CH. I.] ROADS AND ROCKS. 155 



then in view, with the concurrence of the Governor, was to 

 cari'y the western road along the valley of the Grose, and by 

 cutting' a tunnel, of about a mile, through a ridge at the 

 head of it, to reach the vale of Clywd, and so avoid the 

 mountains altogether. The ascent to them from Emu, and 

 the descent from them at Mount York, were both then ex- 

 tremely bad ; so much so indeed, at the latter pass especially, 

 that a grant of land was publicly offered by the Govern- 

 ment to whoever could point out a better. Both these obsta- 

 cles have since been overcome. The pass of Mount Victoria, 

 named by me after the youthful Princess, and opened by 

 Governor Bourke in 1832, descends at an inclination of 1 

 in 15 (where steepest), and avoids the abrupt descent by 

 Mount York. 



The new road from Emu plains, which is still less inclined, 

 has been made during the government of Sir Richard Bourke, 

 and relieves the Bathurst teams from the difficulties of Lap- 

 stone hill, the ascent of which cost them a whole day. Tiie 

 value of convict labour to a young colony, is apparent in 

 these new passes, cut in many places out of the solid rock ; 

 and this advantage will be permanently recorded in these 

 works and others now going forward in different parts of this 

 mountain road, which must finally make it one of the best 

 in the colony. 



The difference between the lower country, on the Hawkes- 

 bury, and the region which I have endeavoured to describe, 

 is very striking. The rocks are also different, for on the side 

 of Cumberland they consist of trap, and on the other or that 

 of the mountains, of sandstone. The course of the Hawkes- 

 bury above Emu plains, presents a singular feature, in forcing 

 its way through a very steep-sided ravine, and thus cutting 

 off a portion of the mountain mass, after its channel has pre- 

 viously bordered on the lower country of Cumberland, where 

 no such obstruction is opposed to its waters, which might 

 there pursue a more direct course to the sea. The river 

 takes this remarkable turn near the junction of the Ne- 

 pean, and there we find in the bed of the stream, (at 



