and seen from 
the Derwent river, from which they lie due west.— Ed.) 
January 15, 1833. (Thermometer 67°.) None of the 
gentlemen who had engaged to accompany me on my expe- 
dition to the lakes and along the western range of mountains, 
having arrived, with the exception of Mr. Curson, we started 
with three men at about six o'clock A.M., carrying with us a 
week's stock of flour, tea and sugar, &c. But we had scarcely 
walked six miles before we discovered that we had forgotten 
our shot, the sending a man back for which detained us 
nearly threehours. During the time we were obliged to wait, 
the mountain tops became enveloped in clouds, and there 
was every appearance of approaching bad weather. At 
length we had a pretty heavy fall of rain, accompanied by a 
squall, and by the time the man had returned with the shot, 
all was clear again and promised favourably. On his return 
we proceeded onwards, and reached about half-way up the 
“ Flat-topped mountain,” where we halted for the night. 
Our tent was of the most portable description, consisting of 
two strong sheets, sewed together and stretched over such a 
frame as we could most conveniently construct, from sticks 
of the Prostanthera lasiantha and other shrubs. Nothing 
remarkable had occurred in the course of this day. 
- The base of this mountain, to one-third of its entire height, 
1s composed of white sandstone (free-stone) of excellent 
quality for building; so that, though the prospect be far dis- 
tant, we may bope, that at some future time, substantial stone 
dwellings will take the place of the miserable wooden fabrics ` 
that now form the town of Formosa. I had not much time 
to ramble here, though desirous of collecting some of the 
minerals that usually accompany this kind of rock, as my 
principal object was to attain great elevations and collect 
specimens of the plants peculiar to them. In the evening 
we kindled a very large fire, that our friends at home might 
observe the height to which we had ascended. 
January 16. (Thermometer 60°, in the evening 50°; at 
