Mines and Mineral Statistics, 
150 
If we inspect tlio map of Australia wc observe tliat the coasts of 
Victoria, jN'cw 8outli Wales, and (Queensland, follow the general 
directions (with some irregularity) of the Cordillera, or elevated 
land separating the waters flowing directly to the coast from those 
which draining the interior, disembogue to the south-west. 
The Murray Eiver receives some parts of its tributaries from 
the high lands of Victoria, and others from New 8outh Wales ; 
whilst the Darling and its tributaries collect the remainder of 
the supjdy from as far north as 2-5° s. 
The Cordillera thus sAveeps round in an irregular curve from 
w. to E. to the head of the Afurray — and thence, northerly and 
north-easterly, to the head of the Condamine ; trending north- 
westerly from that point to 21° s., whence it strikes to tlie north, 
terminating its course at C‘a])e Atelvillc, in 11° s., about the 
meridian of 111° 30' E., wliich is tliat of Alouut Alexander in 
Victoria. 
Tae more westerly and soutlierly trend of drainage is repre- 
sented by tlic Tliomson and IIihvoo Ivivcrs, Avbich cai*ry off the 
Avaters of the Cordillera at the liack of the Ihirrier llanges to 
Spencer's Gulf The meridian tff the head of that Gulf is, there- 
fore, the AAX'sIcrn limit of Hast Australia. 
The Cordillci'a itself, dest-rlbed iu ])art by Strzclecki in 1SI5, 
was traced by him through a considerable part of its diversified 
coiii’se (as understood b_y him), from tlic southern point of Tas- 
mania to the parallel of 2S° in longitude 152°; but not further 
westward than 110° on tlic parallel of Aiouiit Alexander. It is, 
however, doubtful Avbetlier the range between this furthest 
AATsterii ])oiut anti Wilson's Promontory, Avhere he considers the 
chain to be cut off by the sea, forms anything moi'e than a spur 
in that direction, though passing through Pass's Strait on to 
Tasmania. 
But the extent of the Cordillera Avestcrly, to its termination 
on the border of South Australia, is so Aveli dciined, that there 
can be no question that the s.aa'. and aa^ extension has as true a 
character as any part of the northern prolongation. This maybe 
geologically deduced from ri'searcbes of the Geological Survey of 
Victoria. That pi'ovince is limited, at its east cm corner, by a line 
joining Cajie IfoAVO and the head of Ibc Alurray, so that the 
boundary crosses vciy near the highest point of all Australia, 
which Strzclecki made feet above the sea, but Avhicli 
subsequent olisciwations iiave shoAvn to be 7,175 feet. Tliis 
correction rests on obserAuif iems ma<lc bv myself in 1852, and on 
a rc-discussion of them in comparison Avith j'csults obtained by 
Professor Noumaycr in 18(12. On Nth Alay, 1852, I made the 
highest point of Ivosciusco 1,077 feet aboA'e my then base, at 
3,09s feet above the sea, AA'hich therefore came out 7,175 foot ; 
and in Pebruary, 18G3, Professor jSTeumayer AATote me word that 
