TO PORT ESSINGTON, 343 
water and its meteorological relations, the whole line of route 
may be divided very naturally into about eight sections, each 
of which bears its peculiar character. Three belonging 
to the East Coast, three to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and: 
two to Arnheim's Land, and the north-west coast of 
Australia, 
I” The first comprises the scrubby country between 
Darling Downs and Peak Range, with the Dawson and the 
Mackenzie rivers, 270—230 S. latitude, and is eminently 
characterised by the frequency and by the peculiarities of its 
scrubs. It is principally composed of sandstone, which, 
judging from its coal beds and the impressions of plants con- 
tained in it, is identical with the sandstone formation of the 
Lower Hunter. But in several localities it has been broken 
by’ basalt (whinstone), which forms either peaks, as Mount 
Aldis and Mount Nicholson, or the spine of large ranges, as 
Expedition Range. The basalt is generally connected with 
plains or with very openly timbered and treeless downs, 
clothed with a rich vegetation. But not only the high level 
land west of Darling Downs, which slopes almost impercep- 
_ fibly to the south-west, but the valleys of the rivers and the’ 
zt sides of the mountains were covered with extensive scrubs- 
Principally composed of a species of (Acacia, A. pendula, 
A. Cunn?)* which has received the name of bricklow fromthe — 
‘Squatters, between the Severn and the Condamine. This 
shrub or small tree has a foliage of greyish green colour, and 
Srows so close that it is impossible, or only with the greatest 
difficulty, that a man on horseback can make his way through it. 
The prospect from the Downs was rendered extremely pleasing. — — 
not only on account of the open view which they allowed to 
€ eye, tired of the uniform density of the scrub, but also on 
account of small copses of bricklow, Fusanus and Bauhinia, 
ich were picturesquely scattered over them, and 
— 80  nained by the late “Allan Cansinghian’ id a joiriey 
when endeavouring to reach the country to the westward of 1 
pi Latitude 28° S. j i36. T 
