282 HISTORY OF 



red them from trying to reach the head of the 

 river. 



The quality of the ground, was far superior 

 to that of the borders of any of the salt water 

 inlets of New South Wales, Western Port ex- 

 cepted. The vegetable mould was, however, 

 found to be of no great depth, and was some- 

 times mixed with small quantities of sand. 



The best of the soil was found upon the sides 

 of sloping hills, and in the broad vallies between 

 them. Some parts that were low and level had 

 a wet surface, bounded by small tracts of flower- 

 ing shrubs and plants, that absolutely perfum- 

 ed the air. These retained in general the ap- 

 pearance of those in New South Wales, while 

 they were in reality very different. The two 

 countries present a perfect similarity in this, that 

 the more barren spots are the most gaily adorned. 



Except in these places the grass does not grow 

 in tufts, but covers the land equally with a short 

 herbage, better adapted, for small than of large 

 cattle. The food for the latter grows in the bot- 

 toms of the vallies and on the damp flats. A 

 large proportion of the soil promised a fair re- 

 turn to the labours of the cultivator, but the 

 greater part would perhaps be more advantage- 

 ously employed, if left for pasturage, than if 

 thrown into cultivation. 



Water was found in runs more than in ponds, 

 not very plentiful, but far from being scarce. 



The west side of the river possessed the larg- 

 est quantity of the best ground, because the 

 mountains on that side are at a greater distance 





