NEW SOUTH WALES. 181 



Such disasters are equally injurious to the husbandman and the 

 wool-grower ; for the same cause that destroys the crops, also carries off 

 the stock ; so that it is only the large capitalist who can successfully 

 strug-p-le against or overcome such adverse circumstances. It is some 

 recompense for this stat3 of things, that one or two favourable years 

 will completely repay all former losses ; and it is due to the perse- 

 verance and industry of the inhabitants of New South Wales to 

 say, that they have already, in spite of the difficulties they have 

 had to encounter, made it one of the most flourishing colonies on the 

 globe. 



What these difficulties are, may be better understood by quoting 

 some remarks of Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, who has had 

 greater opportunities than any other person of examining the country, 

 every accessible portion of which he has visited. 



" Sandstone prevails so much more than trap, limestone, or granite, 

 as to cover six-sevenths of the whole surface comprised within the 

 boundaries of nineteen counties, from Yass Plains in the south, to the 

 Liverpool range in the north. Wherever this happens to be the 

 surface, little besides barren sand is found in the place of soil. 

 Deciduous vegetation scarcely exists there ; no turf is found ; for the 

 trees and shrubs being very inflammable, conflagrations take place so 

 frequently and extensively in the woods during summer, as to leave 

 very litt e vegetable matter to turn to earth. 



" In the regions of sandstone, the territory is in short good for 

 nothing, and is, besides, generally inaccessible, thus presenting a 

 formidable obstruction to any communication between spots of a 

 better description." 



The information obtained from other sources does not, however, 

 sustain so very unfavourable a picture ; it may, indeed, be true, when 

 applied to the labours of husbandry alone ; but there is reason to 

 believe, on the other hand, that the excellence of the great staple of 

 the country, its wool, is in a great measure to be ascribed to the 

 short and sweet pasturage which these very sandstone districts 

 afford. These lands produce, except during the prevalence of 

 excessive droughts, a nutritious herbage, and form a dry healthy 

 soil, on which sheep thrive particularly well, although it is said that 

 one hundred acres of this description, of average quality, will not 

 support more than five or six head of cattle. 



In seasons of drought, the flocks and herds are driven into the 

 interior. The year of our visit (1839) was accounted a wet one, and 



vol. ii. 46 



