160 BATHURST. [CH. I. 



miles. It is a ridge of high ground, which traverses the 

 country from north to south, and terminates on the Fish 

 river. The road crosses it at the very lowest part, and 

 where the rock consists of a dark grey felspar, with grains 

 of quartz. The soil is red and rich, and bears trees of 

 uncommon magnitude. The timber is found useful by the 

 inhabitants of the Bathurst district, who keep the sawyers 

 constantly at work there. 



From Stony Range, the plains of Bathurst appear in the 

 distance to great advantage ; the eye of the traveller from 

 Sydney having long sought, in vain, for some relief from the 

 prospect of so much waste mountainous country. 



We reach the open plains of Bathurst, six miles from the 

 settlement. I arrived early at Mrs. Dillon's inn, where I 

 took up my quarters, in order that I might complete, with 

 less interruption, a report which I was instructed to make 

 to the Governor from this place, respecting the state of the 

 works along the road. 



April 3. — My friend Rankin called, and insisted on my 

 accompanying him to his residence at Saltram, which I 

 accordingly did. The houses of the inhabitants here are 

 scattered over the extensive open country, and give a most 

 cheerful appearance to the plains of Bathurst. These fine 

 downs only a few years before, must have been as desolate 

 as those of a similar character still are, on the banks of the 

 Nammoy and Karaula. Peace and plenty now smile on the 

 banks of *' Wambool,"* and British enterprise and industry 

 may produce in time, a similar change on the desolate banks 

 of the Nammoy, Gwydir, and Karaula, and throughout those 

 extensive regions behind the Coast range, still further north- 

 ward, — all as yet unpeopled, save by the wandering abori- 

 gines, who may then, as at Bathurst now, enjoy that security 

 and protection, to which they have so just a claim. 



The inconvenience of a want of plan for roads and streets, 

 is strikingly obvious at Bathurst. A vast tract had indeed 



• Native uume for the river Mucquaric. 



