270 NEW SOUTH WALES, 



and coves, Major Mitchell remarks, that they generally have a direc- 

 tion either from north-northeast to south-southwest, or from west-north- 

 west to east-southeast. Our geologist observed a coincidence of the 

 fissures of the sandstone rock with the same points of the compass, 

 This double and intersecting direction of the fissures, gives to portions 

 of the rock which are bare, the appearance of an artificial pavement 

 of enormous blocks. This appearance is well marked, and can be 

 readily observed in the variegated layers of the sandstone cliffs near 

 the Heads of Port Jackson. 



Earthquakes are occasionally felt in New South Wales. The 

 recorded accounts of these are necessarily imperfect ; they, however, 

 show that within the last fifty years, six are known to have occurred, 

 viz., on the 22d of January, 1785, the 17th January, 1801, the 7th 

 May, 1804, the 24th September, 1806, the 28th November, 1823, and 

 the 2d August, 1837. That of 28th November, 1823, was also felt at 

 Laurie's Town, Van Diemen's Land. 



As far as could be learnt, these earthquakes did no material damage, 

 It may, however, be inferred from the nature of the country, that 

 violent commotions have taken place in former times. Major Mitchell 

 has- stated, and the fact was confirmed by the personal examination of 

 our geologist, Mr. Dana, that an alteration in the relative level of the 

 sea is abundantly evident on the cliffs of the coast. 



The Burning Mountain of Wingen is something analogous to a 

 crater, which it was not in the power of any of our parties to reach. 

 According to Major Mitchell, it appears to be the same kind of pheno- 

 menon as that described by Professor Buckland and Mr. De la Beche, 

 caused by the action of rain-water on iron pyrites, which sets fire to 

 the bituminous shale. The combustion of Wingen extends over an 

 area of about two miles in extent, and occurs near the summit of a 

 group of hills, forming part of a low chain which divides the valley of 

 Kingdom Ponds from that of Page's river. Blue smoke ascends from 

 rents and cracks; the breadth of the widest of which measures about 

 three feet. A red heat appears at the depth of about four fathoms, and 

 no marks of any extensive change appear on the surface near these 

 burning fissures, although the growth of large trees in old cracks on 

 the opposite slope where ignition had ceased, shows that this fire had 

 continued for a very considerable time. The height of this crater is 

 about fifteen hundred feet above the level of the sea. 



The trade of Australia is greatly on the increase. Nearly all of it 

 centres in Sydney; and this will account for the rapid rise of that 

 city, which not only has the finest port, but the most central position 

 as respects the east coast. By a reference to the official documents in 



