76 Notes and Sketches. 



to two thousand feet above sea level. In the post- 

 Rebellion period, road-making was more systematically 

 pursued ; and where formally constructed highways 

 were laid out, the drover naturally followed the line of 

 these, though the metalled surface was trying to the 

 hoofs of his travel-worn charge. " Droving" cattle 

 southward from the north and north-eastern counties 

 continued to prevail for fully the first quarter of the 

 present century ; and was gradually superseded by 

 winter fattening of cattle for transmission, first by 

 steamboat and latterly by railway direct to the London 

 market. 



