CH. I.] HONEYSUCKLE-HILL. 159 



is continued for one mile along the right bank, to the site 

 chosen for throwing a bridge over this river. The ascent on 

 the opposite side has been cut, with unnecessary labour, 

 thi'ough a point of the hill^ and upon this the gangs were then 

 at work. The gangs of prisoners in irons, were lodged in a 

 stockade, which had been erected here, and was guarded by a 

 detachment of the 17th regiment. The river Cox is at this 

 point 2172 feet above the level of the sea. It pursues its 

 course, through a wild inaccessible mountain country, and 

 joins the Warragamba, about twenty miles to the southward 

 of Emu plains. This course of the Cox could be traced by 

 the surveyors only by scrambling on foot, or by following out 

 the several extremities of the mountain ranges, which abut 

 upon its rocky channel. 



Mount Walker overlooks that part of the Cox, which is 

 crossed by the new line of road. The summit of this hill, 

 consists of a dark grey felspar. At its base, and in the bed 

 of the river, is trap, which appears to be the principal rock 

 of the country, to some distance beyond the river. The 

 road reaches at three miles from the Cox, a small brook, 

 named Solitary Creek, which waters a valley where an inn 

 was then building. This is the first rivulet falling to- 

 wards the interior country, all the other streams, previously 

 crossed by this road, flowing to the eastern coast ; conse- 

 quently the apparently low ridge, between Solitary creek 

 and Cox's river, is there part of what is termed the Coast 

 Range, which extends from Cape Howe to Cape York, across 

 33 degrees of latitude. 



The road, beyond Solitary creek, winds around the side of 

 Honeysuckle-hill, a summit of considerable elevation, con- 

 sisting of trap-rock. The country beyond that hill, is more 

 open and favourable for road making. An inn has been 

 built on a small flat, distant about twenty-three miles from 

 Mount Victoria, and about half way between that pass and 

 Balhui'st. The only remarkable I'eature, on the remainder 

 of this line, is Stony Range, distant from Bathurst fourteen 



