WALES, NEW SOUTH. 



WALES, NEW SOUTH. 



1053 



from Thth"* 1 It drrided into two circuit*, North and South, and 

 e*j* indf* trawls Mob. 



With* abound* la memorial* of iU past history. The cromlechs, 

 eanMifcla. and barrow* ; camp*, British and Roman ; abbeys and 

 outlta of later period* ; an all to be met with in rorioui parti of the 

 mfedpalHr. Detailed notioai of these will be found in this work in 

 arttohiitrtatiin of each county. 



Wale* k divided into North and South Wale*, each containing six 

 .juililii North Walr* include* Anslesey, Caernarvonshire, Denbigh 

 ihir*. KlinUhire, Merionethshire, and Montgomery shirr. South Wales 

 inchuM* Brecknockshire, Cardiganshire, Caerm&rthcnshire, Glaraorgan- 

 shire, PembrokeJur*, and Radnorshire. To the articles on these 

 srreral eoontiea we refer for a more particular account of the physical 

 *T*phj. geology, mineralogy, product*, manufactures, trade, Ac. 

 Owr abrgepartof Wale, the Welsh language is .till generally spoken, 

 but the UM of the English language is steadily increasing. Wales 

 contains four btahoprio those of Bongor and St Asaph in North 

 Wale*, and of 81 David and Llandaff in South Wales. 



U AI.ES, NEW SOUTH, extends over the south-eastern portion 

 of Australia. Its western boundary has been fixed by the grant of 

 UM colony of Southern Australia, whose eastern boundary extends 

 from the shores of the Southern Sea along 141* E. long, to 26 S. lat. 

 The northern boundary-line of New South Wales has not yet been 

 definitely fixed, but is generally taken as 26 S. lat, the same as 

 Southern Australia, as there are settlements, particularly since the 

 gold discoveries, north of Horeton Bay, which is in 27 S. lat. On 

 the east New South Wales is washed by the Pacific. On the south 

 the Murray forms the boundary between it and the newly-constituted 

 province of Victoria from South Australia to its source, whence tho 

 line turns southerly through the Australian Alps west of Mount 

 Wellington, and then takes an arbitrary straight line south-easterly 

 to Cape Howe, which is the most southerly point of the province, in 

 37* 6' 8. lat., 150 E. long. The extreme length is 893 miles, tho 

 average breadth about 600 miles, which gives an area of 535,800 square 

 miles. The most north-western portion of the country, extending 

 over perhaps one-third of the whole surface, has scarcely been visited 

 by any European. The population of the colony was estimated in 

 December 1852 at 208,254. 



Smfact,Soil, and Climate. The physical constitution of this country 

 is very peculiar. The interior consists of wide plains, interrupted only 

 by comparatively short ranges of high hills or low mountains. The 

 waters collected in these plains are all united into one river, the 

 Murray, which disembogues within the territories of South Australia. 

 On the east and south the plains are surrounded by higher land, which 

 constitute* the watershed between the rivers joining the Murray and 

 thoM which run into the sea. This watershed is in general about 100 

 mile* from the shores. 



