( io8 ) 
tliem, and judging from the quantity of 
earth that lay at the enti'ance of tkeir habi- 
tations, I conceived they muft have pene- 
trated to a confiderable depth. \¥e iiopt 
this day at a farmer's, and exchanged our 
remaining fheep for an equal number of 
frefii ones. Thofe we polTefled, vs^ere drove 
fo far, that moft of them becamxC feeble and 
emaciated ; but the colonift was a liberal 
man, and parted freely with his propertyj 
•though he loft by the exchange. 
From the 8 ih to the 1 6th of June, our 
journey was not interrupted by any dila; 
greeable occurrence. The countries thro^ 
which we paffed, clifplayed every mile we 
travelled a chanre of new beauties. The 
iriountains were in many places of ftupend- 
oils height, and the valleys, decorated with 
wood, were aftonifliingiy fertile in vegeta- 
ble produclions. One of tlie moft extenfive 
of thefe valleys, took us no lefs than three 
-days and a half in paffmg. It is called by the 
fettlers Long Clujf\ and affords, perhaps, as 
iPiany romantic icenes as can be found in any 
fpot of the fam.e extent upon the face of the 
^arth. 
The hills for feventy or eighty miles run 
■parallel to each other. The lands between 
are w^onderfully rich, and produce vaft quan- 
tities of a plant fimiiar in its fmell and tafte 
to our thyme. On this fragrant herb are fed 
immcRfe quantities of iheep and cattle ; they 
devour , it w^ith great eagernefs : and it 
gives the mutton a flavour fo like our veni- 
