Northern District of Queensland. 189 



still going on, as the level mud flats, and even the well 

 grassed level plains, still liable to inundation, sufficiently 

 prove. 



The hills in the neighbourhood of the mouths of the 

 Fitzroy appear to be composed of slaty rocks, which dip at a 

 high angle to the east. Portions of the top of a high range 

 opposite to Rockhampton are quite white, apparently with 

 quartz. It is probable that gold may hereafter be found 

 there. 



The country, within eight miles of Rockhampton, is 

 in general level and intersected with numerous lagoons ; and 

 possessing a rich soil, abundantly grassed, is admirably 

 adapted for cattle pasturage. On the south of Rockhampton, 

 and distant one and five miles respectively, occur two isolated 

 low ranges of porphyry, with an exceedingly hard slaty rock 

 and masses of fossils. This formation, which frequently oc- 

 curs along the coast to the north, produces gold. 



About eight miles up the river, and west from the township, 

 there is an extensive tract of open undulating downs, the soil 

 of which is formed from decomposed basalt. I may take the 

 liberty of mentioning that the Rev. Mr. Clarke is of opinion, 

 judging from a small quantity I showed him, that this soil is 

 similar to the cotton-growing soil of India. Further up the 

 river, towards the crossing place, and N.W. of this fine tract 

 of country, the land is in general level, and well watered by 

 lagoons ; the soil is rich, and well grassed. Any cattle ob- 

 served were in fine condition. At the crossing place of the 

 Fitzroy, which is about thirty miles up from Rockhampton, 

 the stones of the river-bed consist almost entirely of quartz, 

 exceedingly waterworn, with occasional pieces of fossil wood 

 and chalcedony. I afterwards found that the rivers Isaacs 

 and Mackenzie do not differ from the Fitzroy in this respect. 



The country on the north bank is level, swampy, well 

 grassed, and openly timbered. Five miles up, a hilly country 

 begins. Passing the station of Messrs. Ramsay and Gaden, 

 where the rock is clay slate, I travelled for several miles over 

 a well grassed country, intersected by deep creeks. Every- 

 where the soil is exceedingly rich. Magnesian limestone 

 abounds in the creeks, and lies scattered on the surface. 

 Crossing a narrow strip of serpentine, I came again upon 

 clay slate, with great abundance of quartz covering the ranges 

 and slopes. There is a considerable extent of this country 

 which, besides possessing well grassed flats between the 

 ranges, bears every appearance of being auriferous. I ob- 