The Australian Alps commence at Wilson's Promontory, and extend 

 into New South Wales by Mount Wellington. In this range rise the 

 Murray and the numerous streams which, flowing more or less west- 

 ward, ultimately fall into it and form it into a river, having abundance 

 of water all the year round, whilst most of the large rivers which run 

 into the interior become dry during the summer months. Farther 

 north, in the Wamgong Chain, the Murrumbidgee with its affluents 

 take* its source, and is likewise a perennial river; east and north of 

 this are Y*>s Plains and the hilly tract inclosing Lake George. The 

 elevated plain* extend, under the name of Ooulbnrn and Breadalbane 

 Plains, about 40 miles farther north, to the southern extremity of 

 Cockbnndoon Range, which constitutes the southern part of the Blue 

 Mountains, east of which runs the Shoalhavcn River to the sea. The 

 Blue Mountains commence in 34 80' S. lat., and run northward to 

 the Monundilla Range, in 32* 40' S. lat. From the eastern side descend 

 the Nepean, the Colo, tho Wollondilly, and the Macdonald rivers, all 

 of which find their way to the sea through the Hawkesbury at Bullen 

 Bay ; on the west side descends tho Lachlan and its affluents, which 

 join the Murrumbidgee. The mountains are of sandstone ; the highest 

 point, King's Table-Land, attains a height of 3400 feet above the flat 

 country. At the distance of from 60 to 70 miles north of the Monun- 

 dilla Range is the Liverpool Range, running east and west. This 

 range extend* to about 32 S. lat On its northern side are Liverpool 

 Plain*, between 150 and 151* K. long. In these parts its southern 

 slope rites with a precipitous acclivity, and in some places nearly 

 perpendicular above the plains which lie south of it Its elevation is 

 probably 1500 or 2000 feet above the base. Where tho slope is not 

 too rapid, it i thinly wooded. On account of the steepness of the 

 ascent, only two places have been found at which it can bo traversed 

 with ease : the western, called Pandora Pass, near 150 E. long. ; and 

 the eastern, called Hecknaduey, west of 161 E. long. When the 

 summit of the nausea i* attained, a short descent brings the traveller 

 to the Liverpool Plains. A ridge from the Monundilla Range to these 

 mountain* divides the affluents of Quulburn River, a tributary of 

 Hunter River, which falls into the Pacific, from those of the Cudgegong 

 and Talbragar, which fall into the Macquarie. A considerable portion 

 of this ridge is without trees, overgrown with bushes, and grassy ; but 

 on the rising grounds are forests, composed mostly of apple-trees, iron- 

 bark, stringy-bark, and box. 



The coast-line on the cast extend* in a general direction of north- 

 north-east from Cape Howe to Cape Byron, when it recede* a little to 



tho west. There are numerous harbours formed by the mouths of 

 the rivers flowing into the Pacific. The chief of these, proceeding 

 from south to north, are Twofold Bay, at the mouth of the Towamba, 

 immediately north of Cape Green, one of the boldest promontories 

 along the coast; Barmonth, Bateman Hay, Sussex Haven, Jervis Bay, 

 Shoalhaven, Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney, Port Jackson, Broken 

 Bay, Port Hunter, Port Stephens, Farquhar and Harrington Inlets at 

 the mouth* of the Manning and Lansdowne rivers, Port Macquarie, 

 Trial Bay, Shoal Bay at tho mouth of the Clarence River, in -2'j' 5' 

 S. lat, whence there is no other till we come to Moreton Bay, with ita 

 group of islands extending 70 miles from north to south. In this 

 extent the shore presents every variety of appearance. From Capo 

 Green to Shoalhaven River the cliffs are generally low ; from Shoal- 

 haven River, north of 80 S. lat., to Hunter River, north of 35 S. lat., 

 they present a range of bold perpendicular cliffs of sandstone lying in 

 horizontal strata, occasionally interrupted by sandy beaches, the high 

 land retiring to a considerable distance. Numerous sand-hills occur 

 along the remaining part of the coast. Port Stephens is a bar-harbour, 

 ao that small vessels only can enter it; those of larger description are 

 compelled to anchor outside. In some parts, especially north of Trial 

 Bay (30 50' S. lat) and south of the mouth of Clarence River, are 

 tracts of coast many miles in length, where it is rocky and rises to a 

 considerable elevation. The harbours are only found at the mouths 

 of the numerous rivers. 



