262 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE 



gns, probably A. fascicidatus, rambled over the tops of the 

 small clumps of imdershrubs, forming a formidable barrier, 

 with some aculeated species of Capparis, and Parsonsia velu- 

 tina. 



" Early this morning (September 25th), I took my de- 

 parture for the day from our encampment, on an excursion 

 inland, with Mr Hunter our surgeon, striking southerly 

 towards the river-like water (subsequently called Rothsay 

 water), seen from the hills above us by that gentleman yester- 

 day. Upon passing the ridges above the tents, we shaped 

 our course south towards the inland water seen from the 

 hills, whence an extensive view of the country to the south- 

 ward and eastward presented us with a succession of undu- 

 lated hummocky land, as far as the eye could reach, till the 

 view was lost in the distance. The face of the country 

 assumed an unusually sterile aspect, which was in some 

 measure heightened by its starved vegetation having been 

 recently destroyed by fire, which was still raging on the 

 slopes of some hills in the distance. We passed several 

 ridges and dividing valleys, blackened with fire, exceedingly 

 rocky and difficult to the traveller, till we had reached the 

 summit of a flat-topped hill, whose bluff face to the south- 

 ward overhung the waters of our new river, which has a very 

 flattering appearance, trending away to the S.S.E., bounded 

 by remarkably elevated land, which we supposed to furnish 

 considerable aids to its stream. The starved trees and other 

 ' plants of these hills, are exactly of the same description as 

 those frequently observed on the coast, Cycas angulata, how- 

 ever, appearing the more general form; large groups bearing 

 young fruit, and the male plants having the last year's amenta. 

 Grevillea mimosoides had produced its flowers, and would 

 have furnished me with desirable specimens in that state, had 

 I preceded the raging flames, which were so recent as to be 

 still smoking where any dry sapless stump happened to be 

 fully kindled. The stones with which the country is very 

 thickly studded, are chiefly of a hardened sandstone, con- 

 taining iron ; also very fine fragments of quartz, of which 



