BOTANICAL, TOPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL NOTES. 135 



the former slightly favours the eastern aspect, and the 

 latter the western. 



Geological Formation.— About two and a half miles to 

 the south of Bowenfels, Cox's River has entrenched itself 

 through a mass of aplitic granite, leaving steep walls of 

 600 or 700 feet high on either side, the bed of the river 

 being about 1,000 feet below the village. The eminence 

 thus formed on the southern side is known as Mount Blax- 

 land, and being steep and somewhat rounded, presents a 

 remarkable appearance when viewed from the valley, and 

 according to the records, was an object of interest to the 

 early travellers. It is perhaps most attractive, however, 

 from the south-western side at a point a mile or so along 

 the old road where it stands out as a beautiful cone. 



From Cox's River to O'Connell the geological formation 

 consists of granite, practically the whole way. Passing to 

 the south of Mount Blaxland, the road bears south-westerly 

 over several spurs, and in about six miles, after ascending 

 more than 1,000 feet, reaches the top of the Main Divide. 

 The road continues on a south-westerly course till the 

 vicinity of the Fish River is reached, and bears thence 

 westerly to O'Connell. The summit of the Main Range 

 where crossed, is capped with Devonian conglomerate, as 

 also is the ridge previously crossed, and which divides the 

 waters of Jock's and Mary Ann's Creeks. This old road 

 intersects that from Rydal to Hampton at about eight 

 miles south of Rydal (supra, p. 130). The latter road 

 follows the summit of the Main Divide, which is for the 

 most part covered with the Devonian formation, though in 

 places this has been removed by denudation and the granite 

 laid bare. 



It seems probable that the presence of this Devonian 

 conglomerate has been an important factor in determining 

 the position of the Main Range at this point, as, owing to 



