314 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE 



9° South. Had the weather continued favourable, it would 

 have been important to have examined the main range with 

 the view of ascertaining how far a passage could be effected 

 over it to the shores of Moreton Bay or Brisbane River, 

 from which points only, the very interesting pastoral country 

 lying on the western side of these mountains can be accessi- 

 ble. A very singular, deeply excavated part of the range, 

 bearing from the station on the ridge about N.N.E., was, 

 however, remarked, to the pitch of which the acclivity from 

 the head of a valley lying parallel with Logan's Vale, and 

 extending south-westerly to Darling Downs, seemed very 

 moderate; and as this gap appeared likely to prove on 

 examination a very practicable pass through these mountains, 

 Mr Cunningham determined to employ a day in exploring 

 it. These mountains, to the western base of which the ex- 

 ploring party had approached from a sterile southern region, 

 form a leading range in this part of the country, and give 

 rise to waters that fall as well on the coast as westerly to the 

 distant interior; and as the barometrical observations, made on 

 the lateral range whence the peak of Mount Warning was 

 seen, gave a result of 3735 feet, and the extreme ridge ap- 

 peared at least 300 feet higher, the elevation of this dividing 

 range may be considered about 4100 feet. The forest ridges, 

 which were heavily timbered with stringy bark [Eucalyptus) 

 of great bulk, were found clothed to their summits with 

 grasses of the most luxuriant growth ; and beino-well watered 

 by numerous trickling rills that appeared to originate between 

 the shoulders of the hills, constitute a very spacious range of 

 the richest cattle-pasture. 



Upon examining the hollow back of the mountain ridge, 

 it was found to be very rugged, large masses of rock having 

 fallen down from the heads on each side into the gap, render- 

 ing it impassable ; and as it was overgrown with strong twin- 

 ing plants, the thicket they formed was found nearly impervi- 

 ous. Immediately to the south, however, the range presented 

 a very moderate surface, over which a line of road might be 

 constructed without much labour, and at comparatively small 