Rireri. The larger rivers which drain the country between the 

 Pacific and the watershed have water all the year round. They gene- 

 rally flow in beds which are deeply depressed below the common level 

 of the country, and between banks which rise perpendicularly, or 

 nearly so, from 100 to 200 feet, and fi\ cjuently higher, so that the 

 streams are inaccessible, except at a few places. They are of little use 

 either for irrigation or for transport. The Shoalhaven River, the most 

 southern of the considerable rivers of thU region, rises on the table- 

 lands east of the Warragoug Mountains, and runs about 90 miles 

 northward, measured in a straight line, and then about 40 miles east- 

 ward. About 20 miles from its mouth occurs the hut rapid, up to 

 which the tide flows. The mouth of tho river is much obstructed by 

 ehoals and sand-banks. The ffawkeibury falls into Broken l!ay. It 

 risea under the name of Wollondilly, on the connecting table-lands, 

 and receives nearly all the waters which are collected on them. It 

 flows in a deep bed, pinking into a deep ravine, when it is no longer 

 accessible. The last rapids occur near Windsor, from which place it 

 is navigable for moderate vessels. Windsor is only 40 miles from the 

 sea in a straight line, but 100 miles at least following the windings of 

 the river, whose waters are fresh for 30 miles below the town. Its 

 estuary, Broken Bay, is surrounded by rocks, and has several good 

 anchorages even for large vessels, the best of which is culled Pittwater. 

 The whole course of the river exceeds 250 miles. Sometimes the 

 floods of this river rise to 90 feet above its usual level, and the inun- 

 dations then lay waste the fertile tracts on its banks. George' '> River 

 falls into Botany Bay. It runs hardly 60 miles, but is navigable for 

 boats from Liverpool downwards, a distance of about 12 miles in a 

 direct line, but 24 miles following the windings of ita course. Hunter 

 River disembogues into Port Hunter. It has two great branches, one 

 called Hunter and the other Goulburn. The first rises in the Liverpool 

 Range, the other in the connecting ridge, and both have very tortuous 

 courses. The navigation begins at Maitland, about 20 miles from Port 

 Hunter by land, but nearly 40 miles by water, and a steamboat plies 

 regularly between that town and Sydney. This river often risea 

 rapidly after heavy rains, and in some places to tho height of 50 feet. 



The navigable rivers which drain the countries north of the Hunter 

 are the Manning, Hastings, Apsley, Clarence, and Brisbane. The 

 Manning and the Hastings both fall into Port Macquarie, which is a 

 bar-harbour, admitting only vessels of 100 tons burden; and it is 

 dangerous to enter, except at full tide, on account of the rapid current, 

 which seta the vessels ashore upon the shoals on the northern side of 

 its entrance. Outside the bar is good anchorage for ships of the largest 

 class, except when the wind blows strong upon the shore. Within 

 the bar is secure anchorage for a great number of vessels. 



North of Port Macquarie is the valley which is drained by the 

 Aptley or MacLeay River, which divides about 12 miles from the sea 

 into two branches, inclosing a large island. The main branch at the 

 northern end forms tho harbour of Trial Bay, which has a bar across, 

 having from 12 to 17 feet of water upon it. This river is navigable to 

 a distance of more than 50 miles from the sea, when farther progress 

 is impeded by a fall, which occurs where the river issues from a narrow 

 glen, whoso sides rise 900 feet above its bed. Below this place the 

 river runs through a wide valley, in which there are some plains 

 destitute of timber, and gently-rising hills covered with open forests 

 and grassy pastures. Farther north is the valley of the Clarence River. 

 The mouth of the river is at Shoal Bay, 29 20' S. lat. The bar across 

 its entrance has 12 feet of water on it at high tides. Brisbane River 

 falls into Moreton Bay, and is navigable by ships drawing 16 feet of 

 water 20 miles up, at which point a ridge of rocks crosses tho bed, but 

 to a distance of more than 60 miles from the sea it may bo navigated 

 by boats. Several of its tributaries are also navigable for some miles 

 from their mouths. The country on both banks of the river presents 

 an alternation of hills and level tracts. The soil, which is very good, 

 U overgrown with high trees, among which arc cedars and cypress- 



