HOSPITALITY OF MR. O’BRIEN. 
15 
length, and from five to seven in breadth, and although 
large masses of sandstone are scattered over them, a blue 
secondary limestone composes the general bed of the river, 
that was darker in colour and more compact than I had 
remarked the same kind of rock, either at Wellington Val- 
ley, or in the Shoal Haven Gully. I have no doubt that 
Yass Plains will ere long be wholly taken up as sheep- 
walks, and that their value to the grazier will in a great 
measure counterbalance its distance from the coast, or, 
more properly speaking, from the capital. Sheep I should 
imagine would thrive uncommonly well upon these plains, 
and would suffer less from distempers incidental to locality 
and to climate, than in many parts of the colony over which 
they are now wandering in thousands. And if the plains 
themselves do not afford extensive arable tracts, there is, 
at least, sufficient good land near the river to supply the 
wants of a numerous body of settlers. 
We left Mr. O’Brien’s station on the morning of the 21st, 
and, agreeably to his advice, determined on gaining the 
Morumbidgee, by a circuit to the N. W., rather than en- 
danger the safety of the drays by entering the mountain 
passes to the westward. Mr. O’Brien, however, would 
not permit us to depart from his dwelling without taking 
away with us some further proofs of his hospitality. The 
party had pushed forward before I, or Mr. M'Le.ay, had 
mounted our horses ; but on overtaking it, we found that 
eight fine wethers had been added to our stock of animals. 
To theW. N.W. of Yass Plains there is a remarkable 
