CH. I.] JOIN THE PARTY. 13 



the village of Broke, is called " Wambo." This consists of 

 a dark mottled trap with crystals of felspar. But the most 

 remarkable feature in this extensive valley, is the termina- 

 tion thereupon of the sandstone formation which renders 

 barren so large a proportion of the surface of New South 

 Wales. This, in many parts, resembles what was formerly 

 called the iron-sand of England, where it occurs both as a 

 fresh and saltwater formation. The mountains northward 

 of this valley of the Hunter consist chiefly of trap-rock, the 

 lower country being open, and lightly wooded. The river, 

 although occasionally stagnant, contains a permanent sup- 

 ply of water, and consequently the whole of the land on its 

 banks, is favourable for the location of settlers, and accord- 

 ingly has been all taken up. The country, and especially 

 the hills beyond the left bank, affords excellent pasturage 

 for sheep, as many large and thriving establishments testify. 

 At one of this description, belonging to Mr. Blaxland, and 

 which is situated on the bank of the Lower Wollombi, Mr. 

 White and I arrived towards evening, and passed the night. 



Nov. 28. — We left the hospitable station of Mr, Blaxland 

 at an early hour, and proceeded on our way to join the party. 

 We found the country across which we rode, very much 

 parched from the want of rain. The grass was every where 

 yellow, or burnt up, and in many parts on fire, so that the 

 smoke which arose from it obscured the sun, and added sen- 

 sibly to the heat of the atmosphere. 



We lost ourselves, and, consequently, a good portion of 

 the day, from having rode too carelessly through the forest 

 country, while engaged in conversation respecting the in- 

 tended journey. We, nevertheless, reached the place of 

 rendezvous on Foy Brook long before night, and I en- 

 camped on a spot, where the whole party was to join me in 

 the morning. Mr. White left me here for the purjjose of 

 making some arrangements at home, and respecting the 

 supplies which I had calculated on obtaining in this part of 

 the country. 



