602 GEOLOGY OF THE WESTEEX COALFIELDS, 



islands and knolls, backwaters and swamps on and in wliicli 

 tlie characteristic vegetation of Equiseta, Eerns, Cycads, and 

 Conifers formed tliick scrubs and savannahs of uniform and 

 perennial green — there rose tier after tier of mountains, forest 

 clad below, but rising behind into snowy peaks, from which 

 numerous glaciers descended. The landscape would probably, 

 to ordinary observers appear much like such a landscape at the 

 present day. The Botanist indeed would think very differently. 

 His astonishment, excitement, and intense gratification can only 

 be faintly imagined from the bewilderment and exultation of 

 Mr. Banks when he first went botanizing with Captain Cook 

 at Kurnel. 



These Alps however, have disappeared under the slow wear of 

 time. The lower portions or foundations of the mass alone 

 remain, very little if at all higher, and often much lower than, 

 the terraces which were formed in ancient times upon their flanks, 

 and the straths which once filled their valleys. These lower 

 portions are highly metamorphic quartzites, slates, and lime- 

 stones, with granites. The upper storeys, which were doubtless 

 far less refractory, have been swept away, mile after mile in depth. 

 It is therefore impossible to determine exactly the Orography of 

 this ancient mountain tract. This however we dare say, that in 

 its greater width and height it lay to the south, west, and north- 

 west of AVallerawang, being continuous with the main Southern 

 Chain, and its two great laterals, the one west of tbe Bogan, the 

 other south of the Murray. Towards the north it seems to have 

 gradually declined to the broad de2)ression which separated it 

 from the corresponding mountainous island (or continent) which 

 commencing about Tamworth extends far northward into 

 Queensland. Here there ^vevc j^i'ohallj/ low tracts of land with 

 scattered volcanoes, broad tracts of gravels, mainly derived from 

 older conglomerates, and washed into the hollow from either 

 island; but certainly large areas of shallow seas in which the 

 Marine beds above mentioned were forming. This sea, or 



