146 ^ CARDROSS. 



dure beneath and around them; hills of moderate 

 elevation, with sloping declivities, and wooded 

 on their summits, divide the plains, and give a 

 pleasing variety to the prospect ; while distant 

 mountains, having a blue tinge, terminate the 

 view to the horizon : occasional patches of 

 land under cultivation with grain, innumerable 

 herds of cattle grazing, and flocks of sheep, 

 attended by their shepherds, gave animation to 

 the verdant plains, not yet browned by the 

 parching summer heats. 



The following morning we crossed the plains, 

 through a still beautiful country, passing the 

 farms of Messrs. Howey, Rossi, and Moore, near 

 which the Wollandilly river flows in a fine 

 stream ; after a ride of nine miles, the weather 

 being unfavourable, we sought shelter, and re- 

 ceived a kind reception at " Cardross," the farm 

 of Mr. Kinghorne. 



On the road, several of that elegant species of 

 the Eucalyptus, the E. mannifera, or manna-tree, 

 were seen, having just produced flower-buds ; 

 but no manna was yet secreted from the trees. 

 Since leaving the Blue Mountain range, not a 

 single shrub of the Warratah or tulip-tree 

 {Telopea speciosissima) has been met with ; and I 

 heard from several persons that the attempts as 

 yet made to rear it in the gardens in this part of 



