54 TOPOGRAPHY. 



whole of this line presents only one accessible point, the site 

 of the new Koondah Pass, which has been more particularly- 

 described. 



The table-land above, is broken into a number of long 

 rounded ridges, with narrow v.alleys interposed, and richly 

 wooded in the more sheltered spots. A striking peculiarity 

 of these woods, common in fact to the whole hills, is, their 

 being nearly destitute of underwood, and having their bor- 

 ders so well defined as to resemble the ornamental planta- 

 tions of a gentleman's park ; so complete is the resemblance, 

 so artificially are they disposed, and so perfect is the keeping 

 of the scenery, that in many parts one is tempted to look 

 round for the castle or seat to which they belong. 



The base of one hill rises close to that of another, leaving 

 but a small interval between, so that a true valley is very 

 rare, and a level surface of any extent, almost unknown, 

 except on the roads round and between the hills, where you 

 may ride or drive for any extent amidst ever varying scenery. 

 It is difficult to find appropriate terms to convey an accurate 

 description of these singularly smooth, rounded and undulat- 

 ing hills ; they present truly a " surging scene" to use an 

 expression of Coleridge, resembling the billows of the sea 

 suddenly stilled, solidified and fixed, while in their full career 

 of heaving commotion. This is more applicable to the lower 

 hills, but many upwards of a thousand feet high have the 

 same rounded contour. The valleys, or ravines at the foot 

 of these hills are uniformly wet, sometimes having a rivulet 

 running through them, but more often being marshy, there 

 being no exit to admit of drainage. From these moist 

 places, commence the beautiful clusters of wood, called Sho- 

 lahs, which form a peculiarly striking feature in the scenery ; 

 and the whole surface of these verdant hills, from base to 



