170 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



the Darling Valley, and is accompanied by the same sterility as upon 

 the coast. 



Before reaching the western barrens there are many fine and fertile 

 valleys, among which, besides Bathurst, is that of Wellington, distant 

 about two hundred miles from Sydney. Both of these are already 

 settled. 



As to the more remote parts of the interior of New Holland, no 

 positive knowledge has yet been obtained. The prevailing opinion 

 appears to be, that an extensive desert extends throughout it ; and this 

 opinion is supported by citing the dry and scorching character of the 

 winds which blow from the west. The greatest distance to the west- 

 ward which has been explored, is only four hundred and fifty miles, 

 which is not a fourth part of the distance to the western coast. It 

 will thus be seen that a vast field of discovery is still open, which will 

 no doubt be ere long explored, under the auspices of the British 

 government. 



To the southwest of Sydney the same compact limestone seen at 

 Bathurst makes its appearance at Argyle, also about one hundred and 

 twenty miles distant from the former place. This stone yields lime of 

 good quality, and is also a valuable material for building. 



According to the best accounts, the range of granite appears to 

 begin in Van Diemen's Land, and after being interrupted by Bass's 

 Straits, runs through New South "Wales in a broad belt. Near Bass's 

 Straits it rises into a lofty group of mountains, called the Australian 

 Alps, the only snowy ridge known in Australia, and continuing thence 

 northward, it forms the dividing range of the waters. 



The basaltic ridges of this southern region are said occasionally to 

 reach a height of four thousand feet, and a limestone similar to that 

 of Argyle and Bathurst, which contains many fossils, extends to the 

 " Limestone Plains," where it is succeeded by the usual sandstone. 

 How far this limestone extends to the southward has not been ascer- 

 tained. The finest districts in this southern section are those of Port 

 Philip, Argyle, Bass, and Bong-Bong. 



To the northward, beyond the Hunter river, the country is inter- 

 sected by basaltic ridges, which increase in number until they merge 

 in the Liverpool Mountains, of which many of them are spurs. 

 Between these ridges, and to the north of the Goulburn branch, sand- 

 stone again prevails, and forms a great extent of barren country ; but 

 the smaller valleys being generally bordered by ridges of basalt, are 

 for the most part fertile. 



The Liverpool range of mountains, although it has been traced for 



