3^2 CROSSING THE KAUUAII. 



is astonishing to see what work oxen will do ; they 

 drag drays over almost incredible steeps, not quar- 

 tering them as horses do, but going straight up, be 

 the hills ever so steep. 



We learnt here that the township of Dungog, 

 through which our road to Stroud lay, was close by. 

 We should readily know it, we were informed, by 

 the lock-up, a place of confinement for msibe- 

 havers, and generally the first building in Australian 

 towns. The particular erection alluded to, seemed 

 to be well known in the neighbourhood. As we 

 crossed the William river I was much struck with 

 the richness of the flats on its banks. 



In fording the Karuah, just before reaching 

 Stroud, the effect was singular and startling. The 

 thick foliage arching over the river, quite shut out 

 the little light the stars afforded, and as we had to 

 descend into it, down a very steep bank, it was like 

 plunging into a dark bottomless pit ; the noise of 

 the stream over the stones alone told us we should 

 find a footing below. Into this gloomy cave our 

 party one by one descended, the foremost calling out 

 when he had reached the bottom, that the way was 

 clear, and hastening across to prevent the horseman 

 who followed from being carried by the impetus 

 into contact with him. Waiting my turn upon 

 the verge of the bank, I contemplated with pleasure 

 the heavy masses of the forest stretching like dark 

 shadows behind me, and on the other side, the long 

 winding line of verdure at my feet, from beneath 



