NEW SOUTH WALES. 283 



than those on the east. The country lying near 

 the west arm is rather flat, and might be con- 

 verted to many useful purposes. 



The best land seemed to be that fine hilly 

 country at the back of an island named Middle- 

 Island; but access to it is not easy on account 

 of a large shoal extending along its front, which 

 is dry at low water, as far out as the island itself. 

 The shape of the land is very pleasingly varie- 

 gated with hill and valley ; the soil is in general 

 a rich black mould, shallow, and even some- 

 times a little stoney on the hiljs, but in the val- 

 lies abundant depth and richness. A close coat 

 of grass of a uniform thickness overspreads it 

 every where. It appears to be watered only by 

 swampy ponds, which in many places are at 

 some distance from each other. 



The heavy timber is chiefly of the various 

 species of the gum tree ; of which two are differ- 

 ent from any that have been yet seen in this coun- 

 try. But, from the few trees that have been fel- 

 led, it was thought to be more sound at heart 

 than they are usually. The she oaks were more 

 inclined to spread than grow tall. The tree pro- 

 ducing the yellow gum is of a very diminutive 

 size; but, unlike that of Cape Barren Island, it 

 bears a reed correspondent to itself. These were 

 going into flower, and their length was only 

 from nine inches to two feet. 



Grey kangaroos of a large size, abounded in 

 the open forest ; and the brushes with the smaller 

 black kind. 



The gloomy plumage of the parrots forms a 



