4 
grass and water attracts cattle during the summer months far into these 
mountains. The low scrubby underwood disappears with stringy bark, and 
box, eucalj^ti, and the dwarf forests of mountain gum trees, which rejilace 
them, may either he avoided or offer hut little obstruction to the progress 
of a traveller. 
According to a special report, which I had the honor of transmitting 
to the Government, dated Omeo, 16th December, 1854, I succeeded in 
reacliing not only two of the main sources of the Mitta Mitta, but also the 
two most elevated heights of the Bogong Range ; these perhaps not even 
previously trodden by the aborigines, since game and brushwood cease far 
below the summits. The two higliest mountains, which I had the honor hv 
His Excellency’s sanction, to distinguish as Mount Hotharn and Mount La 
Trohe, are along the terminal ravines covered with eternal snow. It will be 
unnecessary to repeat here the respective bearings which I took from these 
all-commanding heights, since they are detailed in my special report ; but it 
remains for me to confirm my computation wdth regard to their altitude. My 
calculations, based on the boiling water jioint, proved, after my return, that 
the summits of the Bogong Range are unsurpassed by any other known of 
this continent, approaching to the altitude of 7000 feet^ahove the level of the 
ocean. A depressed Glacier Flora, imitating in some degree the botanical 
features of the European and other Alps, covers scantily the icy tops. 
The bearings from the summit of Mount Tambo, instituted on the 
17th December, 1854, gave the position of Mount Flotham due W. of Mount 
La Trohe, W. 4° S. 
From Omeo I resumed my journey into the north-easterly systema of 
our Alps, through a delightful suhalpine countiy, opening into wide valleys 
at the mam sources of the Snowy River, many of these valleys well adapted 
and partially used for summer pastures. 
I ascended the most northern alpine hill of the Munyang Mountains 
on the 1st of Januaiy, 1855, and traversed iu the weeks subsequent most of 
the principal elevations of these prodigious mountains, adding also there 
again not inconsiderably to our herbarium. Here on very many places the 
waters of the Murray and the Snowy River are rising in the closest proximity. 
Descending, in the latter part of January, along the Snowy River to 
the lower country, I advanced as fiir easterly through the coast tract as the 
boggy nature of the country permitted, and I devoted my attention here ao-ain 
to the Flora of the Palm Tree Country, to improve my knowledge of the 
Intel esting plants discovered here previously iu a more advanced season. 
But the full botanical investigation of the south-tastern portion of this 
0 ony, which, under tlie mildest climate, abounds in subtropical plants, can 
o y e accomplished from the New South Wales frontier. 
Returning from the Snowy River, I deemed it more promising to 
piosecute my operations on the coast, along which I proceeded to Lake Kino-, 
eie 0 solved, amongst other rare and unknown plants, some fine trees of 
cronjc iia, a genus known from Eastern Australia and New Caledonia 
renim va 1 e or its splendid wood and tlie aromatic property bv which the 
species are pervaded. i. i j . 
A most severe illness frustrated my intention of ascending Mount 
ow ow, a w , locky, isolated summit at the south-western slope of the 
