OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



weftward, and was impeded in his farther progrefs by a fhallow which 

 he met with a fhort diftance above the hill formerly feen, and then 

 named by him Richmond Hill, to the foot of which the courfe of 

 the Hawkefbury conducted him and his party. They were deterred 

 from remaining any time in the narrow part of the river, as they per- 

 ceived evident traces of the frefhes having rifen to the height of from 

 twenty to forty feet above the level of the water. They reprefented 

 the windings of the river as beautiful and pi&urefque, and toward 

 Richmond Hill the face of the country appeared more level and open 

 than in any other part. The vaft inundations, which had left fuch to- 

 kens behind them of the height to which they fwell the river, feemed 

 rather unfavourable to the purpofe of fettling near the banks, which 

 otherwife would+have been convenient and defirable, the advantages 

 attending the occupation of an allotment of land on the margin of a 

 frefh-water river being fuperior to thofe of any other fituation. The 

 foil on the banks of the river was judged to be light ; what it 

 was farther inland could not be determined with any certainty, as the 

 travellers did not penetrate to any diftance, except, at Richmond Hill^ 

 where the foil appeared to be lefs mixed with fand than that on the 

 branches. 



On vifiting the fettlement of Rofe Hill, the convi&s were all found 

 refiding in very good huts, apparently under proper regulations, and 

 encouraged to work in the gardens, which they had permiffion to cul- 

 tivate during fuch hours as were not dedicated to public labour. A 

 barrack for the foldiers was erected in the fmall redoubt which had 

 been conftructed, and in which alfo flood the provifion ftorc Some 

 ground had been opened on the other fide of the ftream of water 

 which ran into the creek, where a fmall houfe had been built for the 

 fuperintendant, under whofe charge were to be placed a barn and 

 granaries, in which the produce of the ground then filling with wheat 

 and barley was to be depofited. The people of all defcriptions con- 

 tinued very healthy j and the falubrity of the climate rendered medi- 

 cine of little ufe* 



Notwith- 



