^^^\' 1 Paton, The Buffalo Plateau in January. 155 



1910 J 



farther side of the lake to the bridge below the embankment. 

 The waters issuing from the lake form the " Underground 

 River." Finally we get back to The Chalet, ready to do 

 full justice to dinner. 



Having two hours of daylight after dinner (owing to the 

 Daylight Saving Act, then in force), we employed them in a 

 visit to the " Monolith." Branching from the road to the lake 

 at the finger-post, and following a winding track, we reach our 

 goal after a stiff climb. The " Monohth " itself is about 

 40 feet high — a huge block of granite poised a little to one side 

 of the hilltop. The top is easily reached by a railed ladder, 

 but the view from here is circumscribed owing to its com- 

 paratively low elevation (4,686 feet). Towards the east, 

 however, the Alpine ranges are discerned. Near the 

 " Monolith " Panax samhncifoliiis and Olearia myrsinoides were 

 collected. Descending by a different track, we reach the road 

 near Carlile's, which we follow back to The Chalet, on 

 reaching which we are glad to end our labours and seek repose. 



Let me preface my remarks on the remainder of the week's 

 experiences with a few remarks on the Plateau as a whole. It 

 consists of a series of valleys or depressions like drained lakes, 

 of an average elevation above sea-level of about 4,500 feet, 

 from which rise hills of varying height. The treeless valleys 

 are grass-grown, usually more or less boggy, and decked with 

 flowers, whilst the stream that often wanders through them is 

 bordered by graceful shrubs. The hills are forested, the highest 

 peaks, like " The Horn," bearing the Snow Gum, Eucalyptus 

 pauciHora, var. alpina. The whole of the Plateau is permanently 

 reserved as a National Park. The Chalet is built of timber 

 sawn on the spot, the remains of the sawmill being still visible. 

 In point of comfort it leaves little to be desired. 



Our Sunday morning walk led us to Point Helena, on the 

 eastern escarpment of the Plateau, from which a fine view of 

 the Buckland Valley is obtained. It is reached by a track 

 from Lake Catani, and the last stage is scramble and squeeze 

 between and over the granite blocks of the summit ; but the 

 view from the top repays damage to clothing and skin. The 

 following plants were seen on the way : — Gaultiera hispida 

 (fruit), Coprosma hirtella, Prostanthera Walteri. In a small 

 swamp, named the " Violet Farm," besides Viola hederacea 

 and 1'. hetonicifolia, we collected Prasophyllum fuscum, Thely- 

 ntitra longifolia, Stellaria pungens, the humble Pultencea fasci- 

 culata, Accena sanguisorbcB , Oreomyrrhis andicola (fruit), fine 

 specimens of Celmisia longifolia, and others. Near Point 

 Helena were Pimelea linifolia, Helichrysum Stirlingii, and the 

 ferns Aspidium aculeatum and Asplenium flabellifolium. 



Sunday afternoon saw us at " Edinboro' Castle," to reach 



