12 THE WOLLOMBI, [CH. I. 



be found abundance of good soil, considei-ed unavailable for 

 any purpose except grazing, because it had no " frontage" 

 (as it is termed), on a river or chain of ponds. Selections 

 have been frequently made of farms, which liave thus ex- 

 cluded extensive tracts behind them from the water, and 

 these remaining consequently unoccupied, have continued 

 accessible only to the sheep or cattle of the possessor of the 

 water frontage. 



In these vallies of the Upper Wollonibi, we find little 

 breadth of alluvial soil, but a never-failing supply of water 

 has already attracted settlers to its banks — and those small 

 farmers who live on a field or two of maize and potatoes — 

 and who are the only beginning of an agricultural population, 

 yet apparent, in New South Wales — shew a disposition to 

 nestle in any available corner there. But on the lower por- 

 tion of the Wollombi, where the valley widens, and water 

 becomes less abundant, the soil being sandy, I found it im- 

 possible to locate some veterans on small farms, which I had 

 marked out for them, because it was known that in dry sea- 

 sons, although each farm had frontage on the Wollombi 

 Brook, very few ponds remained in that part of its channel. 



Nov. 27. — Early this morning, I had a visit from Mr, 

 Finch, who was very anxious that 1 should attach him to the 

 exploring party. As I foresaw, that some delay might occur 

 in procuringprovisions, without his assistance, in this district, 

 1 accepted his services, and gave him his instructions, condi- 

 tionally. I met Mr. White at the junction of the Ellalong, 

 and we proceeded together, down the valley of the Wol- 

 lombi. 



The sandstone terminates in cliffs on the right bank of this 

 stream near the projected village of Broke, (named by me 

 in iioiioui- of that meritorious oihcer, Sir Charles Broke 

 Vere, Bart.) but the lull bank is overlooked by other 

 rocky extremities falling from the ranges on the west, until 

 it reaches the main stream. The most conspicuous of these 

 headlands, as they a|>pear from that of " Mattavvee" behind 



