186 MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER. 



distant from Yas. We crossed the extensive plains, 

 and entered a bush track leading through a fine 

 open forest country ; some of the land was boggy, 

 but the most part consisted of open forest, with 

 rich pasturage, and was well circumstanced for the 

 several sheep and cattle stations we passed. From 

 the general excellent quality of land on and in 

 the vicinity of the Yas plains, as well as being 

 well watered, extensive purchases from the go- 

 vernment have been made by the settlers al- 

 ready having grants here, and nearly the whole, 

 with water frontage, has been purchased ; I am 

 inclined to think that this part of the colony will 

 prove the richest and most valuable of almost 

 any of the present known portions. 



On approaching the Murrumbidgee river, the 

 character of the scenery increases in beauty, 

 assuming even a romantic appearance, — the 

 broken country adding to, rather than diminish- 

 ing the effect : the day was cloudless, with a 

 brilliant sun, so the prospect extended to a great 

 distance ; — green sloping hills, thinly timbered, 

 only wanting the addition of mansions to the 

 natural lawns and parks to perfect the landscape ; 

 flowers of great variety and gay colours strewed 

 the ground in the utmost profusion ; the indigo 

 shrub {hidigofeim australls) was also abundant in 



