YAS PLAINS. 167 



the estate, only a short distance from the cottage. 

 Since leaving " Goulburn Plains," we had oc- 

 casionally seen the " Green- wattle tree" still in 

 bloom ; its bark is highly valued for the tanning 

 principle it abundantly contains ; the bark of 

 another " Acacia,'' called " black wattle" by the 

 colonists, also contains similar properties, but the 

 former bears the preference from producing a 

 stronger liquor, and from the latter imparting a 

 much deeper red tinge to the leather ; the bark 

 is used in the tan pits macerated only in cold 

 water, but when there is time and requisite con- 

 veniences, a decoction is made, by which a 

 stronger liquor is procured. The aborigines, 

 about the Illawarra district, and other parts of 

 the colony, stupify fish, by throwing the bark 

 of the " green-wattle tree" into the water. 



I rode over to Yas Plains, to the farm of Mr. 

 Manton, (a son of the celebrated gunsmith,) 

 about four miles distant on the banks of the Yas 

 river, the house being constructed on an ele- 

 vated site, commands a fine picturesque view 

 of the extensive plains or downs of Yas, the 

 distant wooded hills, forest scenery, with the 

 Yas river slowly winding its course beneath. 

 This part of the colony appears valuable ; the 

 country is for the most part open forest, with 

 luxuriant pasturage, and well watered, (an object 



