CH. I.] WEATHERBOARD INN. 153 



valley of the Grose on the other. In this direction, the road 

 to the interior country, was accordingly opened by Governor 

 Macquarie; and the ravines, on each side, are too deep and 

 precipitous to admit of any extensive alteration of the line, 

 although it has recently been much improved, especially in 

 the ascent to these mountains above Emu, and in the descent 

 from them to the interior country. These were the chief diffi- 

 culties in making the original road across this mountain mass, 

 as the old passes of Lapstone Hill and Mount York still testify. 

 The upper region being once gained, it presents considerable 

 uniformity of feature, at least along the connecting ridge. 

 The rise is gradual from a height of about 1000 feet above 

 Emu plains, to 3,400 feet its maximum, near King's Table- 

 land, 25 miles further westward. This mass of sandstone is 

 intersected by ravines, deep in proportion to the height of 

 the surface, until the profound depth of the vallies adjacent 

 to the Weatherboard Inn and Blackheath, inclosed by rocky 

 precipices, imparts a wild grandeur to the scenery, of a very 

 uncommon character.* The whole mass consists of a coarse, 

 ferruginous sandstone, composed of angular or slightly worn 

 grains of quartz cemented by oxide of iron. There is scarcely 

 a patch of land, along the line of road, tit for cultivation. 

 One solitary spot, rather better than the rest, has been wisely 

 appropriated for an inn, and at a point very convenient for 

 travellers, being about half way across these mountains. 

 This inn is about 2,800 feet above the sea, and the clouds and 

 temperature give it the climate of England. Potatoes of an 

 excellent quality grow there, also gooseberries ; and a fire 

 is as frequently agreeable as in the latitude of 52° N. 



The only summits which meet the traveller's eye, above 

 the common horizon, are Mounts Hay and Tomah, situated 

 about twelve miles northward of the road — the river Grose 

 passing between them. These heights consist of trap-rock 



* Not less remarkable is the fact, that the outlets or mouths of these stu- 

 pendous and extensive vallies on each side, are extremely narroxo ; as is evi- 

 dent on the general map of the colony. What can have become of the mattex" 

 so scooped out ?— (See Ch. 15. Vol. 2.) 



