THE TOWNS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



251 







a dense undergrowth of rich scrub vegetation. Most of this has now been cleared away, 

 and orange-trees have been planted to the summit an elevation of nearly two thousand 

 feet. The drive up the steep ascent is very beautiful, the undulating ground of the 

 fertile lower slopes presenting a landscape of remarkably soft and varied aspect. The 

 Hills have long been celebrated for the purity and mildness of their air, and are a favourite 

 resort for invalids. Over the ridge to the west the aspect of the country instantly 

 changes. Rugged 

 sandstone comes to 

 the surface, and re- 

 mains characteristic of 

 Bell's Line, which is 

 broken only by the 

 rich patches of Mount 

 Tomah and Mount 

 Wilson, where the trap- 

 rock has burst through 

 the sandstone, produ- 

 cing the soil that has 

 given birth to magni- 

 ficent tree-ferns and a 

 rich jungle of semi- 

 tropical appearance. 



From Blacktown 



Junction the Great Western Railway continues through slightly undulating country. Rooty 

 Hill was once a thickly-timbered elevation, and still yields a supply of fire-wood and 

 railway-sleepers ; but it has become more celebrated for its coursing-ground, a great 

 lover of sport having fixed his head-quarters here. The line crosses South Creek, the 

 valley of which is in flood-time filled with back-water. After this the country is moderately 

 level as far as Penrith. This is one of the old-fashioned road-side townships a place 

 where the carriers used to rest before starting for the heavy pull up the mountains, or 

 after coming down. Delay, too, was sometimes caused by the River being swollen by 

 heavy rains, when the punt could not be worked. 



Above Penrith is a beautiful reach of the Nepean, with still, deep water for about 

 fifteen miles up to its junction with the Warragamba. For a mile or two above the 

 bridge the banks are moderately low, but gradually become steep and rocky. During 

 the great floods the scene here is magnificent. The waters that come rolling down, 

 gathered from an enormous water-shed, are piled up between the steep rocky banks, 

 because there is no lateral discharge for them. Flood-marks on the trees show that the 

 river has risen sixty and even eighty feet above the ordinary height ; but as it rushes 

 out of the gorge and spreads out over the low land, which is mostly on the eastern 

 side, the level sinks rapidly. 



To the west of the River lie the Emu Plains, gently sloping to the foot of the 

 hills. They are mostly above flood-level ; the soil is fertile, and this -mile-wide belt was 

 early occupied and tilled. It has never ceased to be profitable to the farmer. Where 



STUD SHEEP OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT. 



