MOUNTAINOUS SCENERY. 221 



nery. About the elevated ridges, the black- 

 wattle acacias, in full bloom, were numerous, 

 and their fresh and verdant foliage was well 

 contrasted by the arid melancholy appearance 

 of the Eucalypti trees around. A descent more 

 gradual than the ascent, with the soil covered 

 by long thick grass, brought us to a well-wa- 

 tered flat through which the Murrumbidgee 

 river, and large creek, flowed ; and in this place 

 (completely surrounded by the river and creek, 

 and consequently rendered impassable during 

 floods produced by the rains) the farm was si- 

 tuated. 



This place, secluded by lofty- wooded moun- 

 tains, and in a situation of great romantic beauty, 

 cannot be valuable except as a cattle run, for 

 which, from the abundance of grass and excel- 

 lent supply of water, a better selection could not 

 be made, but for sheep the situation is too moist. 

 After rather a laborious and fatiguing journey, 

 we enjoyed, in a neat and clean hut, some fine 

 river cod fish, tea, and delicious rich milk, 

 and our horses had, in this fine valley, ex- 

 cellent grass. Among the fe.athered animals 

 which abound here, is the Dacelo gigantea, 

 Temm., better known to the colonists and 

 strangers by the appellation of " Laughing or 



